Microswitch Float Switch

thingiverse

Float switch that uses a microswitch and a ping pong ball (which is preferred, but can be replaced with a PET bottle with the appropriate files).Desired water level can be set using pole extensions.REMEMBER TO PRINT WITH THE "SLICING TOLERANCE" - SETTING AS "EXCLUSIVE" as always with threads and mechanical parts. Personally I've never had a reason to have it set to anything else.You could probably print everything in one go in 12h or less but I'd like to recommend printing the pole and the poleguide at higher quality to minimize friction.The inverted base part exists because in my bucket I already had my float valve https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5485378 so it was not possible to have the pole in the middle of the bucket due to the bottle. The inverted version places the pole near the wall, and the switch farther out.To mount:Pop the ping pong ball in it's hand and attach it to the pole.Screw in the pole guide, screw on the nut on the switch holder a bit from the hole-side and plop in the microswitch in the holder (it doesn't need to be glued or anything).Attach the lever with the screw entering from the side where everything is visible. Everything should be quite loose and have play everywhere.Screw in the switch holder until the switching point is at a good height. Preferably with the microswitch tab facing the lever axis.Insert the pole and try it in water to make sure it's definitely switched off when the ping pong ball is floating and bobbing up and down, and switched on when it's fully submerged.Drill 2 hole at equal heights on your container 60-100mm apart (measuring can be annoying so you get a lot of margin). If container is sloped print an appropriate number of verticaliser things which each adjust by 5 degrees. Holes are 6mm tall.If you want to increase usable height for fluid or just want to attach it high up you can extend the pole using the extenders.One ping pong ball works fine for a new microswitch, but when I was using one I salvaged from beat up old electronics the required force was higher and so I'll be using the unfortunately shaped twin ping pong version for that one.Added a bucket adapter for mounting in cylindrical containers with a diameter of 250mmBig thank you to all the creators on this site who upload their amazing contraptions for the rest of us to use.Happy printing and remember to set slicing tolerance to exclusive!