Automatic Water-Level Controllers
Prevent overflow and waste with real-time level monitoring.
What this actually is
An automatic level controller starts and stops your pump on its own, using sensors in the overhead tank and the sump. It stops tanks overflowing across the terrace, stops the pump running dry and burning itself out, and removes the daily job of remembering. It is one of the least glamorous things we install and one of the most consistently appreciated.
How the job runs
- 1
Sensors in both tanks
Level sensors go into the overhead tank and, critically, into the sump as well. The sump sensor is what makes dry-run protection possible — without it the controller cannot know there is nothing to pump.
- 2
Controller and wiring
The controller is wired between the supply and the pump starter, with sensor cabling run back from both tanks. It switches the motor through a contactor rated for the load rather than driving it directly.
- 3
Automatic operation
When the overhead tank drops below the set point and the sump has water, the pump starts. When the tank fills, it stops. If the sump runs empty mid-cycle, the controller cuts power before the motor is damaged.
- 4
Commissioning
We test a full cycle, verify the dry-run cutout by actually triggering it, and set any timer or delay values. Manual override is left in place so you can always run the pump yourself.
What's included
- Level sensors for overhead tank and sump
- Controller and contactor wiring
- Dry-run protection setup
- Full cycle test including cutout verification
- Manual override retained
- Warranty and service support
Best suited to
- Homes with an overhead tank and sump
- Properties where the tank regularly overflows
- Anyone who has already replaced a burnt-out pump
- Apartments, hostels and commercial buildings
The choices worth understanding
Float sensors
Magnetic float switches are the workhorse — mechanically simple, reliable and effectively maintenance-free. For most homes with a standard overhead tank and sump, this is the sensible specification.
Electronic probe sensors
Probes report several levels rather than just full and empty, which allows a panel display showing how full the tank actually is. They need occasional cleaning, since scale build-up affects the reading.
Panels with motor protection
Better controllers add protection against high and low voltage and overload alongside dry-run cutout. On an expensive pump, or where supply voltage swings, this protection is worth more than the controller itself.
Straight answers
What is dry-run protection and why does it matter?
It cuts power to the pump when the source runs empty. A pump running dry has no water to cool it and can burn out in minutes, which is a far more expensive failure than the controller that prevents it.
Will it work with my existing pump?
In almost all cases, yes. The controller switches the motor through a suitably rated contactor rather than replacing anything, so your existing pump and starter generally stay exactly as they are.
Can I still run the pump manually?
Yes, and we always leave that path in place. Manual override matters when you are filling for a specific purpose or working around maintenance, so automatic control never becomes the only way to run the motor.
What happens when the power fails mid-cycle?
The controller resumes normally when supply returns, checking levels again before restarting. Nothing needs resetting by hand, which is the whole point of automating it in the first place.