Abstract: A control system for a sump pump driven by an AC motor includes an AC power line having an input adapted for connection to an AC power source and an output adapted for connection to the AC drive motor. A controller is connected to a controllable switch in the AC power line, to control the opening and closing of that switch. Redundant float switches are coupled to the controller and adapted to be mounted in a sump to supply the controller with a signals when the liquid in the sump rises to a selected level. A timer in, or coupled to, the controller alters the control signal to open the controllable switch if the liquid level in the sump remains above the selected level for a preselected time period.

Abstract: A control system for a sump pump driven by an AC motor includes an AC power line having an input adapted for connection to an AC power source and an output adapted for connection to the AC drive motor. A controller is connected to a controllable switch in the AC power line, to control the opening and closing of that switch. Redundant float switches are coupled to the controller and adapted to be mounted in a sump to supply the controller with a signals when the liquid in the sump rises to a selected level. A timer in, or coupled to, the controller alters the control signal to open the controllable switch if the liquid level in the sump remains above the selected level for a preselected time period.

Abstract: A system for simulating the lighting cycle of the sun obtains a set of inflection points on a solar lighting cycle and also obtains the annual minimum sunlight value for a location at a predetermined latitude; reconstructs the daily and yearly solar cycle based about the set of inflection point and the minimum yearly value; determines the lighting period based upon the daily and yearly cycles; activates a lighting device for the determined lighting period; transmits a series of electrical pulses to the soil and receives a return signal from the soil, the return signal indicative of the conductivity of the soil; determines whether the conductivity indicates whether the soil has an adequate moisture level; and activates an LED to indicate the soil does not have an adequate moisture level.

Abstract: An activation device for supplying an electrical signal to a lamp in response to an outside force comprising a hollow tube, a ball placed within the hollow tube, the ball of a diameter less than the diameter of said hollow tube, a piezo device including a piezo bender coupled to an end of the hollow tube, wherein the outside force produces movement of the ball such that the ball traverses the tube to strike the piezo bender thereby producing an electrical signal; and means for using said electrical signal to activate the lamp.

Abstract: A system for simulating the lighting cycle of the sun comprising: means for obtaining a set of inflection points on a solar lighting cycle and obtaining the annual minimum sunlight value for a location at a predetermined latitude; means for reconstructing the daily and yearly solar cycle based about said set of inflection point and said minimum yearly value; means for determining the lighting period based upon said daily and yearly cycles; and means for activating a lighting device for the determined lighting period.

Abstract: A modular metering instrument including one of a plurality of sensing probes or probe modules including identification and calibration information stored therein and a meter module which can identify the sensing probe when the sensing probe is connected thereto. The storage of calibration and identification information in the sensing probe allows the meter module to be utilized with any one of a number of sensing probes to sense different physical parameters. The sensing probe includes at least one sensor and related circuitry to generate a signal relating to the sensed parameter. The meter module analyzes and calibrates the signal and displays the measured parameter.

Abstract: A method of evaluating the present capacity of a rechargeable battery by connecting a known test load to the battery so that the battery supplies the test load with electrical current; monitoring the battery voltage while the battery is connected to the test load; monitoring the current supplied to the test load by the battery, and determining the ampere-hours of energy delivered by the battery while it is connected to test load; and determining when the acceleration of the monitored battery voltage changes from negative to positive, and then projecting the ampere-hours of energy that would be delivered by the battery for the remainder of the range of useful output voltages from the battery. The total present capacity of the battery is preferably determined by summing the projected ampere-hours and the ampere-hours actually delivered by the battery to the test load prior to said projection.

Abstract: A temperature compensated air flow monitor which measures true flow velocity or volume flow. The air flow monitor can be mounted in or coupled to a fume hood and includes a fluid flow tube having a pair of thermistors mounted therein. A first cold thermistor is utilized to provide temperature compensation to the second hot thermistor which provides the fluid flow velocity measurement. The pair of thermistors can be mounted to or in a probe for a portable air flow monitor application. The measured flow velocity or volume flow can be utilized in a display for the operator and also can activate one or more alarms when the flow velocity varies from a desired range.