Abstract: There is provided a condensate pump assembly (100) for use in an air conditioning system. The condensate pump assembly (100) comprises a pump (102) arranged in a housing (104) to pump liquid from a liquid inlet (116) towards a liquid outlet (106). The condensate pump assembly (100) further comprises a liquid receptacle (108) arranged, in a first position in the housing (104), to receive condensate from a condensate inlet (110) and to be in fluid communication with the liquid inlet (116). The liquid receptacle (108) is movable to a second position removed from the housing (104), whereby to empty the liquid receptacle (108). The condensate pump assembly (100) further comprises selective release (112, 114) means operable by a hand of a user to release the liquid receptacle (108) for movement from the first position towards the second position.

Abstract: A rain sensor for use with an irrigation control system includes a position sensing element. A moisture absorptive element is supported for receiving rainfall. An actuating element is mechanically connected to the moisture absorptive element for movement adjacent the position sensing element as the moisture absorptive element expands and contracts to thereby induce a change in the position sensing element that can be used to generate an interrupt signal without any mechanical connection between the moisture absorptive element and the position sensing element.

Abstract: A micro-switch is mounted within a housing and is electrically connectable to an irrigation controller. The switch has a spring biased actuating lever pivotable between ON and OFF positions. A single disc made of a hygroscopic material is mounted within the housing adjacent the inner end of the lever for absorbing rainfall and rapidly expanding a sufficient amount to move the actuating lever from its ON position to its OFF position to thereby cause the watering program of the irrigation controller to be interrupted. A stack of moisture absorptive discs made of the same hygroscopic material is mounted in the housing adjacent an outer end of the lever. When the stack of discs receives rainfall it slowly expands and maintains the actuating lever in its OFF position after the single hygroscopic disc has dried and contracted to ensure that watering is not re-initiated too soon after a storm.