Wi-Fi Water Level / Sump Monitor Sensor with Buzzer, email/ Text Alerts – Proteus L5
$99.00
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Product description
Before the good, Let’s address the Elephants on the page: Negative Reviews
1. Only works with close WiFi/Doesn’t work well with WiFi connection/Can’t hook-up to net. >> While most customers face no issues with WiFi, Let’s address this concern.
This sensor is mostly installed in basements or tanks which are likely at a distance from your router. Even before you buy the sensor, we suggest that you take a smart phone (or tablet), stand next to the wall outlet where you intend to plug-in the base unit, and check if your phone can browse a webpage such as facebook/ yahoo/ etc. Make sure it is on WiFi, and not using your cellular data connection. This will give you a good indication of whether there is reasonable signal strength.Not all connection issues are signal related. First, the sensor can currently only connect to 2.4GHz WiFi. But the good news is that most all routers have the ability to support both 2.4 and 5G WiFi simultaneously. If it is not already enabled, you can easily do so. • When it looks like the sensor is not connecting, from our experience with those reached out for support, 99% has to do with WiFi password, missing capital letter, or they thought they had the right password. But that’s again not the only reason. • In very few cases, there are default settings related to your wifi channel, bandwidth, b/g/n mixed mode vs only n or even ac, Wireless MultiMedia (WMM) handler, etc that can cause an issue. If need be, we will help you troubleshoot such issues. • Then are rare cases where the sensor wifi radio itself is to blame. In many cases where customer was ok with a replacement, we have shipped out replacements which resolved the issue.
2. There’s no water touching it and it’s alarming even when it’s supposed to Alarm when the tank is full.
3. This product failed. On September 18th, I started receiving emails about 40 minutes that the water level was high. It wasn’t . >> The sensing element is a float switch. Internally, it is a magnetic reed switch that opens or closes when you move the float up or down. If your installation causes the cable to float around, and the moving bob ends in a horizontal position towads the bottom, the sensor can go to alarm. Proper vertical installation should address this concern. Additionally, up until around 3 years ago, the float cable was shipped in two pieces with a male to female junction. This was prone to corrosion, and has been a cause of false alarms after a year or so of operation. We have updated the design, and the float switch is now fully water proof with a single 25 ft long cable.
4. Poor installation instructions >> Installation has 2 parts to it. First is to connect the sensor to your WiFi. Everything you would need to know is included in the quick start guide, that is included in the package, as well as available online. Second is how to place the sensor in the sump or tank you want to monitor. We have a 5 page document under ‘User Manuals’ section, titled as Proteus L5 Installation guide. Please see details with pictures on recommended installation methods.
5. Drops wifi connection multiple times a day >> If you face this issue, there are few quick steps to try. • Try repower your wifi router once. This applies, even if you believe all your other devices are connecting well with WiFi, what’s special about the sensor. Please do 🙂 • Make sure that you have not reset the sensor in an attempt to troubleshoot. IF you reset the sensor, please go through the setup process to connect it back to WiFi. • Try a spare USB power adaptor instead of the one on the sensor. • Try locate the base unit alone (no need to drag the cable along, so you can unplug it), to different location, possibly closer to your router. See if the dropouts go away, which may indicate a signal issue.
6. Bad Wiring Out of the Box >> This has happened. The customer sent us photos of one of the soldered connections inside the 3.5mm connector broke off. While we test each cable before shipping, we regret this happening. We replaced the cable for the customer.
7. Texts don’t work in Canada >> This is not true. We offer free text support via email to sms service. Most carriers, especially US / Canadian carriers support this feature. If need be, reach our support via the numbers you plan to use, and we can test it for you even before you purchase your sensor.
8. Stopped working after 2 months../Issues after 1 year of use >>What ever be the issue. Other than mechanical damage, if you face an issue, Let us fix it for you. This is true even if your sensor is old. While we cannot keep on replacing sensors many years of use, we will help you troubleshoot most issues that we have seen. While we have customers with sensors running for many years, please be aware that devices can fail over time.
9. Useless with the delay.>> This is a review from the days when we had a longer delay for notifying you if power or wifi was down. This has long been fixed, and now such alerts can be configured by user to as quick as 10 minutes. Yes, there is still a 10 minute delay. It is intentional so as to avoid/ ignore any short power or wifi outages that usually is restored immediately.
10. Getting ready to send back. Have not been able to get this to be recognized by my wifi or on phone app. Received an email saying that all is good, but there is no devise that is recognized. >> This can happen if there is a typo error in the email you use to setup or login. You can fix it yourself by simply resetting the sensor and going through the setup yourselves, or let us know and we can fix the issue from our end as well, as long as the sensor is connected to your Wi-Fi.
11. Install is clunky and incomplete interface to google home system >> Sure, there is a float cable that you need to run from the base unit to your sump pump pit, or tank. Also, we don’t offer a ready to use google home interface. The system offers a lot of ways to interface with many systems such as Alexa/ Home-Assistant/ OpenHab/ JSON API/ Cloud Push etc.
Need Help? Support available at 347.674.4501
Proteus L5
Multipurpose Water Level Sensor.
Proteus L5 Wi-Fi water level sensor monitors water level in sump pumps, tanks, condensate pans, overflow containers, and more. It will send email, text and voice call alerts when the alarm is tripped.
Compact Design
Proteus comes in a surprisingly compact feature rich package. Plug it right into a wall outlet (100-240V AC). No batteries to replace.
It connects directly to your wifi, with no additional hubs or gateways required. Oh, and it wont block your second wall outlet.
Easy To Setup
You can use your smart phone, tablet or a laptop to setup the sensor.
Power up your sensor.Connect your phone/ laptop to ProteusSetup-xxxxx network.Wait for setup screen to popup.Select your wifi, enter wifi password.Select timezone.Enter primary email.Save Settings.
Email, Text, Call Alerts
Add multiple emails and phones to your notification list and get alerts when alarms are tripped.
Call alerts are an optional paid feature that you can enable on the cloud
Easy Mount Float Switch with Clamp/ Adaptor
Proteus L5 comes with a 25 ft long float switch cable along with mounting clamp and velcro straps for easy installation. The float cable can be extended further with standard 3.5mm stereo cable. Sensor can also be configured to operate in normally low or normally high level modes.
Need an APP?
Proteus is designed to work with or without an App. Need one? We have one for both android and iOS devices. Don’t want to install any more apps? Simply use a browser to view your sensors. Best of both worlds.
Multiple WiFi Networks, APIs
Program upto two WiFi Networks during setup, and Sensor will automatically pick the network with best signal strength.
Proteus also supports API calls for accessing data directly from a server or your custom applications.
Rich with Features, Designed with Simplicity.
Configurable, Built-in Buzzer, Optional External Buzzer
Proteus comes with a loud built-in buzzer rated at ~85 dB. This can be compared to the loudness of a household carbon monoxide alarm buzzer.
For applications requiring additional audible alarm range, the base unit can be connected to an external 115db siren via the micro USB port.
Notify on power or wifi outages
Proteus brings the smarts when there are power or wifi issues with the sensor. It will let you know if the sensor fails to send data to the cloud due to power, wifi or internet issues.
Want to ignore short outages?
You can program a time window, any outages shorter than this window will be ignored. A minimum 10 minute delay is default to avoid such outages.
Data Logs, Graphs
View live and historic data as tables and zoomable graphs on the app or browser.
Notify Multiple Contacts
Add multiple emails and phones to be notified on alarm events. Get notified when alarm conditions are resolved.
Buzzer Configuration Options Turn Off buzzer completely. Email, text alerts will keep working Snooze buzzer automatically after a probrammable time interval Let buzzer keep beeping continuously when there is an alarm condition
Easy to Change WiFi Networks
Moving Homes? Changed your wifi password? No Problem. Simply reset your sensor by pressing the reset button for 6 seconds until you hear a single long beep. Now, go through the quick and easy setup process where you can select your new wifi network.
Cloud enabled water/liquid level sensor. Get alerts when level crosses a set threshold. View live on cloud.
Connects to your home or office wifi. No hub or gateway required.
Ideal for water level monitoring, tank monitoring, basement sump pump water level detection
Easy set up, with back mount power plugs directly into wall outlet
Programmable alerts when water level goes above, or goes below set level.
9 reviews for Wi-Fi Water Level / Sump Monitor Sensor with Buzzer, email/ Text Alerts – Proteus L5
Add a review
$99.00
Jeff –
Very easy setup and they work really well
UPDATE after 4-5 months: The sensors are great and I will be buying two more. I have just recently moved back into my house after months of renovation and $70,000 of damage due to a water leak.After purchasing two detectors (one water leak and one sump level), I had two alarms that caught leaks in the early stages. During setup, I had signed up for the 3rd notification option – phone calls. Proteus charges only 9 cents per phone call and no monthly fee so it’s not much of a charge. I wasn’t living in my house during reconstruction and shortly after installing the sensors, I received a call in the middle of the night. The recorded voice stated that water was detected. I assumed it was a false alarm, but my newly installed water softener was weeping water that was collecting in the drain pan below where I had placed the leak sensor. The second notification came a few weeks later because water had overflowed from the sink in my basement and a sensor located on the floor detected it – again a phone call late at night.Now that I’ve moved back into my house, I am buying two more detectors with the multiple sensor option (a little more on that below). I will install one Detector on the second floor and route a sensor to the master bathroom, to the laundry room, and the main bathroom. The first floor detector will have a sensor under the kitchen sink, behind the refrigerator, and in the half bathroom. This will require plugging in the detector somewhere nearby and routing the 25′ sensor cables into each of those areas.Each “Detector” can have multiple “sensors” connected. The notification you receive is specific only to a “Detector” that you can name. If you have 3 or 4 basement sensors connected to one detector and one of them senses water, the email/text/phone call notification will only mention the “detector” name, but that isn’t generally a problem – just take a look at each sensor. I have one detector with a sump level sensor and one detector with a few water sensors (one on the floor and one in the drain pans of the water heater and water softener). I get notifications of either “high sump level” or “water leak detected”.After buying my first detectors on Amazon for $99 with one sensor each, I saw that you can buy them directly from Proteus for the same price. But, Proteus has options to add additional sensors to a detector. I purchased a detector with the option of 5 sensors that each come with a 25′ extension cable for about $170. It comes with a cable splitter to plug each sensor into the detector. Hope that’s not too confusing. You can buy one detector and connect 5 sensors.Original Review:The picture is of my dining room floor after a water leak. I was looking for a reliable Wi-Fi sump water level alarm and this had great reviews. Less expensive alarms all had a fair amount of negative reviews – mainly with the setup or dropping off-line. I setup this unit in about 15 minutes and it has only a handful of easy steps to set up. I’m listing them here only so you can see that it’s pretty easy: plug it in, use your phone or other device to temporarily connect to the Wi-Fi signal this device generates, supply your email address, Wi-Fi router name and password for this sump alarm to connect to, connect your phone back to your own Wi-Fi to get to the internet, go to a specified Proteus web site to connect and set up your alarm choices. All were easy steps and worked the first time. The on-line setup is simply choosing what email addresses and/or phone numbers (for a text) you’d like to have notified in case of alarm.I tested it several times and it worked great. I was waiting to try this out and before buying the very similar Proteus water leak detector. Based on this device, I went ahead and ordered the other.If you’ve read everything so far and want to keep going, here is my saga: The water line going to my refrigerator ice maker ruptured while I was away for two weeks. The water ruined my kitchen, dining room, and living room floors. The water soaked through the dining room hardwood floor and “rained” into my basement. I had a sump pump that failed for some reason and a battery backup sump pump that eventually died. When a friend found the leak, I had 15 inches of water in my basement (doing the math for the footprint of my basement, that is over 6,000 gallons of water). By the way, the fire department takes these calls and pumps it out for you. My entire finished basement had to be gutted and everything I had down there is trashed (even things in bins on shelves because the water came from above). Cost to fix the house alone will be about $40,000. That happened the second week in September and two months later I’m still unable to live in my house. So, this alarm, with the good reviews, and my setup and testing experience, is well worth $100 to me.Here are some tips that I always thought were overkill:1) if you are going to be away for a while, consider turning off your water2) if you don’t have a copper line to your ice maker, have someone change the water line every few years and either change to flexible (coiled) copper tubing or some type of braided/reinforced line. Mine was just a clear nylon tubing that ruptured after several years.3) Put braided steel reinforced water lines on your washing machine. You can buy them easily in any home improvement store. If you have flexible lines going to your toilets or sink faucets, make sure they are braided/reinforced.4) make sure your homeowners insurance covers damage from water leaks and is “replacement cost” insurance. Also, I heard a story that damage from a broken washing machine hose was not covered because they were told you’re supposed to turn off the water when not using it. I don’t know for sure if that’s true, but worth asking.
SteveH@Indy –
Super easy to setup and works great
Purchased to install in sump hole. Tested thoroughly and very happy with setup and features. Connect phone or tablet directly to device like directions state, set it up with email address which works as account name, go to website and setup password.Ability to alert based on either normal water level low (sump hole – default) or water level high (well water or cistern level). Because constant connection to outside web service, when connection is lost the web service can alert that power is out or wifi comnection is lost. Time before that message is sent out is customizable on website and defaults to 30 minutes. Alert if sensor cannot be detected as well (cable gets disconnected, etc.). Can setup multiple email addresses or phone numbers for alerts as well.Website also allows logging of events and allows user to set timezone. Alerts when normal level changes and when it goes back to normal. In multiple device setups you can name each device uniquely so you know which device detects the issue. Company also sells other sensor devices as well like motion detectors and door sensors (open/ closed). Like the fact I can be anywhere and know this device can alert me within seconds regardless of what happens with the exact time an event happens contained in the alert message.AND audible alert is able to be turned off or on from website as well as set a time before the alert auto snoozes (or keeps alerting). Every feature you could think of. Because the features are controlled on the website, I would think the company could also react to additional enhancements if ever needed in the future as well. GREAT solution.
SherwoodSteve –
Fantastic Product
I am using this Proteus product as an early alert for any sump pump problems to protect my finished basement . It sends alerts for high water, power failure and Wi-Fi outage. Sends a text message and an email to my phone and iPad. Also has an audible alarm coming from the unit. Quality of the product is outstanding. Setup was straightforward and quick. The alarm unit makes a wireless connection to your Wi-Fi router and then takes you into a cloud based set up screen. Printed setup directions were clear and concise. A high-water test generated an alarm from the unit, a text message and an email in approximately 10 seconds. Very satisfied with this product and would highly recommend it. It came with all the pieces needed to make the installation. I have my Zoeller sump pump plugged into an inverter/charger with two backup 12 volt batteries connected in parallel. I also have the Proteus unit plugged into the inverter/charger. I have a backup Zoeller pump ready to install if needed. Did lots of research and planning and I’m very pleased to have the final Proteus alarm in place.
Jason –
Peace of mind for Sump Pump in the basement
This is a nifty little device with a relatively simple setup. I worry about my sump pump failing and my basement flooding, so I’d like a device that can warn me a little bit in advance if the water level gets too high, especially by text or email. My other concern was reliable wifi connectivity, especially with this being located in my basement, but the connection has held steady since I installed it a month ago. There’s an option on the website under your cloud account that will send you an alert if the device hasn’t contacted the server in awhile, which is an added bonus that may or may not tell me if my power has gone out at home.There’s also an audible alarm which is nice for when you are home. My only gripe, and it’s a very tiny one, is not being able to customize the alert messages to specific text, but you can add as many phone numbers and emails to the notification list as you want.The “monitoring” service is free, which is another plus. I’d say this device is worth the price to prevent a larger flooding disaster.
Duncan Scott –
Funciona pero la instalación es complicada y las instrucciones no son claras. Por otra parte la válvula necesita peso adicional para irse al fondo de la cisterna y funcionar adecuadamente.
Matthew Peter O’Shaughnessy –
Excellent Product and great Service. Easy to installed. Highly recommended.
Harmony –
Product has worked well in the 2 months its been installed. It has reliably let me know by test when there was no power, no internet, high water low and low water levels. It was easy to install. I live in Canada and am on the TELUS network and I was able to set it up to receive texts. I’ve had other alarms for my sump pump but am really happy with this one. I recommend it.
Chris –
I use 2 of these items in my well/ spear and they are simply perfect. Well supported and do not miss a beat.
Mr A. –
After helpful support from seller, I bought this product to use as a monitor for my water tank level. The tank provides all water to my property but is located about 50m away in a hard to access location. After problems with the spring that supplies the tank, I wanted an easy way to check the tank level is full during the winter months without having to go and look. I installed the level sensor at just below the full tank level and can now check the tank is full via my phone app. As I use water, the level drops and the sensor reports this and again once the tank level is restored. The product can be configured to alarm when the level is high or low and can automatically email if that is your thing. I’ve turned off all alarms and just manually monitor and there is an alarm log which shows all the changes too. 4/5 stars as sensor is very lightweight and the mounting bracket is quite flimsy. Overall a great product though and will save me lots of hassle over the winter.