You can never exclude the possibility of an emergency situation caused by flooding of the premises. Damage from a water leak can be quite significant, especially when the incident occurs in an apartment multi-storey building. In such cases, the consequences of the flood are often felt by the neighbors below, which only adds to the problems. To avoid such developments, it is necessary to install a modern control system that provides reliable protection against water leaks in the apartment.

What can cause leaks?

To prevent a “flood” it is necessary to establish the nature of probable leaks. Let's look at the three most common causes of leaks:

1. The influence of the human factor, for example, a bathtub overflowing due to the fact that the apartment owner forgot to turn off the water supply.
2. Wear utility networks water supply systems and plumbing equipment. High-rise buildings built in the 70s and 80s of the last century make up the majority of the housing stock. The pipes installed in the risers of such houses have long exceeded the permissible service life, or are quite close to it. During pre-sale repairs, such nuances are often ignored, replacing only internal communications.
3. Insufficient quality of plumbing equipment (pipes, tap fittings, etc.) or installation work. Savings on apartment renovations, in particular when installing hot and cold water supplies, can later cause an accident, which will also result in flooding of neighbors. As a result, you will have to invest again in repairs and purchase new household appliances.

Please note that only reasons related to the water supply system are listed above. In addition, sewerage leaks are possible due to wear or clogging of pipes, as well as breakdown of plumbing equipment.

Operating principle of water leakage protection

To clearly explain how the protection works, we will give an example of its typical installation.

Figure 1. Typical installation of the main elements of the leakage protection system

Designations:

1. Controller (the main element of leakage protection).
2. Ball valves equipped with an electric drive (automatically shut off the water when a signal is given or the supply voltage is turned on).
3. Wireless.
4. Wired sensors.

The system operation algorithm is as follows:

1. The controller (a) regularly polls the status of the sensors (c and d).
2. As soon as water gets on any of the sensors, its characteristics change. Please note that detectors monitoring water leaks must be located at floor level.
3. The controller instantly detects the change in the signal and issues a command to close the ball valves (b).
4. Electric drives operate the shut-off valve mechanism to shut off the water supply.

As a rule, such protection devices are additionally equipped with autonomous power sources so as not to lose function even if there is no voltage in the household power supply.

Most devices, after one of the sensors is triggered, give a sound and light signal indicating that the emergency needs to be resolved.

After eliminating the cause of the accident, the ball valves are transferred to working position, this is done manually or by sending a signal from the protection controller (depending on the design features of the shut-off valves).

Composition and design diagram of a typical protection system

As can be seen from the above principle of operation of protection against water leaks, such a protection complex includes the following basic elements:

• The electronic control unit is responsible for the functioning of the complex (a in Fig. 1).
• Sensors that detect a leak and send a signal to the controller (c and d).
• Electrically driven shut-off valve, it shuts off the water supply at the command of the control unit (b).

As an example, we give a simplified electrical diagram of Gidrolock protection.

Figure 2. Simplified version standard scheme protective systems

Designations:

1. Connection to .
2. Fuse on the power supply of the protection controller.
3. The housing of the electronic controller, as a rule, is a sealed structure that prevents water from entering inside. The material used is plastic or other insulating material.
4. Shut-off valve body with electric drive.
5. Connecting the electric drive housing to the grounding bus.
6. Electric drive windings.
7. A residual current device is installed on the system power line.
8. Transformer providing galvanic isolation for power supply.
9. Keys for controlling the electric drive of shut-off valves.

Electrical safety of systems

We draw attention to such an important criterion as electrical safety standards; an example of their implementation is shown in the typical electrical diagram presented above in Figure 2. First of all, this is connecting the main elements of the system to the protective ground, installing an RCD on the power line and ensuring galvanic isolation. In cases where the power supply is only autonomous, such safety measures are not necessary.

As for the shut-off valve drives, voltage is supplied to them only when an emergency occurs, when it is necessary to turn off the taps to turn off the supply of hot and cold water. The rest of the time, the electric drives of the ball valves are de-energized. On sensors (both wired and wireless versions) the voltage does not exceed 5 volts, which does not pose a threat at all. Accordingly, even the metal housing of the sensor does not need to be grounded.

Review and comparison of popular flood protection devices

Let's give brief overview systems that implement automatic shutdown water to prevent leakage. The selection criterion was based on the popularity of the devices on the Russian market. To help with system selection, we will consider technical specifications various models and a comparison table is provided.

Aquastop

This device is a safety valve that shuts off the water supply if a leak occurs. The operating principle of this completely mechanical device is based on comparing inlet and outlet pressure. The sharp difference between them ( characteristic feature leakage) triggers a mechanism that shuts off the water supply through the leakage protection valve.

These devices are designed for installation on water supply hoses to a mixer, washing machine or boiler. Despite the simplicity of the solution, one cannot fail to recognize the effectiveness and unconditional advantages of the safety valve, which include:

• High response speed when leaks are detected.
• Independence from the power supply.
• Low cost compared to other protection systems.

In fact, Aquastop valves do not belong to the controllers under consideration, since they provide protection only to a local area and do not have the ability to connect to a general controller, which significantly limits functionality. However, such a device is effective means flood prevention (flooding of the apartment), which has an affordable cost, which deserves mention in the general review.

Stop Flood "Rainbow"

This leakage protection complex is a completely domestic development, which uses the classical operating principle. The basic package of budget models includes a control unit, two wired sensors, one shut-off valve solenoid valve and installation instructions.

In top models, the system is controlled by an electronic controller capable of processing signals coming from 15 wireless sensors. Complete shutoff of water at the entrance to the apartment is carried out by ball valves with servo drives. The cost of such models depends on the configuration. Approximate price base complex Leakage protection (controller, two wireless sensors, two electric faucets, a set of batteries) about $280.

Aqua guard

Protection "Aquaguard" is produced in Russia by the domestic company "Supersystem" under a license from the German developer Germany Engineering. The operating principle of the controller is built according to the classical scheme. Below is the basic set of protection “Aquawatch Expert” TN35.

The standard kit for this model includes:

1. Control unit with radio controller.
2. Three batteries (batteries), 1.5 V each.
3. Two wired sensors.
4. Two wireless sensors.
5. Power supply from a stationary network 220 V.
6. Two signal wires 2 m and 4 m long.
7. Two electric cranes ¾.

The cost of protection in the listed configuration is $300-$310.

Hydrolock

The protection manufacturer is the domestic company Gidroresurs. The development is based on the classical operating principle. The main feature of this protection complex is its high variability, which allows you to choose the optimal configuration for your house or apartment. In particular, the basic set APARTMENT 1 ULTIMATE BUGATTI, which includes: a controller, three wired sensors, two electric shut-off valves and a battery. If necessary, Gidrolock is equipped with additional blocks that expand functionality, for example, sending SMS messages in case of an accident.

The cost of the basic set given as an example is about $260; if you add options, the price can increase significantly.

Neptune

At the end of the review, we will consider another Russian development of leakage protection - Neptune, created jointly with the Italian company Bugatti. The figure below shows the basic configuration of the Neptun Bugatti Base kit (controller, 2 PCBs and 3 wire detectors).

Protection against leaks Neptune, even in its basic version, has wide potential for expansion by increasing the number of sensors and electric taps (up to 20 and 6 pieces, respectively). Despite the fact that this brand has the longest response time (up to 20 seconds) among the systems under consideration, its popularity does not suffer from this due to the relatively low cost (for the given kit - $240) and a long warranty (the manufacturer provides 6 years).

Final comparison table

Finally, we present to your attention comparison table, compiled according to the characteristics of popular models of various brands.

Table No. 1. Comparison of popular models.

Equipment characteristics	Name of protection and specific model
	Aquaguard TN35	Stop Flood "Rainbow" Basic set	Hydrolock APARTMENT 1 ULTIMATE BUGATTI	Neptune Neptune Bugatti Base
Controller	+	+	+	+
Wired sensors (pcs)	2	—	3	3
Wireless sensors (pcs)	2	2	—	—
SHEP	2	2	2	2
Self-powered

Plumbing emergencies are every homeowner’s worst nightmare. Whether in a house or an apartment, it is equally unpleasant and costly. Only in the case of an apartment does the need for conversations with neighbors below and the costs of eliminating their damages add up. But here the situation is better in the sense that even if you are not at home, the neighbors below will turn off the water as soon as they notice signs of a flood. In the case of a private house, equipment that threatens to leak is usually located in rarely visited places - in basements, specially equipped pits. While the owner decides to visit the equipment, he can come to the pool. To avoid such situations, protection against water leaks is necessary. Although this equipment is not cheap, it is becoming increasingly popular. The costs of purchasing and installing it are several times less than the losses that a flood could cause.

What is anti-flood and how does protection against water leaks work?

The anti-flood system consists of several elements: water presence sensors, electrically controlled taps or valves, and a control unit. Sensors for monitoring the presence of water are placed in places where leaks are most likely. Electric taps are placed on risers with water in key places in the water supply and heating systems - in order to minimize the amount of spilled water in the event of an accident. Crane drives and sensors are connected to the monitoring and control unit (controller). It processes signals from sensors and, in the event of an emergency signal, supplies power to the taps. They operate by blocking the flow of water/coolant. Here, in a nutshell, is how water leak protection works.

These systems are installed both for water supply - hot and cold, and for heating. After all, an accident in the heating system is probably even worse than in the water supply - hotter water causes more damage and can also cause serious burns. In general, for flood protection to be effective, you need to think carefully about the installation locations of sensors and taps.

Where to place the sensors

Since protection against water leaks is designed to protect against flooding, sensors must be placed in all places where water is most likely to appear. It often happens that the system operates with a delay precisely because of incorrectly selected sensor locations. By the time the water reached the sensor, a lot of it spilled out. Based on the experience of the owners, we can recommend the following places for installing water leakage sensors:

When installing water leak sensors, try to position them so that water hits them first. For example, to control a faucet in the kitchen, you need to place the sensor not under the cabinet, but in the cabinet - under the siphon or somewhere in that area. If something happens to the supply to the faucet, the water will first be in the cabinet and only then flow under it.

If you need to control leaks in household appliances- washing machine, dishwasher - place sensors under the equipment. Not next to, but directly next to the connection point of the drain hose.

Where to install taps/valves with electric drive

Installing faucets is not easy. Specific installation locations depend on the system design. If it is a small apartment with one or two risers - cold and hot water- it's simple. We close off the outlets and that’s it. In more complex systems you have to think about where to install electric cranes.

In apartments

If the water supply is centralized, the system’s leakage valves are placed at the entrance to the apartment/house. It is much better if the taps are located before the meter and filter. But operational services may disagree with this arrangement. They usually require the electric faucet to be located after the meter. In this case, if there is a leak, the connection between the meter and the filter always remains under pressure. It will be impossible to eliminate leaks at these points. You can insist on your point, but you have to prove your point of view.

Advice! Before installing a leakage protection system, contact your management company and find out whether there will be problems when sealing meters if electric taps are installed in front of them.

In some layouts, the apartment may have four risers - two cold and two warm water. In this case, there are two solutions - a more correct one and a more economical one. That's right - install two modules, each of which will serve its own zone. This is more convenient, since an accident will occur only on one of the risers/devices and it is unreasonable to disconnect the opposite part. But two modules mean double costs. To save money, you can install one control unit that will shut off the taps for 4 risers. But in this case, do not forget that you will have to run the wires through the entire apartment.

In the case of heating, too, not everything is simple. Most high-rise buildings have vertical wiring. This is when there is a riser in each (or almost every) room and one or two radiators are powered from it. It turns out that for each outlet it is necessary to install at least one tap - for supply. But then the water contained in the radiator and pipes will leak out. This, of course, is not so much, but sometimes a couple of liters is enough for the neighbors below to have a stain on the ceiling. On the other hand, installing two taps on each radiator is too expensive.

In a private house

To prevent the pump from pumping water in the event of an accident, it is necessary to use a water leakage protection controller with a power relay. If power is supplied to the pump through the contacts of this relay, simultaneously with the signal to close the ball valves or valves, the power to the pump will be turned off. Why not just turn off the power to the pump? Because in this case, all the water that is in the system can spill into the resulting gap. And this is usually a lot.

To understand in which places in the water supply system of a private home it is necessary to install taps to prevent water leaks, you need to study the diagram. Most often, shut-off valves with electric drives are installed after pumping station and on the boiler.

Heating is a little more complicated. You should not block the flow of coolant if it is impossible to immediately extinguish the boiler. That is, in systems with solid fuel boilers Water leakage control can only be installed if it does not block the circulation of the coolant. If there is a small circulation circuit, you can install valves so that this small circuit is running while the rest of the system is turned off. If a heat accumulator is installed in the system, it is necessary to install the taps so that water does not spill out of it. These are large-volume containers - at least 500 liters, and usually many times more. If all the liquid spills out, it won't seem like much.

In heating systems with automated boilers, taps may block circulation. If the water leakage protection works and blocks the circulation, the boiler will stop due to overheating. This is not a completely normal situation, but it is not an emergency either.

Some technical points

Wired sensors usually come with 2 meter cables. Electric ball valves are also sold with the same cable length. This is not always enough. You can increase the length using a cable recommended by the manufacturer. Brands are usually indicated in the instruction manual. Only upon purchase. Unfortunately, very often the actual diameter is much smaller than the declared one.

• for wired sensors, shielded is suitable twisted pair with a core cross-section of at least 0.35 mm²;
• for taps - power cable in two-layer insulation with a core cross-section of at least 0.75 mm².

It is advisable to make the connection serviceable. That is, if you are laying wires in a wall or floor, the connection must be made in a junction box. - any, reliable (soldering, contactors of any type since the equipment is low-current). It is better to lay wires in walls or floors in pipes. In this case, it will be possible to replace the damaged cable without opening the gate.

Protection against water leaks: parameters and selection criteria

Deciding on the number of sensors and shut-off valves is not so difficult, especially since many systems easily allow you to expand the control area. It is only important not to exceed the maximum allowable amount of equipment. But choosing a manufacturer is much more difficult - you can’t change it. Below we will present the most popular systems on the Russian market: , "" and "".

Nutrition

First, let's look at how power is supplied to different parts of the flood protection system:

• The voltage on the control unit must be constant.
• Electrically driven faucets are powered only for the period of operation - maximum - 2 minutes (Hydrolock).
• For wired type sensors - only for the period of status polling (a very short period of time).
• Wireless sensors operate on batteries.

Water leakage protection can operate on 220V, 12V and 4.5V. Generally speaking, the safest supply is 12V or lower.

Power types

Some systems are designed in such a way that the control unit is powered by 220 V, and a safe voltage of 12 V or less is supplied to the electric taps and sensors. In other options, 220 V can be supplied to the taps (some of the Neptune options). Voltage is supplied briefly - only at the moment when it is necessary to turn off the water. This occurs after an accident is detected and periodically to check and maintain the functionality of the system. The rest of the time the taps are de-energized. Which option suits you best is up to you to decide.

Also pay attention to the presence of a backup power source. If you have your own redundant power supply system (batteries, generator), this parameter can be omitted. Otherwise, having a backup power source is highly desirable. Moreover, we need to look at how long the equipment can operate in autonomous mode. In this sense, much more practical than the system operating from 12 V: if you wish, you can install a battery with suitable parameters and thereby extend the system’s operation in offline mode. Although, some systems (Hydrolock, for example) are on backup power ( rechargeable batteries) can work for up to a year. During this time the electricity will definitely be turned on...

Electric cranes: which ones are better?

Let’s say right away that there is protection against water leaks based on valves and ball valves. Ball valves are more reliable. They are more expensive, but they work many times more reliably. When choosing, take the one with ball valves that shut off the water, not valves. There are no options.

But ball valves are also different. Here are the requirements they must meet:

• Made from brass or stainless steel. These metals should be used for housings, rods and locking balls. Only in this case will they serve for a long time.
• Full bore valves. This means that when open, the cross-section of the valve is no less than the cross-section of the pipe on which it is installed. In this case, they do not interfere with the flow.

Neptune ball valves can be recognized by the presence of a lever that makes it easy to shut off the water in manual mode

All market leaders - Akvastorozh, Gidrolok and Neptune - use only such cranes. They can be produced different companies, but made of high quality metal. If the cheaper kits don't specify the material or type of faucet (full bore or not), look elsewhere.

Durability and closing time

We also need to talk about the parameters of electric drives. How reliable and durable they are depends on how reliable protection from water leaks and the system is operational. Therefore, the gearbox and drive gears must be made of durable and reliable material. The most durable material that can be used here is metal. If we talk about the most known systems, at this point the following situation is observed:

• In the Hydrolock system, gearboxes and gears are made of metal.
• In Aquawatch, the gears are made of metal in the latest versions of the system, the gearbox remains plastic.
• Neptune does not cover drive materials.

Another important characteristic is the closing time of ball valves. In theory, the sooner the water supply is shut off in an emergency, the better. Here the undisputed leader is Aquaguard - the ball valves close in 2.5-3 seconds. But this speed is achieved:

• installing additional gaskets, which reduces ball friction but increases the risk of leaks;
• a small torque, and a small force applied when closing the tap can result in the fact that if a foreign object (sand, scale, etc.) gets in or is overgrown with salts, the tap simply will not close.

Electric ball crane "Aquastorozh Expert-20". Input voltage 4.5 to 5.5 V

Closing force and manual mode

If we talk about the magnitude of torque, the leader here is protection against water leaks Hydrolock. Its electric drives can develop a force of up to 450 kg/m. This is a very large indicator, but these parameters are for large-section cranes, which are not used in apartments and houses. Nevertheless, half-inch and inch ones are also very powerful - they can develop a force of up to 100 kg/m. Moreover, the applied force increases in steps - if necessary, it increases from nominal to maximum.

And this is Gidrolok’s signature trick - the crane breaks a pencil... Impressive!

There is one more point: the ability to turn off the electric tap manually. Aquawatch and Hydrolock have parity in this regard: you need to remove the drive by unscrewing several bolts (for Hydrolock - 2, for Aquawatch - 4), then manually turn the tap. Neptune is ahead in this regard: its drives have a lever, by turning which you manually open or close the water. But these faucets are included with the most expensive of the kits.

Neptun Bugatti Pro 12 B 1/2″ faucet with lever on the body. If the drive housing is green, then the power supply is 12 Volts. Taps designed for 220 Volts have a blue drive housing

Features of the operating algorithm

The principle of operation of any protection against water leakage is the same: when an emergency signal appears, it shuts off the water supply and turns on the alarm. In this all systems are similar, but there are certain features that some like and others don’t.

The first feature is related to the processing of signals from sensors and taps. Some systems monitor the integrity of the wires that go to faucets and wired sensors. In addition, if wireless sensors are present, they are polled regularly. This is all great and such systems are more reliable, but the reaction to a “missing” sensor or faulty wire can be different:

• on the Hydrolock remote control, the alarm for sensor loss or faucet malfunction lights up, but the water does not turn off;
• If any of the sensors or taps are lost, the water watchman shuts off the water;
• at Neptune, only the response of the sensors is monitored and, based on the results, an alarm lights up without specifying the location.

Here everyone chooses for themselves which option suits them best. Both ways of reacting are imperfect, so there is no single answer.

The second parameter for choosing a leak protection system is the frequency of checking the functionality of the taps. Since we are far from water best quality If left idle for a long time, the shut-off ball may become “overgrown” with salts or, as they say, “stick.” To prevent this from happening, the controllers periodically “move” the taps. The frequency varies:

• protection against water leaks Gidrolock (Gidrolock) tests once a week;
• any Aquaguard controller turns the ball valves once every two weeks;
• Some Neptune options do not have this function; there are those that open/close taps once every two weeks.

Some fear that testing the functionality of the faucets will catch them in the shower. Of course, it’s not pleasant to be soaped without water, but none of the owners have ever complained about such cases. So it's not nearly as dangerous as it seems))

Some features of popular systems

In order to somehow highlight their protection against water leaks, manufacturers are trying to improve reliability or come up with other moves. It is impossible to systematize these features, but it is better to know about them when choosing.

Capabilities of one block

U different manufacturers one control unit can control a different number of devices. So it won't hurt to know this.

• One Hydrolock controller can service a large number of wired or wireless sensors (200 and 100 pieces, respectively) and up to 20 ball valves. This is great - at any time you can install additional sensors or install several more cranes, but such a reserve of capacity is not always in demand.
• One Akastorozh controller can service up to 12 wired sensors. To connect wireless, you need to install an additional unit (designed for 8 Aquawatch Radio pieces). To increase the number of wired ones, install another module. This modular expansion is more pragmatic.
• Neptune has control units of different powers. The most inexpensive and simple ones are designed for 2 or 4 taps, for 5 or 10 wired sensors. But they do not check the functionality of the taps and do not have a backup power source.

As you can see, everyone's approach is different. And these are just the leaders. There are even smaller campaigns and Chinese companies (where would we be without them) that either repeat one of the above plans or combine several.

Additional features

Additional ones are not always unnecessary. For example, for those who are often on the road, the ability to control cranes from a distance is far from superfluous.

• Gidrolok and Akvatorozh have the ability to turn off water remotely. There is a special button for this purpose. front door. Go out for a long time - press and turn off the water. Aquawatch has such a button in two versions: radio and wired. Gidrolok has only wired ones. The Aquastore radio button can be used to determine the “visibility” of the wireless sensor installation location.
• Hydrolock, Aquawatch and some Neptune variants can send signals to the dispatch service, security and fire alarm systems, and can be built into the “smart home” system.
• Hydrolock and Akvastorozh check the integrity of the wiring to the taps and their position (some systems, not all). In Hydrolock, the position of the locking ball is controlled by an optical sensor. That is, when checking there is no voltage in the tap. The Aqua Watchman has a contact pair, that is, at the time of testing, voltage is present. Protection against water leaks Neptune also monitors the position of the taps using a contact pair.

The hydrolock can be controlled using GSM module— via SMS (commands to turn on and off). Also, in the form of text messages, signals about accidents and “disappearances” of sensors, broken cables to electric taps and malfunctions can be sent to the phone.

Always being aware of the condition of your home is a useful option

On the issue of reliability: power supply and other issues

Reliable operation does not only depend on the reliability of the cranes and controllers. Much depends on the power supply, on how long each of the units can work in autonomous mode.

• Aquawatch and Hydrolock have backup power sources. Both systems shut off the water before the backup power supply is completely discharged. Neptune has batteries only for the last two models of controllers, and then the taps do not close when discharged. The rest have earlier and less expensive models- 220 V power supply and no protection.
• Neptune's wireless sensors operate at a frequency of 433 kHz. It happens that the control unit “does not see” them through the partitions.
• If the batteries in the Gidroloka wireless sensor run out, the alarm on the controller lights up, but the taps do not close. The signal is generated several weeks before the battery is completely discharged, so there is time to change it. In a similar situation, the Aqua Watchman shuts off the water. By the way, the Hydrolock battery is soldered. So changing it is not so easy.
• Aquawatch has a lifetime warranty on any sensors.
• Neptune has wired sensors that are installed flush with the finishing material.

We looked at all the features of the three most popular manufacturers of water leakage protection systems. In short, the worst thing about the Aquawatch is the plastic gearbox on the drive; the worst thing about the Hydrolock is the high power of the system and, accordingly, the price. Neptune - inexpensive systems are powered by 220 V, do not have a backup power source and do not check the functionality of the taps.

Naturally, there are Chinese leakage protection systems, but you should choose them with caution.

Rarely an apartment owner does not know how much misfortune comes from flooding an apartment due to an open tap in the kitchen or bathroom, as well as water leaks in the water supply and heating systems. A flood in an apartment entails colossal material losses and unpleasant disputes with neighbors living on the floor below. The walls of an apartment flooded with water can cause failure of hidden electrical wiring and electric shock. The developed and implemented mass production of flood protection kits will allow you to avoid and forget all the problems associated with this. Next, we will look at how protection against water leaks in an apartment works, and also provide an overview and comparison of the systems that are most popular today.

Operating principle and components

The protection system kit consists of the following elements:

1. Control unit.
2. Water leakage sensors.
3. Taps for automatically shutting off the water supply in the water supply and heating system of the apartment.

It is not difficult to understand how protection works. Sensors are installed in areas where leaks are most likely to occur. As a rule, they are installed under bathtubs and washbasins, washing machines and water heating devices, as shown in the diagram below:

When they come into contact with water, a signal is removed from them and sent to the control module (controller), which performs the functions of a dispatcher. Having received a signal about the presence of water in the controlled area of ​​the leakage protection system, the controller sends a command to the electric drive ball valve or to an electromagnetic quick-closing valve, which emergency shut off the water in the water supply or heating system of the apartment.

Review of modern flood protection systems

The possibility of equipping an apartment with protection from flooding is not a prospect for the distant future. This is one of the real steps that you can take today towards introducing it into your home. high technology"smart home" systems. Nowadays, several complexes that protect apartments from leaks occupy a dominant position on the market. Ready-made kits of the following types are in well-deserved demand:

• "Neptune"
• "Gidrolok"
• "Stop the Rainbow Flood"

Often, the average consumer, faced with the choice of protection, finds himself in a difficult situation and simply does not know which one is best suited to ensure the safety of his apartment from leaks and prevent flooding. An analysis of the operating technical capabilities and characteristics of the listed devices will allow us to compare their advantages and disadvantages, on the basis of which we can select the necessary protection device.

Neptune

A product of Russian development, which was the first to appear on the Russian market back in 2000. The Neptune brand, according to the Moscow Business Times, is the most popular water leakage control system on the Russian market. The company's product range includes a solution for any budget - from an affordable kit costing less than 10,000 rubles to an ultra-modern one with control on a smartphone. Protection against water leaks Neptune can be installed not only on water supply pipes, but also on heating and heated towel rails, which also pose a risk of water leaks.

The product line includes ready-made apartment kits, as well as individual components, which will allow you to assemble a kit specifically for your needs. In addition, Neptune leakage sensors work not only on wires, but also via a radio channel, which allows you to install protection against water leaks at sites with completed renovations, where it is no longer possible to hide the wires.

The warranty for Neptune water leakage control systems is up to 6 years for all elements of the system.

It is worth noting that Neptune has been equipped with world-famous Bugatti ball valves, which are made in Italy, for many years. The peculiarity of these faucets, in addition to a strong brand in the world of plumbing, premium sealing materials, and electric motor power, is that the electric drive has manual emergency control, that is, the faucet can be opened/closed without electricity.

To choose a suitable Neptune leak protection kit, you need to consider three main points:

1. Have repairs been completed at your site? If the repair is just beginning, then you can choose any Neptune kit, since all control modules support wired sensors. At the stage of renovation of a room, they are usually used, since it is cheaper than wireless sensors and there is no need to change batteries from time to time. If the repair has already been completed and it is impossible to hide the wires from the sensors, then only kits that support radio sensors are suitable - these are Neptun Bugatti ProW+ and Neptun Bugatti ProW+ WiFi
2. Diameter of water supply, heating or water heated towel rail pipes. Ready-made Neptune kits are equipped with ball valves of a certain diameter. For example, the most common size of faucets for an apartment is ½ inch. Check this with your facility or your specialist.
3. The budget allocated for the purchase of the Neptune water leakage control system. The set of options that the consumer will receive depends on the budget.

Neptune Aquacontrol– the most accessible system protection against leaks, since the cost is less than 10,000 rubles per set for an apartment (control module, two taps and two sensors). This kit is equipped with the Neptun Base module - this is a very simple and reliable control module that will shut off the water in case of leakage and once a month will automatically turn the taps against souring.

Neptune Bugatti Base– this is excellent value for money. As in the previous kit, a simple Base module is used, but the ball valves are already made in Italy by Bugatti with a large margin of safety. The Neptun Base module does not have backup power - if this feature is important to you, then pay attention to the ProW series modules.

Neptune Bugatti ProW is a kit with advanced functionality that works on wired sensors. Additional features of the ProW module:

• Protection of taps from souring (automatic rotation of the tap 2 times a month).
• Power supply voltage on taps –12 VDC
• Built-in backup power supply.
• Addressability – the ability to indicate leaks along 4 lines.
• Possibility of connecting warning systems, security systems and integration with a “smart home” (presence of a low-current relay).
• Indication of the state of the ball valve (open/closed).
• Indication of backup power status.
• Possibility of opening and closing the ball valve manually (button on the module).

Neptune Bugatti ProW+ similar to the ProW module, but has the ability to work not only with wired, but also with radio sensors - this is an ideal choice for those who have already completed home renovations.

Neptune Bugatti ProW+ WiFi– this is the most modern and functional interesting control module. Here's what he can do:

• Control of the security system via smartphone. To do this, just install free application and synchronize your mobile phone.
• Timely notification of an accident. In addition to the fact that the module emits a sound and light alert on the front panel, additional information about the occurrence of a leak appears on the screen of your mobile phone. A very important function, especially if no one is at home at that time.
• Monitoring of hot and cold water consumption readings. Now it is not at all necessary to manually take readings every month by opening the cabinet with meters, which is located in the bathroom or kitchen. Just open it mobile application and view the readings in it. This is a very convenient feature for those who rent out an apartment.
• Backup power supply for the protection system. Even if the power supply to your apartment or house is turned off for a long time (up to 36 hours), the Neptun ProW+Wi-Fi module will work. The developers have included batteries in the design, which will serve as a source of backup power. By the way, the application will notify you in advance about the need to replace these batteries.
• Indication of the position of ball valves. You can not only monitor the taps remotely, but also, if desired, automatically control them (close and open). If, while on vacation, you forgot to play it safe and turn off the water, you can always do this through the app.
• Function of automatic turning of taps. It is a self-cleaning mode for ball valves that prevents “souring” of shut-off valves. Automatic rotation is carried out every 15 days.
• The Neptun ProW+Wi-Fi control module can be connected to the Smart Home system and burglar alarm residential building. A special exit is provided for this.

The table below shows a comparison of the Neptune models.

How flood protection works using the Neptune kit as an example is shown in the video:

Resume:

1. Over the years, the Neptune system has earned customer recognition, as evidenced by sales data - it is the most popular protection against water leaks in Russia (source: Moscow Business Times).
2. Each buyer can choose their own system based on budget and options. The most affordable kit costs less than 10,000 rubles.
3. The Neptune system is equipped with Italian Bugatti cranes.
4. There are very interesting solution Neptun ProW+ WiFi controlled by smartphone.

When preparing this material, our readers were kindly provided with a 15% discount on the entire range of the Neptune store. Website: systemneptune.rf. Promo code: saelectric.

Hydroloсk

Products of the Russian company "Gidroresurs". If we compare it with the Neptune device, it can be noted that the principle of its operation is the same; the package includes water sensors, a controller and electric ball valves. The company has developed and put into production several models of leakage protection systems, the basic version of which is “Hydroloсk Standard”.

Additional options for Hydrolock water leakage protection models:

Gidrolock is equipped with three sensors; the technical capabilities of this water leakage protection device provide for the connection of 20 wired and up to 100 wireless sensors. Emergency water stop time up to 30 seconds. The manufacturer guarantees 10 thousand operating cycles and a general guarantee of the performance of the protection complex for 3 years.

An overview of the Hydrolock kit is demonstrated in the video:

Russian development from the Supersystem company. The operating principle and equipment are the same as the two previous analogs. Thanks to the introduction of innovative materials into the design of faucets, the effort to overcome friction is significantly reduced; emergency closure of faucets when a leak is detected in an apartment occurs in 3 seconds with minimum cost electricity.

Compared to other systems, Aquawatch operates at an operating voltage of only 5 Volts. The degree of automation of the control system does not require human intervention. It is equipped with four sensors, both wired and wireless options are possible. Manufacturer's warranty 4 years.

Review of the Aqua Watch kit:

Stop the flood "RaDuga"

A characteristic feature of this protection system is that all sensors are wireless and operate in the mode of supplying radio signals, the power of which allows them to remain operational at a distance of 20 meters from the controller in conditions apartment building. The product kit includes 1 solenoid valve, 4 sensors. The control unit is designed to connect 9 sensors.

Compared to protection systems, Aquastop is just a mechanical device developed by Russian and Italian specialists. Prevents the room from flooding with water in the event of a rupture in the filling hose of the washing machine. Installed in front of the hose using threaded connection, as shown in the diagram below:

If the hose leaks and the pressure in the system drops, Aquastop will shut off the water in a matter of seconds, which will stop further leakage. The operating principle of the aquastop is demonstrated in the video:

Cost comparison of kits

Finally, we present to your attention a comparison of the cost of the provided apartment flood protection systems:

This concludes our review. We hope you now understand how protection against water leaks in an apartment works and what systems are popular today. Price comparisons and video reviews give a clear understanding of which kit is best to choose to protect your home from flooding!

General overview

Many of us are concerned about the problem of possible water leakage. Someone may have already encountered very, very unpleasant consequences if the washing machine leaked, a pipe broke, or the sink clogged.
How many problems this has caused for you and your neighbors!
The purpose of this article is to help you understand modern leakage protection systems, to help protect your home and yourself from unpleasant consequences.

So let's get started. Today, the most popular leakage protection systems are represented by the following: trademarks How "Hydrolock", "Aquawatch", "Neptune".
Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages, let’s try to figure out which of these systems is “better” and is right for you.
Let's look at all the advantages and disadvantages.

We inform you right away that the cost of each of the systems is significantly lower than the damage that a flood can cause in your apartment; the consequences of a flood can be long-term and, in addition to financial and moral troubles, lead to such consequences as the appearance of black mold - a very harmful phenomenon for health, followed by must be monitored, especially if there are small children in the house.

Leakage protection systems

Let's consider the capabilities of leakage protection systems
- Shutting off the leak in case of a faucet failure or a pipe break
- detection of water on the floor
- notification of the owner via SMS and sound signal
- possibility of remote operation with the system via the control panel
- ensuring the system operates in the event of a power outage

For a leakage protection system, the ability to automatic operation when no one is home. The task is not only to stop the leak, but also to promptly notify the owner. For which, as mentioned above, there is the possibility of SMS notifications and a sound signal, which will allow you to quickly find out about a leak if you are at home.
All systems presented in the review consist of:

In all systems under consideration, to prevent electric shock, the voltage required to power the sensors does not exceed 5 Volts. The remaining devices are powered by a voltage of 12 V. 220 is used only for automatic recharging of uninterruptible power supplies.

Leakage protection systems are essential in apartment buildings, warehouses, in boiler rooms, we believe that the reasons that determine this need do not need to be described in detail, due to their obviousness: preservation of goods in warehouses, protection of people and animals from floods (including from hot water), prevention of serious accidents, preservation of property.
Industrial class systems are capable of preventing leaks in industrial water supply systems, for example, in the event of errors by installers or welders - practically reducing the possible risk to zero.

Comparison: which is better: Aquaguard, Neptune or Gidrolock?

All these systems are made in Russia.
In an objective comparison on a five-point scale, in terms of such indicators as cost, reliability and functionality, the “Hydrolock” system stands out as the leader - 5, followed by “Aquawatch” - 4, and then “Neptune” - 3. For more details, you can read about this below.

• The advantages of "Gidrolok" include the possibility of installation in premises that do not have a permanent 220 V network, because the system can operate on UPS batteries for six months, which cannot be said about Neptun and Aquawatch.
• "Gidrolok" has a more advanced design of ShEP drives - using brushless stepper motors. This approach to the construction of ShEP electric motors produces higher torque and reliability, and ensures that the rotor is locked during a blackout, which cannot be said about the Aquostrozh and Neptune commutator motors.
• The Hydrolock system provides the ability to disconnect the ball valve from the electric drive and replace it separately.
  However, Aquawatch cranes have more high speed closing taps than that of “Gidrolok” and “Neptune”, but a significantly shorter service life.
• “Gidrolok” exceeds the capabilities of competitors in the number of connected ball valves, the number of control zones, functionality and number of sensors, and the range of operating temperatures.
• The service life of wireless sensors from Reneta batteries in Hydrolock is 10 years, which in practice is higher than that of Aquawatch; the Neptun system does not have battery-powered sensors at all.
• “Hydrolock” is the most functional control of battery operation: under load, in idle mode and under load per unit of time; competitors do not provide this opportunity.
• “Gidrolok” and “Akvastorozh” have an emergency button to shut off water in all controlled areas, “Neptun” does not have this option.
• The Hydrolock kit includes a convenient and functional touchscreen remote control that operates via a radio signal; the Aqua Watchman has a radio button, while the Neptune does not provide such functionality.
• "Hydrolock" allows you to expand the system by connecting external equipment, such as pumps for pumping out water, alarms; “Aquaguard” - only in the “PRO” configuration; “Neptune” has a non-expandable architecture.
• The industrial version of the Hydrolock system provides for connecting a remote control with an indication to determine in which room of the building or facility a leak occurred, as well as additional control units; competitors do not have this option.
• “Hydrolock” protects devices from short circuits and power surges, and has built-in fuses, which cannot be said about our other two, already familiar systems.
  Hydrolock comes with a Siemens GSM modem, which is guaranteed to work in the system; Aquawatch has the ability to connect third-party modems for SMS notifications.
• Hydroloka electric drives have a longer gearbox life, the drive power is 1.5 times higher than that of competitors. The operating range of the sensors is also higher for Hydrolock; when operating at a frequency of 868 MHz, they have a significantly greater signal transmission range, but at this frequency the noise immunity of the signal is significantly lower.
• The Gidroloka radio unit is smaller in size than its competitors

A water leakage sensor is the only obstacle to the most common “municipal” nuisance – a “local flood” caused by a breakdown of plumbing equipment. Moreover, the sensor itself is not a guarantee of the serviceability of fittings, taps and mixers, but, nevertheless, it is able to protect against the destructive consequences of leaks caused by depressurization of joints and housings of household plumbing.

And in this article we will look at various systems for protecting housing from leaks, delving into both the configuration of such devices and the essence of their work. After studying this material, you will be able to install standard system protection against leaks, having assembled it from literally “available” means.

The basis of any sensor is a simple pair of electrodes, which “closes” in case of contact with water. That is, the principle of operation of the entire system is built on the closure of the electrical circuit, which is provoked by the water itself.

The very fact of “short circuit” is recorded by a special device - a controller, which picks up signals from sensors. And after reading and decoding the pulse, the controller sends its own signal to the shut-off valve that shuts off the pipeline.

In this case, the “sensor-controller-valve” chain can exchange signals either via wires or remotely using radio signals. However, in both cases, the water supply or heating system will be shut off in just 10-15 seconds. And in such a short time, as the sensor manufacturers assure, nothing bad will happen.

However, such “effectiveness” is inherent only in industrial models. After all, when making a water leakage sensor with our own hands, we cannot calibrate the “reaction” of the device: sensitive specimens “shock” with electric current, and safe “crafts” do not react to flooding with the proper speed.

Therefore, you should not save when choosing components for a leakage prevention system. Remember: not a single sensor is as expensive as your (and possibly your neighbor’s) repairs that will have to be done after a “local flood”.

A typical leak protection system, for example, such as “Aquaguard” or Gidrolock, consists of the following elements:

• Wired or remote sensors (it is assumed that a water leakage sensor will be installed in the floor or baseboards).
• Electrically driven ball valves (the valve is connected to the electric motor shaft by a pair of bevel gears or a clutch).
• A controller made in the form of a separate block or board integrated into the smart home control system.

Moreover, the sensors can be energy-dependent, like the cheap Neptune, or completely autonomous, like the Gidrolock system, which is equipped with devices with a 10-year autonomy. But in any case, they operate from a low-voltage power source, which eliminates the risk of electric shock.

A typical location for installing the sensor is under a bathtub or sink. No less popular is the area near the “facade” of the washing or dishwasher, area near the shower tray or a piece of baseboard under the radiator.

Ball valves are typically sized from ½ to 1 inch. After all, in household systems Larger diameter pipes are rarely found in heating or water supply systems. Moreover, the taps are always connected to the mains, but can also be powered by a battery. A typical location for a controlled crane is the joint between the outlet from central water supply and the first sweep of a horizontal section of domestic water supply. That is, the controlled tap is mounted behind the installation valve, before the water meter.

In addition, in autonomous water supply systems, the role of a “controlled tap” can be played by the well pump itself, which is simply turned off after reading and processing the signal from the sensor. But even in this case, there is no need to neglect the controlled ball valve. After all, water from a hydraulic accumulator can flow into a leaking water supply system.

Well, the controller is a typical control unit, designed for one logical operation and making a decision to shut off the water supply based on a sensor signal. At the same time, he can inform everyone around him about the fact of a leak using sound and color alarms.

A standard configuration, which involves the use of only three elements in the system - a sensor (or sensors), a controller and a controlled valve - also assumes a standard installation procedure.

Implemented using the following operations:

• Sensor (or sensors) settings.
• Mounting a controlled valve.
• Connecting and testing the controller.

And if you want to understand the process of installing a leakage protection system, then you will have to study all three stages in more detail.

Installation of sensors

Here you can use two installation schemes: outdoor and indoor. Moreover, manufacturers recommend the second (internal) option.

The first scheme assumes that the box with the sensor will be installed directly on the floor covering, with the electrodes down. The device body is fixed using construction glue. In the event of a breakthrough, water will flow under the sensor and the controller will “turn off” the valve. Of course, such a scheme is not perfect (false alarms are possible), but its implementation is possible even if the installation of plumbing equipment is completed and flooring.

The second scheme involves installing the sensor under the floor covering with the electrodes brought out to the surface (they rise by 3-4 millimeters, which eliminates triggering during wet cleaning). Therefore, the “internal” installation of the sensor can be performed before the installation of the floor covering. The connecting wires are laid in a corrugated pipe, “recessed” into the screed.

Valve installation

The valve is installed very simply - its nipple or pipe is screwed (or screwed) into the end (or onto the outlet) of the installation tap or side outlet of the central water supply. After which the joint is tightened with a lock nut screwed onto the squeegee or nipple before installing the valve.

After this, a separate line is connected to the installation point from distribution box controller that powers " power plant» locking unit. Moreover, in “sleep” mode, the controlled valve consumes no more than 3 Watts, and in active mode – no more than 12 Watts.

Connecting the controller

Installation of the controller begins with the installation of the housing, which is mounted on the hay, near the shut-off valve. The housing can be integrated into a niche or hung on a bracket.

Next, at least two grooves are “beaten” from the housing, along which wires will be laid to the valve and sensor. If you have a wireless connection, you can skip this step. Therefore, expensive sensors and controllers that receive data using radio signals are installed faster than wired ones.

The next stage is assembling the device. A controller is installed in the housing, to which wires from the sensors and the controlled valve are connected.

The device will report the fact of successful assembly after self-diagnosis - the green indicator on the front panel will light up. Well, if you pour water onto the sensor, the indicator will change its color to red, and the controller will “close” the valve. Now you can turn on the feed only from the controller panel by pressing the corresponding key.