Rainwater harvesting is a smart, sustainable way to reduce water bills and conserve resources, but ensuring a reliable water supply during dry spells can be a challenge. Enter the 3P TCA7000 RainForce Home Electronic Mains Cold Water Top-Up Controller—a cutting-edge solution designed to keep your rainwater harvesting system running smoothly. Whether you’re a homeowner looking to maintain a steady water supply for your garden, toilets, or appliances, the TCA7000 is your go-to device for efficiency, reliability, and peace of mind.
Why Choose the 3P TCA7000 Rainwater Harvesting Controller?
The TCA7000 is a microprocessor-controlled device engineered by 3P Technik UK, a trusted name in rainwater management since 2003. The TCA7000 is a new and improved version of the TCA5000950 which sold thousands of units across the UK. These controllers are designed to work seamlessly with automatic pressure-controlled pumps, ensuring your rainwater tank never runs dry (read a comparison of the two rainwater harvesting mains water top-up controllers here).
Here’s why the TCA7000 stands out:
- Smart Water Management: The TCA7000 automatically detects low water levels in your rainwater tank using a solid-state conductivity sensor. When levels drop, it activates a solenoid valve to supply a measured quantity of mains water to the tank, ensuring continuous supply while ensuring there’s always room for more rainfall and economy savings.
- Leak Detection and Safety: Featuring an electronic leak detection routine, the TCA7000 prevents excessive mains water usage. Its timed overrun alarm halts operation and alerts you if the tank fails to replenish, protecting against water wastage due to system failures.
- Pump Protection: The controller includes optional pump isolation to prevent dry-running, which can lead to you needing to re-prime your pump. It supports single-phase pumps up to 10 amps and when necessary limits restarts to 20 per hour to optimise motor cooling and longevity.
- Compliance and Flexibility: The TCA7000 comes with a BS EN 13076 and BS8515-compliant tundish, ensuring safe and legal mains water integration. With a 20-meter probe cable (extendable to 100 meters) and solenoid valve options from ½” to 2” BSP, it adapts to various setups.
- Durability and Reliability: Unlike mechanical float switches, the solid-state conductivity sensor experiences no wear, offering a long lifespan and consistent performance. The controller supports 15 operational modes to suit diverse domestic applications.
Key Features at a Glance
- Microprocessor Control: Precise, software-driven operation for optimal water management.
- Solid-State Level Sensing: Reliable, wear-free conductivity sensor for accurate water level detection.
- Pump Protection: Optional isolation prevents pump damage during low water levels, and when necessary a restart delay is enforced to help control pump motor temperature.
- Tundish with Air Gap: 3P tundish with a ½” solenoid valve ensures compliance with UK water regulations.
- Anti-Blocking System: Opens the solenoid valve briefly every 72 hours to avoid seizure due to scale build-up.
- Compact and Versatile: Suitable for direct pressure rainwater harvesting systems, with a power consumption of just 5.5VA and operation in temperatures from 2°C to 40°C. With top-up and alarm time-out settings of 0 to 240 minutes it suits almost all sizes of rainwater tank.
- Easy Installation: Comes as a full kit with detailed instructions. Installation by a qualified electrician is recommended for safety.
Perfect for Domestic Rainwater Systems and Light Commercial Systems
The TCA7000 is ideal for homeowners using rainwater harvesting for non-potable applications like flushing toilets, watering gardens, or running washing machines. When rainfall is low, the controller seamlessly tops up your tank with mains water, ensuring uninterrupted supply. Its compact design and flexible installation options make it perfect for tight spaces, such as under sinks or behind appliances.
An example of how the TCA7000 RainForce Home Top-Up Controller can be assembled.
How It Works
- Sensing Low Water Levels: The conductivity probe (with a 15-meter cable, extendable to 100 meters) detects when the rainwater tank level drops below the user-defined threshold.
- Top-Up Activation: The controller opens a solenoid valve to add mains water via a compliant tundish, filling the tank until the probe is submerged, plus an additional 1-minute fill (adjustable up to 240 minutes) to prevent excessive cycling.
- Pump Protection: If connected, the controller isolates the pump during top-up to avoid dry-running, reactivating it once the water level is sufficient.
- Safety Features: The overrun alarm halts operation if the tank doesn’t fill as expected, alerting you to potential issues like tank or solenoid valve failures.
Why 3P Technik UK?
Based in Cardigan, Wales, 3P Technik UK is a proud founder member of the UK Rainwater Reuse Association. Our controllers are designed, built, and programmed in the UK, ensuring high quality and reliable support. 3P Technik has supplied robust and reliable top-up controllers since 2003, with thousands of units installed in homes across the UK.
“Easiest controller panel I ever used and commissioned.” – Independent Pump Maintenance Engineer (UK)
Get Yours Today
Ready to upgrade your rainwater harvesting system? Contact us to learn more or visit the TCA7000 product page for further information.
Ensure a sustainable, uninterrupted water supply with the 3P TCA7000 RainForce Home Controller—your partner in smart water management.
Note: The TCA7000 is not a pump pressure switch and is designed for automatic pumps only. Consult a professional for installation to ensure compliance with electrical and water regulations.