I need to find a way to detect if a facet is turned on and water is flowing in a pipe to trigger other events. I searched and found many devices but wanted to check if anyone has used something that they would recommend.

Talked to the plumber and they have not done this before so it has been left to me to handle.

Plumber will be installing, will let inform client of any possible issues, even if they are far fetched. Thinking of things like leaks, failures, reduced flow. Talked to plumber about where to install to avoid issues like installing on hot water loop, because of this we may need to install 2.

I want to keep price reasonable, but reliability is most important, and client will pay what ever it takes if it comes to that (or decide it is not worth it).

Only need a contact if water is flowing, but there is a control system and should be able to convert a different type of output to what I need. Is there anything anyone has used that they can suggest?

i know something like this exists in the process control world. it also exists in plumbing world... sorry i cant help more that this at this moment. try the local process equipment rep firm to your location.

Have used the FloLogic piece a few times with Crestron and works fantastic. Also protects the house if there is a leak.

http://www.flologic.com/

My customers that have it paid for it within a year on savings on their home insurance. Every year after that they just bank money.

Why not use the pressure switch for well water system? They come in various different low and hi PSI. And they are adjustable.

The plumber may have to install a 1way valve before the pressure switch so that other faucets, toilets or whatever, won’t give it a false trigger. Unless the client wants it for the entire house.

I think this could be used as a 1way valve. [Link: supplyhouse.com]

KOT

+1 for FloLogic

I see its pricey at almost $1600 bucks but control looks easy enough with contact closures.

Hows the home insurance savings work? What do you tell the insurance company? That you have an auto water shutoff and they actually have a discount for that?

When Mr. Stanley drilled through that pipe in Seattle, the entire building was evacuated when a water flow sensor triggered a whole-building fire alarm. Flow sensors are indeed available in tge Fire Life Safety world.

To me, the difficulty would be distinguishing between accidental water flow and, say, someone getting a glass of water from the faucet.

What are you trying to monitor?

There are few main categories; temperature, pressure and flow sensors.
In flow sensors, you have finflow and ultrasonic.

As for outputs, your choices range from on/off (simple NO or NC), few presets (again, NO or NC), all the way to full range analog or digital output ones.

Again, it all depends on what you want to do with it, as well as location.
Main line, you're probably only care about flow and maybe min pressure. At the tub, you might want to know the temp., and flow rate if you're trying to figure runtime to fill the tub.

Insurance companies spend more on water damage than all other incidents combined. You hook it up to your alarm system and whenever the alarm is armed, so is the sensor. Adjustable flow rates, bypass inputs for irrigation. Some insurance companies are buying these for their customers. Works fantastic. Has ability to monitor water flow when not armed. You can set amount of time water flows constantly before alarm goes off.

you want a reed switch....I researched this painfully when I built my electric pressure washer.

search reed flow switch and and any option you could possibly imagine should show up!

If the use is to see if water is flowing, say in a remote sink you could possibly consider

A Potter PS10 (use figure 5 and figure 8)

[Link: completeplumbingsource.com]

[Link: amazon.com]

This type of pressure switch is used in most pool heaters to detect flow. They are generally adjustable from approximately 1-5 psi. NO/NC/Com connecdtions