Pump control panels
Basix, Basix View, Telemetrix or Telemetrix View?
All four share the same wastewater panel underneath: Schneider switchgear, Socomec isolator, WAGO terminals, built and tested in Stoke-on-Trent. The comparison below is for the twin pump version of each, because that is what most stations need; Basix also covers 1 to 6 pumps. The differences are how the level is sensed, whether there is a screen on the door, and whether it can tell you when something has gone wrong.
| Feature |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choose it for | ||||
| Best suited to | Most pump stations. Floats, no frills, in stock. | Chambers where floats foul, or where you want to see the level on the door. | Sites you cannot visit every week. Alerts by text and email. | Remote sites with a level head, or where the installer wants floats or 4-20mA with no changes. |
| Control | ||||
| Pumps | 1 to 6 | 1 or 2 | 2 (single on request) | 2 |
| Starting | DOL standard; star/delta, capacitor start, inverter optional | DOL standard; star/delta, inverter optional | DOL to 18A; star/delta to 41A | DOL to 18A; star/delta to 41A |
| Level sensing | Up to 4 float switches | 4-20mA head (radar, hydrostatic, ultrasonic), with a backup float input | Up to 4 float switches | Floats or 4-20mA head, detected automatically |
| Touchscreen on the door | 10.2" HMI | |||
| Control circuit | 24V AC | 24V AC | 24V DC | 24V DC |
| Supply | 230V 1ph or 400V 3ph, specify on order | 230V 1ph or 400V 3ph, specify on order | 230V 1ph, 400V 3ph or 3ph+N, no changes | 230V 1ph, 400V 3ph or 3ph+N, no changes |
| Monitoring | ||||
| Remote monitoring built in | ||||
| 4G, WiFi or Ethernet | ||||
| Alerts | Volt-free contacts for your own telemetry | Volt-free contacts for your own telemetry | Pump trip, high level, panel offline: SMS and email, unlimited contacts | Pump trip, high level, connection loss: SMS and email |
| Subscription for alerts | None needed | None needed | None. Email free, texts 10p each | None. Email free, texts 10p each |
| Telemetrix Dashboard (optional)Run history, level trends and smart warnings. £6 a month for up to 5 stations, £25 for up to 250. 30-day free trial. | From £6 + VAT a month | From £6 + VAT a month | ||
| Build | ||||
| Enclosure | Powder-coated mild steel; polyester or stainless optional | Mild steel or polyester; stainless optional | Schneider powder-coated mild steel | Powder-coated mild steel |
| Ingress protection | IP55 (IP66 optional) | IP55 (IP66 optional) | IP55 (IP66 optional) | IP55 (IP66 optional) |
| Size (twin pump DOL) | 500 x 400 x 200mm | Approx. 500 x 400 x 200mm | 500 x 400 x 200mm | 500 x 400 x 200mm |
| Outputs | Volt-free run, fault, high level; two 24V AC beacon supplies | Volt-free run, fault, high level; two beacon supplies | Volt-free contacts; 24V DC beacon supply | Volt-free run, fault, high level; 24V DC for two beacons |
| Warranty | 12 months; lifetime on the stepping relay | 12 months; lifetime on the stepping relay | 12 months | 12 months |
| Price and lead time | ||||
| Twin pump DOL, from | £1,245 + VAT | £1,245 + £1,752 HMI + sensor, + VAT | £1,798 + VAT | £2,798 + VAT |
| Star/delta, from | To order | To order | £4,300 + VAT (to 41A) | £5,300 + VAT (to 41A) |
| Lead time | Stock panels next working day; otherwise 10 to 20 working days | 10 to 20 working days, built to order | Stock panels next working day; otherwise 10 to 20 working days | Stock panels next working day; otherwise 10 to 20 working days |
| Basix details | Basix View details | Telemetrix details | Telemetrix View details | |
Prices are list prices excluding VAT and delivery; trade, account and volume discounts are available when you request a quote. Options are priced on your quote; product codes on the pump panels page.
Level sensing
Floats, radar or hydrostatic?
The biggest difference between the four panels is how they know where the level is. Everyone knows floats. Fewer people have used a hydrostatic sensor, which is a shame, because for most wet wells it is the most accurate and the least trouble.
Float switches
The traditional way. Cheap and simple, and the source of most call-outs.
- A float on a cable tilts as the level passes it. Each float is one switch point: stop, start, assist, high level.
- You get on and off, not a level. Nobody can tell you how full the chamber is.
- Fat, rags and wipes wrap round the floats and cables; in a narrow chamber they tangle with each other and the pumps.
Best for: Clean water, wide chambers, someone on site regularly.
Radar head
Non-contact. Looks down at the surface from above.
- Mounted above the liquid, it times an echo off the surface and gives a continuous level.
- Nothing in the liquid to foul, and no moving parts.
- It needs a clear cone of view to the surface. Narrow pits, ladders, pipework and foam get in the way, so it is not the answer for every chamber.
Best for: Wide, open chambers and tanks.
Hydrostatic sensor
Sits on the floor of the pit and measures the weight of liquid above it. Our usual recommendation.
- A sealed pressure sensor about the size of a torch, lowered to the bottom of the pit on its cable. The deeper the liquid, the higher the pressure, so it reads the level directly and continuously.
- Accurate in shallow and deep pits alike: choose a 4 m sensor for a shallow chamber or a 10 m one for a deep shaft, and it reads to within about half a percent of that range.
- Not affected by chamber width, ladders, foam, turbulence or fat on the surface. No moving parts, nothing to jam or tangle, so failures are rare.
- Lifted out on its cable to rinse when the pumps are serviced. Nobody goes into the chamber.
Best for: Almost any wet well, and especially narrow or fatty ones.
| Floats | Radar | Hydrostatic | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | On/off switch points | Continuous level | Continuous level |
| Narrow pit | Floats tangle | Usually no clear view | Fine |
| Shallow pit | Little room for four floats | Dead zone near the sensor | Fine, short-range sensor |
| Deep pit | Long cables to tangle | Fine | Fine, longer-range sensor |
| Fat, rags, wipes | Fouls and jams | Unaffected | Rarely affected |
| Foam or turbulence | Unaffected | Can confuse the echo | Unaffected |
| Moving parts | Yes | None | None |
| Upkeep | Untangle or replace floats | Keep the face clear | Rinse when servicing |
| With a View panel | Included, up to 4 | £1,883 + VAT | £1,041 + VAT |
Whichever sensor you choose, a high level float wired as an independent backup alarm is good practice and costs very little. More on choosing between them in radar vs hydrostatic vs float switches.
Still not sure?
Floats and someone on site weekly
Basix. It is in stock, it is the cheapest, and an installer who has fitted one has fitted them all.
Fat, rags or a narrow chamber
Basix View or Telemetrix View with a hydrostatic sensor for a narrow pit, or a radar head where there is room to see down. No floats to tangle or foul.
A site two hours away
Telemetrix or Telemetrix View. A text when a pump trips beats a call when the chamber overflows.
Ask us which one fits
Tell us the pumps, the chamber and how far away the site is. We will say which panel we would fit and what it costs.
“The detail, and thought that goes into making these installer and end user friendly is second to none. The best control panels we've seen, let alone had the pleasure of using. Great products.”
- Wiring diagram, test certificate and 12-month warranty with every panel
- Built to BS EN 61439-2 and BS EN 60204-1 in Stoke-on-Trent
- We reply during working hours, usually the same working day
Got a project, or just need a quick answer?
Tell us what the panel has to do and we will come back with a price and a lead time. Existing accounts: reorders and spares go through the same form.