Mystery switch behind TV - absolutely BAFFLED!

[bonn4lolly]

Hi All,

Praying someone can help me. We recently moved into a new house, built around 1995. There is a switch behind the TV, in the lounge on the inside of the house (but on an external wall).

I've attached a photo, below - the cables are coaxial (aerial) cables and I think to the satellite dish on the wall directly above. For some reason, someone has put a blob of blu-tac onto the switch.



I really hope someone knows what this might be - I'd like to remove it and put a proper plug in for the aerial.

Many thanks,

Andy

[Ttaskmaster]

Are you at the bottom of a hill and do you have a septic tank, or similar domestic sewage pump setup?
I work for... "a well-known water company" and the words HIGH LEVEL ALARM UNIT ring a bell with me. We have something similar on the FLIP individual property sewage pumps we install.
Although my specialty is Mains and Trunk sewers, I could try asking around our office.

Pretty sure it's something to do with a septic tank/private domestic sewage system, though...
If you're able to get that cover off and see if there's anything written inside, that could yield some results too.

[Butuz]

Be careful - it's got bluetak stuck to it - it could be dangerous.

I'd drop the power on your fuse box before you rip it off, just incase!

Butuz

[bonn4lolly]

Thanks guys! Wasn't expecting anything that quickly!

Ttaskmaster - think you've hit the nail on the head. We live in a "dip" and so there is a pump in the neighbours garden to pump our sewage back to the road.

Any info on what the switches do and what setting they should be on would be great i.e. does the on/off refer to the pump status or alarm status?

In terms of what is inside, I'll take a look tomorrow - guessing some PCBs and a piezo speaker if it does indeed sound an audible alarm.

Thanks again - I'm sure I'll drop straight off to sleep tonight!

[bonn4lolly]

And FLIP = Flood Local Improvement Projects? I work in a similar line of work for a "well known government body"!

[Ttaskmaster]

FLIP = Yep, those things. FloodING Local Improvement Project. Mini sewage pumping station, essentially.
Pretty cool intermediate solutions to large scale flooding and usually free to the homeowner.

However, I think it more likely you have a septic tank.
What this thing does: *Very* basically... your tank should fill to a certain level, then as the float rises with it, the pump will kick in and pump it off back toward a rising main.
When the level drops below a certain point, the float drops and the pump switches off again to maintain enough septic culture 'stuff'.
The alarm is in the event of the level rising too high to be pumped (flooding, surcharging, blockages, etc).

However, there are many variables and variants within this.
For instance - Many septic tanks don't have pumps, so when the alarm goes off you need to phone a tankering company to drain it. We have a cess pitt at our home, which gets drained roughly every 3 months. Nearby septics use the same company, but only twice a year.

If you're happy taking the cover off (switch off all the mains, of course (sorry, should have said)) and if there is any further info, that may help us ID what kind of system you've got.

As for how it works - Again, not my area. However, I'd expect that switch to be a three-stage. One position for Test, Off and On. I'd reckon that dial above shows the approximate tank level. The battery is likely the testing circuit, a bit like how some old fashioned circuit breakers had a battery in them.

Beyond that, the best thing I could advise is speaking to whichever water company handles your locality, along with your landlord/estate agent and any previous tenants.

[peterb]

The meter could be battery test. Not sure what the bluets is covering, could be a buzzer, warning light or a mute switch. Doesn't look very well loved or used, so it might be some legacy system - but it would be as well to find out - particularly with recent weather

How long have you lived there? Was there anything in the purchase/disclosure documentation? Things like septic tanks, cesspits or unusual drainage systems are usually specifically mentioned.

[machapman]

Is the blutak covering a indicator light? The previous owners might have felt having a green or red glow in their room all the time was rather annoying, particularly at night.