Emptying pits in wastewater installations, and filling tanks in water supply installations can be a tricky process.

Thankfully, the LC level controllers from Grundfos make it much less of a headache.

In this module, we’re going to give you a basic introduction to the LC range, which applications they function within, as well as provide you with an overview of the different variants. First of all, however, let’s take a brief look at some of the reasons behind the development of the LC range.

Customers within the water supply and wastewater industry typically look for systems that are user-friendly, cost-efficient, and able to communicate with a supervisory system.

Until now, only our most advanced controllers, such as Dedicated Controls, have been able to connect with SCADA systems. This means that there has been no way to monitor and control smaller installations.

But with the new LC level controllers, pain points such as this can be avoided. The whole idea of the LC level controllers is to meet the customers’ needs.

We will take a closer look at the features in Module 3. For now, though, let’s turn our attention to the concept of the LC controllers.

With the LC range, Grundfos has designed a range of level controllers for installations with one or two pumps, ideal for emptying and filling in applications including small wastewater transport, commercial buildings, and irrigation.

It supports both traditional float switch operation as well as analogue level transmitters. Equipped with predefined settings to fit these types of applications, it is perfectly suited to start up easy and quickly in the specific application.

The controller’s user interface shows you the levels and allows you to manually control the pumps. It also offers Grundfos GO support. We will take a deeper look into the user interface and Grundfos GO in the next module.

The level controllers are designed to run in two different modes: Emptying mode, and filling mode.

So, when running in emptying mode, the controller will run all pumps to empty a full tank or pit. This is typically used in small wastewater pits or for the dewatering of surface water in basements, for instance.

And when running in filling mode, it is the opposite, in which the pumps run to fill the tank or pit. Filling mode is used in tank-filling applications, in which water is pumped from a river or lake to a reservoir or tank. From here, the water is distributed for irrigation purposes, or to golf courses, for example. The LC level controllers are available in two variants. The LC 231 is a compact solution complete with certified motor protection, and the LC 241 is a cabinet solution that offers modularity and customisation.

While both solutions can run either one or two pumps, the LC 231 offers a direct online start method up to 12 amps, while the LC 241 offers it up to 23 amps, making it an ideal solution for larger pumps.

The two variants both offer the most important features, but there are a few ways to distinguish them. For instance, the LC 241 is customisable, allowing you to add an external buzzer or an additional I/O.

That concludes our introduction of the LC level controllers. To get a more expansive overview of what each controller offers, head to our website.