ZOELLER FM2943 APak Z Control Enabled Alarm Unit Instruction Manual

: August 3, 2024
: Zoeller

Table of Contents

FM2943
ALARM INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

NOTICE TO INSTALLER: Instructions must remain with installation.

FM2943

0324

Supersedes
0223

Trusted. Tested. Tough.®

MAIL TO: P.O. BOX 16347 • Louisville, KY 40256-0347
SHIP TO: 3649 Cane Run Road • Louisville, KY 40211-1961
Tel: 502-778-2731 • 1 (800) 928-PUMP

Visit our website:
zoellerpumps.com

Product information presented here reflects conditions at time of publication. Consult factory regarding discrepancies or inconsistencies.

ALARM INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

For indoor use only.
All electrical and safety codes must be followed including the National Electrical Code and all applicable local codes.
Do not connect powered devices to inputs.

SPECIFICATIONS

This alarm unit monitors liquid levels in lift pump chambers, sump pump basins, holding tanks, and other non-potable water applications. In addition, the Z Control® Enabled version of the APak® can connect to the Z Control® Cloud with its built-in Wi-Fi®. It features a green Power On LED, red Input 1 and Input 2 LEDs, an audible buzzer, normally closed dry contacts, and a Silence/Reset/Test button. The APak® plugs into a 120 V, 60 Hz receptacle. Battery backup power is applied by 2 standard alkaline AA batteries, which are not included and must be purchased separately.

ALARM UNIT INSTALLATION

Before installing alarm, remove the 4 cover screws to access battery compartment (see Figure B) and install 2 AA standard alkaline batteries, not included.
Mount the alarm unit securely.
Plug transformer’s barrel connector into the APak®. Secure power cord so it does not interfere with or obstruct any other devices.
Plug transformer into standard 120 V AC, 60 Hz receptacle. A loud beep will occur when completing this step.
NOTE: The APak® Alarm should be connected to a circuit separate from the pump circuit.

Some installations may require the APak® alarm to be powered by batteries only or by AC power only. For appropriate alarm behavior in such installations, see the following chart.

Power choice	Resulting alarm behavior	Do this
AC & batteries	Alarms for power outage and low battery.	Insert batteries and

connect to power.
AC only| Low battery alarm disabled.| Hold button while powering up the alarm for about 5 seconds until a single beep is heard, then release the button. This setting will be remembered by the alarm even after a power outage. If this setting is no longer desired, simply adding batteries will remove this setting.
Batteries only*| Power outage alarm disabled.| Insert batteries. The alarm will not detect loss of AC power if it is never applied.

*LED, alarm, and Z Control® connectivity have different behaviors in battery-only mode. See chart on page 7.

Figure A

SK3103

10-4013 pictured

ALARM
DRY CONTACTS
TO INPUT 2
ZOELLER UNICHECK
TO POWER SUPPLY
4″ [102 mm] OF GRAVEL
PUMP “OFF” LEVEL
PUMP “ON” LEVEL
ZOELLER VERTICAL REED SENSOR
ALARM “ON” LEVEL
ZOELLER FIBERGLASS OR POLYETHYLENE BASIN
TRANSFORMER TO POWER SUPPLY
NOTE:
DO NOT PLUG A-PAK ALARM SYSTEM INTO THE SAME CIRCUIT AS THE PUMP

Figure B

SK3102

Wi-Fi® is a registered trademark of Wi-Fi Alliance®.

TO POWER SUPPLY
REMOVE (4) COVER SCREWS TO INSTALL/REPLACE BATTERIES.
DRY CONTACT
INPUT 2
INPUT 1 TO CONTROL SWITCH

LIMITED WARRANTY

Manufacturer warrants, to the purchaser and subsequent owner during the warranty period, every new product to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service, when properly used and maintained, for a period of 5 years from date of purchase by the end user. Parts that fail within the warranty period, that inspections determine to be defective in material or workmanship, will be repaired, replaced or remanufactured at Manufacturer’s option, provided however, that by so doing we will not be obligated to replace an entire assembly, the entire mechanism or the complete unit. No allowance will be made for shipping charges, damages, labor or other charges that may occur due to product failure, repair or replacement.

This warranty does not apply to and there shall be no warranty for any material or product that has been disassembled without prior approval of Manufacturer, subjected to misuse, misapplication, neglect, alteration, accident or uncontrollable act of nature; that has not been installed, operated or maintained in accordance with Manufacturer’s installation instructions; that has been exposed to outside substances including but not limited to the following: sand, gravel, cement, mud, tar, hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon derivatives (oil, gasoline, solvents, etc.), or other abrasive or corrosive substances, wash towels or feminine sanitary products, etc. in all pumping applications. The warranty set out in the paragraph above is in lieu of all other warranties expressed or implied; and we do not authorize any representative or other person to assume for us any other liability in connection with our products.

Contact Manufacturer at, 3649 Cane Run Road, Louisville, Kentucky 40211, Attention: Customer Support Department to obtain any needed repair or replacement of part(s) or additional information pertaining to our warranty.

MANUFACTURER EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES OR BREACH OF EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED WARRANTY; AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND OF MERCHANTABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE DURATION OF THE EXPRESSED WARRANTY.

Some states do not allow limitations on the duration of an implied warranty, so the above limitation may not apply to you. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.

CONTROL SWITCH INSTALLATION

VERTICAL REED SENSOR

(10-4013)

DO NOT install sensor in direct line of incoming liquid.

Fasten sensor to right-angle mounting bracket by unthreading plastic nut. Re-tighten plastic nut after inserting sensor stem in bracket (see Figure C).
Locate sensor at desired activation level and secure mounting bracket to the discharge pipe as shown (see Figures C, D, and E) using supplied hose clamp.
NOTE: DO NOT install cord under hose clamp.
Secure sensor cord to discharge pipe. Be sure not to leave any loose cord that could rub against and obstruct other devices in basin assembly.
NOTE: Create a cable strain relief when securing the control switch cord by fastening a 2” (50 mm) loop of the cord to the pipe with a cable tie or tape. Be sure sensor float moves up and down without interference.

CLAMP & BRACKET DETAIL

SK1301E

Figure C

SK1301D

Figure D

SK1301E

Figure E

NOTE: Alarm system 10-4014 is recommended for sewage applications. If a 10-4013 is used in a sewage application, the float should be inspected and cleaned as necessary after any high water incident.

MECHANICAL FLOAT SWITCH

(10-4014)

Place cord into clamp and secure to discharge pipe as shown in clamp detail (see Figure F). NOTE: Do not install the cord under the hose clamp.
Tighten the hose clamp with a screwdriver. NOTE: Do not over tighten; over-tightening may cause damage to the plastic clamp.
Make sure the float cable is not allowed to touch the excess hose clamp band during operation.
The float switch must be suspended 7” (17.8 cm) below desired activation level (see Figure G).
Be certain that installation of float allows for unobstructed range of motion.

LIFT PUMP

Suspend control switch above pump turn on level. If a pump failure causes high-level condition, the APak® Alarm System will activate (see Figure A).

HOLDING TANK

Suspend control switch into tank 7” (17.8 cm) below desired alarm level. APak® Alarm System will activate if float ascends to alarm level (see Figure G).

CLAMP DETAIL

SK1301F

Figure F

7” (17.8 cm)
TETHER LENGTH FOR ALARM FLOAT

SK1301G

Figure G

CLAMP DETAIL
ALARM LEVEL

CONTROL/MECHANICAL SWITCH WIRING

Connect the two conductors from the control or mechanical switch to either pair of input terminals on the bottom of the alarm unit (see Figure B). The control switch operates on low voltage to reduce shock hazards. The second input may be used to connect a second switch or dry contacts from another device.

OPERATION AND TESTING

Check and test your installation by lifting the float manually (see Figure E or G). The alarm unit will indicate an alarm condition by beeping and lighting a red LED above “Input 1”. The alarm may be silenced for 24 hours* by briefly pressing the Silence button. Once silenced, the LED changes to a flashing state and the audible horn will not sound. Once the high water condition is remedied, the alarm should be reset by holding the Silence button for 2 seconds. Zoeller Company cannot be responsible for damages caused by faulty or negligent installation of this device. We respectfully suggest you engage the services of a qualified, licensed electrician or service person. Hold the Silence button for more than 4 seconds to test once per week to verify proper operation.

For units without internet connectivity, see the standard APak® 10-4011, 10-4012.

During a power outage, the APak® will beep every 30 seconds until the power is restored. If a high water alarm occurs during power outage with batteries installed, the alarm will sound every 5 seconds.
*24 hours is the default setting. This and other settings may be changed from Z Control® Cloud.

Models

|

10-4013-A

| 10-4014-A
---|---|---
Item| Description| Qty| 3/16
thru
Current|

3/16
thru
Current

1

| Clamp, #36 worm-SS|

1

| 001766| 001766

2

| Supply, power (service part)|

1

| 154018| 154018

3

| Switch, vertical reed (service part)|

1

| 154033| N/A

4

| Switch, mechanical float|

1

| N/A|

10-2060

SK3113

CONNECTING THE APak TO Z CONTROL®

By connecting the APak to the Z Control® Cloud using the built-in WiFi, the user can set up free alert messages via email, text, and mobile app “push” notifications. In addition, the user can verify the APak’s readiness, remotely silence alarms and reset the unit, configure settings, and modify how notifications are sent. Other visual information such as input status and battery level are available through the web and app interfaces.

There are 2 ways to connect the APak to the Z Control® cloud.

The simplest method is to use the Z Control® mobile app. These instructions are below under “Use the Mobile App”.
The second method is to use your mobile device or computer to connect to the APak directly. Instructions for connecting directly are provided below under “Use Your Mobile Device Or Computer To Connect Directly To The APak”.

Use the Mobile App (iOS and Android)

Before you begin:

Know what your WiFi network is named (i.e. its SSID) and its password. Double check you know the correct password and exactly how it is spelled, including capitalization. This will prevent the most common troubleshooting issues.
Verify that your mobile device has working Wi-Fi and detects a strong signal from your Wi-Fi network when you are standing next to the APak alarm. If the signal is weak or varies, your network may not be able to provide a stable connection for the APak. Try repositioning the controller if possible, and be sure there are no physical or interference barriers nearby. The use of an off-the-shelf range extender may be necessary in some installations.
Verify your WiFi network is connected to the internet and that it is broadcasting a visible, secure, 2.4Ghz network.
2.4 Ghz network is required. If you only see 5 Ghz networks, you may need to log into your dual band router to choose to broadcast the networks separately.
Band steering may need to be temporarily turned off during setup.
The 2.4Ghz network must use WPA or WPA2 security. WEP and Open networks are not compatible with the APak.
Any VPNs or other network controls may need to be temporarily turned off during setup.
Locate the APak’s Device ID and data matrix on the top sticker.
Like most internet connected devices, the APak’s WiFi connectivity should be used behind a secure firewall. Most routers have a firewall built into them. Consult a networking professional for specific questions about firewalls.
The above list also helps to troubleshoot connectivity issues.

These basic instructions will not detail every step, but provide an overview of what the app will do.

1. Open the app, sign in to your account, or create an account using the link at the bottom. Open your profile to set up any additional phone numbers or email addresses where you would like to receive notifications.

2. Once you’re logged in to your account, create locations by touching the “+ ” from the Locations screen. When ready to add a device, choose the desired location name and then touch the “+” to start adding a device. Allow access to the camera so you can scan the data matrix.

3. Now the app will provide several instruction screens about scanning the data matrix, joining the APak’s network, and then LEAVING the app and how to come back.

Rather than scan the data matrix, the user may instead enter the APak’s Device ID to get started. Ignore warnings your mobile device may give you about “unsecure network” or “no internet connection”. The app is connecting directly with the Z Control® equipment, and therefore no security or internet connection is necessary.

4. When the captive screen opens (see Figure J in next section), use the Wifi Scan button to find the Wifi network you want the APak to use, select it from the list provided at the bottom of the screen (you may need to scroll), and type the Passphrase in the field. The Z Control® LED should be solid within a minute indicating successful connection to the router and the Z Control® Cloud. Upon first connecting to the cloud, the APak controller may immediately update its firmware over the air (OTA), if an update is available. If an update is taking place, the Z Control® LED will flicker for up to 1 minute while the update is downloaded. The Z Control® LED will be solid and all other LEDs will turn off while the update is being installed. After up to 1 minute, the APak will restart and return to normal operation. The APak’s alert history on the Z Control® Cloud will also be updated with the firmware update information, and notification to email accounts will occur.

5. You now should go back to the Z Control® app to find your new device set up in the location you previously selected. You can always change a device to a different location in your account.

6. Open the APak and explore current status and configuration settings.

Use your mobile device or computer to connect directly to the APak controller

Instead of using a mobile device and the Z Control® app, you can also use your mobile device or computer to directly connect to the APak.

Before you begin:

Know what your WiFi network is named (i.e. its SSID) and its password. Double check that you know the correct password and exactly how it is spelled, including capitalization. This will prevent the most common troubleshooting issues.
Verify that your mobile device has working Wi-Fi and detects a strong signal from your Wi-Fi network when you are standing next to the APak alarm. If the signal is weak or varies, your network may not be able to provide a stable connection for the Apak. Try repositioning the controller if possible, and be sure there are no physical or interference barriers nearby. The use of an off-the-shelf range extender may be necessary in some installations.
Verify your WiFi router is connected to the internet and that it is broadcasting a visible, secure, 2.4Ghz network.
2.4 Ghz network is required. If you only see 5 Ghz networks, you may need to log into your dual band router to choose to broadcast the networks separately.
Band steering may need to be temporarily turned off during setup.
The 2.4Ghz network must use WPA or WPA2 security. WEP and Open networks are not compatible with the APak.
Any VPNs or other network controls may need to be temporarily turned off during setup.
Create a free account at zcontrolcloud.com.
Locate the APak’s Device ID on the top sticker.
The above list also helps to troubleshoot connectivity issues.
If the APak controller still will not connect after trying the above suggestions, follow the same steps to connect the APak to a mobile phone hotspot instead of the home’s wifi router. If the APak successfully connects to the cloud through the hotspot, then the conflict likely has something to do with the router settings.

Connection Steps:

1. Apply AC Power to the APak. The Z Control® LED will blink and then turn off, indicating the APak is in AP Mode* and is transmitting an SSID (see Figure B). If the LED is blinking and not in AP mode, reset the APak by disconnecting power, hold the Silence button, restore power, wait 5 seconds and let go of the Silence button.

Figure H

*AP Mode is when the APak® is broadcasting its “name”, or SSID. The SSID is in the format ZCTL_ APAK_xxxx where “xxxx” is the first 4 digits of your APak®’s Device ID. The APak®’s SSID will show up in your phone/tablet/computer’s list of available Wi-Fi®, and selecting it will give you direct connectivity to the APak®. This is required in order to give the your APak® the password credentials needed to connect to the Wi-Fi® of your choice.

**Battery Only Mode. The APak® will not broadcast an SSID when powered by batteries (DC) only. It must have AC power to broadcast an SSID. Once the APak® is connected to Wi-Fi®, AC power may be removed if desired. Since the APak® has previously seen AC power and it has been removed, the APak® will now beep every 30 seconds indicating a power outage. To remedy, remove battery power for a moment, then reinsert batteries. The APak® will no longer alarm for AC Power Out (unless AC Power is again applied and then removed). The LEDs and alarm will behave differently than when AC is present in order to conserve battery power. In battery only mode, the APak® will check into the Z Control® Cloud far less often in order for the batteries to last for approximately 1 year.

This LED should be off when APak® is in AP mode.
When user is connected to APak® to set up Wi-Fi®, LED will blink.
When APak® is connected to router and Z Control® Cloud, this LED will be solid.
AC power must be used for AP mode to work

Figure I

Select the APak®’s SSID

*AP Mode is when the APak is broadcasting its “name”, or SSID. The SSID is in the format ZCTL_APak_xxxx where “xxxx” is the first 4 digits of your APak’s Device ID (See Figure I). The APak’s SSID will show up in your phone/tablet/computer’s list of available WiFi networks, and selecting it will give you direct connectivity to the APak. This is required in order to give your APak the password credentials needed to connect to the WiFi network of your choice.

2. Standing near the APak, use your phone, tablet, or computer to look for the APak’s SSID in your WiFi settings (see Figure I). It will look like “ZCTLAPak xxxx” where “xxxx” is the first 4 digits of your APak’s Device ID. Select this, and be sure your device displays a check mark or similar indicator that you are connected to the APak’s local network. If so, 2 things will happen:

The Z Control® LED will flash quickly.
A Z Control® setup screen (See Figure J) will open. This may take up to 30 seconds.

If the setup screen does not appear, open a browser on the same device and type “192.168.125.1” in the address bar. If the setup screen appears but is not used (cancelled or otherwise closed), the APak will return to AP mode and the Z Control® LED will turn off until the next WiFi setup attempt. If the setup screen still does not appear, verify your device is still connected to the APak’s SSID. If it isn’t, repeat Step 2 and be sure your device’s Wifi stays connected to the APak. If your device shows a warning message about no internet or no security on the APak’s network, ignore this and connect to it anyway.

3. On the setup screen (see Figure J), press the WiFi Scan button, scroll down to see the list of WiFi signals found, and choose the WiFi network you want the APak to use for internet connectivity. Enter the passphrase for the network you chose in the field indicated. If the passphrase is correct, the APak will connect to the network and start sending status updates to zcontrolcloud.com. You will see the Z Control® LED go from blinking to solid. This could take up to a minute or so.

If the LED does not turn solid, then the passphrase entered is incorrect, the router’s security is insufficient (see note below**), or some other network restriction is in place (see your network administrator). The APak will return to standby mode if the connection to router is not successful. If you need to force the APak into AP mode again, press the Z Control® button for 12 seconds (See Figure A). This will cause the APak to re-enter AP mode and begin transmitting its SSID again. Repeat Steps 2 and 3.

Figure J

**Note that the APak® will not connect to routers with “WEP” or “OPEN” security.

Click Wi-Fi® Scan button
Available Wi-Fi® will be listed here. Select the one you want.

4. Once the APak’s Z Control® LED is solid, log in to your account (or create one) at zcontrolcloud.com. Choose the Add New Device button next to the location you want to use for the APak (see Figure K). Follow the directions to add your APak by either auto-detect or entering the Device I.D. When successful, a APak product tile will appear in your account.

Firmware Updates:

The APak is capable of OTA, or “over the air” firmware updates. It’s possible that the APak could perform an update immediately if one is available at the Z Control® Cloud. If an update is taking place, the Z Control® LED will flicker for up to 1 minute while the update is downloaded. The Z Control® LED will be solid and all other LEDs will turn off while the update is being installed. After up to 1 minute, the APak will restart and return to normal operation. The APak’s alert history on the Z Control® Cloud will also be updated with the firmware upgrade information, and notification to email accounts will occur.

Figure K

Select Add New Device
When you add the correct Device ID, an APak product tile will appear in your account

Congratulations! Your APak is online. Be sure you have added the contact information for phone numbers and email addresses that should receive notifications. This can done by selecting “Manage Contacts” from the main menu (the square with 3 lines in the upper right corner). You can also edit how each device sends out notifications from the device’s “Alarm Settings” tab. You can now open the product’s configuration by clicking the “View” button to modify the APak’s device and notification settings. You can also install the Z Control® mobile app on your mobile device (Android and iOS versions available, search “Z Control” in the app stores).

APAK® LED, BUTTON, ALARM, AND Z CONTROL® BEHAVIORS

AC and DC Mode

|

AC Only Mode

|

DC Only Mode

---|---|---
LED and Alarm Behaviors|

Power LED

| Power LED is on when AC and DC power are present.| Power LED is on when AC power is present.| Power LED off when only batteries have been inserted, but will blink when button pressed.

Input 1 or Input 2 In Alarm

| Input LED on solid.
Alarm triple beeps continuously.| Input LED on solid.
Alarm triple beeps continuously.| Input LED blinks and alarm double beep every 5 seconds.

Low Battery Alarm

| Power LED blinks.
Alarm triple beeps every 5 seconds.| N/A| Power LED blinks and alarm beeps every 10 seconds.

Power Out Alarm

| All LEDs go out to conserve battery power.
Power LED blinks and alarm double beeps every 30 seconds.| N/A| N/A

Z Control® LED

| LED is solid when connected to router and Z Control Cloud.
LED is off when APak® is in AP mode.
LED blinks when Wi-Fi® setup is in process.
LED blinks faster if APak® is attempting to reconnect to a known router.
LED alternates blinking fast then slow when APak is connected to router but internet is lost.| LED is solid when connected to router and Z Control® Cloud.
LED is off when APak® is in AP mode.
LED blinks when Wi-Fi® setup is in process.
LED blinks faster if APak® is attempting to reconnect to a known router.
LED alternates blinking fast then slow when APak® is connected to router but internet is lost.| In order to conserve battery power, Z Control® LED is dimly lit while connected to the router and Z Control® Cloud and off when the Wi-Fi® module is in low power mode. AC power is required for Wi-Fi® setup (see directions). To test connectivity, trigger an Input.
Silence Button|

Press/Release

| Silences Alarms. LED that is in alarm stays on (or blinks) until APak® is Reset.| Silences Alarms. LED that is in alarm stays on (or blinks) until APak® is Reset.| Silences alarm. LED still blinks every 5 seconds until alarm is Reset. In standby mode, a short beep will occur to indicate APak® is ready.

Hold 3 Seconds

| Resets any active alarms and returns APak® to standby mode.| Resets any active alarms and returns APak® to standby mode.| Resets any active alarms and returns APak® to standby mode.

Hold 4 Seconds

| Initiates a LED and Alarm Test. Will flash and double beep 3 times.| Initiates a LED and Alarm Test. Will flash and double beep 3 times.| Initiates a LED and Alarm Test. Will flash and double beep 3 times.

Hold While Applying AC To APak®

| APak® will enter AP mode. For APak® to revert to previous Wi-Fi® settings, power cycle again.| APak® will enter AP mode. For APak to revert to previous Wi-Fi® settings, power cycle again.| APak® will enter AP mode*. For APak® to revert to previous Wi-Fi® settings, power cycle again. See “Battery Mode Only” note above.

Hold 12 Seconds

| Complete reset of APak® to factory settings, including erasing Wi-Fi settings®. APak® will enter AP mode.| Complete reset of APak® to factory settings, including erasing Wi-Fi® settings. APak® will enter AP mode.| Complete reset of APak® to factory settings, including erasing Wi-Fi® settings.
Communications and Battery Life|

Communication With Z Control® Cloud

| Communication is nearly continuous.| Communication is nearly continuous.| Limited to once per day to conserve battery power.

Communication with Z Control® Cloud Lost

| Notification sent to user after 10 minutes of no communication.| Notification sent to user after 10 minutes of no communication.| Notification sent to user after 24 hours of no communication.

Alarm Condition Present

| Immediate communication to Z Control® Cloud.| Immediate communication to Z Control® Cloud.| Immediate communication to Z Control® Cloud.

Auxiliary Output

| Triggered for Input 1, Input 2, Power Out, and Low Battery Alarms.| Triggered for Input 1 and Input 2 Alarms.| Does not function*

Battery Life

| 1-2 years with normal use.| N/A| Approximately 1 year with normal use.

*AP Mode is when the APak® is broadcasting its “name”, or SSID. The SSID is in the format ZCTL_APAK_xxxx where “xxxx” is the first 4 digits of your APak®’s Device ID. The APak’®s SSID will show up in your phone/tablet/computer’s list of available Wi-Fi®, and selecting it will give you direct connectivity to the APak®. This is required in order to give your APak® the password credentials needed to connect to the Wi-Fi® of your choice.

These are the original installation instructions.

MAIL TO: P.O. BOX 16347 • Louisville, KY 40256-0347
SHIP TO: 3649 Cane Run Road • Louisville, KY 40211-1961
Tel: 502-778-2731 • 1 (800) 928-PUMP

Trusted. Tested. Tough.®

Visit our website:
zoellerpumps.com