Winland WaterBug WB-350 — Electronic Water Detection Device Manual

Overview

The Winland WaterBug® WB-350 is a fully electronic water leak detection device designed to detect water only (distilled and deionized water cannot be detected). The console mounts to a wall or other flat vertical surface, and remote probes are placed where water leakage is most likely. Up to six remote probes may be connected to one control console. It's designed for use with an alarm system, wireless transmitter, or similar output device — not as a standalone alarm.

A film of moisture forming a bridge between the two metallic contacts on any remote probe is enough to trigger an alarm condition. The output is non-latching and remains closed until the moisture bridge is broken. The WB-350 will not false-alarm due to high humidity or condensation, making it suitable for homes, offices, computer rooms, boats, and similar environments. Several consoles can be wired together to monitor an entire complex.

Package Contents

• 1x WB-350 console
• 1x Surface Probe — Unsupervised (W-S-U)
• 1x Installation/Operating Instructions Guide

Low Battery Indication

The WB-350 will trip the open-collector output and give an audible warning if battery voltage runs low.

Specifications

Probe Types

• W-S-S / W-UC-S (Supervised Surface / Under Carpet): Can connect to EnviroAlert products as well as the WB-800. Alarms if water is present AND if the cable is cut.
• W-S-U / W-UC-U (Unsupervised Surface / Under Carpet): Included standard probe type — can connect to the full line of WaterBug products. No alarm sounds if the cable is cut.

Installation

1. Locate the mounting area for the console. Mark the screw hole position, drive the mounting screw leaving 3/16" between the screw head and the wall, then engage the console's key slot over the screw head and press down.
2. Wire multiple probes in parallel to terminals S and S.
3. Mount remote surface probes securely to the floor or a wall. Mounting probes vertically (on a wall) allows monitoring for rising water levels — useful for basement sump pumps and water storage/drainage systems.
4. Install the 9-volt alkaline battery: loosen and remove the four corner screws, insert the battery, and retighten the screws.
5. To use with a wireless transmitter: wire the N.O. and C terminals to the transmitter's input. If initial wiring falsely activates the transmitter when no moisture is present, reverse the N.O. and C leads.

Four Probe Contacts

Mount the probe to ensure all four stainless steel contacts are against the surface to be monitored.

Terminal Block Connections

The WB-350 is powered by one 9-volt alkaline battery. It can be used with virtually any type of wireless transmitter — if any connected remote probe detects water, the output trips.

Test Procedures

To test operational status, form a water bridge between the two metallic contact points using a moistened finger or cloth. If working properly, the console gives an audible warning and activates any connected warning device within approximately 3 seconds. The unit resets automatically once the probe dries and the water bridge is broken. Test weekly to ensure proper operation.

Mounting Notes

• For a permanent bolted installation of the standard surface probe, drill only in the innermost center recessed area — drilling elsewhere may damage internal wiring and cause the unit to fail.
• Concrete can be semi-conductive; if experiencing false alarms, insulate all probes mounted on concrete.

Monitoring for the Absence of Water

The WB-350 should not be used to monitor for the absence of water, as doing so will significantly reduce battery life. Use the WB-200 (hardwire version) for that use case instead.

Related Products

Part of Winland's broader Electronic Water Detection product line, which also includes the EA200/EA400/EA800 EnviroAlert series and the WB-200 (hardwire) and WB-800 (multi-probe) WaterBug models.

Warranty

Winland Electronics, Inc. warrants each product against defects in material and factory workmanship for one year from the date of purchase when properly installed and operated per instructions. Obligation is limited to repair/replacement at Winland's factory; the warranty is void if the product housing is removed, or if the product has been misused, altered, or repaired outside Winland's factory. Tech support: (800) 635-4269 / +1-507-625-7231, 8:00am–5:00pm Central Time. www.winland.com