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Monitoring Water Level in a Tank

Former Member

I wan to automate a test that I conduct frequently.  I want to record the drop in water level in a water tank over 30 minutes then trigger a valve with solenoid (able to operate by gravity flow, no pressured water) to refill the water back to same level and then wait another 30 minutes.  Each time interval will have a set of data representing the water level in the tank.  I was told I need a microcontroller, an e-tape (from Milone technologies) and a water valve.  Can anyone help in pointing out what instruments are needed and how to connect them.  I was told that I don't need a data logger if the controller can control a valve and log data.  If someone an help , I will draw a sketch if needed. Regards

Parents

  • Simple is good.  I can do simple.

     

    To get rolling, you could put a clear, rigid plastic tube vertically in your lower reservoir.  Inside the tube you put a cork.  Not a tapered cork, but a cylindrical cork.  Atop that you put a rare-earth magnet, cylindrical, large and polarized at the ends.

    http://www.kjmagnetics.com/

    Then you get a pair of saturating hall sensors:

    http://sensing.honeywell.com/index.php?ci_id=47847

    Magnetic Digital Position Hall Effect Sensor ICs

     

    Put one sensor by the top and one by the bottom.  They can be about a quarter-inch away from the magnet and still function.  The magnet is prone to corrosion.  Paint it with plasti-dip or spar varnish or something, maybe Q-dope if you have some laying around.

     

    When the bottom sensor is activated set a flip/flop.  The output goes to the amplifier that actuates the solenoid, this event actuates the valve, opening it.  You could probably contract John Wiltrout for this.  I happen to know he is equipped for this very thing back in his compound in America's Dairyland.

    If he is unavailable you could try me or a half-dozen other guys on here, MK could do it, my kid N9VCU could do it and probably needs the money.  IIRC the valve is around a Henry in inductance, but its been a decade since I have played with one.

     

    When the top sensor is actuated the F/F is reset, and the solenoid is de-energized, shutting the valve.

     

    This much would grant your helper a well-deserved sit-down.

    You could hang your sensor and computer over this setup later to get your data.

     

    That is as simple as I can imagine.

    Gotta go to OHare to pick up a buddy now, traffic be damned.  I'll probably be back lurking this evening.

     

    Since this is a one-off, you could probably just go to ebay for a 'DC solid state relay' to obtain your power switch.  Don't forget to throw in a kickback diode.  Your load is Resistive + Inductive.

Reply

  • Simple is good.  I can do simple.

     

    To get rolling, you could put a clear, rigid plastic tube vertically in your lower reservoir.  Inside the tube you put a cork.  Not a tapered cork, but a cylindrical cork.  Atop that you put a rare-earth magnet, cylindrical, large and polarized at the ends.

    http://www.kjmagnetics.com/

    Then you get a pair of saturating hall sensors:

    http://sensing.honeywell.com/index.php?ci_id=47847

    Magnetic Digital Position Hall Effect Sensor ICs

     

    Put one sensor by the top and one by the bottom.  They can be about a quarter-inch away from the magnet and still function.  The magnet is prone to corrosion.  Paint it with plasti-dip or spar varnish or something, maybe Q-dope if you have some laying around.

     

    When the bottom sensor is activated set a flip/flop.  The output goes to the amplifier that actuates the solenoid, this event actuates the valve, opening it.  You could probably contract John Wiltrout for this.  I happen to know he is equipped for this very thing back in his compound in America's Dairyland.

    If he is unavailable you could try me or a half-dozen other guys on here, MK could do it, my kid N9VCU could do it and probably needs the money.  IIRC the valve is around a Henry in inductance, but its been a decade since I have played with one.

     

    When the top sensor is actuated the F/F is reset, and the solenoid is de-energized, shutting the valve.

     

    This much would grant your helper a well-deserved sit-down.

    You could hang your sensor and computer over this setup later to get your data.

     

    That is as simple as I can imagine.

    Gotta go to OHare to pick up a buddy now, traffic be damned.  I'll probably be back lurking this evening.

     

    Since this is a one-off, you could probably just go to ebay for a 'DC solid state relay' to obtain your power switch.  Don't forget to throw in a kickback diode.  Your load is Resistive + Inductive.

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