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  1. Home
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  3. Trouble with the JSN SR04T

Trouble with the JSN SR04T

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Troubleshooting
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  • zboblamontZ zboblamont

    @sundeep-goel Looking back at the tank photo your inlet is at the opposite side of the tank and presumably your sensor head is just over 200mm to the top water level when full? There should be no way that head is seeing the float when full even if the float is directly below the hatch.
    I'm confused by what you are saying about the board - Accepted it is the 5v version, but you say you are detecting echo away from the tank, but is the distance reliably and consistently correct?
    Presumably this is via a 5v-3.3v level converter?

    You misunderstood the bend suggestion - Ultrasonics don't handle bends well but cables do ;). I was looking at the possibility of extending the cable pipe with the sensor on the end pointing down nearer centre. Unfortunately that will be very close to the float if it's a long arm.
    What you could try is tying the float up until level drops and hang the sensor through the hatch and to see if it works reliably there.
    If it does, you may have to find a source a replacement float valve with a shorter arm, or possibly find a compact version usually marketed as "silent" (The float in these rises up a tube to close the valve, but unlike the arm type they run at full flow longer until the last few cm).
    Let's see what your tests reveal....

    S Offline
    S Offline
    Sundeep Goel
    wrote on last edited by Sundeep Goel
    #14

    @zboblamont said in Trouble with the JSN SR04T:

    hang the sensor through the hatch and to see if it works reliably there

    Got you, will try this and a couple of others. Will post back the results.

    On a related topic, is this sensor good sensing water level [link text](GY-VL53L0XV2 Laser Distance Module I2C IIC 3.3V/5V
    https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/73Fe2bm)

    zboblamontZ 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • S Sundeep Goel

      @zboblamont said in Trouble with the JSN SR04T:

      hang the sensor through the hatch and to see if it works reliably there

      Got you, will try this and a couple of others. Will post back the results.

      On a related topic, is this sensor good sensing water level [link text](GY-VL53L0XV2 Laser Distance Module I2C IIC 3.3V/5V
      https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/73Fe2bm)

      zboblamontZ Offline
      zboblamontZ Offline
      zboblamont
      wrote on last edited by
      #15

      @sundeep-goel No idea !

      S 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • zboblamontZ zboblamont

        @sundeep-goel No idea !

        S Offline
        S Offline
        Sundeep Goel
        wrote on last edited by
        #16

        @zboblamont said in Trouble with the JSN SR04T:

        The sensor is working perfect outside the tank - tested both with 10us and 15us. Also, same with / without a voltage divider.

        Saw a possible issue in the code

        Ultrasonic ultrasonic1(4, 13);  // An ultrasonic sensor HC-04
        Ultrasonic ultrasonic2(4, 12);  // An ultrasonic sensor HC-04
        

        Was using same trigger pins on the esp for both sensor, ideally this should not have been creating a problem. but just to be sure, tried with only one sensor - worked fine outside the tank

        Inside the tank in all cases, back to square one i.e. readings between 20-25cm only.

        For now , putting this sensor aside and switching to the IR laser sensor VL53L0X. Lets see how that does, will post back the results soon

        S 1 Reply Last reply
        1
        • S Sundeep Goel

          @zboblamont said in Trouble with the JSN SR04T:

          The sensor is working perfect outside the tank - tested both with 10us and 15us. Also, same with / without a voltage divider.

          Saw a possible issue in the code

          Ultrasonic ultrasonic1(4, 13);  // An ultrasonic sensor HC-04
          Ultrasonic ultrasonic2(4, 12);  // An ultrasonic sensor HC-04
          

          Was using same trigger pins on the esp for both sensor, ideally this should not have been creating a problem. but just to be sure, tried with only one sensor - worked fine outside the tank

          Inside the tank in all cases, back to square one i.e. readings between 20-25cm only.

          For now , putting this sensor aside and switching to the IR laser sensor VL53L0X. Lets see how that does, will post back the results soon

          S Offline
          S Offline
          Sundeep Goel
          wrote on last edited by
          #17

          @sundeep-goel said in Trouble with the JSN SR04T:

          putting this sensor aside and switching to the IR laser sensor VL53L0X.

          replaced JSN SR04T with VL53L0X
          0_1564249378245_51IeEZEgrqL.SX425.jpg

          So far the tests in a experimental setup (i.e. using a mug of water as a reflective surface are good), will install in the tank tomorrow morning, fingers crossed.

          S 1 Reply Last reply
          1
          • S Sundeep Goel

            @sundeep-goel said in Trouble with the JSN SR04T:

            putting this sensor aside and switching to the IR laser sensor VL53L0X.

            replaced JSN SR04T with VL53L0X
            0_1564249378245_51IeEZEgrqL.SX425.jpg

            So far the tests in a experimental setup (i.e. using a mug of water as a reflective surface are good), will install in the tank tomorrow morning, fingers crossed.

            S Offline
            S Offline
            Sundeep Goel
            wrote on last edited by Sundeep Goel
            #18

            @sundeep-goel said in Trouble with the JSN SR04T:

            will install in the tank tomorrow morning, fingers crossed

            Installed under a tank nipple (needed to attach to lower end, was getting issues at the end)

            0_1564315108561_VLX.jpg

            getting steady readings now
            0_1564315170092_Screen Shot 07-28-19 at 05.26 PM.PNG

            in brief, too many issues with the JSN SR04T sensor in my tank, Laser TOF Sensor VL53L0X is better and cheaper in given setup.

            zboblamontZ 1 Reply Last reply
            3
            • S Sundeep Goel

              @sundeep-goel said in Trouble with the JSN SR04T:

              will install in the tank tomorrow morning, fingers crossed

              Installed under a tank nipple (needed to attach to lower end, was getting issues at the end)

              0_1564315108561_VLX.jpg

              getting steady readings now
              0_1564315170092_Screen Shot 07-28-19 at 05.26 PM.PNG

              in brief, too many issues with the JSN SR04T sensor in my tank, Laser TOF Sensor VL53L0X is better and cheaper in given setup.

              zboblamontZ Offline
              zboblamontZ Offline
              zboblamont
              wrote on last edited by
              #19

              @sundeep-goel Glad you found a solution, hopefully it will continue to prove reliable over time in your environment, presumably dust is not a problem from the presence of water, nor condensation through ventilation (loose lid)
              Out of curiosity, what the range is that version, I've seen 1m and 2m quoted for the same model number..?

              S 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • zboblamontZ zboblamont

                @sundeep-goel Glad you found a solution, hopefully it will continue to prove reliable over time in your environment, presumably dust is not a problem from the presence of water, nor condensation through ventilation (loose lid)
                Out of curiosity, what the range is that version, I've seen 1m and 2m quoted for the same model number..?

                S Offline
                S Offline
                Sundeep Goel
                wrote on last edited by
                #20

                @zboblamont said in Trouble with the JSN SR04T:

                what the range is that version, I've seen 1m and 2m quoted for the same model number..?

                I have tested till around 2meters succesfully. I read somewhere that you can also switch to another mode to increase range, haven't tried that though.

                Let me know if you need more information, as of now I have added only one sensor, will be adding one more next week, so can run more tests then

                Papari DasP 1 Reply Last reply
                1
                • D Offline
                  D Offline
                  dmacros
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #21

                  Hello everyone, I am having problems with the jsn-sr04t V2 sensor and I came to this forum looking for a solution.

                  In my case I am getting erroneous readings in a cylindrical water tank 3.5 meters high.

                  I am measuring once a minute (below a sample) and the readings are disparate. Do not match the actual measurement.

                  109 cm 2019-11-05 21:01:42
                  141 cm 2019-11-05 21:00:42
                  90 cm 2019-11-05 20:59:42
                  168 cm 2019-11-05 20:58:41
                  170 cm 2019-11-05 20:57:41
                  111 cm 2019-11-05 20:56:41
                  143 cm 2019-11-05 20:55:41

                  I am using a 220V switching power source at 5V and 700 mA maximum. From the food source a Wemos D1 mini (with esp8266) and from the 5V and GND pins to the sensor.

                  In tests outside the tank, I used the USB power of my notebook and the samples were wrong, however when I powered up with an original Motorola fast-charge charger, the samples were perfect.

                  Is it possible to think that the 700mA source (from china) is not enough? Or that the power source may be putting some noise to the sensor signal?

                  zboblamontZ 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • D dmacros

                    Hello everyone, I am having problems with the jsn-sr04t V2 sensor and I came to this forum looking for a solution.

                    In my case I am getting erroneous readings in a cylindrical water tank 3.5 meters high.

                    I am measuring once a minute (below a sample) and the readings are disparate. Do not match the actual measurement.

                    109 cm 2019-11-05 21:01:42
                    141 cm 2019-11-05 21:00:42
                    90 cm 2019-11-05 20:59:42
                    168 cm 2019-11-05 20:58:41
                    170 cm 2019-11-05 20:57:41
                    111 cm 2019-11-05 20:56:41
                    143 cm 2019-11-05 20:55:41

                    I am using a 220V switching power source at 5V and 700 mA maximum. From the food source a Wemos D1 mini (with esp8266) and from the 5V and GND pins to the sensor.

                    In tests outside the tank, I used the USB power of my notebook and the samples were wrong, however when I powered up with an original Motorola fast-charge charger, the samples were perfect.

                    Is it possible to think that the 700mA source (from china) is not enough? Or that the power source may be putting some noise to the sensor signal?

                    zboblamontZ Offline
                    zboblamontZ Offline
                    zboblamont
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #22

                    @dmacros My guess would be noise, I had similar problems when I tried using a 5v booster only for the JSN, the boards seem quite "temperamental" over voltage supplies.
                    I understood the Wemos to be 3.3v logic anyway, so powering the JSN off the 3.3v pin would be normal, and the regulator should kill noise sufficiently to allow the JSN to work reliably.

                    I have two of these installed, one works perfectly on 3.3v to maximum range, the other has problems at maximum unless fed 5vDC from a battery, yet fine for closer range (<1.5m) at 3.3v.
                    Have ordered another JSN in hopes it is better behaved at 3.3v, it must be a QC issue...

                    Today the second (troublesome) one is working at range on 3.3v, but it is not reliable. I have it try max 10 times (I think) to get a valid reading every hour, so it does not kill the batteries much.
                    Whether yours will work at 3.5m or not you can only test, but having a mains supply means battery power is no barrier..

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • S Sundeep Goel

                      @zboblamont said in Trouble with the JSN SR04T:

                      what the range is that version, I've seen 1m and 2m quoted for the same model number..?

                      I have tested till around 2meters succesfully. I read somewhere that you can also switch to another mode to increase range, haven't tried that though.

                      Let me know if you need more information, as of now I have added only one sensor, will be adding one more next week, so can run more tests then

                      Papari DasP Offline
                      Papari DasP Offline
                      Papari Das
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #23

                      @Sundeep-Goel did u face any issues due to water vapours or water in general?

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