water level for pool

[hek]

Hi,

Looks like it gives an analog output. Just hook it up to one of the analog inputs (e.g. A0) and read out the value.

int value = analogRead(A0);

[gregl]

You will likely find this sensor will not last very long in a swimming pool environment. The chemicals and water itself will give it a hard time.

Try it though first and then look to make it more robust by building your own sensor based off this design.
See if you can scavenge/ebay some titanium coated wire, or plates from an old salt cell. mount them in some pvc pipe and run cable back to a IP65 sealed project box with your Mysensors sender and powersupply.

Let us know how it goes too!

[BulldogLowell]

@gregl said:

The chemicals and water itself will give it a hard time.

and exposure to prolonged electrical current will only accelerate the corrosion.

I've been testing a float sensor (that I use in fuel tanks) that may be good in a salt/chlorine environment. I'll post a photo whenI get the chance.

[notforyou23]

There is a great liquid level sensor that I have been using in a number of sump pump wells (I use to track volume, and trigger the pump).

The sensor is called eTape, check it out: http://www.milonetech.com/Home_Page.html

[phil pritchard]

Try http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Hot-Ultrasonic-Module-Distance-Measuring-Transducer-Sensor-Waterproof-/121627918430?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item1c5196c05e you would need to be able to mount above the water.

[BulldogLowell]

@phil-pritchard

I'm working with this:

[Dwalt]

@BulldogLowell

It that a float switch or does it return water level?

[BulldogLowell]

returns level, not a switch.

[DNKROZ]

I currently have a functioning fuel level sensor for my fuel tank built with an ultrasonic hc-sr04 device and it works pretty ok.
Before installing that on the top of the tank (hot-glued to the cap actually) all my tests were done on a water tank, so I know beforehand that this works well with water.

There some things you'll want to consider though:

• This does NOT work well on moist environments, you'll have wrong readings, I recommend the "water proof" version for that (it's not waterproof, it simply works better with higher humidity levels)
• If the water is moving you'll have different readings (as with ALL water level meters) I've modified the sketch to read the distance several times at random intervals (for example 6 times with intervals at 1 sec, 3, 5.5, 6,7, 9.2 secs) and then give the average distance, this flattens false readings and gives a more realistic value.

Hope that it works for you.

Regards.

[Andreas Maurer]

Perhaps my following sketch can help you: https://codebender.cc/sketch:98928
I use the same Setup to meassure the Level of the pellet store. There is a lot of dust in the Air and no even Surface. So a lot of "noise".
The digitalSmooth function tries to find the relevant values. My graph looks much better with it :)

[boanjo]

I agree with "notforyou23", the eTape is a great product (although a bit pricy). I use it in this project where i easily keep my pond water level +-5mm. And i rever overfill the pond anymore...
https://github.com/epkboan/pc