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Sump Pit Monitor

KevinT last edited by KevinT

Hi All,
I recently replaced my sump pit pump and installed a battery backup pump at the same time. Naturally, when I saw all the alarms available on the backup system, I wanted to integrate them into my home automation system. I also wanted to add a water level sensor to get a better idea of how often the pump ran and also create a water level alarm.

Water level sensor installed.

I looked at the backup controller and realised it would be difficult to pull signals from it since it isn't easy to disassemble. So, I opted to used photo transistors to read the state of the alarm LEDs.

The photo transistors are held in place with velcro strips for easy removal.

My monitoring node consists of an ESP32C3 Super Mini ucontroller configured with 5 digital input channels and 1 analog channel to read the alarm LEDs and water level. I'm using MQTT, for this project, to send the data to Home Assistant.

Integrated into Home Assistant

Overall, after a few adjustments, the systems works really well and provides some peace of mind.
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Announcements • • hek

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@NotYetRated Hope you'll find good uses and a fun time while building your sensors.
Need help with Code. Simple Nod with 4 button's and 2 Led output. Cant get he Led to work as I whant. They respond but both lights
My Project • mysensors • • Knightan

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@Knightan I believe that your problem may be related to this block of code. See my thoughts as comments.... if (message.type == V_STATUS) { //This is true for all messages received // Change relay state state_1 = message.getBool(); //This sets state for state_1 to the received value. digitalWrite(LED_PIN_Channel_1, state_1?RELAY_1_ON:RELAY_1_OFF); // Store state in eeprom saveState(CHILD_ID_5, state_1); // Write some debug info Serial.print("Incoming change for sensor: STATE 1"); Serial.print(message.sensor); Serial.print(", New status: "); Serial.println(message.getBool()); } if (message.type == V_STATUS) { // Change relay state state_2 = message.getBool(); //This sets state for state_2 to the received value. digitalWrite(LED_PIN_Channel_2, state_2?RELAY_2_ON:RELAY_2_OFF); // Store state in eeprom saveState(CHILD_ID_6, state_2); // Write some debug info Serial.print("Incoming change for sensor: STATE 2"); Serial.print(message.sensor); Serial.print(", New status: "); Serial.println(message.getBool()); } It seems to me that state_1 = message.getBool(); AND state_2 = message.getBool(). So they both get set to the incoming value. I think you need to not set both to the same value and instead differentiate them to unique values. I could be wrong as I have not had chance to do anything related to mysensors for a long time now - I also don't use Domoticz. Have a look at the code on this page, it might help you a lot.... https://www.mysensors.org/build/relay
Status of my rv(camper) home automation system 2020-2025
My Project • • fsgraz

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@fsgraz Did some testing Today and my RFM range is over 80 meters node to node, with no long range antenna. That will be my next test, just waiting for a shipment from China to arrive. I did how ever notice an extreme improvement when I connected the gateway through a USB hub and then started to dig through the forum. @AWI once wrote about using an external PSU to power the long range NRF PA/LAN. I'll try that this weekend as connecting it to they USB port of my PI extended the range to 20 meters Node to Node.
New Setup for Home Environment Monitoring – Using NRF24L01+, Arduino Pro Mini, and BME280
My Project • mysensors nrf24l01+ home environment monitoring • • lostintheethes

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@nagelc said in New Setup for Home Environment Monitoring – Using NRF24L01+, Arduino Pro Mini, and BME280: bme280 I read somewhere that the temperature sensor on the BME280 is sort of an afterthought. I did a few experiments comparing them to the DHT11/12/22 and found them only a little better. (Take this with a grain of salt, maybe you'll want to do you're own experiments.) I did do a lot of experiments with the DHT's and they really suck. +/-2°C Which turns out to mean +/-2°C offset (component variation) and +/-2°C measurement: +/-4°C from what the temperature actually is. My experience, yours may be better. Please post your experience with OTA. I haven't tried it on Arduino's but it's awesome on ESP8266. I hesitate with Arduino's because I had some erratic behaviour running Arduino's when pushing the memory limit. I, too, use the MQTT data transport to Home Assistant (HA) and I find that excellent. Getting data from HA is a bit tricky, but do-able. I have a flow meter and use HA to store the last read; meaning, if there is a power failure, HA sends the last read on Arduino boot. I don't use the EEPROM because that has a spec of 100,000 writes which the meter would do in about a year, thus, necessitating a new Arduino. I truly appreciate you sharing. Thanks! -OSD
Soil moisture sensor for house plants
My Project • soil moisture soil soil sensor plant • • Łukasz T.

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I think the comments you make are good. I do have a question about the removing the regulator. I assume you mean the 5V to 3.3V regulator. I connect to the 5V and I see lot of variation in moisture readings due to the variation in the output of the power supply (solar panel/stepdown). I have a calibration routine for that. The voltage can go as high as 4.2V, which I believe may be bad if I connect the power supply to 3.3V. Of course, this is not a concern if using two 1.5V batteries. With batteries, the moisture reading would be more consistent over a day. Lot of advantages there. I just don't like changing batteries and I really hate it when they leak. I have every reason to believe that my power supply will last 10 years and I am fortunate to live in a place with consistent sunshine . Someone replicating my project will have to take this into consideration. My design easily accommodates a different power supply. And my power supply could be used in other projects. Resistive vs Capacitive sensor. I'm glad you report good results. This gives people options. Water moisture: I've had good experience with "spraying" the Arduino with clear electronic coating and sealing the enclosure with liquid tape. -OSD
Soil Moisture Sensor Powered by solar charged battery
My Project • battery home assistant low power eeprom solar calibration • • OldSurferDude

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@OldSurferDude I use this. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Orbit-Solenoid-for-Battery-Operated-Timer-57861/203151515 Instead of having to hold the valve open, i can just pulse it. I use a simple motor controller to pulse it and when i need to close it, pulse it in "reverse". That way I could use a battery and if it only opens once or twice a day it's only a half a second or so of draw off the battery.

Sump Pit Monitor

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Sump Pit Monitor

Suggested Topics

Welcome Announcements • • hek

Need help with Code. Simple Nod with 4 button's and 2 Led output. Cant get he Led to work as I whant. They respond but both lights My Project • mysensors • • Knightan

Status of my rv(camper) home automation system 2020-2025 My Project • • fsgraz

New Setup for Home Environment Monitoring – Using NRF24L01+, Arduino Pro Mini, and BME280 My Project • mysensors nrf24l01+ home environment monitoring • • lostintheethes

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Soil Moisture Sensor Powered by solar charged battery My Project • battery home assistant low power eeprom solar calibration • • OldSurferDude

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Welcome
Announcements • • hek

Need help with Code. Simple Nod with 4 button's and 2 Led output. Cant get he Led to work as I whant. They respond but both lights
My Project • mysensors • • Knightan

Status of my rv(camper) home automation system 2020-2025
My Project • • fsgraz

New Setup for Home Environment Monitoring – Using NRF24L01+, Arduino Pro Mini, and BME280
My Project • mysensors nrf24l01+ home environment monitoring • • lostintheethes

Soil moisture sensor for house plants
My Project • soil moisture soil soil sensor plant • • Łukasz T.

Soil Moisture Sensor Powered by solar charged battery
My Project • battery home assistant low power eeprom solar calibration • • OldSurferDude

23
Online

11.7k
Users

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Posts