The whole project was developed on a friend's request. Its purpose was
to remotely monitor the water-level in a metal tank located in the attic
by means of a very simple control unit placed in the kitchen, some
floors below.
Mains requirements were:
Mains requirements were:
- No separate supply for the remote circuit
- Main and remote units connected by a thin two-wire cable
- Simple LED display for the main unit
- Battery operation to avoid problems related to mains supply and water proximity
- As the circuit was battery operated a low current consumption was obviously welcomed
The
very small remote unit is placed near the tank and measures the water
level in three ranges by means of two steel rods. Each range will cover
one third of the tank capacity:
Almost empty - signaled by means of a red LED (D3) in the control unit display
About half-level - signaled by means of a yellow LED (D2) in the control unit display
Almost full - signaled by means of a green LED (D1) in the control unit display
Almost empty - signaled by means of a red LED (D3) in the control unit display
About half-level - signaled by means of a yellow LED (D2) in the control unit display
Almost full - signaled by means of a green LED (D1) in the control unit display
Simple Water Level Indicator Circuit diagram:
Water-level Indicator Circuit Diagram
Circuit operation:
When the water-level is below the steel rods, no contact is occurring from the metal can and the rods, which are supported by a small insulated (wooden) board. The small circuit built around IC1 draws no current and therefore no voltage drop is generated across R5. IC2A, IC2B and Q1 are wired as a window comparator and, as there is zero voltage at input pins #2 and #5, D3 will illuminate. When the water comes in contact with the first rod, pin #13 of IC1 will go high, as its input pins #9 to #12 were shorted to negative by means of the water contact.
Therefore, R4 will be connected across the full supply voltage and the remote circuit will draw a current of about 9mA. This current will cause a voltage drop of about 0.9V across R5 and the window comparator will detect this voltage and will change its state, switching off D3 and illuminating D2. When the water will reach the second rod, also pin #1 of IC1 will go high for the same reason explained above. Now either R3 and R4 will be connected across the full supply voltage and the total current drawing of the remote circuit will be about 18mA.
The voltage drop across R5 will be now about 1.8V and the window comparator will switch off D2 and will drive D1. The battery will last very long because the circuit will be mostly in the off state. Current is needed only for a few seconds when P1 is pushed to check the water-level and one of the LEDs illuminates.
Parts:
R1 = 15K 1/4W Resistors
R2 = 15K 1/4W Resistors
R3 = 1K 1/4W Resistors
R4 = 1K 1/4W Resistors
R5 = 100R 1/4W Resistor
R6 = 47K 1/4W Resistor
R7 = 3.3K 1/4W Resistors
R8 = 3.3K 1/4W Resistors
R9 = 2.7K 1/4W Resistors
R10 = 15K 1/4W Resistors
R12 = 15K 1/4W Resistors
R13 = 3.3K 1/4W Resistors
R14 = 2.7K 1/4W Resistors
R15 = 2.7K 1/4W Resistors
D1 = 3mm Green LED
D2 = 3mm Yellow LED
D3 = 3mm Red LED
C1 = 470nF 63V Polyester or Ceramic Capacitor
J1 = Two ways output sockets
J2 = Two ways output sockets
P1 = SPST pushbutton
B1 = 9V PP3 Battery
Q1 = BC547 45V 100mA NPN Transistor
IC1 = 4012 Dual 4 input NAND gate IC
IC2 = LM393 Dual Comparator IC
Two steel rods of appropriate length
When the water-level is below the steel rods, no contact is occurring from the metal can and the rods, which are supported by a small insulated (wooden) board. The small circuit built around IC1 draws no current and therefore no voltage drop is generated across R5. IC2A, IC2B and Q1 are wired as a window comparator and, as there is zero voltage at input pins #2 and #5, D3 will illuminate. When the water comes in contact with the first rod, pin #13 of IC1 will go high, as its input pins #9 to #12 were shorted to negative by means of the water contact.
Therefore, R4 will be connected across the full supply voltage and the remote circuit will draw a current of about 9mA. This current will cause a voltage drop of about 0.9V across R5 and the window comparator will detect this voltage and will change its state, switching off D3 and illuminating D2. When the water will reach the second rod, also pin #1 of IC1 will go high for the same reason explained above. Now either R3 and R4 will be connected across the full supply voltage and the total current drawing of the remote circuit will be about 18mA.
The voltage drop across R5 will be now about 1.8V and the window comparator will switch off D2 and will drive D1. The battery will last very long because the circuit will be mostly in the off state. Current is needed only for a few seconds when P1 is pushed to check the water-level and one of the LEDs illuminates.
Parts:
R1 = 15K 1/4W Resistors
R2 = 15K 1/4W Resistors
R3 = 1K 1/4W Resistors
R4 = 1K 1/4W Resistors
R5 = 100R 1/4W Resistor
R6 = 47K 1/4W Resistor
R7 = 3.3K 1/4W Resistors
R8 = 3.3K 1/4W Resistors
R9 = 2.7K 1/4W Resistors
R10 = 15K 1/4W Resistors
R12 = 15K 1/4W Resistors
R13 = 3.3K 1/4W Resistors
R14 = 2.7K 1/4W Resistors
R15 = 2.7K 1/4W Resistors
D1 = 3mm Green LED
D2 = 3mm Yellow LED
D3 = 3mm Red LED
C1 = 470nF 63V Polyester or Ceramic Capacitor
J1 = Two ways output sockets
J2 = Two ways output sockets
P1 = SPST pushbutton
B1 = 9V PP3 Battery
Q1 = BC547 45V 100mA NPN Transistor
IC1 = 4012 Dual 4 input NAND gate IC
IC2 = LM393 Dual Comparator IC
Two steel rods of appropriate length
0 comments:
Post a Comment