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Z-Wave Water level sensor for water tank

Alberto Macias shared this question 7 years ago
Answered

I have a water tank at home that I need to monitor the level of water that it's got, preferible not binary (only full and empty) do you know a z-wave sensor that can do that? or has anyone managed to do the same modifiying an existing (wired) system??


Thanks a lot.

Replies (11)

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Alberto. I was thinking to have a similar scenario with the sceptic. But I only need to monitor a certain level so I know it will need to be emptied or not. I was palnning to use the flood sensor, but clearly your situation is different as you need to know levels.

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Unfortunately there are none today on the market. But you can manage to make one yourself using cheap electronics and a PI. It all depends on the accuracy you want to achieve.

If you want full accuracy, then I would recommend an Ultrasonic sensor with RS485 that you can bind to your PI (or other computer). The readings sould be mapped to a virtual meter in Zipato (0 to 100%).

Hope this helps

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As an alternative to Pi, you can use Z-uno with a (waterproof) ultrasonic sensor. You will have to code the sensor logics youself, Arduino style

This example explains the basics, just change the potentiometer part with a sonic sensor


https://z-uno.z-wave.me/examples/MultilevelSensor/

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Alberto,


Swedish company Gobius.se makes complete ultasonic tank level measuring systems, for both leasure and industry:

http://www.gobius.se/en/

Their systems can be integrated with just about anything, including RS232.


Brgds,

Robert

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look the web for arduino water level control with an ultrasonic sensor. you can do it yourself without technical knowledge, almost like lego blocks, under 20 euros. add wifi, ethernet or z-wave and you're good to go.


If you want only some pre defined levels of water, a simple set of wires and resistors will do the trick. if you want accurate level to 0,001 litre segments use ultrasonic sensor.

look example projects at https://www.hackster.io/arduino

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Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I think I'm going to go with the arduino and ultrasonic, there is a couple of options an Arduino Zero with Wifi or maybe I should wait until they sell these for US/Mexico;


https://z-uno.z-wave.me/

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Ideally I'd like to measure the level of my rainwater tank as well.

What solution did you end up implementing?

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Quizzical,


I'm integrating this using an Arduino YUN and I made tests with the ultrasonic sensor and seems to work. However I'm doing this in my spare time and haven't been able to finish, I have found a road block and cannot figure it out yet, the problem is for sure on the Arduino side, I can use the YUN as client OR server to Zipato but cannot do both at the same time for some reason. See below;


https://community.zipato.com/topic/interfacing-arduino-or-raspberry-pi-to-zipabox-zipatile


Another option is to go with the Z-uno with native z-wave and also I found this sensor on my quest;


https://www.adafruit.com/product/464

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Interesting, but unfortunately too complex for me with my current skill level and I can't invest the time needed to be able to learn.

Probably this would be too much of a niche product for a manufacturer to release a ready-made solution.

The Z-Uno device seems nice though for those that have the right skillset. Especially as they already have an example of how to accomplish the water level meter using an ultrasonic distance sensor.

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Shouldn´t it be possible with a Fibaro RBGW?

It has a 0-10V input and all you need is for example an ultrasonic level sensor with 0-10v output.

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You're right but it is difficult to find an affordable one.

This one is perfect but rather expensive: https://shop.loxone.com/enuk/ultrasonic-sensor.html

These solutions are cheaper (still not cheap) but I'm less certain that they will work (e.g. how long can the cable length be)

http://www.saniship.nl/epages/0802271.sf/nl_NL/?ObjectPath=/Shops/0802271/Products/12717/SubProducts/12717-0003

http://www.saniship.nl/epages/0802271.sf/nl_NL/?ObjectPath=/Shops/0802271/Products/12704/SubProducts/12704-0006

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Hi, It seems like now there is a solution available that would work:

https://en.robbshop.nl/water-level-meter-aquaplumb-vegatronix

https://vegetronix.com/Products/AquaPlumb/

This device seems to be perfect for the job. There's even a version with an integrated relay if you want to control something like a pump directly.

The output signal ranges from 0V (empty) to 3V (full) so it requires a sensor that measures voltage.

There's the fibaro RGBW sensor which can do this, or the newer (Z-wave plus!) Fibaro Smart Implant.

Just a shame that I read that Zipato doesn't support the Fibaro Smart Implant (yet).

Does anybody now what would be the best way to translate the 0-3V signal into something meaningfull in zipato (The % full of the water tank, the height in cm of the water, the number of liters left in the tank). This would obviously be an approximation. The easiest one would be the % full: voltage/3*100% would give the result.

For example when the tank is full the voltage is 3-> 3/3*100%=100%

But I don't have the impression Zipato supports this.

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