cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/45847124

For quite a while I had been longing to measure the waterlevel in my well.

The first attempt with a HC-SR04 failed due to distance (4 meter deep well) and problems of how to mount it in the well. Then I came across the JSN-SR04 sensor. It’s all running on an esp2866 (I found it to have better wifi than the esp32). Several parts re-used from old projects. Added small solar panel to keep it all self contained. Data is sent to homeassistant (mqtt) and a bit of log/debug data to syslog.

Due to circumstances had it been lying on my desk quite a while, but finally, today I was able to install it!
I screwed a drainpipe cap to the lid of the well and mounted the sensor in another. A simple pipe connector in between works like a charm.

  • dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world
    12·
    1 month ago

    This is infrastructure that does a good job, appears to be installed correctly, and may very well be completely reliable. That’s not dull, that’s pornography.

    • redlemace@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      1 month ago

      I considered aaa batteries, but a few test made clear that’s not the way to go. Now it’s a 3.7v rechargeable

  • ikidd@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    1 month ago

    I use a bubbler line in my cistern. It has a small air pump that turns on to force air out at the bottom of the tank, and the pressure is measured with an MPX5010. I use the same system on my HERMS brewbot to get liquid level in the kettles, and it’s accurate to about .1L in a 50L kettle.

    • redlemace@lemmy.worldOP
      3·
      1 month ago

      I read about those but decided this is the easiest way without any mechanicals. Also a pump needs more energy than ultrasound which is an important factor since i have no power there and rely on batteries an solar cell to recharge those

  • altphoto@lemmy.today
    1·
    1 month ago

    Very cool. What kind of floater did you use? There’s a simple sensor that can be made by dropping two straight wires in the water and measuring the resistance between… Open loop= no water and from there you measure up to the max.

        • redlemace@lemmy.worldOP
          1·
          1 month ago

          Sorry, think I don’t understand the question.

          As for on/off: It does not control anything, there is no on/off other than the esp8266 turning the sensor on and off. Technically, home asssistant can be used to steer anything but there is no need for that. It’s a well that fills with ground watert, no other inlet. An outlet is just the taps in the house.

          As for scale: I measure how many centimeter of water there is. That’s enough for me. I estimated the well at 1 meter diameter so each cm represents 7.854 liter of water

          • prenatal_confusion@feddit.org
            1·
            1 month ago

            Ah didn’t make myself clear. I meant you have a measurement that isn’t binary as in water/no water with a simple switch but a distance sensor.

            • redlemace@lemmy.worldOP
              2·
              1 month ago

              Ah, no, it isn’t binary. It gives me centimeters of water column above the outlet three times per hour. In the code i rounded it to whole cm becasuse millimeters sounded very useless.

              Sharp drops:

              • shower
              • water for ducks
              • washing machine