Re: [mh] equipment options

[Jim S. <js...@sy...>]

Dickie,

I measure the amount of water in my pool using DS18S20 1-wire =
temperature
sensors. I use 4 sensors over 5 inches - one that I'm sure will be in =
the
water, one that I'm sure that will be in the air, and two to "gauge" the
depth. That way when the air sensor equals the water sensor I know that =
I
can't rely on the reading - e.g. no thermal gradient between the air and
water. I live in Canada and keep my pool at about 82F - in July and =
August
the air temperature passes that point twice a day - but the rest of the =
time
I can determine water level - I can even see on the temperature graphs =
when
someone is swimming because the in between sensor gets wet.

The physical setup is Cat5 all the way with the sensors soldered onto =
the 3
wires (so I have the option of the 5 volt powering). I put the whole =
thing
into double walled shrink tubes in a U shape with both "open" ends above =
the
waterline - then I had about 90 feet of cable running back to the house =
in
conduit. The sensor is in the pool skimmer. I have irrigation like =
control
values to slowly raise and lower the pool level. The fill runs off the
irrigation system and fountains into the pool to maintain an air gap. =
The
drain runs off the pump and diverts water to the street.

I measure depth once a day 2pm and then decide to take, no action, fill, =
or
lower by about 1/2 inch. It works well for all but exceptional rain (we =
had
3 inches in 5 hours two weeks ago that confused it ... Swamped the "air"
sensor.

I don't know what I have for pictures.

Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: mis...@li...
[mailto:mis...@li...] On Behalf Of <
Dickie Bradford >
Sent: August 8, 2007 7:31 PM
To: The main list for the MisterHouse home automation program
Subject: Re: [mh] equipment options
Sensitivity: Private


Jim,

Wouldnt coating the electronics with some type of silicone type gel like
used on car electronics (resistant to most fluids) eliminate the issue =
of
"damp" electronics and make them more reliable??? Just thinking out =
loud...
;-)

You mentioned about a pool depth guage, do you have pics of that, having
kids that like to canonball into the pool, it would sure be handy...

Dickie



Dickie Bradford
Never-Enuff Technologies
961 9th Street
P.O.Box 426
Colver, Pennsylvania
--------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.never-enuff.net
email: su...@ne...
Phone: 800-647-3145
Fax: 814-569-1934
--------------------------------------------------------------
(A)bort, (R)etry, (S)mack the @#$&*~ thing!
--------------------------------------------------------------


-----Original Message-----
From: mis...@li...
[mailto:mis...@li...]On Behalf Of Jim
Serack
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 12:48 AM
To: dbr...@ne...; 'The main list for the MisterHouse home
automation program'
Subject: Re: [mh] equipment options
Sensitivity: Private


Dickie,

I have made what you are looking for. I had a simple pressure switch =
with a
contact but could never get the trip point correct - so I ended up =
making a
1-wire pool pressure gauge. It uses the pressure transducer out of a =
pocket
digital tire gauge, the 1-wire battery monitor circuit ( it has some =
A-to-D
functions built in) and I modified an existing pool gauge to accept the =
tire
gauge pressure transducer. I got it working, calibrated it, but had =
problems
with the reliability of the "seasonal" connector for the 1-wire line and
have not solved that problem. (1-wire does not like to get damp). I was =
more
interested in getting my 1 wire pool depth sensors to work and control =
the
pool temperature, and depth automatically - which I did and have been =
using
for about 2 years (check for my old posts).

Here are some photos; 1010002 - showing the tire gauge transducer =
connect to
the simple dial gauge. 101006 showing the surface mount board I made to =
go
in the extended gauge (using a 2 inch ABC plumbing cap.) 101004 gives a
front view before assembly. The PCB was made using laser printer toner =
lift
off process (double sided) all the components were surface mount. (Main
components DS2438 (one wire), LM324(quad op amp), 11 resistors, 2
capacitors, 1 Diode, and the tire guage pressure sensor component).

Jim


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