I got some of the code done last night. A big thanks to OvRiDe and Crenn over at thebestcasescenario.com for helping me figure things out.

Code:

// arduino controlled liquid cooling info center Code named "big brother"
// by charles gantt aka oneslowz28 http://themakersworkbench.com
// special thanks to ovride, and crenn from thebestcasescenario.com
// this is an ongoing project for my cod mw2 case mod my intention is to create an
// all in one information center that displays data from my pc watercooling system

#include <LiquidCrystal.h>
#include <math.h>

// initialize the library with the numbers of the interface pins
LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2);

void setup() {
  // set up the LCD's number of rows and columns:
  lcd.begin(16, 2);
  // Print a message to the LCD.
  lcd.setCursor(0,0);  //set cursor to line 1 column 1
  lcd.print("Satcomm Info Initializaion");   //catchy name for system
  lcd.setCursor(0,1);  //set cursor to line 1 column 1
 
}

/*void loop() {
  // set the cursor to column 0, line 1
  // (note: line 1 is the second row, since counting begins with 0):
  lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
  // print the number of seconds since reset:
  lcd.print(millis()/1000);
}*/

// begin temp sensor code
double Thermister(int RawADC) {
 double Temp;
 Temp = log(((10240000/RawADC) - 10000));
 Temp = 1 / (0.001129148 + (0.000234125 * Temp) + (0.0000000876741 * Temp * Temp * Temp));
 Temp = Temp - 273.15;            // Convert Kelvin to Celcius
 return Temp;
}

void loop() {
lcd.setCursor(0,0);  //set cursor to line 1 column 1
lcd.print("Sensor 1 ");   //Lable first temp sensor
lcd.print(Thermister(analogRead(0)));  // display Celcius
lcd.print("c");  //lable temp format displayed
lcd.setCursor(0,1);   //set cursor to line 2 colum 1
lcd.print("Sensor 2 ");   //lable second temp sensor
lcd.print(Thermister(analogRead(1)));  // display Celcius
lcd.print("c");  //lable temp format displayed
 delay(100);    //length of time screen is displayed
}

[What I have left to do]

This is actually a side project for my Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 case mod found here. I am building a water pump cover that has a 16x2 or 20x4 LCD that will display several parameters about the water cooling loop including: 2 temperature probes, Pump RPM, liquid flow rate and possibly even an audio alarm in the event of pump / flow failure.

This is what I have so far is the schematic for the temp sensors. I am waiting on parts to arrive for the flow meter and need to do some probing to figure out the pump RPM. I also need to get started on the code. My plan is to have 4 different displays on the screen. First will be a simple text message displaying "Liquid Cooling Control Center" the next will display the liquid temp from the temp sensors. Following that I would like it to display the pump RPM and liquid flow rate. The last will display system up time if possible.  

The 2 10k thermistors are 2 temp sensors from BitsPower which use a 10k thermistor epoxied into a G1/4 stop fitting. The 10k Trim pot is there to set the contrast on the LCD.

What I have left to do:

• Figure out flow meter
• Figure out how to read pump rpm (PPM signal on yellow wire?)
• Write code
• Set alarm parameters.

My fritzing page on this project.
http://fritzing.org/projects/arduino-controlled-pc-water-cooling-info-display/

@gravelbar  The 3% came from the data sheet on the flow meter. I can link to the seeedstudio forum post I mentioned but they are just 1 post topics asking for info on using this meter. No actual discussion.

That is a pretty cool project you have going on there! Can't believe I missed it.

@ Jonathan Oxer  I actually got the idea for my whole project from that one project in practical arduino. I searched for months for a cheap flow sensor that was small enough to fit in a PC case.

I am working on my board layout now and should have some complete Water Cooling System control boards ready by November.

Yes the $1.89 was what the solid brass G1/2 barbed fittings cost. The flow meter is from Seeedstudio.com and cost $9.50 USD.

It's a typical magnetic flow meter which outputs an electrical pulse with every revolution. The signal is a simple square wave so its quite easy to log and convert into liters per minute using the following formula.

Code:

Pulse frequency (Hz) in Horizontal Test= 7.5Q, Q is flow rate in L/min. (Results in +/- 3% range)

The flow meter is silent wen in operation and from what I can tell, does not introduce any noticeable restriction in flow. I am pumping a cooling fluid mixture through it that is similar to common automotive antifreeze so its slightly thicker than water.

Using a CPX Pro (jingway 1200) pump from Dangerden.com I am getting an output of about 400lph on average which is consistent with testing from other independent testing labs.  

I have tested this setup on another pump (Thermaltake 500lph) and the results from it are also consistent with other results I have seen.

I really hope some of you use this in your projects. If you do please email me (charles gantt at themakersworkbench dot com) a link to your project.

I am using it to measure the flow rate of the liquid cooling system in my PC. If the flow level were to drop below a certain level an alarm will sound and an LED will flash on the front of the case.

This is just part of a much larger project. I made this tutorial because there were some threads about using this sensor over on the seeedstudio.com forums. So I thought I would post it here too. I also put a link in the playground to this tutorial on my site.

Thanks for the props!

[You will need]

This is part of a project I have been working on and I thought I would share it here . The flow meter I am using is the  Water Flow Sensor found in the Seeed Studio Depo. It uses a simple rotating wheel that pulses a hall effect sensor. By reading these pulses and implementing a little math, we can read the liquids flow rate accurate to within 3%.  The threads are simple G1/2 so finding barbed ends will not be that hard. I found some at lows for $1.89 each.

You will need

Seeeduino / Arduino
Water Flow Sensor
10K resistor

Wiring up the Water Flow Sensor is pretty simple. There are 3 wires: Black, Red, and Yellow.

Black to the Seeeduino's ground pin
Red to Seeeduino's 5v pin
The yellow wire will need to be connected to a 10k pull up resistor.and then to pin 2 on the Seeeduino.

Here is a fritzing diagram I made to show you how to wire it all up.

Once you have it wired up you will need to upload the following code to your Seeeduino. Once it is uploaded and you have some fluid flowing through the Water Flow Sensor, you can open the serial monitor and it will display the flow rate, refreshing every second.

Code:

// reading liquid flow rate using Seeeduino and Water Flow Sensor from Seeedstudio.com
// Code adapted by Charles Gantt from PC Fan RPM code written by Crenn @thebestcasescenario.com
// http:/themakersworkbench.com http://thebestcasescenario.com http://seeedstudio.com

volatile int NbTopsFan; //measuring the rising edges of the signal
int Calc;                              
int hallsensor = 2;    //The pin location of the sensor

void rpm ()     //This is the function that the interupt calls
{
  NbTopsFan++;  //This function measures the rising and falling edge of the

hall effect sensors signal
}
// The setup() method runs once, when the sketch starts
void setup() //
{
  pinMode(hallsensor, INPUT); //initializes digital pin 2 as an input
  Serial.begin(9600); //This is the setup function where the serial port is

initialised,
  attachInterrupt(0, rpm, RISING); //and the interrupt is attached
}
// the loop() method runs over and over again,
// as long as the Arduino has power
void loop ()    
{
  NbTopsFan = 0;      //Set NbTops to 0 ready for calculations
  sei();            //Enables interrupts
  delay (1000);      //Wait 1 second
  cli();            //Disable interrupts
  Calc = (NbTopsFan * 60 / 7.5); //(Pulse frequency x 60) / 7.5Q, = flow rate

in L/hour
  Serial.print (Calc, DEC); //Prints the number calculated above
  Serial.print (" L/hour\r\n"); //Prints "L/hour" and returns a  new line
}

I hope this helps someone out! Thank's to Seeed Studio for hooking me up with a sensor so I could develop this tutorial.

I actually have a complete water cooling information center shield coming out in a month or so. It displays temp from 2 bits power temp fittings so you get real time loop temps. You can add up to 3 more temp probes anywhere you want.

It also displays Pump RMP, Liquid Flow rate, PWM Fan speed control Up to 6 fans and 60w per channel, and it will display the rpm for each fan. I have added in an alarm (both visual and audible) to notify you of a drop in flow and am working on adding a RGB LED controller for those moders out there. The first revision is going to be a shield, the second will be a stand alone unit running an atmega 1280.

I have most of the project documented on my site if you are interested. http://themakersworkbench.com and have an article up in the arduino playground on how to read the RPM of common 3 wire PC fans.

Nice work!!

Congrats!!!! I need to pick up a centipede shield from you one day.

@pracas The Media Relations dpt would not be able to answer your question about ordering problems, they are there for media related questions and such.  FWIW there is something like a 14k unit back order judging from the back order numbers that the various sites have been posting on their stock numbers.

I have a few on the way for evaluation samples, and wont even get mine until mid to late august and I put my order in an hour after they were released.

I had a short Q and A session with the MCP430's marketing manager and asked some questions about the Launch Pad. I posted it on my site if anyone is interested. http://themakersworkbench.com/?q=node/394