First Project - Liquid level sensor

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello everyone,
Great to meet you all finally. I have had an idea for a while but not sure what the best approach would be.

The goal is to have a liquid level sensor with these features-
Withstand temperatures 15-50 degrees C.
Measure the level in a tank
Build the sensor as simply and cheaply as possible.
I would rather not have multiple sensors if possible and not have to drill the sides of the tank.
The board or ESP-01S would be with a battery somewhere outside of the tank so a small hole would have to be made for wiring.
The system should be low voltage .A throw in sensor would need too much power.

Question -
Is is possible to use only ESP8266 ESP-01S and HC-SR04 to report levels?
I know the HC-SR04 is 5 volt and ESP-01S is 3.3 volt. Is there a better pair without having a voltage divider I could use?

How long would HC-SR04 survive in high humidity?
Is there any way to protect it?

I am new to coding and Arduino but would like to learn it.

2

Your tank must have an air vent. Why can you not replace that pipe fitting with something to allow a sensor to be inserted, along with venting air?

3

Why not two or more simple and reliable sensors than one vulnerable and short lived sensor?

Fully understandable.

What would such a one be like?

Complicates things a lot....

Not likely. The humidity will eat them up fast.

How long? A few weeks maybe.
Protection... Not at all simple. Due to the variations in air pressure humidity is very, very hard to keep away.

A good way to "warm up" is playing with the Arduino, blink LEDs, read buttons etc.
This project looks like way above Your head.

4

ALWAYS begin a project with the beginning basics, not the solution you want and then try to force the solution to fit the project.

5

The JSN-SR04T would be a better choice.

6

Not the two element version but there is a "waterproof" variant that should last. I have run one at 3.3V. I have verified operation at 1.5 meters, I don't know the limit.

7

This type would be built to be submerged but I have not found a low power version.

8

Sweet, I have bought some of these for parking sensors in rear bumpers, it was a all in a kit with display and 4 of them.

What is the model of the waterproof variant ?

@Paul_KD7HB the tank cover is not air tight and I can also put a small hole through it. The pipe fitting has a separate connection and I would like to make this as easy to repeat as possible so this means not having to touch and plumbing.

9

So if the environment was dry and protected they are capable of reporting without needing an actual arduino board? I am wondering is the ESP-01S can do the polling of the distance and also report the results out to the web.

10

The waterproof (sensor only) version is : jsn-sr04t

BTW an ESP8266 is similar in functionality to an Arduino. So you could use one and the sensor
and have a complete system.

If you do try the "throw in" pressure sensor, you should be sure you protect the vent tube. It would help to have a material on the end that passes vapor but not liquid. Still there is potential for moisture to build up in the tube over time and temperature fluctuation.

11

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