flow control system with alerts

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello everyone! I have a project in my mind but I have no idea how to make it alive.

I need a system that will control the water flow and alert me if flow is less than it suppose to be. Like every 10 minutes 2 liters of water should go throw the pipe if in 10 minutes less water went throw the pipe system will turn on the alarm or send me and email (or text message in best case).

I read a little about Arduino and I think it's possible to use it for my project. But I never used anythink like that in my life before.

Can you guys please help me to start at least? If someone knows 100% how to do this system quick and easy (and not expensive) I am willing to pay that person.

Thank you!

2

This looks like it could be helpful

3

UKHeliBob:
This looks like it could be helpful
http://diyhacking.com/arduino-flow-rate-sensor/

Thank you so much for your help!

Can Arduino run the code by itself or I have to have a PC connected? Maybe I can connect a Raspberry Pi instead of PC?

4

An Arduino can run the code but you will need a PC/Mac/Linux system to write and upload the code to it.

5

I may be repeating the above suggestion (I didn't check, I know, I'm being lazy but it's getting late on Sunday) and I saw by pure coincidence on Banggood this device which seems to meet your needs too:

Flow Meter (Banggood.com)

[I have absolutely no relationship with Banggood other than as a paying customer - and one who waits for weeks on end for that slow boat from China to finally arrive and deliver the damn stuff which I've now totally forgotten about]

6

Guys, I want to test my water flow sensor so I need very simple pulse counter sketch. It just needs to count pulses so I can see them in serial monitor. Pulses are coming to pin number 2 on arduino uno. I found sketches online but they all too complicated or not working. Can somebody please give me the working one?

7

Glebiys:
Guys, I want to test my water flow sensor so I need very simple pulse counter sketch. It just needs to count pulses so I can see them in serial monitor. Pulses are coming to pin number 2 on arduino uno. I found sketches online but they all too complicated or not working. Can somebody please give me the working one?

Have you actually tried anything ? Perhaps start with the Button example in the IDE. I know that it reads the input from a button and flashes an LED but if you substitute your sensor for the button, add a counter variable and print its value to the Serial monitor you will be well on your way.

There are subtleties that you can add later, such as debouncing the input to avoid false counting, but get the simple version working first.

Come back here and post your code if you need more help.

8

what was mentioned in the first post, 2 litres in 10 minutes = 1 litre in 5 minutes = 0.2 litre per minute.

there are multiple options for flow meters. the overclocking crowd uses a fancy, clear units not sure of the pulse rates but they do have inserts to increase accuracy at lower flows. there are a few videos of the bitspower sensor on youtube

http://tinyurl.com/hwupxbg

the device someone already listed is the most common, but the range is listed as 1 to 30 LPM and is stated as a 1/2 inch device. the threads fit a common US NPT pipe thread you can buy at the hardware store. :

http://tinyurl.com/z936aba

not sure how fast you want it, aliexpress is about 3-4 weeks.

aliexpress also offers a 1/4 inch version that is rated by the manufacturer as 0.3 to 6.0 litres per minute.

http://tinyurl.com/jughjjb

I have the 1/2 inch one and I use it for 1 LPM and am not happy as I get 0.0 flow rate interspersed with 1.0 , 1.6, 1.4, 0.0, 1.7.... I am working on taking a dozen readings and then averaging them to show flow. my needs are really not important, more of a flow proven switch. I might just go with any reading above 0 in the last minute as 'flow proven'

I am working on a variable speed pump, with check valve. the check valve has a lot of head pressure. to overcome that, the motor has to push a certain pressure, more than half of an open pipe pressure. so, to reduce speed, there is real risk of the motor spinning and no flow.

in my open pipe testing, I filled up a 2 liter pitcher in 2 minutes 7 seconds.

as for the sensors in the links, if you look at the cover plate, you can see what looks like reinforcement on the plastic, but I believe that it represents the shape of the blade inside. look at the curved spokes on this cover-plate. I have one of both, a flat blade as well as a curved blade. both spin about the same. http://tinyurl.com/jaa2zx8

There are a few sites that will offer arduino code you can up-load and try. it is required that it goes on an interrupt pin. use the pin listed in the sketch you download.

There are two other types. a ball with a spring and a tapered opening. the higher the flow the further back the ball moves and the sensor knows how far back the ball moves to determine flow rate. I cannot see this working for you in any way.

there is also a turbine type. a blade that is installed axially in the flow stream. as the liquid flows, the blades spin, the Hall effect counter sees the blades and counts RPM. these are cheap versions of the insanely expensive ones used in custody transfer on gas pipelines. here is one from google : only $5,699.oo for a 6 inch (opening) sensor free shipping ! Honeywell American Meter-GT/GTS Turbine Gas Meter — Measurement Control Systems of course you can get a cheap version for under $500.00 and a plastic one for under $20.00.
I believe that there are minimum flow rates. you would need to get a proper sized unit for your flow. Again, I do not believe this will work for your flow rates.