Long Cable for Ultrasonic Sensor

Other Hardware Sensors
1

I am using an Arduino Nano with a HC-SR04 ultrasonic distance sensor (and some other bits).

It is attached to the end of a linear actuator.

Everything works great. It measures distances, serial prints, prints to the LCD, and turns some relays on and off.

However, now the boss wants the Arduino (and LCD and relays) to remain stationary and only attach the HC-SR04 to the end of the actuator.

We are looking for about 3 feet of travel.

I was hoping telephone cord (the scrunchy kind) and some RJ11 sockets would solve this problem for me.

But the Arduino gets nothing back from the sensor over the telephone cord. I have tried a few different HC-SR04 sensors to make sure it wasn't just a broke sensor.

Has anybody tried something like this before?

Am I barking up the wrong tree? Is there cable just too long or too light gauge to work with the sensor?

Thanks in advance

2

Perhaps time to examine the signals with an oscilloscope.

Paul

3

I think you need to examine the signals using an oscilloscope.

4

What is the resistance of that wire? Phone wires are indeed very thin, that may be an issue. Other than that, I would expect it to work.

You did double check your connections, didn't you? As in correct wire to the pin, and having an actual electrical connection.

5

Yeah, checked the connections, but checking again can't hurt...... Ok it's not that.

Unfortunately, I am still new enough at this that I don't have an oscilloscope yet (or know what to do with it).

Thanks all.

6

What actual resistance did you measure?

7

You could buy this waterproof sensor that has a 4' cable:

If it doesn't have the precision you need, you could just use the cable with the sensor you are now using.

8

Jcbc:
You could buy this waterproof sensor that has a 4' cable:

Amazon.com

Note that the cable you mention requires ~25cm (10") of distance between it and the object before it will even begin to register accurate measurements, unlike the HC-SR04 which the OP is currently using only requires ~2cm (< 1").

The OP should be aware of this, as the added space between sensor and object required may not be feasible for the project.

9

bray-christopher:
I am using an Arduino Nano with a HC-SR04 ultrasonic distance sensor (and some other bits).

It is attached to the end of a linear actuator.

Everything works great. It measures distances, serial prints, prints to the LCD, and turns some relays on and off.

However, now the boss wants the Arduino (and LCD and relays) to remain stationary and only attach the HC-SR04 to the end of the actuator.

We are looking for about 3 feet of travel.

I was hoping telephone cord (the scrunchy kind) and some RJ11 sockets would solve this problem for me.

But the Arduino gets nothing back from the sensor over the telephone cord. I have tried a few different HC-SR04 sensors to make sure it wasn't just a broke sensor.

Has anybody tried something like this before?

Am I barking up the wrong tree? Is there cable just too long or too light gauge to work with the sensor?

Thanks in advance

Hey there - were you able to resolve your issue with getting signal through phone wire? I'm getting ready to try the same thing and would like to know how you resolved your challenge.

Thank you.