Messuring the level of a canister using an ultrasonic sensor

Other Hardware Sensors
1

Hello,
I want to measure the water level of a canister using an ultrasonic sensor like the HC-SR04. Can someone recommend another sensor with the following requirements:

  • Minimal Range: 1mm

  • Maximal range: Doesnt matter

  • Resolution: 1mm

I haven't found a sensor with these requirements, so I hope someone can help me.

2

Check this out: Level Sensors | KEYENCE America My best suggestion is to use your search engine with this term for starters "liquid level sensor".

3

So a sensor for 1 mm minimal distance and 1 mm resolution, maximum doesn't matter.

What you're looking for is a hall effect sensor. Place a magnet on a float under the sensor, it will work from 0 mm (touch) up to maybe 10 mm distance. Calibrate for your sensor/magnet combination.

4

Some more important pieces of information is that it has to be food-safe. The canister is about 40cm deep. Furthermore, I'd like a solution which I can mount inside of the cap of the canister so I can change the canister.

5

Place the canister on a scale.

6

I have used Pololu TOF sensors to measure water height in a container - also look at proximity-sensors-and-range-finders

7

More important information is missing:

  • what is the diameter of that canister?
  • how much space is available between the cap and the highest liquid level?
  • in your post #1 you explicitly stated "Maximal range: Doesnt matter" - you don't have the need to measure all the way to the bottom of the vessel, i.e. a minimum of 40 cm?
8

@paulpaulson As I mentioned I want to mount the entire hardware inside of the cap of the canister and also I want to fill in different fluids with different densitys.

@horace I've heard that the TOF sensors have trouble with water is that correct? Because if not that would be the perfect solution. I will look into the proximity sensors.

@wvmarle The diameter is about of the canister is about 35cm and the thread of the cap is according to DIN51. I can alter the height of the cap with my 3D printer. With maximal range I meant that the sensor can have a maximum range of for example 500cm. But I need at least 50cm. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

9

I experimented with several of the Pololu TOF sensors measuring water levels in a pair of connected containers - no problems results were accurate within a few mm and stable
in the end we developed capacitive level sensors

10

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