I'd like to create a switch to control a water pipe valve and I'm at the very beginning of my journey. I've got a lot to learn but any help would be welcome please....
I've got a clack valve which manages the cleaning of our borehole water, it has it's own circuitry and it performs a regeneration backwash cycle to refresh the filtering medium inside the vessel. This occurs at the next regeneration set time (11.00am in our case) but only when either 18m3 of water has passed through the valve or 7 days between regenerations is reached, whichever is sooner. It knows when to do this because it has a both a clock and a flow meter which counts from 18m3 down to zero after every regeneration backwash cycle. So, if we've used 18m3 of water at say 16.00 the valve will perform a regen the next morning at 11.00am, if we haven't used 18m3 of water but 7 days has elapsed since the last regen cycle it'll perform one on the 7th day at 11.00am. Pretty cool!
During a regeneration backwash cycle, the waste water (full of dissolved iron and salt) goes into a storage tank. On the outlet of the tank is a solendoid valve.
I would like the waste water to sit and settle out in the tank for 6 days and then the solenoid valve can open and drain the tank. The clack valve has 2 relay outputs and either or both can be energised when a regeneration cycle starts. I could therefore attach a time delay switch set to 6 days and i'd get what I want.
Because our water usage changes throughout the year, it might be that the settling time interval needs to be shortened because we use up our 18m3 sooner and therefore the clack valve performs multiple regenerations a week.
So if you're still with me, here's what i'd like help with please!
Because I don't want to mix settled waste water with fresh waste water I'd like the settling tank's solenoid valve to be able to pre-empt a regeneration backwash cycle and open an hour before the next immanent regeneration cycle so the tank is empty ready for the next batch of waste water.
I'm wondering if I can take / create a signal from the clack valve when the 18m3 water usage countdown reaches zero? Even better would be to take a signal when it reaches zero but wait until the next 10.00am (an hour before the next regen cycle).
Where do I start to find out if this is possible?!
if the relay outputs are currently unused and can be programmed to activate when when a regeneration cycle starts you could monitor their state using the digital inputs of a microcontroller.
The microcontroller could then be programmed to carry out actions required.
how difficult you would find this depends on your microcomputer interfacing/programming experience.
what distances are involved between the various components of your system? e.g. meters, 10's of meters, 100's of meters, etc
maybe worth drawing a flowchart showing the components of system?
I am 100% sure it can be done, but the real question is do you have the experience and skill set to do it. That is hard for us to answer.
You need to describe the existing setup and how you want to modify it using a LOT fewer words, and instead use standard diagramming. Although flow charts are somewhat dated these days, it may be helpful if you could do that. I don't know how, use Google and AI, this is what they are ok at.
I will take a close look at this, but not today, as my heart is not working properly. Hopefully, tomorrow I can get a start on the flow chart if you haven't already done it.
An alternate approach might be simpler.
When your backwash begins, instead opening the drain valve; after a suitable delay, close the drain valve and continue with the regen cycle. Effectively, you're delaying one process by the length of the prior one. That requires zero change to your main system, instead simply inserting a delay relay in the process.
Would that help? It may not, if what you really want to do with the Arduino extends beyond what you've described, but the best solutions don't always incorporate an Arduino, sadly.
@alittlhelpplz We have not established any environmental concerns yet. What I mean is with physical relays (I used to babysit thousands of them), the contacts can pit if precautions are not taken, and components don't fail as well as foreign matter getting in the way. What about genuine grounding and lightning protection?
It may be that all that is in place, I have no way of knowing.
It may be that any failure of the add on will not contaminate the water supply.
However, if there is ANY threat to the water supply, which I assume is drinking water, then every precaution must be taken to ensure any add-on system does not threaten the integrity further.
Thanks both, really helpful. Let me do more legwork and come back to you guys. I'm just going through this thread as there seems to be useful info regarding the clack valve I have and automation.
Regarding where i'm at, I have plenty of practical skills - have built a house, was a tree surgeon, I keep our car running, can do plumbing and household electrics and can follow instructions well enough. I have zero electronics experience though so despite the above I still very much in need of explain it like i'm five type information - essentially buy these components and put them together if possible!
I've tried to simplify the desired outcome:
If m3 counter on clack valve reaches zero, solenoid valve energises (opens) for 60mins at the next 10.00am
If 7 days have elapsed since last regen cycle, solenoid valve energises (opens) for 60mins at the next 10.00am
That should mean effluent from each regeneration backwash cycle gets to settle out in the tank for as long as possible before draining away to receive the next batch of backwash.
But does not answer the question, "Is this the right process change to make?". I would suggest the easiest process change is one that simply empties the settling tank immediately before refilling it, regardless of the timing of events.