Hi, im actually starting on my arduino trip with his project wich i think would not be the most dificult project to beging with, so my problem is this:
I want to read 6 pressure sensors in order to turn on 6 diferent color leds, and have one dip switch for seting all the thigs up.
this is the scenario:
I have 6 bottles of some fluid whose levels have to be continuosly controlled (actually by handsensing them)
First off all when i turn on the arduino board i will have to press the dip switch in order to set the values of the presure sensors as the actual maximum level (this one i think should be saved into a variable) but i cant find the "theorical" way for make this:
The bottles are not always full filled when the "aparatus" is turned on, but my software must have to understand this situation, so when i turn off the "dispositivo" it must remember the last read off the six presure sensors at the moment of the shut down, so when i turn it on again it shows me the current "real" value of the "bottle level" in that particular moment.
then
If one of the pressure sensors is reading a value under the 50% off its maximum value (the one that was set at the first time) then the correlated led for that sensor will blink on and off continously untill the value of the presure sensor reach the 30% or less of its maximum value when, in that case, the led will be on untill the presure value reach the maximum value again, and, if posible, make some buzzing alert thought this is not the basic problem.
Ok tinkers, basically my question is if this particular "aparatus" can be maked whith the arduino (i hope it can, i'm almost in love with the arduino concept) my knowledge in programing is very poor but i'm not sleeping well studing the last days, in electronics i haven't do anithing really important but i know how to solder and the most important, im thirsty of knowledge in this particular so i care about it.
thanks for reading and i hope you can give me a hand.
I suggest you start off by breaking the project down into small tasks, then you can try to sketch out each task separately and finally bring them all together.
Here are some of the tasks you mention:
-read dip switches and store maximum values for six sensors.
monitor values from six sensors and compare to readings held above
Light LEDs to indicate levels from sensors
You mention:
“?when i turn off ? it must remember the last read off the six presure sensors at the moment of the shut down, so when i turn it on again it shows me the current "real" value of the "bottle level" in that particular moment. “
Could you clarify what you want to do here. Do you really want to store the sensor value or the settings of the dip switch?
Is that a complete llist of tasks for your project? If so then you can start to think about implementing.
You could start with the LED task. An easy way of testing this is to think about writing a sketch that reads a potentiometer (pretend this is the level from the sensor) and compares this with a preset 'maximum' value. Start off just lighting the LED when the value reaches the maximum, then add functionality to blink the LED.
I think a search will find you some tutorials on reading a pot and lighting an LED to get you going. See how far you can get modifying one of the tutorials and if you get stuck, post your code here and I am sure you will get help.
It's beyond Freescale's range, but there are a few I could find that work at or above 250psi and return a single-ended voltage. 250 psi 250 psi 1000 psi
Yeah, I found all of those, but VDO and Dakota Digital both make pressure senders that do up to 400psi for $35. They're big, but that's not really a deal breaker.