After some experimenting with my new Arduino pro starter kit, I am excited to tackle my first important practical project. To avoid basement flooding and monitor an important home system, I would like to develop a sump pump monitor. As a start, I would like to have a float switch and a counter to track how many times the sump discharges. Later, I would like to expand to have data collection and communication to my mac or phone for sump malfunction alarms.
I've selected the CS-CO057 horizontal float switch from Sure electronics (there are many similar available), but I haven't found an inexpensive (< $20) digital event counter. I'd like to avoid using (and programing) a two line LCD as a counter at this time. Anyone have any comments on my project or a suggestion for a digital event counter (minimum 4 digits and hopefully with a reset button) I can use with Arduino Uno ?
the obvious answer is: Attach a cheap china display ($5 or less) and button to the Arduino and write a program. You can also store from time to time the current value in the internal EEPROM of the Arduiono to save the data in case of a power loss. This is going to be the cheapest solution in your context.
Now, the more interesting question is: Why are you reluctant to go this way? This project looks like a very well suited to learn about the Arduino. You can start out simple and add complexity step by step where for each step is small and good tutorials exist. Also, there's a good library and tutorials on how to drive the usual hd44780 cheapo display from China and this part can be tested independently from the rest of your application.
I'll definitely be saving the count to protect from power loss.
I have read about the HD44780, but thought there might be a digital event counter that I can index up with a single output. Maybe such a thing doesn't exist. I'm a little intimidated with starting with the 44780 display, but planned on changing to it later to display the count along with date / time. I want to integrate date / time to get daily counts anyway. Maybe I'll just take the leap...
ScottFree:
I'm a little intimidated with starting with the 44780 display, but planned on changing to it later to display the count along with date / time. I want to integrate date / time to get daily counts anyway.
The LiquidCrystal library included in your Arduino package takes care of handling those display. Just follow the steps in the tutorial. If you want to get daily counts and such, at one point you're probably going to want either a real time clock or a DCF77 receiver for a correct time after reset. It's not necessary in the first step, but budget one.
You want a cheap "digital" event counter? How about a re-purposed pedometer? I've seen those things being sold for a dollar at thrift stores (even new they aren't that expensive).
Or how about this:
It's a hack based on a cheapo calculator...
BTW - I just did a search on Ebay for "digital counter" - even "industrial" counters were fairly cheap (under $50.00)...there was also a selection of pedometers and other counters...
I've also been looking for a cheap digital inventory / tally counter to use as the counter. I'm hard on the "re-purposed" trail after extricating a poor float valve from an old dishwasher !
With Korman's encouragement, I've decided to follow parallel paths with the counter portion of the project and I've also ordered two HD44780s...
On a separate subject, do you have any favorite online sources for components in the US (hopefully that will ship to Canada)? I'll need more parts in the future for data storage (maybe using a memory storage card) and communication to mac / phone (maybe using an xbee).