I saw reference to this technique in which an ultrasonic sensor is mounted on the bottom of a tank of liquid:
The Xact patented sensor is externally mounted on the bottom of a propane tank. It sends an ultrasonic signal through the wall of the tank and reads the return echo from the surface of the liquid propane or diesel fuel.
Has anyone seen this done? What transducer(s) can be used? I wonder about those used for boats depth sounders.
But the time to echo seems very short. Hmmm..
Any pointers or suggestions welcome...
(I just got into the house in Vermont, getting the snow out of my High Boots, after struggling to get to the 250 Gallon propane tank 50, feet away. 25% Good news for March. BUT as I was shaking snow on the kitchen floor I said to myself, "Can't ARDUINO do something like this??")
A regular float level gauge will work too. It is just liquid inside the tank, with compressed gas above the liquid instead of ambient air.
But cutting into the tank is not a good idea. That's why the ultrasonic sensor is a neat idea. Yes the speed of sound in liquid will be a lot faster than in air, but not by enough to trouble an Arduino.
My tank has the typical float-based gauge. I read it today (25%) but I had to struggle through above-knee-deep snow and then clear off snow and open the cover on the gauge.
I have found that there are sensors that mount like a float gauge and have a variable resistor like a car fuel tank. like 0..90 ohms. BUT that would have to be installed by my LP supplier, probably after emptying the tank..
Not trying to be a wet blanket but, it'd be wise to check the codes on such things in your area. I replaced an outdoor central AC unit last year and it had to be mounted on a new pad further away (ten feet, IIRC) from the propane tanks due to it being a spark/ignition source.
it'd be wise to check the codes on such things in your area.
Certainly important to actually check for possible dangers.
But this is the Old Wild East here in Topsham, Vermont. No permits. No inspections. Just to be sure I checked with the town before I built a large barn.. they said, "just build it, don't worry, the listers will probably add a little on your town taxes. Oh.. don't put it right under the power lines, the power company will complain." OK/
I can walk into the bank with a handgun. No permits.
I've been told the the law in Topsham is "Don't Be Stupid". I try to uphold that. The propane tank IS about 10 feet from the Other Bathroom, though. But I don't smoke. But as you can see from the next photo, it's about 50 feet from the house.
Whether there are laws of not , it makes sense not to kill yourself .
There are dangers of introducing electricity around tanks ( intrinsic safety , zoning etc) so you should look into codes etc so you know what you are doing and you don’t blow Your relatives kids or whatever up. I’d imagine doing that would attract interest from someone.
terryking228:
Hi Paul,
I have done that. (Well, I use my Dad's snowblower he got in about 1990.. but I'm 79 so I think we're aging together). I bought my own shovel.
I HAD said to myself, "Next Year snowblow out to the Outhouse and the LP tank starting at the BEGINNING of the season. " I used to do that.
I really like this era with WiFi, Bluetooth, LoRa. I did RADIO since 1950, when "Wireless" was an Old Word you saw when you read about Marconi.
I am also 79, and had to shovel a lot of snow, but have a Kubota tractor w/scoop to help.
May I suggest you think about inventing some device to set on the current tank gauge and occasionally look at the needle and report that to your inside unit. What that device might look like and how it would operate is a mystery. Perhaps, if the needle is black, use a light reflection from the background to find a spot where the reflection was obscured by the needle.
But it is in the clear, on legs, when it does thaw in Vernont..
