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water flow rate

ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
edited 2001-08-30 03:03 in General Discussion
Hey guys,

im looking for a simple device that can measure the flow of water though a tube.

It only really has to tell me when the flow is normal, low or stopped but extra
steps in between would be good.
Ideally it would be cheap but thats not the primary concern.

im looking to use my bs2 or a pic to monitor my water cooled PC. So if the water
stops flowing or slows down, i need to know.

Anyone got any idea's

Regards

Peter Rogers


[noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Comments

  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-08-27 10:21
    Hi Peter,

    Recently our water processor (I don't know what this machine is called
    properly in english, basically it takes the hardness out of the water by
    filtering) failed, and it was due to a small turbine that measured the
    number of litres flowing through it. The turbine provides information on the
    amount of water passing trough the filters, which the system processor uses
    to determine when to 'wash' the filters with salt water.

    In any case, this device is a small turbine, placed inside a section of
    plastic tube, with a small magnet attached to it, off-center. Above the
    turbine is a hall-effect sensor, which counts the turns of the turbine and
    sends them out as pulses.

    I suppose that if you got hold of a spare you could use it to measure flow
    with a Stamp relatively easy. Our machine's manufacturer is EcoWater, but
    you may find plenty of manufacturers of this type of machines.

    It's surprising how you can sometimes use stuff from experience aquired in
    totally different areas :-)

    I hope this helps, all the best,

    Mike





    >
    Mensaje original
    > De: Peter Rogers [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=DYJl_KQlTLW0KffNT0FRCE4EdX43Qpk2JcmbDhYYb881CTWgHqNoY_1w3MbVCi-3YP4Ga7xDRa7JmdSri1o]molly7@o...[/url
    > Enviado el: lunes, 27 de agosto de 2001 11:17
    > Para: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    > Asunto: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] water flow rate
    >
    >
    > Hey guys,
    >
    > im looking for a simple device that can measure the flow of water
    > though a tube.
    >
    > It only really has to tell me when the flow is normal, low or
    > stopped but extra steps in between would be good.
    > Ideally it would be cheap but thats not the primary concern.
    >
    > im looking to use my bs2 or a pic to monitor my water cooled PC.
    > So if the water stops flowing or slows down, i need to know.
    >
    > Anyone got any idea's
    >
    > Regards
    >
    > Peter Rogers
    >
    >
    > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the
    > Subject and Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-08-27 11:20
    Peter,
    There is a California based company called Proteus which makes flowswitches.
    They have various sizes specs etc, but the one I used was about 3x3x1 and had
    3/8" plastic inlet /outletconnectors(they have different connectors as
    well). I think we bought them for 80$. Basically they have a rotor over
    which water flows. The rotor has bar magnets and the coils mounted
    outside(You cant see them) pick up this and provide voltage pulses. You shape
    these pulses and measure the frequency.
    Let me give you their web address:
    http://www.proteusind.com/
    They also have the pricelist and catalouge there/
    And try this address too. It gives some nice pictures and might give you some
    idea if you want to build one yourself:
    http://www.evergreenlaser.com/proteus.htm
    hope this helps.
    regards
    Vetri
    ucsf


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-08-27 19:01
    Why not just measure the temperature of the water ? If the temperature is
    too high, then the flow rate is too low etc.



    > Hey guys,
    >
    > im looking for a simple device that can measure the flow of water though a
    tube.
    >
    > It only really has to tell me when the flow is normal, low or stopped but
    extra
    > steps in between would be good. Ideally it would be cheap but thats not the
    > primary concern.
    >
    > im looking to use my bs2 or a pic to monitor my water cooled PC. So if the
    water
    > stops flowing or slows down, i need to know.
    >
    > Anyone got any idea's
    >
    > Regards
    >
    > Peter Rogers
    >
    >
    > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    >
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and Body
    > of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
    >


    Mark Hillier, VE6HVW
    President, HVW Technologies Inc.
    Canadian Distributors of Parallax Products and other Neat Stuff
    Tel: (403)-730-8603 Fax: (403)-730-8903
    See our NEW BASIC Stamp Prototyping tools !
    http://www.hvwtech.com/stampstack.htm
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-08-27 22:49
    I had thought about this but if the water stops flowing the heat is all
    generated in one area , the cpu. it will then take time to flow to the
    sensor if its not right at the cpu. I was going to use a temp sensor
    connected to he cpu directly so this would do the same job but be more
    direct.

    thanks

    Peter Rogers


    Original Message
    From: "Mark Hillier" <Mark@H...>
    To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 4:01 AM
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] water flow rate


    > Why not just measure the temperature of the water ? If the temperature is
    > too high, then the flow rate is too low etc.
    >
    >
    >
    > > Hey guys,
    > >
    > > im looking for a simple device that can measure the flow of water though
    a tube.
    > >
    > > It only really has to tell me when the flow is normal, low or stopped
    but extra
    > > steps in between would be good. Ideally it would be cheap but thats not
    the
    > > primary concern.
    > >
    > > im looking to use my bs2 or a pic to monitor my water cooled PC. So if
    the water
    > > stops flowing or slows down, i need to know.
    > >
    > > Anyone got any idea's
    > >
    > > Regards
    > >
    > > Peter Rogers
    > >
    > >
    > > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    > >
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    and Body
    > > of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > >
    > >
    > >
    >
    >
    > Mark Hillier, VE6HVW
    > President, HVW Technologies Inc.
    > Canadian Distributors of Parallax Products and other Neat Stuff
    > Tel: (403)-730-8603 Fax: (403)-730-8903
    > See our NEW BASIC Stamp Prototyping tools !
    > http://www.hvwtech.com/stampstack.htm
    >
    > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    >
    >
    > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    >
    >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-08-28 02:44
    Hi,

    if you are looking for a neat idea, and your water is clear, you can
    put in any type of paddle or propeller in a sight glass. then put a
    light on one side. if you have a mirror in the tube, you can count
    interuptions of the light off the mirror as the wheel/paddle/propeller
    turns. Of course this will interupt any optics that you can send
    through the water so you can use whatever light sensing technology you
    are comfortable with. No mirror? then you can put your light source n
    one side and sensor on the other.


    if your liguid has the potential to cloud or possilly allow alge to
    block the glass, then the hall effect is a better way to go.

    Dave




    --- In basicstamps@y..., "Peter Rogers" <molly7@o...> wrote:
    > I had thought about this but if the water stops flowing the heat is all
    > generated in one area , the cpu. it will then take time to flow to the
    > sensor if its not right at the cpu. I was going to use a temp sensor
    > connected to he cpu directly so this would do the same job but be more
    > direct.
    >
    > thanks
    >
    > Peter Rogers
    >
    >
    >
    Original Message
    > From: "Mark Hillier" <Mark@H...>
    > To: <basicstamps@y...>
    > Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 4:01 AM
    > Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] water flow rate
    >
    >
    > > Why not just measure the temperature of the water ? If the temperature is
    > > too high, then the flow rate is too low etc.
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > > Hey guys,
    > > >
    > > > im looking for a simple device that can measure the flow of water though
    > a tube.
    > > >
    > > > It only really has to tell me when the flow is normal, low or stopped
    > but extra
    > > > steps in between would be good. Ideally it would be cheap but thats not
    > the
    > > > primary concern.
    > > >
    > > > im looking to use my bs2 or a pic to monitor my water cooled PC. So if
    > the water
    > > > stops flowing or slows down, i need to know.
    > > >
    > > > Anyone got any idea's
    > > >
    > > > Regards
    > > >
    > > > Peter Rogers
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@y...
    > > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    > and Body
    > > > of the message will be ignored.
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > > >
    > > >



    > > >
    > >
    > >
    > > Mark Hillier, VE6HVW
    > > President, HVW Technologies Inc.
    > > Canadian Distributors of Parallax Products and other Neat Stuff
    > > Tel: (403)-730-8603 Fax: (403)-730-8903
    > > See our NEW BASIC Stamp Prototyping tools !
    > > http://www.hvwtech.com/stampstack.htm
    > >
    > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@y...
    > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    > Body of the message will be ignored.
    > >
    > >
    > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    > >
    > >
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-08-28 05:33
    Peter,

    Looking in RS they have two sensors one priced at £70 and one at £20. The
    more expensive one Give a frequency out and the cheaper one a pulse. The
    datasheet (RS does not allow Cut+Paste) for the more expensive one gives a
    warning and details of how to connect the sensor in the petrol line of
    vehicles. Which made me think. For quite a while some cars have been
    fitted with "Fuel consumption computers" Certainly I remember a friends
    parents had a Talbot Horizon with such a device fifteen or twenty years ago.
    So if your on a budget it may be possible to remove such an item from a car
    wreck ? Anyone have any ideas on this ?

    Justin Pentecost
    Focus puller and stamp idiot
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-08-28 09:57
    You can use a set up that keeps the temperature sensor a few degrees above
    the temperature of the water. The water flow is effectively cooling the
    sensor. Less water flow means less cooling so temp of sensor goes up and
    vica versa.

    You will probably need to find details of how to do this yourself, as I
    don't have any more information from when it was presented in lectures.

    Luke.

    On Tue, 28 Aug 2001, Peter Rogers wrote:

    M> I had thought about this but if the water stops flowing the heat is all
    M> generated in one area , the cpu. it will then take time to flow to the
    M> sensor if its not right at the cpu. I was going to use a temp sensor
    M> connected to he cpu directly so this would do the same job but be more
    M> direct.
    M>
    M> thanks
    M>
    M> Peter Rogers
    M>
    M>
    M>
    Original Message
    M> From: "Mark Hillier" <Mark@H...>
    M> To: <basicstamps@yahoogroups.com>
    M> Sent: Tuesday, August 28, 2001 4:01 AM
    M> Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] water flow rate
    M>
    M>
    M> > Why not just measure the temperature of the water ? If the temperature is
    M> > too high, then the flow rate is too low etc.
    M> >
    M> >
    M> >
    M> > > Hey guys,
    M> > >
    M> > > im looking for a simple device that can measure the flow of water though
    M> a tube.
    M> > >
    M> > > It only really has to tell me when the flow is normal, low or stopped
    M> but extra
    M> > > steps in between would be good. Ideally it would be cheap but thats not
    M> the
    M> > > primary concern.
    M> > >
    M> > > im looking to use my bs2 or a pic to monitor my water cooled PC. So if
    M> the water
    M> > > stops flowing or slows down, i need to know.
    M> > >
    M> > > Anyone got any idea's
    M> > >
    M> > > Regards
    M> > >
    M> > > Peter Rogers
    M> > >
    M> > >
    M> > > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
    M> > >
    M> > >
    M> > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    M> > > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    M> > > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject
    M> and Body
    M> > > of the message will be ignored.
    M> > >
    M> > >
    M> > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
    M> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    M> > >
    M> > >
    M> > >
    M> >
    M> >
    M> > Mark Hillier, VE6HVW
    M> > President, HVW Technologies Inc.
    M> > Canadian Distributors of Parallax Products and other Neat Stuff
    M> > Tel: (403)-730-8603 Fax: (403)-730-8903
    M> > See our NEW BASIC Stamp Prototyping tools !
    M> > http://www.hvwtech.com/stampstack.htm
    M> >
    M> > To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    M> > basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    M> > from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    M> Body of the message will be ignored.
    M> >
    M> >
    M> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    M> >
    M> >
    M>
    M>
    M> To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    M> basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    M> from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.
    M>
    M>
    M> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
    M>
    M>

    --
    '80 (ex)KE38 '86 ST141 '84 AE86
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-08-28 19:34
    Hi Peter & Vetri,

    I use a Proteus switch on a 500 gallon salt water aquarium in a research
    lab. If a circulation pump fails, the switch detect it and kicks in a
    backup pump. It has kept some expensive fish alive, and has worked well for
    at least 15 years.

    Dennis
    USC School of Medicine
    LA CA USA

    Original Message
    From: Lvetri@a... [noparse]/noparse]mailto:[url=http://forums.parallaxinc.com/group/basicstamps/post?postID=6dVRr6DMMTWl3qpzbUJnfJplECYc-gZTIm-POT1Wz7fOPDPIEwLNpN7QYLqVHkoj1-b9FLQk1KXy]Lvetri@a...[/url
    Sent: Monday, August 27, 2001 3:20 AM
    To: basicstamps@yahoogroups.com
    Subject: Re: [noparse][[/noparse]basicstamps] water flow rate


    Peter,
    There is a California based company called Proteus which makes flowswitches.
    They have various sizes specs etc, but the one I used was about 3x3x1 and
    had
    3/8" plastic inlet /outletconnectors(they have different connectors as
    well). I think we bought them for 80$. Basically they have a rotor over
    which water flows. The rotor has bar magnets and the coils mounted
    outside(You cant see them) pick up this and provide voltage pulses. You
    shape
    these pulses and measure the frequency.
    Let me give you their web address:
    http://www.proteusind.com/
    They also have the pricelist and catalouge there/
    And try this address too. It gives some nice pictures and might give you
    some
    idea if you want to build one yourself:
    http://www.evergreenlaser.com/proteus.htm
    hope this helps.
    regards
    Vetri
    ucsf


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


    To UNSUBSCRIBE, just send mail to:
    basicstamps-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
    from the same email address that you subscribed. Text in the Subject and
    Body of the message will be ignored.


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  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-08-28 22:50
    I use flow sensors made by GEMS. They have a rotary flow switch that measures
    water flow. They are about $150 but will fit the bill.

    They also have cheaper switches that use a paddle in the water flow. Less
    money and accuracy.

    Hope this helps,

    Alan Bradford
    Plasma Technologies


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-08-29 14:39
    The neat thing about the GEMS stuf is that it is simple. The
    shotfall is that most of GEMS stuff are switchs and not an analogue
    sensors. It would be a great base to add some sort of hall effect or
    photonic sensor.


    Dave


    --- In basicstamps@y..., plasmastamp@a... wrote:
    > I use flow sensors made by GEMS. They have a rotary flow switch
    that measures
    > water flow. They are about $150 but will fit the bill.
    >
    > They also have cheaper switches that use a paddle in the water
    flow. Less
    > money and accuracy.
    >
    > Hope this helps,
    >
    > Alan Bradford
    > Plasma Technologies
    >
    >
    > [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  • ArchiverArchiver Posts: 46,084
    edited 2001-08-30 03:03
    Hi All,

    The Gems stuff is simple but they do have rotary flow sensors that output the
    pulses generated by the hall sensor. You just count the pulses over time. I
    have also used the Proteus stuff. It is more accurate and industrially rugged
    but also more $$$.

    I am away from the office for a few weeks or I would look up the Gems numbers
    for the rotary sensors.

    Alan Bradford
    Plasma Technologies


    [noparse][[/noparse]Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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