Simple Water Level Indicator
Water Level Indicator
Description
This is the circuit diagram of a simple corrosion free water level indicator for home and industries. In fact the the level of any conductive non corrosive liquids can be measured using this circuit. The circuit is based on 5 transistor switches. Each transistor is switched on to drive the corresponding LED , when its base is supplied with current through the water through the electrode probes.
One electrode probe is (F) with 6V AC is placed at the bottom of tank. Next probes are placed step by step above the bottom probe. When water is rising the base of each transistor gets electrical connection to 6V AC through water and the corresponding probe. Which in turn makes the transistors conduct to glow LED and indicate the level of water. The ends of probes are connected to corresponding points in the circuit as shown in circuit diagram.Insulated Aluminum wires with end insulation removed will do for the probe. Arrange the probes in order on a PVC pipe according to the depth and immerse it in the tank.AC voltage is use to prevent electrolysis at the probes. So this setup will last really long. I guarantee at least a 2 years of maintenance free operation. That’s what I got and is still going.
Components
T1 – T5 BC 548 or 2N2222 Transistors
R1-R5 2.2K 1/4 W Resistors
R6-R10 22K 1/4 W Resistors
D1 – D5 LED’s ( color your choice)
Notes:
Use a transformer with 6V 500 mA output for power supply. Do not use a rectifier! we need pure AC. Use good quality insulated Aluminum wire for probes. If Aluminum wires are not available try Steel or Tin.Copper is the worst. Try the circuit first on a bread board and if not working properly, make adjustments with the resistance values. This is often needed because conductivity of water changes slightly from place to place. The type number of the transistors used here are not critical and any small signal NPN transistor will do the job. Few other suitable type numbers are BC546, BC107, PN2222, BC337, BF494, ZTX300, BEL187 etc. The circuit can be enclosed in a plastic box with holes for revealing the LEDs .
Water Level Indicator Circuit Diagram and Sensor Arrangement.
Water Level Indicator
If you need a fully automatic water level controller circuit then try this circuit Water level controller. The circuit is fully based primarily on transistors. The sensing section is somewhat similar to this circuit but there is additional circuitry for switching the pump ON when the water level falls below a set level and the pump will be switched OFF when the tank is full. Few transistors , one 555IC and an electromagnetic relay is used for realizing the control section. The circuit is very simple cost effective , reliable and many guys have successfully assembled it.I am also working on a float type water level indicator/controller using the float type fuel gauge mechanism used in motor cycles.The level sensor section is finished and now I am working on the control circuitry. I will add the circuit here as soon as it is finished
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hai i got parts as per your list. but , your picture doesn’t show which direction to fix it. the resister position better you give me original photo in this page, thanks
i want circuit diagram of water level indicator in this LCD except than LED……
this is a very simple structure of water level indicator.
i like it but i want to know more about water level indicator. please reply me.
can use a dc power supply
Hi Ahmed connect new added transistor ‘T0′ base to collector of T1. connect RED LED from collector T0 via 220ohms 1/4 watt resistance to 6VAC line and emitter of T0 to GND(common).
Dear Seetharaman,
I would like to add a stage before T1 , another transistor (T0) with red LED and it is OFF when T1 is ON and vice versa so that the whole circuit works as follows. When the Tank is full, no red light (T0 is off) and when tank is empty only red light is ON.
I would appreciate the full details for the modifications required with values and how they are connected.
Thank you
this is a very simple structure of water level indicator.
i like it.
so thank you very much.
this is a very simple structure of water level indicator.
i like it
Dear sir
I want simple water level indicator circuit with LED indication. please reply me..
thnx a ton…
Dear sir,
I would like to add a stage before T1 , another transistor (T0) with red LED and it is OFF when T1 is ON and vice versa so that the whole circuit works as follows. When the Tank is full, no red light (T0 is off) and when tank is empty only red light is ON.
I would appreciate the full details for the modifications required with values and how they are connected.
Thanks for your prompt reply.
Dear Sir,
I want to make T1 off when T2 is ON and vice versa so that when the tank is full no red light (T1 OFF) and when tank is empty only red light is on (T1 ON). I would appreciate giving full details of the modifications involved. Thanks in advance for your quick reply.
sir,i have to control water level so what i do for it? plz reply…………
Hi Neeraj Connect free end of R6 to R10 to A sensor to E sensors in the tank.
sir i want to know how i joint R6,R7,R8,R9,R10
Hi staff,
I would also like to use these level indicating probes in a dual purpose possibly thermocouples into measuring the water temperature. I am generating hydrogen (the electrolyte is Sodium Hydroxide) using a 12 volt car battery. If possible I would also like to auto fill the 64oz container.
Any suggestions?
Richard
Richs-ledlights@hotmail.com
Hi Sameer you can use 9 volt battery (only the sensing electrodes will get oxidised soon you require frequent cleaning). Connect +of the battery to 6Volt AC point and – of the battery to common ground. To connect an electronic buzzer for high level alarm connect a BC148 transistor base to T5 emitter and emitter to common ground. connect the collector through the electronic buzzer to 9 volt of the battery by observing the polarity on the buzeer.
sir if iam using buzzer to indicate the tank full.what will be the changes……….plzzz sir tell me what to do. i really need ur help.
sir can i use 9v battery insted of 6v ac.an if i am using 6v where to connect the conection. one at the 6v indication and other at gnd.plz reply fast wanna submit the project.
bkwassss………………….kuch mzzedaar bnao yaar….
Thank You for the information Mr. SR
Regards,
KM Ealachola.
Hi KM you can use, since they are not screened your routing is very important, if the cable is too long. If you are in doubt use a metal conduit to route and ensure the cable is dressed away from mains cable route.
REMINDER: Hi sir, I am still waiting for Your answer for my question posted by me on 24th June 2011, regarding the connecting wire between the sensor and the circuit.Briefly, my question was as follows: “Can I use a CAT8 ethernet cable to connect the sensors to the circuit?
“Can I use a CAT8 ethernet cable to connect the sensors to the circuit”
Read more: http://www.circuitstoday.com/simple-water-level-idicator#ixzz1QSnUan6e
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
Dear sir,
Please ignore my previous mail, since I got answer for that question from previous posts. My water tank is about 13 meter apart from the room where I indented to fit the indicator. I have insulated Aluminium wire of 18 SWG, which I can use to make the probe. Can I use a CAT8 ethernet cable to connect the sensors to the circuit? I hope You will reply me soon as I finished my other works and waiting for your reply to purchase suitable wire to connect the sensors to the circuit.
Thank U.
Hi KM you can use 9 volt transformer without any modification.
Dear sir,
I am very much interested in your Water level indicator and preparing to assemble one soon. I have a lot of step down transformers in my home stay idle. But none of them have an out put of 6V. I have 9 Volt and 12 volt transformers. How can I use a 9V transformer in place of 6v ?. What modification to be done on your circuit to drop the voltage to 6V ?. I am looking forward for your reply,
Thanking You,
KM Ealachola.
Thanks for the quick reply Mr SEETHARAMAN.
Hi YNJ FC you can use DC, the circuit will work.
Hi Pritesh please go through my earlier comments on this problem if the connecting wires are too long, etc.
Please, can I use a DC source instead of AC source. This is for a small project,and will not be used for a long time.
So, changing to DC source will affect the circuit? Will more components be needed?
Please reply…
sir i have probblem that led are glowing dim continously. and when water comes to the prob then it glows bright so please give me its solution.
Hi Shashank you can use 9 volt, no change is required.
sir,
1stly thanxz 4 dt u may upload that kind of ckt in site
sir, my requirement is dt i will make a project which may also mention d automatic control water level ckt at OHSR
so dt it may give supply 2 public as per requirement
can we use 9v supply aginst 6v…?
Plz reply…
Hi Akhil have connected one of the transformer 6volt AC to F line and other one to common shown as ground. Also ensure F probe is connected to transformer. Check collector, base & emitter of transistor – the lead arrangement differs from manufacturer to manufacturer. Also check the LED polarity. If every thing is ok it should work.
hi i just want to know if its okay to use 4 sensors other than five as given in the diagram..i connectred the sensor to a 6V AC transformer but still nothing works!!!
awaiting for u r reply
Hi Aki you can use input 115 volt instead of 230 volts or you can use a 12 volt to 6 volt step down transformer.
sir thanks for ur reply…!
i want to ask u something related to voltage if u can suggest plz help,
sir as in circuit its 6v AC is used but i have DC source of 6v for the same, but i have a 12v transformer so sir can u tell how can i use this 12v AC transformer to reduce it to 6V AC transformer.
The cable can pick up stray mains hum and the LEDs can glow dimly. add 0.01 ceramic disc capacitors in parallel with the base and ground of each sensing circuit.
sir,my problem of dim lightening is over when i did with wires connection and when i mounted on pcb it started glowing means very dim without any probe in water so sir y this happening in pcb connection but not in wires connection,
and too sir i have to mount the circuit in my building basement and water tank is 50m high so as very long wires will be used (5 wires each of 50m) so there will be any problem in doing so or not….plz help…
Hi AKI this is due stray pick up check the cable routing/ or cable may be too long picks up stray field.
i made this circuit but when i dip in water it lights up but when there is no water id lso lights up but very dim, so y this happen on remove of water a very dim light glow..
plz suggest
waiting for ur reply.
Thanks
Hi Akhil F sensor is connected to 6 volt AC point. when the water level goes below sensor B let the pump start filling the tank. once tank level reaches E level let the pump stop.
HI i just want to know what the F sensor in the diagram is and how can i attach it to a water pumping motor for automatic on or off using a relay……
Sir, I assembled the above circuit (with only one section out of 5 sections shown in the diagram i.e.R1,D1.T1 and R6).I also attached a buzzer in parallel to Dl. I converted the voltage to D.C. by a rectifier. I reduced the value of R1 to 330 ohms as suggested by Sri Seetharaman (Oct.5,2010). It is working very very fine for the last so many months. I used ordinary electrial wires as probes,but in the last I joined about 1/2 meter of Electric alluminium Service cable wire (available in Electrical shops), after redcing the number of alluminium wire strands from each wire (Red wire and blck wire) to make it thin and both the probes I put inside top protion of Over head tank (please see that there is no shorting between the two probes). Whenever I switch on the Motor to fill up the overhead tank, I also switch on this water level indicator , so that as soon as the water touches both the probes , the LED light along with buzzer sound, will come and we switch off both the switches. Instead a common switch also can be arranged if it facilitates. I am thankful to CIRCUITS TODAY for giving the above circit.
Thanks a lot for the good work.
I have made this device with the same specified components and working perfectly well in Haryana (India).
I have used 12V instead of 6V as LEDs brightness was not good with 6V supply.
Hi, I have one more question that is, in this above circuit NPN transistor is used then please tell me which point is Base, emitter and collector.please reply me soon to complete this circuit. Thanks a lot.
Hi Zubair it will be the bottom most, below the minimum level probe.
Thanks for reply sir please tell me where does the F probe connect in the circuit?
Hi Zubair kindly connect one lead of the transformer secondary to 6V AC and the other wire to point indicated as GND.
For probes you can use 1/18 PVC insulated aluminum solid conductor. tip exposed by about 10mm will do. All these 6 probes (wires) are fixed around 15mm plastic conduit with thin plastic rope. size the length of the conduit kept such that it is tight fit in the tank by using bottom and top covering of the tank so that the whole assembly does not move or fall off.
sir please tell me that where i connect the 6 volt main A.C negative point? and where does the F probe connect in the circuit?reply me soon Thanks.
Dear Sir,
Kindly send me a reply with more details about water electrode probe, please also send me a photograph too.reply me soon. thanks
Can I use 4 pair telephone cable for probes and wiring?
Ans: YES
Can I put the probes alone at the tank and have the rest of the circuit at kitchen, beside main on/off switch of the motor at about 30 feet away from the tank? Ans: YES
Hello,
Why my last question is not answered, but 3 or more questions asked after me are replied?
Subramanian
nauman,
please include your preferred topic. Then maybe we can help you to decide which one are you going to choose.
joseph
Hi Rougy correct F should be connected directly to 6 volt AC point. The electronics can be around 20feet away, routing of cable is very important.
plz help me abt the topics of projetcs..plzzzz
Thanks, Seeth. for the response to my earlier question.
Pls i have finished connecting all the various components as indicated in the diagram, but i don’t get the response u gave with regards to where to connect the F in the circuit. you said it should be connected to the 6V AC. Is it directly or what?
Also i will like to know to try out my prototype on a breadboard. Will the circuit be sitting somewhere while the probes lie in the tank?
hi
hello
respected sir
I got this ready project
replay soon
What if we use aluminium wire immersed in water and then connected to transistor using copper wire in between?
Dear Mr.Seetharaman,
I am an electronics hobbyist (novice) and I lack theory.
I need few clarifications for “Simple Water Level Indicator”.
Can I use 4 pair telephone cable for probes and wiring?
Can I put the probes alone at the tank and have the rest of the circuit at kitchen, beside main on/off switch of the motor at about 30 feet away from the tank?
What are all the modifications needed to the circuit?
Thanks & regards,
N.Subramanian
Chennai
9840130608
Sir,
why transistor using in circuits.can i replace with 2 diodes.
Hi Amna The collector resistances limit the current through the LEDs. Say you use a Red LED, it requires 5mA @ 1.7 volt for a fair glow. The supply is 6 volt the VCE sat is say 0.7 volt for 2N2222. total voltage drop required is
6-(0.7+1.7)=3.6 volts. current is say 5mA (0.005Amps) then the collector resistance required is 3.6 / 5 kilo ohms. say nearby preferred value of 680 ohms. (Vbe is 0.2 volt is for germanium transistors for silicon transistors it is 0.7 volts)
This project is perfect for me as i am just a learner at the moment. Since there are some specifications i have to follow, i wanted to ask u about them, if this circuit (the values of resistances) follow it or not or how to calculate the valus if it doesn’t:
1. there should be a 0.2 Potential difference between the collector base and emitter base of the pnp bjt used
2. current should nnt be more than 2 Amps
I would be grateful if u can help me out in this
hello my friend.
i have see your scheme and the transistor 2n2222 does he work with AC corrent or not, and does have LED to work with AC corrent. please email me. gezimleka@gmail.com
Hi Lakshmi the leakage path between the vessels might have been sufficient to light up the LED.
Dear sir,
Thank you very much for your kind information.
I made this project in our college science fair.
while doing this project I tested the LED by keeping the base terminal in water and keeping the F terminal in another vessel carrying water. Now the LED is glowing.
please explain me how it is working even by keeping the F terminal in another vessel carrying water.
Hi AJ Check with different probe input (swap the inputs of working one)may be input resistance in not low enough for the probe.
Dear sir
Only my second LED is not glowing even though the transistor,resistor,LED related to that are in working condition, although the current flowing through all the transistor is same. Pls reply fast sir…
Hi Roughy The list shown is ok but only R1 to R5 to be reduced to 470 ohms for brighter LED indication. you may use RED for low. yellow for medium level and green for high etc. to have better illumination from all these LEDs R1 to R5 to be reduce as above. Please also refer to the notes given below the article.
Please as part of my final year project, i to build a simple water level indicator. But am not too sure of the components required to build the circuit. Help some help.
Thank you.
Hi, If i want to connect a buzzer, how can i connect it to the circuit to function well, pls suggest the buzzer too
Hi Thomas there is nothing wrong in the circuit working fine for the last more than 6 months with 2N1711 transistors ( which is similar to 2N2222 and that was just on hand). i will send my prototype photos soon.
Hi Malli You can use any insulated 18 Gauge solid wire any conductive metal. (expose around 10 mm for sensing).
Hi sir
Should i use only aluminium wire or can i use copper wire sir.
transistor pinouts are correct as installed. 2N2222 has a metal can. Collector is connected to the can. Emitter is indicated as a tab on the can. Something is wrong with your circuit.
Hi Thomas Collector to Emitter is OK bur base emitter shorting should remove bias for the transister and it should estiguish. colector base shorting will give forward bias to the transistor hence it should light up brightly. it is happening in opposite way. kindly check the transistor lead out and rewire if necessary’
emitter to base shorted as requested results are the led lights up brightly. emitter to collector led lights up brightly. collector to base led goes out.
Hi Thomas it should work as it is with high efficient 5mA LEDs. The When you plug AC and if all LEDs are glowing it is through the leakage path in the base circuit. kinly check up by shorting each transistor base and emitter, if the corresponding LED goes off then it is clear indication of either leakage path or stray induction is resulting in this glow. to eliminate this problem and to suit your type of LED, the above suggestion was given. These are all basic simple circuits may require refinement at times as per the operating conditions.
Is this experimenter’s corner? Because I have $62 U.S. tied up in this so far. For your information the resistivity of water is 820 ohms @ 25C. As soon as I plug in the transformer, ALL LEDs light up, not brightly but they are lit. When I immerse a level probe into the water, the LED it is connected to increases in brightness ever so slightly. I was under the impression that the LED should be out completely until THAT probe’s sensor was under water. What is the function of the capacitor that is in parallel with the collector resistor?
Hi harry Reduce R1 to R5 to 330 to 470 ohms to suit your LEDs.
Hi
My LED Bulbs are very dim
(Simple water Level Indicator) ,please how it increase ,
show me with simple diagram. Please as soon as possible.
Harry
Hi Thomas your pcb may be leaky you may have to clean your pcb after soldering the components. the flux can produce a leakage path. if you are getting after connecting the probes then the probe wires are too long or not properly routed. in such adverse conditions you can use a 100k resistance with 0.1uF in parallel from each transistor base to common.
Hi!
I prepared the circuit diagram of simple water Level indicater , but its not working properly.
Lights are very dim , please help me soon , how can i correct the lights.
Harry
I soldered everything up and tested it on the bench. why do all the LEDs light up as soon as power is applied? They’re not at full brilliance. with NO level probe connected they’re dimly lit. but they do brighten slightly when continuity is established between the common and a level probe.
Hi Thomas the lead resistance will not matter. try to use high efficiency LEDs. ensure the routing of the cable is through a metal conduit to avoid stay inductions. ensure the location where you measure the level there is no frothing or surge in level. if it cannot be avoided, use a bigger pvc pipe, with both ends open, to enclose all your probes, by which the level alone will be communicated to the probes.
This circuit is going to be used to indicate forebay water elevation in a hydro-electric station. I made up a printed circuit board with ten transistors and associated resistors on it. The probe assembly is a piece of 1/2 inch pvc pipe with a common probe at the bottom and individual wires [probes] for each level at one tenth of an inch increments up to a foot. The total length of the probes and wire is fifty feet. Won’t the copper resistance of the wire have anything to do with the sensitivity? The power supply is a plug in 120 volt to 6 volt ac step down transformer with an output of 600Ma. My plan is to use a red LED at the lowest level, green LEDs for the intermediate levels and a yellow LED at the highest level. If you can spare the time answer me in regular email please.
Thanks Seetharaman, I’ll check this out.
Hi Jack F is common, all others are level sensors. What is the type of your probes. are they insulated between them properly. Ensure that your PCB is thoroughly cleaned. If above checks are carried out it should work ok.
Hi friend visited site and replied. I am enclosing my comment.
Hi R1 to R5 has to less than 1K (470 ohms is practical)if the LEDs to glow to visible level with ambient light level.
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Dear Sir,
I have built the circuit, but all leds D1-D4 glows even if one probes of A-D are put in water.
Hi Jerome you can attach a relay by addind one more transistor you refer to my earlier comments. if you want to have the modified drawing pl send email to seethasub@hotmail.com
Hello sir, i also want to asked the same question…is it possible to attach a relay on this type of circuit?..i will also use this on my automated hydroponics system..thanks…
Hello sir, is it possible to attach a relay on this type of circuit? I intend to add a relay to automatically shut off the water pump when the water tank is full. You reply will be greatly appreciated. Thank you…
hello seetharaman i have send you mail(seethasub@hotmail.com) with an attachment having circuit diagram of amplifier please read the mail and reply me soon
Hi Atul please refer to earlier comment on Aug 29th, you have to use 1N4002 with 100uF to covert puslating DC available at the emitter to become pure DC before feeding into electronic sounder
Works perfectly, modified bit to handle 8 leds (different color)
an diode of which type and capacitor should be electrolytic one or other?????is it colpulsary to use this diode and capacitor????
so should i replace 2.2k to 100 ohms but which i did the changes of supply would i be remain same?????
Hi Atul reduce 2.2k collector resistance to 100 ohms it should solve your problem. No other change is requires. Ofcourse rectifier diode and capacitor is a must. The above change will give your load around 25 to 30mA, which is sufficient for the LED and electronic sounder.
Hello sir i made some different changes sir i changed the trasistor to CL100 it worked and i also changed the resistance value at base but when the probes were in water again the sound became low so then i changed the supply to 12 v to check then i faced a new problem that without giving the supply to base the transistor was on continiously………was it because of the supply………….so what i can i do further to increase the sound should i again change the trasistor to suit the supply if so then which trasistor can u tell me sir plzzzz……..?????????
THANK you sir i will try this!!!!!!
Hi Atul it will affect the transistor. since it is ripple DC the volume is low connect from emitter through a diode to the electronic buzzer also connect a capacitor of say around 100uF in parellel with the buzzer this should solve your problem.
Hello sir!
I made project its working but my BUZZER sound output is weak its a continious 3-24V buzeer as our supply is 6v due to the resistor its affects more make the buzzer sound weak so can i put resistors of other value less than the given values and i want to ask that can i connect the probe direct to the base of transistor this makes the sound of buzzer strong but will it affect the transistor????plaese reply soon so as i will make the changes!!!!!
Hi Atul you can use 1-18 aluminum insulated wire (single strand 18SWG PVC insulated). expose just 10mm wire at the water end, two of this will be required. this will be your probe. connect one to 6 volt AC and the other one to transistor base through 22k resistance.
Ya Atul u can it with ur water tank i use it n its working fine
thank you sir for urs quik reply can i use this system in my water tank??? and those 2 probes can i use alumunium ones????an one probe connected to 6v and other 1 to the transistors base????
hi Atul you can use just 2 wires and one transistor with collector to LED and to an electronic sounder this will meet your requirement.
I want to ask that when one probe gets elecrically connected the previous probe will be still connected on will get disconnect????plzzz reply sonn i am eagerly wiatin to do this project
Hello sir,
I WANT to ask that in this project there are to many LEDs connected this denotes that at each level at led glows but i want to ask that can we do one LED connection at last level and can we connect a buzzer to this ONE led connection means at final level of water along with this LED a buzzer will also start I WANT this connection at my home so plz tell me on small scale basis sie plzzz do reply can it be possible??????
Hi Ashu you ca use asimilar circuit with F and A probe only in the water flow pipe line . when water flows it will conduct when water flow stops it will go open and an alarm can indicate the dry run.
Hi Thomas it should be connected to 6V AC
where does the F probe connect in the circuit?
Hi,
This is a interesting circuit related with water tank. I have made one with 10 indicators and I also made up my Water Pump auto system so it turns “On” when water level of the tank goes down and turns “Off” when water level reaches to its top level.
Now the problem is, in my area there sometime lack of water in the main water pipe line, I have attached ma Pump/Motor in the main pipe line for suction of water but sometimes Air catches in the Pump/Motor due to lack of water in the main pipe line, and the Pump/Motor keeps running without water and heat up and burns.
So, I require a circuit which can be placed at the water flow end so that it can give a signal if there is water flowing or not.
Please Help me,
-aSHu.
Hi Manjit you can use DC it will work but the electrodes(sensor) will get oxidised soon due to electrolysis of water with DC.
Can we use a D,C, Supply instead of Ac supply????
Hi Ram Mohan 1/18 is single strand (solid conductor) of dia 18SWG wire. normally used for 5Amp lighting house wiring.
SS tubes of 4mm and 6mm id are available from instrument dealers.
to avoid high reactions with water better to use low voltage which can be detected by electronic circuit hence i prefer around 3volt.
i will mail you soon
Hi Seetharaman,
. Should we use voltage in the range of 3-6V or if a voltage of 9V is also OK.
Thanks a lot for such a quick reply.
The actual implementation was that I have dipped the output from the step-down transformer (6-0-6) which is an AC current into the water through the aluminium wires. The other wire receives the current from the probe dipped in the water. This is rectified using a bridge rectifier and given to the LED. This will be later replaced by the LED connectivity with connecting it to a 555 timer IC.
But some how I saw corrosion happening to the wire dipped in the water after few weeks. Kindly let me know if I need to add any capacitors or any other circuit.
As for the next step, can you kindly let me know from where I can get the stainless steel rods as these are not so commonly available in the market.
What is the 1/18 insulated wire. Are they anything special wires or am I too dumb to understand
It will be great if you can provide me your contact number so that I can contact you for any more details to my mail id sram_mohan at yahoo dot com.
Hi Ram Mohan we use 1/18 insulated wire with 10mm exposed at the sensing point. even after one year of operation with low voltage AC (3 to 6volt AC ) the functioning was ok but very little colour change on both the wires.
may be the water at your place may with more corrosive salts. you can try stainless steel rods in place of aluminum. this should solve your prolem. if this is also getting corroded, as a last resort you have to think of magnetic float and sealed magnetic reed switches, though expensive will be highly reliable.
Hi Seetharaman,
Some how my previous query posted here went unseen by the author. I can see some good number of posts from you in this website. I am desperately trying to make a probe for my water level controller but failing when working on it. I wanted to make an automatic controller using 555 timer, it needed a DC signal. So when the probe in the above circuit is an AC current I needed to convert it to DC. So to the return line I put a bridge circuit using 1N4001 and converted it to DC and gave it to a LED with resistance in series as load. I kept it in the water (Basically a Jug of water) for few weeks but still found that one of the aluminium probe inserted in the water was getting dissolved.
Could you kindly help me in this matter?
P.S: The water is a bore water so it will have some salt content.
If this problem cannot be solved, do you have any other alternative ideas like some float device using which I can make use of a probe. Kindly suggest.
Hi Mitu Moharana it is an audio stereo amplifier
http://www.datasheetcatalog.org/datasheet/rohm/ba5406.pdf.
Sir,i saw a circuit diagram details of the IC BA5406.But you do not mentioned their leg number.plz do the same.
This circuit is very helpful especially in our home or in our piggery.
Hi you can use any insulated solid conductor of 1mm dia end around 10mm exposed.
You can use float swiches but they are very expensive.
can i use any wire for the probe? can i use a floating switch on an industrial project?
dear sir,
i need this circuit for my home purpose means water supplies to bathrooms and kitchen.the 6v current will make any harm to us.
Hi, Seetharaman Sir,
Thanks a lot for the very kind reply.
My best regards, and more power to you.
Hi Edgardo yes, base of 2N2218 to limit Ibe, even though R1 to R5 is available. Any medium power NPN switching transistor can be used. 2N1711, BCY59, 2N3904, Any transistor with a minimum specification of Vceo 40volt Ic 300mA Ptot 500mW. hfe 100 @ 100mA and Ft 100MHz, can take care.
Hi Seetharaman sir;
Where will i connect the 1 kohm resistor, at the base of the transistor? What would be the other equivalent part number for transistor 2N2218?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Edgardo You can connect a diode 1N400X (any one in the series) to LED anode (which ever the level you want to monitor) connect a filter capacitor say 47mfd (as the supply to this circuit is AC you will get 50Hz ripple at the LED) and connect through 1kilo ohms resistance to a switching transistor say 2N2218 and its collector through the 24volt relay to positive of a seperate 24volt DC supply, whose negative should be connected to LED cathode . Emitter of the transistor also to be connected to LED cathode. Pl donot forget the freewheeling diode across the relay.
Sir, this is a very good circuit as I see it, also in the posts. Can we incorporate a relay output of 24 volts coil rating in behalf of the LED output? Any suggestive circuit, I;d love to buiuld one for this project.
Many thanks and more power to your site.
sr i want also make sap (simple as possible computer)
what can i do to complete this
i nned a ful description about an emergency light of lm317
why we use lm317 ic
why we donot use a potentiometer at place of this ic
please help me to construt this in typical method
I am a layman on electronics. However i made a basic water level indicator that signals when water level is full. I want to add relay switch to turn off the pump when water tank is full using the signal available. Can some one suggest how to connect the relay and the specification of the relay needed. Pump is 1/2 HP in capacity. 6V is available at the signal
circuit diagram for water level indicator using IC555
Srikanth, What you say is true but that would be tentative of the tank getting full. This will turn on the tank for the specified amount of time irrespective of the tank getting overflowed or not getting filled to the desired level.
if o/p was connected to the relay through timer. we can also control water level in the tank (by using simple 555 timer circuit which is in this site.)
To turn ON or OFF, you need to connect the output to a relay. If you are well versed with the functionality of a relay then it can be easy to do so.
using this design how can the motor be switched off automatically when the required water level has been indicated?
Hey its really nice and cheap too..I’ve one suggestion..Can we fix small buzzer for tank full indication.
Hi,
I was having problem with the sensor and after reading your post, i also followed the same thing but with some modifications.
We use the bore water and basically the water is a lil hard in my place. So i dipped one end of the AC output (9V AC- 500 ma) from the transformer in the water, and the other lead from the water to the full wave rectifier (4 diodes). i connected the other lead of the transformer to the other lead of the full wave rectifier. The DC output was connected to the LED. Initially it went on well. The LED started glowing well and the probes dipped in the water was also clean. But after a month, I have started seeing scales around one of the probe that is dipped in the water. Even though the LED is glowing I doubt how many more days will this connectivity go on. Could you kindly let me know if I am doing any thing wrong. As such I am passing an AC voltage through the water but rectifying it to DC when I get it to a load. But why am I seeing this scale on one of the probe.
I want to enhance this circuit so that I can control it completely to turn ON and OFF the motor.
P.S: I am using an aluminium wire dipped in the water.
Regards,
-Rams
sir,
in the circuit diagram ‘f’ is not marked..
thank you
I am not having much knowledge about electronics.
Your circuit seems to be really simple with minimum components.
I am having small doubt about Resistance.You have mentioned as 1/4 watt. In small electronic shops they mention only the resistance value. Am I to insist on 1/4 watt while procuring? or just procure standard resistors.
Thanks
Senvin
The power rating of a resistor is calculated. If the author has stated a 0.25 Watt resistor, then any rating above 0.25 will do. In fact, the bigger the better within reason.The 0.25 is typically allready overstated to prevent burn out. If the circuit asks for a 0.25 Watt resistor but a 0.5 Watt resistor is half the price, go for the 0.5 Watt. As long as it is higher rated than what was asked for then you are safe.
dear sir,
my name is s.saravanan,i was mail from tirupur i give small robotics circuits and details of photographic
by best regarts,
S.SARAVANAN
I am not having much knowledge about electronics.
Your circuit seems to be really simple with minimum components.
I am having small doubt about Resistance.You have mentioned as 1/4 watt. In small electronic shops they mention only the resistance value. Am I to insist on 1/4 watt while procuring? or just procure standard resistors.
Thanks
AC voltage means that it will have positive and negative half cycles. The diode will light only in the positive half cycles. Since the mains frequency is 50 Hz the diode will be blinking 50 times per second. Due to persistence of vision we feel that LED is glowing steadily.
hi!:
hi i probe ur circuit into an emulator, and it works, thats nice, but my question is that if we have to use 2 transformers or use the same t the bottom, and can u tell me why the leds turn on with AC if they are output comp of DC??
thanks
the current conducting through the water is not at all sufficient the light the LEDs. The transistor acts as switch and will drive the LED connected to its collector.
The probe i mentioned here is just insulated aluminum wires.
Just remove the insulation on the tip of the wires for 1cm. Immerse it into the water as per the description in the circuit.
Probe is ready.
Dear Sir,
Kindly send me a reply with more details about water electrode probe, please also send me a photograph too.
Sincerely yours,
niranjan
why do we need the transistor
why cant we simply use resistors only
i am talking about a very small scale demonstration project
sir, i would like to ask you that if i will use single strain wire as probe immersing in water,will it create any problem? this wire we normally use for breadboard connection. sir plz do reply.
Happy to hear that you successfully constructed the circuit.Keep on.
regards
Dear Sir,
Thank you very much for your message regarding the water electrode probe. I am satisfied with your explanation, and it is working properly.
Thanks once again.
Kakkassery,Kerala,India
The probe i mentioned here is just insulated aluminum wires.
Just remove the insulation on the tip of the wires for 1cm. Immerse it into the water as per the description in the circuit.
Probe is ready.
Still not satisfied ???? Comment here .I will give you a detailed description.
Dear Sir,
Kindly send me a reply with more details about water electrode probe, please also send me a photograph too.
Sincerely yours,
Kakkassery, Kerala, India
From : Donia AL, Dawlyia Establishment.
To : Export Manager
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