Wireless remote level control

A friend of mine makes these in Almeria, Spain! I will see if I can get the schematics if you like? It's quite a simple transmitter/reciever thing, Quite cheap aswell!

How about using more readily accessible components? Start with a caged rat. (There should be a readily available supply from local animal control.) When the water level drops, the cage is opened allowing the rat to run loose. The loose rat smells the food sitting on a spring loaded pump cut off switch. The rat runs to the pump room, pushing open a gate starting the pump. When the rat eats the food the switch turns off the pump. You can control the pump run time by varying the amount of food. If the food contains poison, the rat dies. Then just toss it in the trash, or over your neighbors fence. No expensive parts to wear out. And plenty of money left for beer. If any one thinks this might be marketable and wants to partner up with me send your bank card # along with PIN and we can be great friends.

Another possibility is to use the power cable for the signal as well. Our municipality did use it to disconnect our geysers during the night to save power. They superimposed a signal on the Powerline and called the switch a ripple switch.

I have the circuit somewhere in my heimer box.

Note the signal cannot get past a transformer.

X10.com has very inexpensive powerline transmitters/receivers/transcivers used for lighting controls, alarms, door openers, etc. that function via the power lines.

I'm sure they would work quite well.

If you're wanting an on/off signal from your level sensor/switch then these people http://www.luminite.co.uk/ do a lot of stuff with regards addressable rf switches. I have had a number of chats with the MD and intend using their gear for a wireless Andon system. Their Genesis range can transmit up to 1km (5/8 mile) although I've known their wireless PIR detectors transmit farther.

Al

Dear Ace Boeringa

I will come to your place and set up this facility for you.

You can also see the water level at remote location and wireless sensors will transmit the reading and also if pump is working properly or not. I have all these equipments and I an using these for about 300m-500m distance.

Putting cables is not a goos idea as they may get cut and dirty thing to trace them. I am replacing cable to wireless up to 10km for the air force air strip sensors.

System consists of two sets of wireless transceivers, sensors, display and control unit and some wiring and power supplies with small back up battery if you expect power fails. Batteries allow information transmission possible.

Such system is often in the range of US$2000 or more. Simple design just to put on and off your pump sure can come in $1000. However I recommend that you use sophisticated system and not very cheap one.

Get in touch with me on my email sst (at) sensorstechnology.com and I will fly all the way to Washington from Delhi to set up this for you. I will make sure that it will work well.

You can also add more facilities like knowing the light level, soil moisture, humidity in air, temperature of the farm house etc and many more things. Our wireless transceivers are permitted for use in USA. We use permitted frequencies and power.

Write to me if you want my help. Do not worry about me spending money in flights etc. This is my hobby and I care for people who want to try ideas.

It looks like there are a number of good ideas using wireless links.

A popular method is to use the SMS signals to send status/control info. Devices that do this are available off the shelf for a couple of hundred dollars. The Australian electronics magazine "Silicon Chip" had a project that used an old Nokia phone's MBUS port to send recieve SMS's for control (cost under 100 dollars and a lot of fun).

Another method, if you like playing around, would be to pressurize the supply line with air when the tank needs more water, trip a pressure switch at the pump house, which starts the pump for a fixed time. Good luck Jeff

How about a laser pointer aimed at a sensor (since you have a clear line of sight)? It potentially could be a lot cheaper than an RF system. If interested, I'll whip out a schematic . . .

It seems that a laser based link would be susceptable to loss of communication from vibration or something coming into the laser path.

RF via power lines is very reliable. The electric utility companies use this method for transfer tripping circuit breakers to clear a fault zones.

Today there are many inexpensive but sophisticated RF systems available for remote control, indication and alarm functions.

I don't disagree, but unless you're in a terribly busy earthquake zone, I don't see how vibration would be much of a problem. Obstruction of the beam would definitely be a problem, but if it's monitored once in a while, that probably wouldn't be to devastating either. (e. g. When the tank doesn't refill, something's wrong.)

X-10 stuff is O. K. if the TX/RX are on the same transformer, and even though Ace said, "power is available at both ends," that doesn't explicitly imply that the two power sources are on the same transformer.

The system power companies use is considerable more robust than the X-10 stuff, and it ain't cheap either.

RF through the air is perfectly doable as well, but it's a little more finicky than some technologies.

In the big scheme of things, I'm not trying to talk Ace into doing it one way or the other -- I was merely offering a suggestion.

Keep up the good thoughts. After I finish the pump structure around the well on my 40, I can also use some of these ideas.

On a side note: Bill, For me being on an open range, I could get vibrations from the cows rubbing up against the structure. Maybe I could put up motion detectors to set off the "moo" speakers.

You are absolutely right! The intent here is to offer suggestions and let the individual assess each for it's suitability for their situation.

Dear Ace,

Remote Control Technology makes a Wireless Switch System which would work perfect for your application. The systems are sold for this application routinely. Their website is www.remotecontroltech.com.

Sara

I have used a radio link from a company called Hot Shot for exactly the same application. Off the shelf product, easy to install, and reasonably priced. Installed for over three years, the only problems encountered are traceable to poor electrical power supply in the area.

You can just use and wireless on/off switch. Simple thing like a wireless door bell have everything you need but may not have the range. There should be other remote control device you can modify or just use to do it.

Pineapple

If you install a tank filling controller with water level sensor then generally such system work fine. However when pump fails or sensor fails then it has no idea about such things and can burn the pump motor. Perhaps if controller has some protection mechanism for the motor failure or sensor failure than that is a much better choice. You can then have this information transmitted to your remote place.

Professional approach are often to take care of everything that is possible and way to overcome the problem. If you do not do that them you run into much bigger problem as you are trusting something that actually have failed and doing something else and may even end up in fire and burning your pump house.

I do not believe in hotch potch type arrangements for such plans. I know what happens and such problems do happen.

Why wireless?

Here's your $49.99 solution: Get a float valve, (Floating ball type) a small pneumatic pressure tank,a 5 Gallon will do, a pump pressure switch, (Square 'D' press-o-stat or similar). Install the float switch at the tank side so that the discharge is made from ABOVE the water line, (syphon type) in a manner that when the float is raised by the water level, it will seals the discharge tube.same as toilet flushing tank. At the pump side, connect the pressure tank to the pump discharge line and the pressure switch to the same water line, wire (electrically) the switch to the pump.

Theory of operation: low water level: The float valve is open, releasing the pressure from the line, pressure switch is activating the pump through the low pressure sensor. When tank is full: The float switch seals the line, the pump keeps on pumping until the hi pressure switch of the press-o-stat switches off the pump... end of story. No radio no computers no airline tickets etc.

Note:In order to avoid "Hunting" means the fast cycling of the pump, you may need to play with the the float "neck" length,(not highly recommended) or to have some kind of "on delay" timer. Don't panic, it is all very simple to do!

You sure know what to do with change from the $1000.00, If not, talk to your girlfriend, I bet you she will know!

Wangito

It is not a good idea to question a person why one wants something. If one wants to try a wireless system then why not? Are you proposing that wireless control should go away from the world and all should go fir something else. I will let the person try and understand the technology one is interested in. Life is about learning and doing and what ever one feels like doing is the greatest force to drive life.

I have seen so many comments here and almost every thing is bound to confuse. It should have been nice if only information related to wireless control was discussed.

Wireless is not radio link alone and those idea with laser were good one. However, laser link by amateur is not all that easy. Some in depth details of such sensors and control will be good here. Simplest is the radio link as you use for your car door lock.

I think this was a casual enquiry and not a serious one and hence, all ideas to some extent are OK.

Hi Ace, Just been looking for stuff on the net and found this! Don't know if it could be of use to you but I bet it is well under the $1000 mark!

Mr. Truman Brain

I think you found the perfect solution. It even provides the capability of remote setpoint adjustment.

This device appears to be the perfect match for what Ace is looking for.

Thanks Joe,

I was actually looking for a different make, The ones we use here, but found this one which seems much better!

Many thanks to all of you great people for your valuable suggestions. The application is out in the boonies and things may not progress quickly. I will post to this thread as progress is made so you may see how the eventual solution turns out.

One of the best at this is Multitrode they have manufacturing plants in Australia Europe and USA www.multitrode.com