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smiggins
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 3

Looking for cheap domestic flow meter

09/21/2007 10:26 AM

I'm looking for a cheap flow meter, for 1/2" domestic installation to measure volume of water used.

I am guessing that it will be either paddle wheel or pelton wheel with hall effect output if that is the most cost effective method.

Requirements:

  • Must be small and needs basic display of flow volume up to 999 litres.
  • Display can be digital or analogue
  • If poss, a reset (to zero) button.
  • Flow rate will be no more than 20 litre/min but more like 10.
  • Accuracy not important (not worse than +/- 10% though)

Does anyone know if such a thing exists?
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Pathfinder Tags: flow meter water measure
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t-rex
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United States - Member - NY Engineering Fields - Aerospace Engineering - RPI Class of '05 Engineering Fields - Energy Engineering - Steam Turbine Aero Design Engineer

Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 53
#1

Re: Looking for cheap domestic flow meter

09/21/2007 10:41 AM

Paddlewheel flow meters are typically inexpensive. These are the results from a quick search using some of the specs you mentioned. If you're only looking for 1 - try your local hardware store.
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smiggins
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 3
#2
In reply to #1

Re: Looking for cheap domestic flow meter

09/21/2007 10:55 AM

I've done this search too but these are way over-engineered for what I need. I'm in the market for thousands but have to be basic - no stainless, no fancy bearings...

PVC is good!
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yesyen
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Location: India-Chennai.
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#6
In reply to #2

Re: Looking for cheap domestic flow meter

09/22/2007 4:42 AM

How about 'Rotameter'?

If rotameter is ok, I can suggest as how to construct a simple rotameter without tapper tube...

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MUKULMAHANT
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Engineering Fields - Systems Engineering - New Member Hobbies - Model Rocketry - New Member

Join Date: Dec 2006
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#8
In reply to #2

Re: Looking for cheap domestic flow meter

09/22/2007 11:51 AM

If you want n000,your best,cheapest,most reliable will be to get same in 3parts:

  1. Multivane flowthrough fan with SS WIRE shaft going out through Teflon/Nylon seal/bush. Low pressure--PVC/metal Flow- through chamber. No /tiny leak.
  2. Shaft end pasted with mirror to create 1 bit pulse for counting. LED+ optopulse detector in a dark hood.
  3. Detector to scaler+readout=standard IC's.

I can supply 1+2 in 2 months of developmental trials.

MM
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Anonymous Poster
#3

Re: Looking for cheap domestic flow meter

09/21/2007 11:00 PM

Ace hardware or whatever your local hardware store is...
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aurizon
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Hobbies - HAM Radio - New Member United Kingdom - Big Ben - New Member Fans of Old Computers - Altair 8800 - New Member Canada - Member - New Member

Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Toronto
Posts: 3968
Good Answers: 120
#4

Re: Looking for cheap domestic flow meter

09/21/2007 11:14 PM

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=%22water+meter%22+%2Bpvc&meta=

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Anonymous Poster
#5

Re: Looking for cheap domestic flow meter

09/22/2007 12:34 AM

Try your local city water works...they remove and discard what you are looking for to ensure our house meters are reasonably accurate.
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vermin
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 5356
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#7

Re: Looking for cheap domestic flow meter

09/22/2007 6:07 AM

Do a search on eBay. I found some really good ones there for cheap.

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smiggins
Participant

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 3
#9

Re: Looking for cheap domestic flow meter

09/23/2007 8:38 AM

Thanks all for your help.

The GPI 01 series (Nylon) is close to what I'm after but only comes in 1 inch. Does anyone know of a 1/2" variant?

Any manufacturer/country acceptable.
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Anonymous Poster
#10
In reply to #9

Re: Looking for cheap domestic flow meter

09/23/2007 8:28 PM

Just go with a reducer bushing on each end. A 1" to 1/2" reducer,...
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Gwen.Stouthuysen
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#11

Re: Looking for cheap domestic flow meter

09/24/2007 2:33 AM

Check out Ista

They are specialised in this range of equipment, and when I asked the price for the meters with the m-Bus module it was not so expensive (€ 70,-)

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PWSlack
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United Kingdom - Member - Indeterminate Engineering Fields - Control Engineering - New Member

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Location: In the bothy, 7 chains down the line from Dodman's Lane level crossing, in the nation formerly known as Great Britain. Kettle's on.
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#12

Re: Looking for cheap domestic flow meter

09/24/2007 5:21 AM

http://www.247able.com/scp/Flow/Turbine_Flow_Meters.html

http://www.roxspur.com/flow/index.php

(Usual disclaimer)

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Users who posted comments:

Anonymous Poster (3); aurizon (1); Gwen.Stouthuysen (1); MUKULMAHANT (1); PWSlack (1); smiggins (2); t-rex (1); vermin (1); yesyen (1)

Previous in Forum: CD Nozzle And The Adiabatic Process   Next in Forum: Precision cutting blades for Silicon
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