A capacitive liquid sponsor relies on the fact the the capacitance or charge between 2 metal plates will change (in this case increase) depending on what material is between them.
This allows us to create a level sensor that is safe for use with any liquid, this one will be used in a buggy with gasoline (petrol).
One plate is hooked to ground. The other connects to pin 23. There is a 820K ohm resistor from pin 22 to 23. The sensor works by charging the capacitor (the water bottle) and measuring how long it takes to drain through the resistor.
This allows us to create a level sensor that is safe for use with any liquid, this one will be used in a buggy with gasoline (petrol).
One plate is hooked to ground. The other connects to pin 23. There is a 820K ohm resistor from pin 22 to 23. The sensor works by charging the capacitor (the water bottle) and measuring how long it takes to drain through the resistor.
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Signing UpStep 1: Parts
1. A solder-less bread board is strictly not needed but make it a lot easier, especially if you plan to add other stuff later.
2. Arduino, I'm using an Arduino mega but a standard one should have just enough pins.
3. LCD character display.
4. Some odds and ends including some wire and a 1MΩ resistor.
5. A computer, you know, that thing your using to read my instructable with.
6. Patience.
2. Arduino, I'm using an Arduino mega but a standard one should have just enough pins.
3. LCD character display.
4. Some odds and ends including some wire and a 1MΩ resistor.
5. A computer, you know, that thing your using to read my instructable with.
6. Patience.
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Cheers
One acts as a ground, the other sens.
doesn't matter witch way around you set it up.
The sheets should go from the bottom to top of the container.
It's a bit of a pain to solder aluminum foil but can be done. otherwise anything conductive.
I have pet cockatiels that love to backwash in their water dish. It doesn't take long for the water to get kinda nasty. I wonder if something like this could be used to alert me when their water needs a change out.
Have you ever noticed a significant reaction to the electrolyte getting contaminated? Any tips you can offer would be much appreciated.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Using an infrared led on one side and a receiver on the other could be used to detect when impuritys where in the water.
I considered the infrared idea but they like to bathe in the water too, so that might trip it. Plus, they like to break things, so I was hoping some submerged concentric metals tubes would be beak proof.
I guess it's a trivial problem but a fun challenge.
Thanks for the reply.
I haven't noticed (or have overlooked) any max practical size for your setup but I assume it might not work out for my requirements, right?
Could anyone point me in the right direction? Maybe sink a pressure sensor to the bottom of the tank and read out the static pressure, using an Arduino?
Your best bet would be to use a couple metal pipes. one inside the other making shire they don't touch.
Then use this setup to measure the capacitance between them.
Another option is a simple float inside a tube, with a small magnet attached to it. Then put some read switches along the length of the pipe.
1: so the two aluminum sheets sit outside the container? one on either side of it?
2: would there not be a risk of the capacitor discharging and creating a spark?
Comment: NO METAL CONTAINERS!? I guess a keg level sensor is out of the picture lol.
it would be nice to have someting that shows a realistic approximation on whats left in the tank.... not like most car systems
L
But I'll find out for sure Thursday night.
I might just use the howl tank as in plate, plastic tank, plate.
L