I'm looking to build a device to monitor the temp and water level of the lake I live on. Temperature shouldn't be a problem, but I was looking for suggestions on monitoring the water level. Issues to be concerned with are boat wakes and general wave action. Does anyone have any suggestions?
I was thinking of monitoring the water level inside a 1/4" to 1" PVC pipe that goes 1 foot or so below the surface would smooth things out quite a bit, in addition to some long-term filtering.
Lake Water Level Monitor
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- sj_remington
- Posts: 1021
- Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2020 4:51 pm
Re: Lake Water Level Monitor
Such a pipe is called a "stilling well" in the trade, and is usually quite a bit wider and longer (set more deeply in the water), to avoid the effects of surface currents and wave action.
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88151
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Lake Water Level Monitor
How much variation in level are you expecting to see on your lake? Level sensors such as the eTape are very good, but have limited range: https://www.adafruit.com/product/464
Ultrasonic sensors work very well for monitoring liquid levels and operate over a much wider range. https://www.adafruit.com/product/4664
Ultrasonic sensors work very well for monitoring liquid levels and operate over a much wider range. https://www.adafruit.com/product/4664
- crites
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:55 pm
Re: Lake Water Level Monitor
Thanks for the response.
@sj_remington my thought would be to zip tie a "stilling well" to a dock post in about 5' of water. It's a large inland lake, Lake Charlevoix, which is connected to Lake Michigan. Definitely lots of boat waves and some storm waves. I'll look into stilling wells and see about diameter and depth to stabilize the level. I'd also plan on averaging the level over the long term. I'm sure I'd work on dialing in the sample rate and my sensor type (eTape or ultrasonic).
@adafruit_support_bill from the link below, since I would only be measuring in the summer, the level variation of Lake Charlevoix should be under one foot most likely and if I had to manually 're-calibrate' occasionally, it wouldn't be the end of the world. I would pull the sensor in the fall/winter. My overriding concern would be durability so would the eTape be problematic sitting in lake water 24/7?. My monitor would be linked to the cloud with WiFi and solar/battery powered. Considering this would you go with eTape or ultrasonic, would the ultrasonic work in a stilling well? The controller I'm planning to use is a Particle Photon.
I was also figuring I might as well go with two water temp sensors, one deep and one shallow, and air temp and humidity (DHT11).
https://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions ... er-Levels/
@sj_remington my thought would be to zip tie a "stilling well" to a dock post in about 5' of water. It's a large inland lake, Lake Charlevoix, which is connected to Lake Michigan. Definitely lots of boat waves and some storm waves. I'll look into stilling wells and see about diameter and depth to stabilize the level. I'd also plan on averaging the level over the long term. I'm sure I'd work on dialing in the sample rate and my sensor type (eTape or ultrasonic).
@adafruit_support_bill from the link below, since I would only be measuring in the summer, the level variation of Lake Charlevoix should be under one foot most likely and if I had to manually 're-calibrate' occasionally, it wouldn't be the end of the world. I would pull the sensor in the fall/winter. My overriding concern would be durability so would the eTape be problematic sitting in lake water 24/7?. My monitor would be linked to the cloud with WiFi and solar/battery powered. Considering this would you go with eTape or ultrasonic, would the ultrasonic work in a stilling well? The controller I'm planning to use is a Particle Photon.
I was also figuring I might as well go with two water temp sensors, one deep and one shallow, and air temp and humidity (DHT11).
https://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions ... er-Levels/
- sj_remington
- Posts: 1021
- Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2020 4:51 pm
Re: Lake Water Level Monitor
The durability of outdoor sensors is a serious problem, with known partial solutions.
Any naked circuit board exposed to high humidity while being powered will corrode in a matter of days to weeks. To avoid that, PCBs and often, all the components on them, need to be "conformally coated" (basically a clear, hard nail polish) to have a hope of surviving a summer outdoors.
Ultrasonic distance sensors intended for external use on motor vehicles or inside water tanks might be an option.
The simpler the better. Consider a float connected to some sort of linear transducer.
Any naked circuit board exposed to high humidity while being powered will corrode in a matter of days to weeks. To avoid that, PCBs and often, all the components on them, need to be "conformally coated" (basically a clear, hard nail polish) to have a hope of surviving a summer outdoors.
Ultrasonic distance sensors intended for external use on motor vehicles or inside water tanks might be an option.
The simpler the better. Consider a float connected to some sort of linear transducer.
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88151
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: Lake Water Level Monitor
The eTape sensors have a vent-hole just above the high-end mark. If that gets flooded the sensor is destroyed. We do have one with a plastic shroud for added protection: https://www.adafruit.com/product/2656
The spec sheet does not say anything about resistance to UV exposure & we don't have any first-hand experience with using these in outdoor applications. The manufacturer does have a contact page here and should be able to answer questions regarding that.: https://milonetech.com/contact
Ultrasonics will work in a stilling well. Preferably a larger diameter one to minimize any echo interference from the walls. The Maxbotix weather resistant sensors are widely used in all kinds of harsh environments. https://www.adafruit.com/product/1137
We stock a similar lower cost sensor that seems rather robust as well. https://www.adafruit.com/product/4664
One thing to be aware of with both of these sensors is the minimum sensing distance. You will need to position the sensor at least 6" above the expected high water mark in order to get accurate readings.
The spec sheet does not say anything about resistance to UV exposure & we don't have any first-hand experience with using these in outdoor applications. The manufacturer does have a contact page here and should be able to answer questions regarding that.: https://milonetech.com/contact
Ultrasonics will work in a stilling well. Preferably a larger diameter one to minimize any echo interference from the walls. The Maxbotix weather resistant sensors are widely used in all kinds of harsh environments. https://www.adafruit.com/product/1137
We stock a similar lower cost sensor that seems rather robust as well. https://www.adafruit.com/product/4664
One thing to be aware of with both of these sensors is the minimum sensing distance. You will need to position the sensor at least 6" above the expected high water mark in order to get accurate readings.
- tepalia02
- Posts: 104
- Joined: Sun Apr 24, 2022 6:53 am
Re: Lake Water Level Monitor
You can also consider using Labview to monitor the water level. Here is an overview of how to perform this task:
https://www.theengineeringprojects.com/ ... bview.html
LabVIEW is an excellent software for simulation purposes as well as for hardware interfacing (interfacing with the external devices).
https://www.theengineeringprojects.com/ ... bview.html
LabVIEW is an excellent software for simulation purposes as well as for hardware interfacing (interfacing with the external devices).
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.