A sensor recommendation for a water meter dial

Submitted by lukebarber on Tue, 02/02/2016 - 17:45

I'm looking for an inexpensive sensor to read the small pointer at the 1 liter dial of my water meter so every liter gives 1 pulse. A friend recommended a Leuze sensor but it is very expensive.

Re: A sensor recommendation for a water meter dial

Submitted by Robert Wall on Tue, 02/02/2016 - 20:44.

I don't know of an inexpensive sensor that will do that. Someone tried some while ago but I'm not aware of the outcome - as far as I recall, they were looking at the dial with a photocell, illuminating it with a red LED, but the pointer itself was red, which of course did not give the best contrast. At the time, I did wonder whether, if the dial was white, a focussed beam reflected at 45° would allow the pointer shadow to be detected.

Re: A sensor recommendation for a water meter dial

Submitted by dBC on Tue, 02/02/2016 - 21:35.

You might have already explored this option, but in case not, it might be worth researching whether or not your meter has a rotating magnet inside it. A surprising number do.

Re: A sensor recommendation for a water meter dial

Submitted by daturach on Tue, 02/02/2016 - 22:22.

Something like this https://www.mysensors.org/build/pulse_water?

Re: A sensor recommendation for a water meter dial

Submitted by Jon on Wed, 03/02/2016 - 03:19.

maybe this might help:

Meet the WaterMote
http://lowpowerlab.com/blog/2013/02/02/meet-the-watermote-moteino-based-...

Re: A sensor recommendation for a water meter dial

Submitted by lukebarber on Fri, 05/02/2016 - 22:45.

Thank you for all the replies. I ended up using a banner sensor. WORLD-BEAM Q12 Series

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