Water level indicator using ULN2803










5














i made an water level indicator using IC: ULN2803




Refer: Easiest water level indicator




Block diagram



It works well when used on glass of water, but when connect to my rooftop tank all the leds slowly diminishes and turns off. I think this has to do with high resistance of the tank water, but i doubt it since it worked well for first few days.



i am not any expert (clearly) so any help is appreciated.










share|improve this question





















  • Certainly @user156047 is right. You might use a pushbutton to power the circuit only when you want to read the level.
    – Dorian
    yesterday










  • @Dorian ok, let me try with non corrosive metal strips and get back.
    – Alex Robbin
    yesterday















5














i made an water level indicator using IC: ULN2803




Refer: Easiest water level indicator




Block diagram



It works well when used on glass of water, but when connect to my rooftop tank all the leds slowly diminishes and turns off. I think this has to do with high resistance of the tank water, but i doubt it since it worked well for first few days.



i am not any expert (clearly) so any help is appreciated.










share|improve this question





















  • Certainly @user156047 is right. You might use a pushbutton to power the circuit only when you want to read the level.
    – Dorian
    yesterday










  • @Dorian ok, let me try with non corrosive metal strips and get back.
    – Alex Robbin
    yesterday













5












5








5


1





i made an water level indicator using IC: ULN2803




Refer: Easiest water level indicator




Block diagram



It works well when used on glass of water, but when connect to my rooftop tank all the leds slowly diminishes and turns off. I think this has to do with high resistance of the tank water, but i doubt it since it worked well for first few days.



i am not any expert (clearly) so any help is appreciated.










share|improve this question













i made an water level indicator using IC: ULN2803




Refer: Easiest water level indicator




Block diagram



It works well when used on glass of water, but when connect to my rooftop tank all the leds slowly diminishes and turns off. I think this has to do with high resistance of the tank water, but i doubt it since it worked well for first few days.



i am not any expert (clearly) so any help is appreciated.







integrated-circuit uln2003






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked yesterday









Alex Robbin

313




313











  • Certainly @user156047 is right. You might use a pushbutton to power the circuit only when you want to read the level.
    – Dorian
    yesterday










  • @Dorian ok, let me try with non corrosive metal strips and get back.
    – Alex Robbin
    yesterday
















  • Certainly @user156047 is right. You might use a pushbutton to power the circuit only when you want to read the level.
    – Dorian
    yesterday










  • @Dorian ok, let me try with non corrosive metal strips and get back.
    – Alex Robbin
    yesterday















Certainly @user156047 is right. You might use a pushbutton to power the circuit only when you want to read the level.
– Dorian
yesterday




Certainly @user156047 is right. You might use a pushbutton to power the circuit only when you want to read the level.
– Dorian
yesterday












@Dorian ok, let me try with non corrosive metal strips and get back.
– Alex Robbin
yesterday




@Dorian ok, let me try with non corrosive metal strips and get back.
– Alex Robbin
yesterday










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















6














I'm not big in chemistry, but I believe that it has stopped working because of electrolysis. In other words your contacts have corroded to the point that the resistance is too high.
You could prevent this by using AC, but then the circuit would be a lot more complicated.
I would opt for capacitive sensors, Analog Devices have an interesting app note about
Capacitive Liquid Sensors
Or you can follow this
Instructable






share|improve this answer




















  • I don't think AC will stop electrolysis but the corrosion must be the issue he's facing.
    – Dorian
    yesterday










  • @user156047 I too think you are right, but i dont understand anything about Capacitive liquid sensors. But, if i were to replace the contact points with something non-corrosive and have less chance for electrolysis would that work?
    – Alex Robbin
    yesterday










  • @AlexRobbin Maybe it would be better to use large electrodes. Not only the corrosion but also mud or particles attracted by the current flow might play a role in this. If you have large electrodes they will have a low impedance even covered with some impurities.
    – Dorian
    yesterday










  • For what I remember from my Uni days, there are two possible causes to corrosion, one is electrolysis and the other dissimilar metals. Electrolysis is the splitting of water cells, and that requires I believe 1.23V to happen. Unfortunately this means that for conducting the electricity you will only rely on the impurities of the water. I don't think it is a dissimilar metal issue due to the voltage you use.
    – Elmesito
    yesterday






  • 1




    You can easily check this by inspecting the probe wires, right?
    – immibis
    yesterday


















2














It's due to corrosion and electrolysis process mostly.



Go with some alternative thing like Float switche. Follow the link
FLOAT SWITCH






share|improve this answer






















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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes








    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    6














    I'm not big in chemistry, but I believe that it has stopped working because of electrolysis. In other words your contacts have corroded to the point that the resistance is too high.
    You could prevent this by using AC, but then the circuit would be a lot more complicated.
    I would opt for capacitive sensors, Analog Devices have an interesting app note about
    Capacitive Liquid Sensors
    Or you can follow this
    Instructable






    share|improve this answer




















    • I don't think AC will stop electrolysis but the corrosion must be the issue he's facing.
      – Dorian
      yesterday










    • @user156047 I too think you are right, but i dont understand anything about Capacitive liquid sensors. But, if i were to replace the contact points with something non-corrosive and have less chance for electrolysis would that work?
      – Alex Robbin
      yesterday










    • @AlexRobbin Maybe it would be better to use large electrodes. Not only the corrosion but also mud or particles attracted by the current flow might play a role in this. If you have large electrodes they will have a low impedance even covered with some impurities.
      – Dorian
      yesterday










    • For what I remember from my Uni days, there are two possible causes to corrosion, one is electrolysis and the other dissimilar metals. Electrolysis is the splitting of water cells, and that requires I believe 1.23V to happen. Unfortunately this means that for conducting the electricity you will only rely on the impurities of the water. I don't think it is a dissimilar metal issue due to the voltage you use.
      – Elmesito
      yesterday






    • 1




      You can easily check this by inspecting the probe wires, right?
      – immibis
      yesterday















    6














    I'm not big in chemistry, but I believe that it has stopped working because of electrolysis. In other words your contacts have corroded to the point that the resistance is too high.
    You could prevent this by using AC, but then the circuit would be a lot more complicated.
    I would opt for capacitive sensors, Analog Devices have an interesting app note about
    Capacitive Liquid Sensors
    Or you can follow this
    Instructable






    share|improve this answer




















    • I don't think AC will stop electrolysis but the corrosion must be the issue he's facing.
      – Dorian
      yesterday










    • @user156047 I too think you are right, but i dont understand anything about Capacitive liquid sensors. But, if i were to replace the contact points with something non-corrosive and have less chance for electrolysis would that work?
      – Alex Robbin
      yesterday










    • @AlexRobbin Maybe it would be better to use large electrodes. Not only the corrosion but also mud or particles attracted by the current flow might play a role in this. If you have large electrodes they will have a low impedance even covered with some impurities.
      – Dorian
      yesterday










    • For what I remember from my Uni days, there are two possible causes to corrosion, one is electrolysis and the other dissimilar metals. Electrolysis is the splitting of water cells, and that requires I believe 1.23V to happen. Unfortunately this means that for conducting the electricity you will only rely on the impurities of the water. I don't think it is a dissimilar metal issue due to the voltage you use.
      – Elmesito
      yesterday






    • 1




      You can easily check this by inspecting the probe wires, right?
      – immibis
      yesterday













    6












    6








    6






    I'm not big in chemistry, but I believe that it has stopped working because of electrolysis. In other words your contacts have corroded to the point that the resistance is too high.
    You could prevent this by using AC, but then the circuit would be a lot more complicated.
    I would opt for capacitive sensors, Analog Devices have an interesting app note about
    Capacitive Liquid Sensors
    Or you can follow this
    Instructable






    share|improve this answer












    I'm not big in chemistry, but I believe that it has stopped working because of electrolysis. In other words your contacts have corroded to the point that the resistance is too high.
    You could prevent this by using AC, but then the circuit would be a lot more complicated.
    I would opt for capacitive sensors, Analog Devices have an interesting app note about
    Capacitive Liquid Sensors
    Or you can follow this
    Instructable







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered yesterday









    Elmesito

    67119




    67119











    • I don't think AC will stop electrolysis but the corrosion must be the issue he's facing.
      – Dorian
      yesterday










    • @user156047 I too think you are right, but i dont understand anything about Capacitive liquid sensors. But, if i were to replace the contact points with something non-corrosive and have less chance for electrolysis would that work?
      – Alex Robbin
      yesterday










    • @AlexRobbin Maybe it would be better to use large electrodes. Not only the corrosion but also mud or particles attracted by the current flow might play a role in this. If you have large electrodes they will have a low impedance even covered with some impurities.
      – Dorian
      yesterday










    • For what I remember from my Uni days, there are two possible causes to corrosion, one is electrolysis and the other dissimilar metals. Electrolysis is the splitting of water cells, and that requires I believe 1.23V to happen. Unfortunately this means that for conducting the electricity you will only rely on the impurities of the water. I don't think it is a dissimilar metal issue due to the voltage you use.
      – Elmesito
      yesterday






    • 1




      You can easily check this by inspecting the probe wires, right?
      – immibis
      yesterday
















    • I don't think AC will stop electrolysis but the corrosion must be the issue he's facing.
      – Dorian
      yesterday










    • @user156047 I too think you are right, but i dont understand anything about Capacitive liquid sensors. But, if i were to replace the contact points with something non-corrosive and have less chance for electrolysis would that work?
      – Alex Robbin
      yesterday










    • @AlexRobbin Maybe it would be better to use large electrodes. Not only the corrosion but also mud or particles attracted by the current flow might play a role in this. If you have large electrodes they will have a low impedance even covered with some impurities.
      – Dorian
      yesterday










    • For what I remember from my Uni days, there are two possible causes to corrosion, one is electrolysis and the other dissimilar metals. Electrolysis is the splitting of water cells, and that requires I believe 1.23V to happen. Unfortunately this means that for conducting the electricity you will only rely on the impurities of the water. I don't think it is a dissimilar metal issue due to the voltage you use.
      – Elmesito
      yesterday






    • 1




      You can easily check this by inspecting the probe wires, right?
      – immibis
      yesterday















    I don't think AC will stop electrolysis but the corrosion must be the issue he's facing.
    – Dorian
    yesterday




    I don't think AC will stop electrolysis but the corrosion must be the issue he's facing.
    – Dorian
    yesterday












    @user156047 I too think you are right, but i dont understand anything about Capacitive liquid sensors. But, if i were to replace the contact points with something non-corrosive and have less chance for electrolysis would that work?
    – Alex Robbin
    yesterday




    @user156047 I too think you are right, but i dont understand anything about Capacitive liquid sensors. But, if i were to replace the contact points with something non-corrosive and have less chance for electrolysis would that work?
    – Alex Robbin
    yesterday












    @AlexRobbin Maybe it would be better to use large electrodes. Not only the corrosion but also mud or particles attracted by the current flow might play a role in this. If you have large electrodes they will have a low impedance even covered with some impurities.
    – Dorian
    yesterday




    @AlexRobbin Maybe it would be better to use large electrodes. Not only the corrosion but also mud or particles attracted by the current flow might play a role in this. If you have large electrodes they will have a low impedance even covered with some impurities.
    – Dorian
    yesterday












    For what I remember from my Uni days, there are two possible causes to corrosion, one is electrolysis and the other dissimilar metals. Electrolysis is the splitting of water cells, and that requires I believe 1.23V to happen. Unfortunately this means that for conducting the electricity you will only rely on the impurities of the water. I don't think it is a dissimilar metal issue due to the voltage you use.
    – Elmesito
    yesterday




    For what I remember from my Uni days, there are two possible causes to corrosion, one is electrolysis and the other dissimilar metals. Electrolysis is the splitting of water cells, and that requires I believe 1.23V to happen. Unfortunately this means that for conducting the electricity you will only rely on the impurities of the water. I don't think it is a dissimilar metal issue due to the voltage you use.
    – Elmesito
    yesterday




    1




    1




    You can easily check this by inspecting the probe wires, right?
    – immibis
    yesterday




    You can easily check this by inspecting the probe wires, right?
    – immibis
    yesterday













    2














    It's due to corrosion and electrolysis process mostly.



    Go with some alternative thing like Float switche. Follow the link
    FLOAT SWITCH






    share|improve this answer



























      2














      It's due to corrosion and electrolysis process mostly.



      Go with some alternative thing like Float switche. Follow the link
      FLOAT SWITCH






      share|improve this answer

























        2












        2








        2






        It's due to corrosion and electrolysis process mostly.



        Go with some alternative thing like Float switche. Follow the link
        FLOAT SWITCH






        share|improve this answer














        It's due to corrosion and electrolysis process mostly.



        Go with some alternative thing like Float switche. Follow the link
        FLOAT SWITCH







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited yesterday

























        answered yesterday









        Satish Singupuram

        6169




        6169



























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