On Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:01:37 -0800 (PST), foggywaters
wrote:

Hi

I would like to install / build a meter that would display the amount
of water I have taken from my water tank(s). There is no access to the
tank(s), installing level senders would be difficult.

I am aware of the WaterWatch. It would suffice but the literature says
the minimum water flow required is ~ 1.6 Gallons Per Minute. I don't
think it would record small demands i.e. brushing one's teeth.
Although it would be good for measuring the amount of water added to
the tanks.

I would prefer a system with a small in-line sensor sending pulses? to
a meter (LED ? LCD?) 10' away.

Any suggestions

foggywaters


This sounds like it will not work but it does!
Monitor your pump runtime from a full tank to an empty tank.
I have installed a relay that energises when the pump is running, use
that to run an hrs:min:secs counter. my tank gave 1hr 45min. Just
reset the counter when you fill the tank to full. Look at the counter
and a bit of arithmetic in your head will tell you your tank state.

Simple way to control the counter is to wrap say 20 turns of the pump
live feed around a reed switch use the reed to switch the hrs counter.
This allows the switch and relay to be remote from the pump.

Do not be concerned if you have an accumulator in the system, it all
averages out nicely.

Richard

As I pointed out his solution, even if it did function, it would be
inadequate at best. Because you do not know, my tools and their use are my
hobby and my hobby is expensive and yes, I do consider my time as a cost
factor. There are only 1100 hours a year for the working individual
available for activities outside of the work place and what time you spend
on one thing restricts your available time for other things. How you expend
those available hours is of course personal choice, but to consider them
without cost is foolishness. To repeat myself again, your solution is
neither cheap nor simple.
Steve

"Sjouke Burry" wrote in message
...
Steve Lusardi wrote:
$10 solution? I guess you don't build many things. How much is your time
worth? How much effort do you think it will take you to source the
apprpriate parts, even if you could? If you couldn't, do you have the
tools to make them? Material cost? Then you have the performance,
accuracy, liniarity, data display and verification issues to deal with. I
have both the knowledge, the test equipment and the machine shop to do
this and I know that for me to make one would cost me several kilobucks
in time and materials. Perhaps you want to share what your smoking.
Steve
I would make the mecanical parts, and
get a counter/photo transistor from www.conrad.com

I dont have to pay myself, you apparently have never
done any hobby work, according to your rules it would
be impossible to make something on the cheap.
The OP wanted something simple/cheap to have some indication
of water consumption, and I dont see where you would
spend all that money on, unless you are trying to
solve a different problem.

Richard Edwards wrote in
:

On Mon, 29 Dec 2008 01:01:37 -0800 (PST), foggywaters
wrote:

Hi

I would like to install / build a meter that would display the amount
of water I have taken from my water tank(s). There is no access to the
tank(s), installing level senders would be difficult.

I am aware of the WaterWatch. It would suffice but the literature says
the minimum water flow required is ~ 1.6 Gallons Per Minute. I don't
think it would record small demands i.e. brushing one's teeth.
Although it would be good for measuring the amount of water added to
the tanks.

I would prefer a system with a small in-line sensor sending pulses? to
a meter (LED ? LCD?) 10' away.

Any suggestions

foggywaters


This sounds like it will not work but it does!
Monitor your pump runtime from a full tank to an empty tank.
I have installed a relay that energises when the pump is running, use
that to run an hrs:min:secs counter. my tank gave 1hr 45min. Just
reset the counter when you fill the tank to full. Look at the counter
and a bit of arithmetic in your head will tell you your tank state.

Simple way to control the counter is to wrap say 20 turns of the pump
live feed around a reed switch use the reed to switch the hrs counter.
This allows the switch and relay to be remote from the pump.

Do not be concerned if you have an accumulator in the system, it all
averages out nicely.

Richard

Why don't you simply install guages on the tank(s)?

-- Geoff
www.GeoffSchultz.org

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 09:35:00 +0000, Richard Edwards
wrote in
:

This sounds like it will not work but it does!
Monitor your pump runtime from a full tank to an empty tank.

What it actually sounds like to me is a really bad idea, because a
simple screwup can leave you thinking you have water in your tank that
you don't really have, the consequences of which could range from
unpleasant to life threatening. A flow meter has the same problem.
A real water gauge should always be used.

--
Very best wishes for the holiday season and for the coming new year,
John

On Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:55:34 +0100, "Steve Lusardi"
wrote:

As I pointed out his solution, even if it did function, it would be
inadequate at best. Because you do not know, my tools and their use are my
hobby and my hobby is expensive and yes, I do consider my time as a cost
factor. There are only 1100 hours a year for the working individual
available for activities outside of the work place and what time you spend
on one thing restricts your available time for other things. How you expend
those available hours is of course personal choice, but to consider them
without cost is foolishness. To repeat myself again, your solution is
neither cheap nor simple.
Steve


I think you should hire somebody to breathe for you. It's a real time
waster.

Sjouke Burry - Thanks for the suggestion of asthma inhalator &
propellors to drive model ships for making a flow meter. Also -
www.conrad.com. They have several flow sensors that could be useful,
unfortunately they are located in Germany and they do not deliver to
" Canada, USA • High insurance costs make delivery impossible " One
would think that similar sensors would be available on this side of
the Atlantic.

Richard - The clock idea is an interesting concept. I'll time my
tanks. I have a spare hour meter but I expect the accuracy would not
be good enough.

Geoff - There are two poly tanks , 50 gallons each (66" X 17" X 11")
under the salon floor. The only access withoutout cutting large holes
in the carpet etc is about a square inch at the aft corner of one
and on the fwd corner of the other. The shallow depth of the tanks
don't make for getting very good reading with most senders. I could
possibly get a Tank Tender sender in, but I don't find them very
appealing for several reasons. I do have see thru hose on the tank
outlets that gives me some idea of the levels when air is let in but
it is not very convenient.

It is winter, boat project time.

Thanks and a Happy New year to all with their helpfull ideas.

Just fit an inexpensive domestic water meter. Most have 3/4 inch
fittings and will cope with 3 m3/hour flow rate. It is accurate
enough and I have one fitted just before the water pump inlet, with
its meter face poking through the galley deck. Easy enough to read
weekly and work out how much water is left.

On Dec 29 2008, 4:01*am, foggywaters wrote:
Hi

I would like to install / build a meter that would display the amount
of water I have taken from my water tank(s). There is no access to the
tank(s), *installing level senders would be difficult.

I am aware of the WaterWatch. It would suffice but the literature says
the minimum water flow required is ~ 1.6 Gallons Per Minute. I don't
think it would record small demands i.e. brushing one's teeth.
Although it would be good for measuring the amount of water added to
the tanks.

I would prefer a system with a small in-line sensor sending pulses? to
a meter (LED ? LCD?) 10' away.

Any suggestions

foggywaters



Check out:

https://www.freshwatersystems.com/support/8000t.pdf

I think this is exactly what you want for under $40

On Jan 5, 4:43*am, CS wrote:
Just fit an inexpensive domestic water meter. *Most have 3/4 inch
fittings and will cope with 3 m3/hour flow rate. *It is accurate
enough and I have one fitted just before the water pump inlet, with
its meter face poking through the galley deck. *Easy enough to read
weekly and work out how much water is left.

CS

Yes that looks like the most practical solution. Do you know the
manufacture of the one you have.

Thanks

On Jan 5, 5:45*am, Capt Dan wrote:
On Dec 29 2008, 4:01*am, foggywaters wrote:





Hi

I would like to install / build a meter that would display the amount
of water I have taken from my water tank(s). There is no access to the
tank(s), *installing level senders would be difficult.

I am aware of the WaterWatch. It would suffice but the literature says
the minimum water flow required is ~ 1.6 Gallons Per Minute. I don't
think it would record small demands i.e. brushing one's teeth.
Although it would be good for measuring the amount of water added to
the tanks.

I would prefer a system with a small in-line sensor sending pulses? to
a meter (LED ? LCD?) 10' away.

Any suggestions

foggywaters

Check out:

https://www.freshwatersystems.com/support/8000t.pdf

I think this is exactly what you want for under $40- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Capt Dan

Thanks - Yes this looks very good, I like it - but - the connections
are only 3/8" NPT. My main line is 3/4" with the individuals 1/2". I
will put a piece of 3/8" hose in line to see what affect it has on the
volume of flow.

foggy