Water Tap opening generates a signal!

[styx1.618]

Hello! I want to ask that how can i generate a signal whenever a water tap is opened. (i.e. that signal will be used to switch the water pump ON whenever tap is opened. )
Considering that in closed state there is still water in the connected pipe between tap and the water tank. Is some sort of flow meter is required or some piezo transducer?

 

[kripacharya]

The act of opening the tap itself can be used as a signal source. Why make it more complicated than it needs to be ?

Depending on what sort of 'tap' you have, you could rig up some simple switch mechanism .....

 

[styx1.618]

I am thinking of not going tap-dependent, instead putting that mechanism in the beginning i.e. close to the Water Tank seems more practical because i have to install that thing to all the taps in the house if your suggestion is adopted.

 

[Borber]

Opening water tap causes the pressure in installation drops. Pressure sensor can start water pump. It is done so for many many decades.

 

[styx1.618]

What type of pressure sensor would you recommend? Can you suggest some cheap options.

 

[kripacharya]

Opening water tap causes the pressure in installation drops. Pressure sensor can start water pump. It is done so for many many decades.

yepp.. totally agree if you want to do multiple outlets. Pressure pumps are available off-the-shelf

 

[jiripolivka]

You can design sophisticated pressure and water-flow sensors as you wish. I would connect a small switch to the faucet, so it switches ON when open, and OFF when closed.

 

[kripacharya]

You can design sophisticated pressure and water-flow sensors as you wish. I would connect a small switch to the faucet, so it switches ON when open, and OFF when closed.

it would be nice if you would read posts in the thread before adding. As the OP has said, he needs multiple outlets, so imho having that many switchs and all the wiring would not be an elegant solution.

 

[bigdogguru]

What type of pressure sensor would you recommend? Can you suggest some cheap options.

I'm not sure what is available in your area, however I use a SquareD Pressure Switch on my well system.

It actually a simple electromechanical two pole switch, using a spring and set screw to set the cutoff and cuton pressures.

BigDog

 

[chuckey]

I have a shower where the tank water level to shower head distance is only about 12 ". the actual water from the tank drops down to the pump, before the pump pumps the water back up to the shower head. What used to happen was that with the shower head in its hook, when the water was switched on, the head would just drip. if the head was unhooked and put down to the shower tray, there was enough flow to actuate the pumps sensor which switched to pump on and the shower head could be put back on the hook and its benefits enjoyed!! What i did was to make my own flow sensor, let the extremely low flow lift a "float" in a tube that blocked of the light between an LED and a photo diode which then was amplified and switched on the pump. The reason I used light was that the pump sensor was based on a magnetic float switch, and they can not be made sensitive enough, because if they are too light, they stick on the magnet!
For an application such as this where you want to detect more then a few drips/second it should be easy.
Frank

 

[bigdogguru]

@chuckey

Interesting flow sensor implementation.

I'm sure we could trade war stories concerning water tanks and wells.

It's a never ending battle. :roll:


BigDog