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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: eventyr on August 02, 2016, 07:51:17 PM

Title: Water Flow Meter with integrated solenoid
Post by: eventyr on August 02, 2016, 07:51:17 PM
I've been doing a bit of reading and it seems that water flow meters are the preferred method of measuring water consumed rather than tank level gauges (ducks for cover as people disagree ;) )

Looking around, this one seems to fit the bill:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-2-Water-Flow-Rate-Gauge-Control-LCD-Meter-Flow-Sensor-Solenoid-Valve-Set-/141999044238?hash=item210fcd768e (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-2-Water-Flow-Rate-Gauge-Control-LCD-Meter-Flow-Sensor-Solenoid-Valve-Set-/141999044238?hash=item210fcd768e)

I quite like the integrated solenoid so that I can program it to cut the flow if we drop to say 5l remaining in the tank ... in case the kids leave the tap running- cos that never happens!

Has anyone got any experience with these? I've seen the Topargee ones but they dont seem to have the solenoids and seem to be much more expensive ...

Appreciate your views.
Title: Re: Water Flow Meter with integrated solenoid
Post by: #jonesy on August 03, 2016, 06:16:43 AM
A few odd specs on it 24V +-8 for the unit
12V for the solenoid. 1 amp (24 amp/hrs a day)
Power consumption for the solid is .5 amp to remain open (12amp/hrs a day). I assume the unit supplies the power to the solenoid and the 5V to the probe
Title: Re: Water Flow Meter with integrated solenoid
Post by: eventyr on August 03, 2016, 02:51:45 PM
Yep current usage does seem extraordinarily high, but I wonder whether it is accurate ... for the whole unit it says 1A @ 24V = 24W or 2A at 12V or 48Ah a day ... that seems extraordinary!!! I'll have a ton of spare power (~160Ah of deep cycle with 200W solar and separate generator + dual battery car) ... but that is ridiculous LOL ...

The solenoid will pull 0.3-0.4A @ 12V ... that seems fair from the other solenoids on the market, but I can imagine the sensor and display pull 1.6A!

I've asked the seller to confirm the current usage.
Title: Re: Water Flow Meter with integrated solenoid
Post by: jr on August 03, 2016, 06:01:11 PM
Bermad make mechanical ones, takes pressure to operate though i think
There are some good cheap tank gauges out there, some have remote wireless screen
Title: Re: Water Flow Meter with integrated solenoid
Post by: #jonesy on August 03, 2016, 06:28:19 PM
The other issue is the operating voltage of 24V

I don't hold out much hope for a definitive answer from the seller, when they describe it as "Ultra-thin design, generous, beautiful" and have a pictur of a girl in a field with a butterfly.


Title: Re: Water Flow Meter with integrated solenoid
Post by: Muckinhell on August 03, 2016, 07:37:58 PM
That set up looks more like something a small hydroponics grower would use. you probably wanna look at something like this for a camper.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Topargee-H2Flow-Surface-Mount-Water-Tank-Gauge-RV-Motorhome-Boat-Caravan-/131796126482?hash=item1eafa94b12:g:qm0AAOSw6EhUN6qT (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Topargee-H2Flow-Surface-Mount-Water-Tank-Gauge-RV-Motorhome-Boat-Caravan-/131796126482?hash=item1eafa94b12:g:qm0AAOSw6EhUN6qT)