Cistern Water Level Gauge

[PhilNH5]

Realgoods.com is an alternate energy supplier. They sell float switches usually used to turn a pump on/off to keep a cistern full. Perhaps you could wire one to a light so the light turns on when the water level is low.
This link will take you to the float switch page
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.realgoods.com/renew/shop/product.cfm?dp=1900&sd=1907&ts=1041637>http://www.realgoods.com/renew/shop/product.cfm?dp=1900&sd=1907&ts=1041637</A>

Phil

 

[PhilNH5]

Just looked at Realgoods "water" page. They have something called "The Ginny" which is a guage for fuel tanks and water cisterns. No picture but here is the link.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.realgoods.com/renew/shop/product.cfm?dp=1900&sd=1907&ts=3653210>http://www.realgoods.com/renew/shop/product.cfm?dp=1900&sd=1907&ts=3653210</A>

Phil

 

[hwp]

Thanks for the suggestion. I was trying to think of a source of a small air pump but hadn't thought of a fish tank aeretor pump. That should work. There are lots of low water level warning systems available but I was wanting more than that. Now the challenge is to find an appropriate air pressure guage.

 

[wichiwichi]

Or if you don't mind doing the math 2.31ft of water = 1 psi.

 

[hwp]

And that's the problem in finding a reasonable guage because my cistern is only 8 feet deep, so I have a max pressure of about 3 psi.

 

[wichiwichi]

Do you have access to a Grainger store. If so part #'s 2C632 or 5XP57 will get you one up to 100". I believe they are 1 and 2 " increments.

 

[hwp]

Thanks wichiwichi. I found the mfgs part nos on Graingers website so now I can pick one up locally.

Thanks again.

 

[daveg1952]

A friend of mine in Fort St. John has a similar issue with his water supply. I was able to assemble for him a level indicator for about $120.00 bucks. It works on the principle of water conductivity and operates on a 9v battery . While it doesn't tell you exactly how much water you have, indicator lights will tell you that you have less than 30, 60, 90 and 120 inches of water. I can actually wire it to give readings in whatever graduations you like. All that is needed is to toss the sensor into the cistern with a weight attached to it so that it makes it to the bottom of the tank. To check the level he just pushes a button on the indicator. The most expensive part was the wire. He is using about 70 ft so he was able to bring the unit indoors.

 

[schmism]

why not a string on a bobber with a fishing weight attached on the other end, run through a pulley.

 

[daveg1952]

why not a string on a bobber with a fishing weight attached on the other end, run through a pulley.

Might want to use a chunk of copper instead. Fishing weights are usually made of lead which is toxic.
Dave G