Cistern Water Level Gauge

[schmism]

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

feel free to weight the bobber end with whatever is heavy... stone, SS bolt, brass bar stock.... whatever you want.

 

[srjones]

feel free to weight the bobber end with whatever is heavy... stone, SS bolt, brass bar stock.... whatever you want.

If the weight (lead/whatever) goes on the outside of the tank, there's little risk of contamination.

BTW, I use something like this. The trick to making it work is taking a short piece of flexible copper tubing with flaired ends. Drill a hole at the highest point of the tank and insert the copper tube. Carefully bend the tube into an inverted U-shape so the rope/string has an easy path to move up and down. Seal the gap around tube with with epoxy putty. The string/rope should be a type that doesn't wick water, otherwise it will freeze in place during the winter.

 

[srjones]

Sorry...I just read the OP. (underground, rather than aboveground). My suggestion doesn't apply.

 

[tommu56]

I have a burried cistern at my cabin and plan on building a manometer and plumbing it like the picture.

You will have to pump the pump occasionally to make sure tube doesn't get water logged the height of the pink part has to be just a little longer than the maximum tank level so it dosen't over flow when pumping the pump to make sure it dosen't get water logged.

one note I haven't checked the specific gravity of the antifreeze but it should be close enough to be almost 1" in tank to 1" of antifreeze

tom

 

[PILOON]

I have rigged warning devices for sewage holding tanks.

I use the float type switch that switches on when level gets to the preset height usually lighting a warning bulb. The float switch is used on sump pumps and fairly reasonable.

Now for the low level warning;
When floating the switch will be closed circuit and you want a warning to sound (or light up) when the level is at your desired low setting.
You would use a relay, normally closed type, that is held open when the float is floating.
The floating float will keep power on the relay keeping the warning light off and when it flops over the circuit will open and the relay will light up your warning bulb (or buzzer, horn) or both horn and light.

Those float switches are made for 110AC and all plastic construction.

Total cost; one relay, one switch socket bulb etc. under $50. all told.

Another method could be a micro switch as used in pedastal type sump pumps whereby when the circuit closes due to the float no longer floating, the weight closes the microswitch causing the circuit to be completed and powering the buzzer or light.

Those micto switches are all N/C as well as N/O.
You would wire onto the N/O so that the float would become a weight and close the circuit when the level gets down to the desired 'refill' level.
The float/weight could be a simple chunk of styrofoam (sealed so as to not get waterlogged) or for that matter a small plastic bottle weighted 'just enough' to activate the microswitch.
To adjust, simly lengthen or shorten the float line!
PS: Use nylon fish line and not cotton twine.

For a 'FULL' indicator, same float arrangement but short line but wire onto N/C pins!

Good luck and have fun!

 

[hwp]

I see I forgot to log my solution to the issue. I bought a "Rain Alert" system supplied by the Rain Harvesting Compay ( www.rainharvesting.com ). It is a wireless system with a sending unit at the tank and a monitor pluged into a normal outlet whereveryou want. The sender can be adjusted to the depth of your tank. The monitor shows the water level by 10 bars as well as a low level light.

 

[Bill R Boemer]

I've developed one 35 years ago that is electronic and runs on 9vdc. It just so happens I'm in the early production stage. Cost will be approx $60+shipping.

 

[MaloTek]

The solution is really easy....check out Malotek.com..will ship anywhere. This guage is built in canada and designed to work in all temps and will not give you false readings when you get frost on the sensor wire. Instals in minutes and runs for years on a single 9v batt. good luck