Affordable flow meters

[Elbow]

Hi,

I’m a Capetonian needing to measure water consumption.

Has anyone on the forum got experience with affordable flow meters that I can fit in my incoming water main and from my wellpoint.  I’d want to get pulses or similar that I can grab with a little Arduino or ESP8266 and feed into my EmonCMS system.

I saw some online - on robotics.org.za but they look kinda cheap.

My water main is only a 1/2 inch pipe.

Thanks,
Elbow

[pilotfish]

https://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/290291190/Hall_Water_Flow_Sensor_Flowmeter_Water_Control_2MPa.html

Hall effect flow meter, R110 on Bid-or-Buy

[Sidewinder]

@Elbow, as you have bought from Communica, they have 3 models of 1/2 in flow sensors. +- same price as previous post.

[___]

5 hours ago, Elbow said:

I saw some online - on robotics.org.za but they look kinda cheap.

I had the same feeling when I looked at it. I'm not sure I want to risk a 5kpa (municipal limit I believe) main supply line on something like that!

Something to look at: Some water meters already use a magnetic link system, the dials and gears on the display are turned by being magnetically linked to an impeller on the other side. This avoids the need for a seal. If you have such a meter, fitting a hall-effect sensor and suitable amplification could do the job. Apparently you can test by holding an old magnetic compass close to the meter while water flows through it.

Some meters also have a slot where you can install a hall-sensor or a read-switch.

I know one of the people at Flotron, they have a meter there that spits out the current reading on a serial link the moment it receives power, so all you need to do is power it up occasionally and read the result. They buy it from someone else... their business is telemetry. I tell you what, I'll get back to you on this :-)

[SilverNodashi]

On 9/29/2017 at 2:23 PM, plonkster said:

I had the same feeling when I looked at it. I'm not sure I want to risk a 5kpa (municipal limit I believe) main supply line on something like that!

Something to look at: Some water meters already use a magnetic link system, the dials and gears on the display are turned by being magnetically linked to an impeller on the other side. This avoids the need for a seal. If you have such a meter, fitting a hall-effect sensor and suitable amplification could do the job. Apparently you can test by holding an old magnetic compass close to the meter while water flows through it.

Some meters also have a slot where you can install a hall-sensor or a read-switch.

I know one of the people at Flotron, they have a meter there that spits out the current reading on a serial link the moment it receives power, so all you need to do is power it up occasionally and read the result. They buy it from someone else... their business is telemetry. I tell you what, I'll get back to you on this :-)

I am also looking for a decent digital flow meter that can handle at least 10 bar and 1/2" or 3/4 pipes. Those at Robotics and similar websites are more for small electronic hobbies or experimenting, etc. It won't last long on municipal waterlines. 

[___]

Oh! We had another rollback and my response was lost :-(

Just as well. I got a response from my contact, roughly translated:

JOAT has a 15/20mm water meter, just ask for one with a reed switch. You could also contact Incledon Cape. Your local plumber could likely help you too.