Volume Sensors?

[caberle]

Or what about a Gas Tank Sensor? (I know it sounds strange to use it to brew beer...)

http://www.wemausa.com/tank_sensors/det ... ensors.htm

[ECC]

As is, the BCS does measure resistance, but its in the 10K ohm range, so you wouldn't get much resolution from a 100ohm sensor. Most controllers for sensors like that have additional electronics to amplify the reading to a usable level. It can be done, but would take additional design.

The gas tank float sensor is interesting.

[caberle]

I thought there might be some work needed to accomplish this. I decided to check with gas tank sensor vendor via an email just to ask about custom 10k ohm ranges, materials exposed to liquid, heat capabilities, and price for custom 10k setup if possible. From there website it stated something about custom ohm ranges available, so thought I'l give it a shot. Maybe it is a deadend, maybe it will lead to new possiblities. I just like to investigate options like this. Ag / Mech Engineer in me coming out I guess, even though not my current trade nor do I remember much of that education.

The more I look into the BCS-460, the more I wish I started with it. Just thinking through the possibilties for now.
Thx for the feedback.

[ECC]

Yes, thanks for looking into these. If they have any kind of datasheet or spec, I'd be interested in looking at it. 10" is a little limiting, but would probably work if mounted in the right place. If we can find a reliable, inexpensive, flexible, available sensor, I'm willing to build around it.

Some use pressure sensors, but they have a tendency to be unreliable. Sensitive to heat, atmospheric pressure, etc.. I mean the 'pressure' that we're talking about here is less than 48 inches water column, which == 1.73 psi. And that's a full tank, halve that for most usable volumes. Not much margin for error in measuring with pressure, those thing have to be extremely sensitive. I'm not saying pressure is out for volume measurements... I've been searching for a cheap ~5-10 psi temperature compensated industrial gage pressure sensor for a while, but they're usually in the $200 range. Some of the higher psi models may well work, but someone would need to test them out.

Having some sort of non-mechanical sensor for volume measurement would be ideal. By all means, if someone can track one down, post up. On the other hand, if we can find a good mechanical sensor, like the one in your link, I believe many people would be interested.

[caberle]

Still nothing back from WEMA USA on custom probe for different resistances. From the web site you can order any length you want not just 10". So are you saying the base resistance range for this one will not work. I looked at the calibration options for the temp sensors and to tell you the truth I don't understand it and if changing the values would work for calibrating this type of resistance liquid level.

Also you hit on "availability" and I agree we don't want to invest in something that can't be easily obtained. Thought I'd look at Dwyer's website to see if they had anything, since I'm happy with my Love Controller maybe they would have something. Here is what I found, but cost is not listed. Just wanted to get your thoughts on it since spec sheet was available. Take a look to see if there is anything useful there if you want.
http://www.dwyer-inst.com/Products/Prod ... Name=Specs

I'm assuming all these type of sensors work like this with reed switches and different resistors. So I'm assuimg they are sealed and safe to use.
http://www.nationalmagnetic.com/continuouslevel.html

I think a pressure sensor would be nice and compact, but maybe the "Keep It Simple" via mechanical method makes the most sense.

Assuming I can't find a better resistance range or it is cost prohibitive. What would it take to use something in this range or the one available from Dwyer? Custom coding of GUI (I see some notes about open source on the website), Firmware change, Changing values for Temp Sensor calibration, or just not possible?

[Zulu]

One thing I briefly looked at for Volume control was non contact position switches- they use either capacitance or ultra sound waves and are accurate to about 2mm, which would be easily within our parameters for water measurement. This would trigger an on/off signal which could be used to close / open a valve.

http://www.ifm.com/ifmus/web/dsfs!KF5001.html

Too many other things in life came at me and I never even finished testing my completed fermentation control box, might relook at this during the winter

[bsquared]

HI all,

I'm new to this, just got my BCS a few months ago, and will be testing my system this weekend. Has any one looked in to the parallax Ultrasonic Ping range sensor? http://www.parallax.com/tabid/768/Produ ... fault.aspx

Would this integrate into the BCS system?

[ECC]

Ultrasonic would have to be positioned directly above the tank. I wonder how well it would hold up to moisture/steam. The sensor is a bare PCB board, so I'm guessing not too well. But I do believe they make industrial grade ultrasonic level sensors with 4-20ma interfacing.

Here's a company that has some very interesting products: http://www.madisonco.com/
I really like this product:
http://madisonco.thomasnet.com/viewitem ... &forward=1

Reliable, easy to use. What would people be willing to pay for a good stainless steel volume sensor? I think about $100-150 is reasonable. Maybe I could get a 'volume' discount.