Let's Control It

hi, i have a bathroom on 2nd floor and i have the heater of hot water on graund floor, so when i open the tap at 2nd floor it required many times to become hot. I solve the issue using a pump, connected to Sonoff with EspEasy. So when i need hot water i switch on the pump using domoticz
now i would like to have it automatically, so when i open the tap and the water flow, the pump should recognize it and turn on automatically.
what sensor i could use that is compatible with ESP ?
thanks

p.s. the best is use something that avoid to cut pipes, insert something and join again the pipe

Hello,

if there is some water running at all without the pump running a flow sensor might be possible.
As soon as water starts running the sensor gives pulses which can be used to trigger the pump.

Another possibility might be a pressure sensor near the tap but that will definitely come with
a lot of calibration problems. It should be a sensor with analog or switch output in that case
to get it connected to the ESP.

Shardan wrote: ↑02 Oct 2018, 19:55 Hello,

if there is some water running at all without the pump running a flow sensor might be possible.
As soon as water starts running the sensor gives pulses which can be used to trigger the pump.

hi thanks for answering
for sure i prefere this solution, something like this?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1PCS-Wa ... ad581d70-0
but i need to interrupt my circuit, correct?
i would like to avoid that, and maybe using something to apply external to the pipe, is it possible?

Hi,

What about something like this: http://www.hoses.co.uk/industrial-air-p ... tch-sensor

megamarco83 wrote: ↑04 Oct 2018, 11:22 hi thanks for answering
for sure i prefere this solution, something like this?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1PCS-Wa ... ad581d70-0
but i need to interrupt my circuit, correct?
i would like to avoid that, and maybe using something to apply external to the pipe, is it possible?

Sure you have to interrupt your circuit, but this sensor can be placed anywhere so mounting it on top of the pump might be easy.

Reefie wrote: ↑04 Oct 2018, 11:41 Hi,

What about something like this: http://www.hoses.co.uk/industrial-air-p ... tch-sensor

If you get to a flow of at least 3l/min without pump this sensor works too, yep.

Reefie wrote: ↑04 Oct 2018, 11:41 Hi,

What about something like this: http://www.hoses.co.uk/industrial-air-p ... tch-sensor

interesting!
but there isn't anything similar but cheaper?
thanks

Try to Figure cost of cutting and interfacing the flowmeter from Ali, and then I don’t speak of possible failure/leakage.

I admit, don’t like invasive measurements when not needed or an alternative exists.

Wet dream of engineer everything non invasive

Searched a while, but didn't find any...

As 3l/min is a lot of water I doubt if you get that without pump already running.
Flow sensor might be better way.

HomeJCL wrote: ↑04 Oct 2018, 16:14 Try to Figure cost of cutting and interfacing the flowmeter from Ali, and then I don’t speak of possible failure/leakage.

I admit, don’t like invasive measurements when not needed or an alternative exists.

Wet dream of engineer everything non invasive

yes i agree, but i need something that is more "sensitive" because your suggested sensor required 3l/min....that are to much to activate the pump? correct?

Forget the FS-10 you also need to cut the pipe, it is not a clamp on solution but a pipe to install.

Sorry I assumed it was a clamp on, so the AliX meter is a lot cheaper then

My suggestion: enlarge the solution space.
- Think of presence detection in front of the tap
- Think of flow detection in the sink
The pump will run a few times to many, but no big deal in my opinion.

Domosapiens wrote: ↑06 Oct 2018, 10:32 My suggestion: enlarge the solution space.
- Think of presence detection in front of the tap
- Think of flow detection in the sink
The pump will run a few times to many, but no big deal in my opinion.

yes, good suggestions, but what kind of sensor i could use to perform that?

- Think of presence detection in front of the tap

PIR Sensor https://www.letscontrolit.com/wiki/index.php/PIR_Sensor
Ultrasonic distance https://www.letscontrolit.com/wiki/index.php/HC-SR04

- Think of flow detection in the sink

Rapid temperature change https://www.letscontrolit.com/wiki/inde ... as_DS18b20

Or you can use a switch on den door to the bathroom. Normaly, when somebody go in the bathroom, he/she would use Water.

I don't know your tap, but you could use a switch to. When you "turn on" the hot water ....

Only a little "brainstorming"

PIR isn't a good idea as they detect moving temperature differences with "zones".
Moving fingers while washing hands won't be enough most likely.
Same for radar detectors.

Ultrasonic sounds like a good idea to me.
LisaM had a modified plugin for sensors beside HC-SR04, some water resistent versions might exist...
I don't know if any of the code made it into ESPEasy Mega.

Another idea might be an active infrared sensor instead of the passive PIR.

A well known manufacturer is "Grohe" in Germany. The infrared light barrier (Sender & receiver) resides inside the tap's socket behind the dark oval.
Should be possible to make something similiar.