[aprssig] water level gauge for APRS

[KF4LVZ]

On 2015-10-04 19:03, Robert Bruninga via aprssig wrote:
> TO make a flood gage, it would seem that a simply pressure sensor like we
> use for atomosphere for balloon payloads would work.
> 
> Just put it inside a pipe with a cap on the top and open on the bottom.
> Then the pressure will vary with the height of the water.  Connect this to
> the analog input of an APRS tracker and you have a flood gage.  Calibate it
> with some testing and done...
> 
> ANyone done this?
> 
> Bob
> 

Too much noise due to atmospheric pressure changes and the range of
pressures due to water level won't be very wide so sensitivity to small
changes in water level will be low.  A one inch change in water level
would result in a change of only 0.04 psi (15 psi/396 inches of water).
 The sensor should be able to detect 10% of that (so 0.004 psi) for good
readings or at least 50% for mediocre readings (nearest 0.5 inch water
height)

There are plenty of sensors on the market already that are designed to
detect water level by utilizing ultrasonic ranging, capacitance, or
simple rheostat floats.  These would still give you an analog output but
are much less sensitive to environmental factors.