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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Repairs to the water monitor.
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TassyJim Guru  Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6269 |
When the lightning struck last January, amongt the equipment I lost was my water monitoring system. It consisted of a Raspbery Pi with a micromite hanging off it. The sensors were 4 flow meters and two ultrasonic distance units for water level. I knew the PI and power supply were cactus but hadn't bothered looking at the rest of the gear. The rain has stopped and we have started pumping and watering so it was time to get something working again. The first discovery was a dead micromite - not too surprised and I had a few spares. The replacement worked but no response from the sensors. I found a broken track supplying the flow meters but fixing that didn't make any difference. I had some spare flow meters so I replaced the ones that were easiest to get to. The electrics is easy but I don't enjoy the plumbing side. That got some flow meters working and I dismantled the old ones. My original flow meters had sealed electronics but these ones were easy to get to and the big hole in the hall effect IC was clear evidence of the zap they took. I have ordered spare flow meres and some hall effect IC that should fit. The water levels still weren't working so I removed the control boards and found the tell tale holes in some IC's. I had one spare unit so I replaced the main one. Still no reading so I thought the sensor itself was US and that would take a bit of work to replace. I put a temporary sensor on and still no output. I then discovered that the pin-out on the spare unit was the reverse of the original units! Typical of EBay purchases. I rewired the connections and I now have water levels again (in one tank). Rather than put a RPi in the pump-house, I ran a serial cable about 10 metres to a Pi in my garage. It runs the weather station and a few other things and is solar powered so I wanted to save a bit of mains power. To give the serial line a bit of immunity, I used MAX2323 modules at each end. It sort of worked but I had problems when the line ran duplex. As usual I suspected the EBay MAX2323 modules and started replacing them. Eventually, it stopped working altogether. I eventually discovers that one of the terminals on the MAX2323 modules is only connected on one side of the board - no via on that pad. All the other pads are OK but it only takes one. I designed the serial as a multi-drop system so I can connect 5 or 6 data acquisition units to the one line. I should be using RS485 but I want to stick with the console port so I can do remote code updates. Jim VK7JH MMedit |
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plover Guru Joined: 18/04/2013 Location: AustraliaPosts: 306 |
Interesting to read about but probably not so much for you having to fix it. How many times has your system avoided problems when Thunder and lightning coming past? Are you on a slight rise in the landscape? |
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| TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6269 |
Rural property a few KM from the coast, on a hill. I have been here 29 years and only had one other slight equipment damage. This strike was a few metres from the house and most of the energy game via the electric fence unit. I now have the ethernet wiring broken up a bit with a WIFI link between the main house and the outbuildings. I hate WIFI but will put up with it now. There will be a wireless link in the DAQ system too, just to minimize future damage. Jim VK7JH MMedit |
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| Phil23 Guru Joined: 27/03/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1667 |
Just curious. What are you using for the WiFi link to the out buildings? |
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crez Senior Member  Joined: 24/10/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 152 |
At least a WIFI link won't conduct lightning from one place to another! |
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| TassyJim Guru Joined: 07/08/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6269 |
Vonets VAP11G Wifi Bridge. I was using it for my PVR but decided that I didn't really need one there. It connects to my normal access point over a short distance of a few metres. The Ethernet cable still runs from the shed to the house and I have the WIFI link there just to break the DC path. I would like to run fibre but pulling the fibre through the conduits would be a challange. Jim VK7JH MMedit |
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