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Version 3 Is Live !

A project log for Wireless Tank Level Sensor

Remotely Monitor A Water Tanks Level With Decent RF Range

haydenhayden 10/21/2016 at 19:140 Comments

So after a break not using, working on or thinking about this project i got inspired again.Decided the Voltage Booster was more trouble than worth and that if i could get (cheaply enough) a low idle current consumption voltage regulator that could run all the time, to regulate 6xAAA batteries to a voltage for the arduino to manage everything from there.

Enter the MCP1702, 250 mA Low Quiescent Current LDO Regulator, with an idle power usage of 2uA (mine was 6, but my meter may be off) , i went with the 5v option, and a pack of 10 cost me just $6.64 !

So 6xAAA , - i had to switch to AAA to fit them all in :( - is about 5.4v - 9.6v range.

This is constantly regulated to 5v for the atmel chip, it then switches with transistors the supply of this 5v to the 5v sonar module, and the 3v3 regulator which feeds the RF24 module.

Ive also added another transistor switching circuit to switch the raw batter voltage to a voltage divider that the arduino measures the charge of the battery through. (as a permanently connected voltage divider will constantly drain the battery)

And its working again ! , so hopefully it runs well, i feel it will.

If this goes all well, next i may design and make a pcb for the whole thing, while improving the base station.

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