In this post we learn how to make anti-corrosion probes for water level sensor and controller circuits by using alternating supply across the probes.
How it Works
Let's understand the concept used behind the designing of this anti-corrosion probe circuit for water level sensors and controllers.
Corrosion in water level sensor probes take place due to DC supply which is normally used for triggering the probes through water. This is aggravated by the process of minor electrolysis across the probe terminals which in the long term usage results in formation of layers of chemicals an minerals, gradually inhibiting efficient working of the probes and affecting the water sensing ability of the circuit.
To remedy this an AC supply is recommended so that the process of electrolysis is unable to develop across the probes due to the constant flipping of the supply polarity across the probes through the alternating nature of the supply.
In the design presented above, the AC supply is derived from a 12V transformer, via a couple of high value resistors for dropping the current across the probes.
The supply is carried forward to the inputs of an "OR" gate which specifically deals with this AC and produces the relevant output depending on whether water is present across the probes or not.
In the absence of water the applied AC generates alternately changing potentials across the two input pins of the OR gate. As per the truth table of the OR gate, a 0 and 1 or 1 and 0 on its inputs correspondingly creates an output of logic 1. This implies that while the alternate switching is applied over the two inputs of the OR gate, causes its output to consistently be at a logic 1.
Now if water happens to bridge the probe points, it instantly causes a relative short across the points causing the AC to disappear at the inputs of the OR gate.
In this situation both the inputs of the OR gate is held at logic 0, which causes its output to revert from logic 1 to a logic 0.
The above action switches ON the PNP transistor enabling the output to trigger the intended load such as a relay or an LED.
More number of gates could be employed with parallel probes points at different depths of the water tank in order to sense the various levels of the water if required, for building a multi water level anti-corrosion sensor probe circuit
The OR gate IC could be a IC 4071 or any other similar.
Simple Corrosion Free Water Level Sensor Circuit
The following figure a possible simpler method of creating a corrosion free water level sensing terminals.
In the diagram we can see that the reference ground terminal at the bottom of the tank is supplied with an alternating +/- 6V instead of a normal DC. This forces the other terminals to conduct in a push-pull manner with the reference to this base terminal and this hopefully prevent corrosion from developing across the connected water level sensing terminals.
About the Author
I am an electronic engineer (dipIETE ), hobbyist, inventor, schematic/PCB designer, manufacturer. I am also the founder of the website: https://www.homemade-circuits.com/, where I love sharing my innovative circuit ideas and tutorials. If you have any circuit related query, you may interact through comments, I'll be most happy to help!
Howdy, Friend! Interested to Learn Circuit Designing? Let's Start Discussing below!
Hi
This water level controller circuit is very simple and maintenance free.
Bro i want to add high and low level alarm, i know its easy, but the reason i asking is that i want to use only one bell type switch which can reset both high and low level alarm when tank water is full or low.
Is it possible, could you please help me out.
Thank you Avi, yes you can achieve it by using the concept explained in the following article:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2015/09/borewell-motor-pump-starter-controller.html
IC1 or IC2 both are monostables circuits which produce a high output for sometime depending on the values of the C and R, in response to input triggers. You can use any one of these circuits, and connect the 0.22uF with water controller outputs through separate diodes (1N4148). The anodes of both the diodes will join with the 0.22uF end, while the cathodes will separately join with the upper and the lower water level IC outputs. The relay contacts can be joined with an alarm.
Hi
Sorry to bother you again but
wow bro that is really simple and amazing. I understood when top most led will trigger the delay on circuit for the time depending upon c and r value. But i didn’t understand when water will go down the 2nd led gets turn off how it will trigger the circuit again.
Also is it not necessary to connect a reset switch for alarm.
Hi Avi, you can actually do it in the following manner:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/water-level-alarm
No need of any reset switch
Sorry Avi, I think I am wrong this will not work, I’ll try to think of some other alternative.
Hii
bro an idea just stucked in my mind to make it possible. I think by using an two separate diods, spdt switch and a transistor not gate connected at the low level output from indicator.
Hi Avi, but it should be automatic right? so switch cannot be used, here’s the revised diagram, this will do the job perfectly:
https://www.homemade-circuits.com/water-level-alarm-2
the diode ends will go to the respective NOT gate outputs
Dear sir, In the main article N1 is given as any or gate. Which IC can be used. 12V dc can be connected to DC supply for that IC. Which Transistor is to be used. it is not given. Then in the simple corrosion free water level circuit , the IC no. is not given.Why the power supply should be 6-0-6 volt supply. can it be 6v or 12v DC . in this case only one transistor (547 OR 557) may be sufficient. pl clarify. When the maximum components details are given, certain data such as IC type and like resistor values are not given. Request your comment.
Dear Loganathan, you can use the IC 4071B, and use one gate out of the 4 gates in it. Make sure to ground all the inputs of the unused 3 gates. The transistor can be BC557 or ant similar.
Sometimes I may forget to add the component number, but you can always ask me to update the missing ones, I’ll do it quickly.
In the second design if the transformer is single polarity type then the anti-corrosion effect will not work, it has to be dual or push pull in nature
Hello sir Swagatam,
I stumbled upon this link in the response you gave to a question of the main article. I assembled the the circuit in the main article and it worked quite well. But I assembled and tested it in a small water container. Thank you for providing the circuit above to solve the issue of corrosion. I want to wire the last circuit with just four levels and not six. My questions go thus:
1. Can I use the circuit in a water tank that is about 3-4meters in height and get a good result, knowing that the distance between the probes will be much? If yes,
2. Do I put the “base probe” which is from the BC547 and BC557 at the base of the tank and put the other four probes at their respective positions or will each of the four probes have their own “base probe” beside them for better response?
3. Is the IC still 4049 or another?
Hi Godson, glad you could build it successfully.
here are the answers:
1) yes you can use ti for deeper tanks since the use of a frequency makes the conduction sharper and long ranged.
2) You mean to say the emitter probes? Yes the probe is required to be placed at the bottom of the tank
3) The IC is 4049.
Hello sir Swagatam,
Thanks a lot for the response. Yes I meant to say the emitter probes.
I have more questions from the second schematic above:
1. The 2M2 resistors are not connected to the positive rail of the supply as against what is in the main article. Is that an omission?
2. The center-tap of the transfo is connected to the ground. Is it the same ground that is supplying the 4049?
3. Can a 12-0-12 transfo be used in place of the 6-0-6 transfo?
Hi Godson,
thanks for pointing out the mistake.
1) the 2M2 resistors must be connected with the positive supply, it has been mistakenly missed
2) yes the center tap ground is common for the IC negative terminal, and the rest of the circuit where ground symbols are indicated.
3) 12-0-12 transformer can be used
Hi Swagatam
Just a short note to convey my appreciation for the effort that you put into your very enlightening articles.
As a semi-retired mechanical engineer, I have really benefited from your excellent articles and have as a result, successfully built several practical circuits. I look forward to building many more once I retire.
Many thanks
Kind regards
Peter Bestbier (Cape Town South Africa)
Thank you Peter, The pleasure is all mine!! keep up the good work.
Dear sir,
I have simply used electronic bell (3V Dc supply) inputs as water level sensor inputs & a switch in series (used when borewell is on).
It worked well for some months but now its not giving proper alarm on tank being full.
i have changed batteries as well as filed the tips of copper wires used as probes but problem persists randomly.
what could be possible fault.
Dear Shry,
how did you place the probes? make sure the distance between the probes is minimum, may be around an inch apart, now place this set of probes at the brim of the tank for sensing and check the response…
SIR ..if water reaches at prob and stil water is there transformer will not got dammage??
2ndly is or gate ic read the ac signal …morever its a digital ic? so how is it possible??
Hi Abubakar,
transformer will not get damaged because the transformer is not near the water, only its output is immersed in water that too through 2M2 resistors.
An AC is made up of two alternating DCs, right?, therefore applying this AC will be like applying two alternating DCs at the gate inputs….therefore the working will be perfectly OK just as explained in the article…