[weewx-user] Ultrasonic vs Microwave vs Immersion sensors for stream height.

2023-11-10 Thread Greg Hall

Graham,

I see that your ultrasound sensor is the 
https://www.dragino.com/products/distance-level-sensor/item/161-ldds75.html


available from 
https://www.iot-store.com.au/collections/sensors/products/ldds75-lorawan-waterproof-distance-detection-sensor 
7500mm range for $139


or the sensor alone from 
https://www.digikey.com.au/en/products/detail/dfrobot/SEN0313/11202720 
for $51


I'll order one, thanks.

-

Regarding the failure to obtain meaningful results from the microwave 
sensor, I'm wondering if that could be related to the rather wide 
acceptance angle of the device?


I'm guessing that yours may have been the $229 24GHz device at 
https://www.dragino.com/products/distance-level-sensor/item/197-lmds200.html 
which cites 'Horizontal Angel: 78° Vertical Angel: 23°' (sic!)


The $229 60GHz device at 
https://www.iot-store.com.au/products/mds120-lb-lorawan-distance-sensor 
quotes 'Measurement Angle: 25 degrees horizontal and 23 degrees 
vertical' may be more suitable for the applications. I'm flirting with 
ordering one of these...


The images of these show no antenna horn, so I'll look into making up a 
horn to contain the uWaves into a narrower beam. The very short 
wavelength (~12.5mm) will doubtless make for a challenging build, also 
that the Tx & Rx antenna are separated.


24GHz Microwave Radar Sensor 
<https://core-electronics.com.au/24ghz-microwave-radar-sensor.html>


Perhaps you could do some beamwidth tests on yours? If it really is 78 
degr wide, then perhaps that axis could be aligned up/downstream, to 
avoid bridge pylons and streambank?


We envisage attaching the devices to a public bridge, on many of these 
the 7.5M range limitation would not reach to the normal water level. 
Therefore I'm also looking at the microwave devices with their claimed 
20M range.


Your site is an inspiration!

Thanks

PS: Regarding the immersion pressure sensor, I did buy one of these, but 
due to the requirement for a metal tube to contain it, and our intended 
placement on public bridges, we are looking instead at the remote 
sensors. You might consider 
https://core-electronics.com.au/gravity-throw-in-type-liquid-level-transmitter.html 
$86 and 
https://www.iot-store.com.au/products/serial-bridge-lorawan-converter $129.


Greg Hall
0265504481
0428850144
VK2GTH
-

On 11/11/23 12:52 pm, Graham Eddy wrote:

river level sensors:
  * my dragino lorawan ultrasonic sensor has been fine, though it has 
condensation problems (to be fair, it is mounted under a bridge a 
couple metres above normal river level)
  * my dragino lorawan microwave radar has been a failure. i get 
neither accurate nor consistent measurements and can’t see any way to 
use the readings i get
  * my old aquagauge differential pressure sensor - proprietary radio 
network - has worked precisely for years, but is not sold any more. 
after the failure of the microwave sensor experiment, i would like to 
get a lorawan diff pressure sensor but they are too expensive - 
alternative is another ultrasound sensor

*⊣GE⊢*


On 11 Nov 2023, at 12:04 pm, Greg Hall  wrote:

And yes, the advice that stream gauges tell a fuller story is well 
taken. We're also evaluating ultrasonic and microwave sensors for this.


--
You received this message because you are subscribed to a topic in the 
Google Groups "weewx-user" group.
To unsubscribe from this topic, visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/topic/weewx-user/S6kDlgFXW38/unsubscribe.
To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to 
weewx-user+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/weewx-user/A8B843CA-75A4-4EF5-9616-D640B7CCDEB0%40geddy.au 
<https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/weewx-user/A8B843CA-75A4-4EF5-9616-D640B7CCDEB0%40geddy.au?utm_medium=email_source=footer>.


--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"weewx-user" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to weewx-user+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/weewx-user/cfbd0a99-593c-4b9b-bdb0-a713f69ff78e%40brushbox.info.


[weewx-user] Re: Storm Rain or Pluviograph function?

2023-11-10 Thread Greg Hall
This is close to a function that I'm keen to work on. 

As I wrote in https://groups.google.com/g/weewx-user/c/fE7NOpSK7_Q and got 
some helpful replies, our 'People's Pluviograph' initiative needs reporting 
of hourly rainfall.
-
The available Wx can report instantaneous intensity, and summarise it 
daily, etc. but that's not what tells those downstream to get ready for a 
flood.
I've bought a couple of 8" tipping bucket gauges, and am playing with 
Arduino code to keep daily, tips per minute files, on a local SD card, to 
be relayed on to a LORA-APRS system (o.n.o), and as last resort, on a local 
display.
While that's coming along, some tips on how we might wrangle WeeWx to count 
up bucket tips and generate an hourly register would be very helpful.
-
And yes, the advice that stream gauges tell a fuller story is well taken. 
We're also evaluating ultrasonic and microwave sensors for this.

Greg
VK2GTH
-


-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"weewx-user" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to weewx-user+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/weewx-user/90343bf8-97e4-42f2-b568-7cecd95c7307n%40googlegroups.com.


[weewx-user] The People's Pluviograph!

2023-11-06 Thread Greg Hall
Record-breaking floods in the Northern Rivers regions of the state of New 
South Wales in Australia last year has set us looking for a way to report 
hourly, or more frequent, rainfall intensity, to better inform those 
downstream.

As the official gauge network is sparse and flaky, our present 'solution' 
is a few human Rain Sentinels' who live high up in the catchment. They 
agree to read their gauges hourly and get the readings out, by phone as 
long as that lasts (not very), then CB radio.

We haven't had much success with off-the-shelf weather stations, but maybe 
there are WeeWx gurus who would know how to help script such a reporting 
function.

I've bought a couple of 8" tipping bucket gauges, and am playing with 
Arduino code to keep daily, tips per minute files, on a local SD card, to 
be relayed on to a LORA-APRS system (o.n.o), and as last resort, on a local 
display.

Any guidance or assistance very welcome.

Greg
VK2GTH
-

-- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
"weewx-user" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email 
to weewx-user+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit 
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/weewx-user/350d54ea-c0b3-449a-8bd7-5b44ae6e0939n%40googlegroups.com.