With the passing of every year, water tanks in New Zealand have been becoming more and more popular. They can be extremely useful in times of dry weather and drought and be a sustainable way to capture rainwater and conserve town water supplies overall. The more households that install a water tank, the less drain on dams and water infrastructure in general.
While a backyard water tank is quite basic in its design, some essential parts go into a water tank and make it more efficient. One thing you’ll need is a water level sensor for your water tank.
Let’s look at water tank level sensors and their essential components.
What Is a Water Tank Level Sensor?
Without some form of sensor to measure the water levels inside a water tank, you’ll have little or no idea how much water the tank currently contains. It could be full or nearly empty as far as you will know. Therefore, to measure the water level in a tank, a sensory device will be required unless your tank is transparent.
Of course, there are numerous water sensors for water tanks on the market, and they vary. It depends on whether you want something fundamental or something more high tech for your needs.
If you desire a water level sensor that is modern, convenient, and not so basic, let’s take a look at the components of one that’s a little higher tech, so you understand what they are about and whether it’s the right option for your requirements.
Essential Components of Modern Water Tank Level Sensors
Let’s first look at one of the most vital components of the water tank level sensor system: the sensor itself. Depending on how big and deep your tank is, these sensors come with cables of varying lengths. You may find only a 4-meter cable is enough to service your needs. If your water tank is a big one, you might need to opt for a sensor with a cable length of up to 10 meters. The sensor itself needs to be constructed of high-quality stainless steel for longevity and accuracy. On other occasions, you may require a high-pressure sensor. The cable that attaches to the sensor needs to be rugged, preferably constructed from polyethylene, and watertight.
Of course, a sensor and an attached cable are only a part of the solution, as that sensor cable then needs to be attached to a tank level sender. You can even opt for solar-powered sender systems for convenience and saving on electricity. Often, you’ll find that the tank level sender can connect to more than one water tank if required. This device relays the information regarding the current water level in a given water tank and has a small antenna attached to the top for sending the signal.
Now that you have a water level sensor, cable, and a sending unit, you’ll need devices by which to receive the gathered information. All information can be transmitted via Wi-Fi connectivity. The simplest way to get connected to this variety of water tank level sensors is with a desktop Wi-Fi starter kit. The desk mount LCD keypad receives information from the water tank sensor and relays it to the screen.
This powerful wireless technology can have a range of up to 10km.
What would a modern Wi-Fi detection system be complete without downloading a handy app for both IOS and Android devices? The app allows you to connect to your tank level sensor system and access information from anywhere in the world. You can keep an eye on your water tank levels, control your water tank’s pump from the app and even receive up-to-date weather forecasts for your area. The app is the ultimate accessory that brings the entire system together globally.
Another accessory you might want to consider so that you can control your water pump remotely is a wireless water pump controller that attaches to the outside of your water tank. This way, you will have complete control of your water pump from anywhere and at any time.
Of course, water tank level sensor systems are a little more basic, but it doesn’t cost that much to purchase and install a wireless system that’s easy to operate and gives you more options. It just depends on your budget, your demands, and what type of setup is right for you.
In Conclusion
Having a water tank is a fantastic idea, but you need some form of water tank level sensor to complete the system. One of your best options is to opt for a sensor that is modern in design and transmits information via a handy Wi-Fi setup.
