How To Measure Water Depth In Tank?

[Metal Head]

Hi,

We have a 2000 ltrs "Downpour" water tank outside the house. The only problem is there is no water level gauge, so it is hard to know how much water is in the tank. I phoned the company the other day to see if I could put a sight hole (in the top section) with an acrylic cover but they said no as it would invalidate the warranty:(. So I asked what he could suggest something instead - after all I don't think I would have been the first to ask the dumb question:rolleyes: - he suggested getting a foam ball and put a measuring rod in it and have it coming out of the central hole. Not a bad idea I thought but does anyone have a better idea that they wouldn't mind sharing with us?.

Cheers
David

[felixe]

Tap on the side of it, if it rings hollow it's empty, when you hit water it will sound heavier, that's what we used to do when we lived in the country.

[Ashore]

Put a "T" connector between the tank and the tap , connect a clear plastic tube to the "T" and run it up the side of the tank to the top, this should show the level in the tank . A small piece of foam on top of the water in the tube makes seeing it easier.;)

Rgds

[atregent]

I've got a small water tank in the greenhouse that I rigged up an external water level indicator to, because I got sick of having to climb up and take the lid off to have a look inside.

Basically a piece of clear tubing that runs up the side of the tank and connects to the water output pipe. The water level in the clear tube is at the same level as the water in the tank.

[Big Shed]

I use an old toilet cistern float with a string attached which runs over a little wheel mounted on the top of the water tank, with a counter weight on the end of the string. The string is roughly twice as long as the depth of the tank. The counter weight is adjusted so that the float floats on the water and the string is tight. As the water rises the counterweight comes down, the lower the counterweight on the outside, the higher the water level on the inside and vice versa.

Alternatively, you can build an electronic one:

http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_30607/article.html

But that might be overkill for a 2000ltr tank!

Fred

[Stuart]

I like Fred's suggestion.

As to the electronic method - Dick Smith and Jaycar sell kits for stuff like that.

[Barry_White]

A rough quick method is to feel the side of the tank on the sunny side and the part below the water will be cooler than the part above the water. Admittedly this is difficult if it is on a high tank stand.

[TassieKiwi]

Polystyrene or other floaty thing. connect a stick a bit longer than the depth. When full, you can see lots of stick. Farmers use this method, with a bright ball on the end, so they only have to come within sight distance to check remote tanks.

[Metal Head]

Thanks for the replies lads - I was amazed to see so many ideas in such a short time. I suppose it depends on how much money (and time) I want to invest in the method. The suggestion by Fred looks great but I have never done electronics so I would have to buy one and I'll bet they aren't cheap;). Are the kit(s) that Stuart spoke about can only be tackled by those with plenty of experience or do they have instructions to make them that the village idiot (that's me) can follow?.

The guy who set it up for us did fit a T connection (with another tap attached). But as mentioned I could invert that and attach the tubing to it.

At least it gives me food for thought in the coming days.

Thanx once again to those who contributed - much appreciated;).

Regards
David

[ptc]

Ladder and dip stick.

[Ekim]

Some Aussie made products:

http://www.yaktek.com.au/products.html (http://www.yaktek.com.au/products.html)
<O:p
I’ve got the “Level Devil” – works well.

[Grunt]

Same as Barry's idea except you pour a small amount of boiling water down the side and feel for the cool bit.

This works for LPG gas bottles as well.

[Simon3]

Hi All,
I have these fantastic water level gauges :D
They work with a float inside the tank connected to the gauge.
Can measure 0 to 250cms, or change the dial around for 0 to 150cm.

Screw a 1.5" BSP thread into the top of the tank, lower the float in and your away.

RRP approx $50

cheers
simon

http://i3.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/7b/6e/5d1f_1.JPG

[MurrayD99]

There is a float/indicator thing you can get from the tank manufacturers. A long aluminium rod slides inside a tube fixed to the top of the tank. Flag or other bright object on top. Water low, bright object low.... Tank full.... you get the picture. The good thing is you can see it from far away - if that is an issue.... Otherwise - Simon3 has a better idea.... and less cost too

[oldbones]

simple problem - keep the solution simple.....
(usually = reliable too).
i recon some good ideas above.
if you go for the clear tube method then make sure you support it well.
if not the weight of the water will pull the floppy tube down and duh-dong - empty tank.

[watson]

G'day I agree with all the "simple" posters. I have electronic probes in three important tanks but things bugger them up. Bird feathers/dead birds/ possum bits/ corrosion of the probes/ Powercor gone to sleep...etc.
The "T" connector, with a supported clear tube gives the best non-mechanical indication, especially if the tube support is painted white with black 45&#186; lines painted on.
It makes the maniscus stand out like dogs doovers, and can be seen clearly as the clear tube ages.
Regards,
Noel

[ivanavitch]

Put a hose on the tap and turn it on. Lift the end of the hose up till the water stops flowing. That's the water level.

[ptc]

So Simple.
why didn't i think of that !

[DavidG]

Sit on the porch and take old Betsy.
Shoot a hole in the tank near the top. If water comes out the hole then that is (will be ) the level.
If no water comes out, aim a bit lower.
Repeat until water comes out the hole and that is the level.:rolleyes: :D

[Simon3]

Here a pic of a gauge on a tank.
Beats a bullet hole :eek:

cheers

[RRick]

Hi David,

Have a look at http://www.anadexlabs.com.au . This site specialises in all types of water tank gauges from the basic float based gauges through to wireless level gauges. Price start from about $66.00.

Rick

[Bob38S]

simple problem - keep the solution simple.....
(usually = reliable too).
i recon some good ideas above.
if you go for the clear tube method then make sure you support it well.
if not the weight of the water will pull the floppy tube down and duh-dong - empty tank.

The "tell tale" tubes for our tanks are encased in a length of aluminium channel which is similar to shower screen channel. Our tanks are concrete so we simply drilled a short hole and plastic plugged the channel to the side. We also have a little 90 degree turn tap threaded into the connection at the take off point - this allows us to isolate the tube should it ever be a problem.

Regards,
Bob

[silentC]

Put a hose on the tap and turn it on. Lift the end of the hose up till the water stops flowing. That's the water level.
Umm, my pump has about 20 metres of head, so I'll have to go a long way up the hill to get the water to stop flowing...

My BIL just put a float in his attached to a bit of rope over a pulley with a weight on the other end hanging outside the tank. The higher it is up the tank wall, the lower the water level.

When I get around to it, my plan is to use a bit of clear tube as suggested above. Low tech, nothing to breakdown. Thought I might put a red ping pong ball or a fishing float in it so I can see it. A bit like the level gauge on the side of an electric kettle.

[silentC]

why not use a small tube
I want to be able to see it from a distance. Going to teach the kids to monitor it so that they're concious of the water they're using.


where the hell is 36` 55 whatever ????
That's Merimbula airport. I live a couple of km from it.

[Grunt]

This is the place to avoid (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=merimbula&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=13&ll=-36.938093,149.87772&spn=0.09481,0.237579&om=1).

Actually, Darren is a lucky bugger. The NSW south coast from Eden to Moruya has got to be some of the best coast line in Australia. Love it to bits.

[silentC]

You can see my tank in the Satellite view :wink:

[Grunt]

We're lucky you weren't out back sun baking nude when Google took the pictures.

[rhancock]

My BIL just put a float in his attached to a bit of rope over a pulley with a weight on the other end hanging outside the tank. The higher it is up the tank wall, the lower the water level..

I thought I might use the fishing gear which never leaves the garage - the two biggest floats and two medium sized weights. One float and one weight goes in the tank, on the end of heavy fishing line. The fishing line goes out of the smallest hole I can manage in the top of the tank, out of the garage, up the side of the house to just above the top of the wall on the edge of the deck, where the other float and weight hang, so I can monitor tank water level from my lounge!

Only problems I foresee are the hole becoming blocked, the line snagging somewhere between the tank and the deck and birds sitting on the line / float.

Simple.

[pcal]

Doesn't fit into the "cheap" category, but saw a great solution in my local Stratco the other day.

A little self contained ultrasonic sensor mounts on top of the tank, measures how far down the surface of the water is, and transmits it to the little receiver you plug into a power point back in the house. Just read the water level off the screen!

Needs batteries in the sensor every so often, and around 300 bills to lift it off the shelf, but an elegant solution none the less.

Pcal

[patty]

metal head the best way to detect fluid levels in a tank accurately is to use an ultrasonic level detector I saw one the other day that is actually cordless where you have the ultrasonic mounted on the lid of a tank and you could get up to 2 recievers with aerials that plug into a 3pin GPO (power point) inside the house and you take your readings from them I will try and find out the site for you

[patty]

oh yeah the float switches are really only good to tell you you have run out of water or you are getting close where by you can hook them up to a sounder alarm so you can shut off the pump Unless they have released any new ones on the market I am not aware of these being able to measure!

[Bendog]

Another simple option is to use a Pressure guage.
1 meter of H2O head will give you just under 10 kpa.

Not much chop on shallow domestic tanks though.

[patty]

I did not realise how old this post was 20 Nov 2006 you probably already got something else

[patty]

yeah sorry guys almost forgot to post the web site for the monitoring unit
one site it is not the site i originally saw as there is heaps of different types is www.rainharvesting.com.au/how_it_works.asp (http://www.rainharvesting.com.au/how_it_works.asp) the old saying with these units like everything in todays society you have so many choices and options you are only limited to your imagination as far as getting data from these there is one unit on the market not this particular brand but you can also monitor remotley via sms text messaging or internet

hOPE IT HELPS