LowPowerLab Forum

Hardware support => Projects => Topic started by: ssmall on December 16, 2017, 10:13:02 PM

Title: Water Heater Leak. Moteino to the Rescue
Post by: ssmall on December 16, 2017, 10:13:02 PM
Around the beginning of November I was at work when I received a text from my Moteino Gateway that it had detected a water heater leak.  I thought it might be a false alarm.  When I called home my son said water was spraying from the top of the water heater.  I was able to talk him through how to turn off the water to the heater while I was driving home.  Thankfully we were able to clean up the water before it could do much damage.  I have had this project running for a couple of years and this wound up paying off.
Title: Re: Water Heater Leak. Moteino to the Rescue
Post by: syrinxtech on December 17, 2017, 10:40:10 AM
Great job!

I have a similar unit that sits in the plastic tub under the water heater.  In addition to a text I sound a buzzer in case someone is inside the house at the time that doesn't get the text.
Title: Re: Water Heater Leak. Moteino to the Rescue
Post by: HeneryH on December 17, 2017, 11:23:31 AM
I don't see any moteinos in that design.  Is there one in that black case?
Title: Re: Water Heater Leak. Moteino to the Rescue
Post by: ssmall on December 17, 2017, 12:04:34 PM
Thanks  syrinxtech!

I have a 12v buzzer that goes off when water is detected at the water heater and my sump pit.  I've never had water in the sump pit since I lived in this house so I thought is would be a good idea to be alerted if there was water in the pit.  After a big rain storm a couple of years ago I decided to install a sump pump and plumbing because I realized I wouldn't have the time to hook all that up before it overflowed  :-[.  The washer and dryer are located on the floor right above where the moteino is located.  I would like to place another rope sensor there in case of a leak.

HeneryH:  You are correct, there is a moteino inside the black box.
Title: Re: Water Heater Leak. Moteino to the Rescue
Post by: Felix on December 18, 2017, 11:45:45 AM
Nice to see the Moteino work for so long and save you some grief, thanks for sharing!
Any chance for more details about your setup, sensor, perhaps code or whatever else might inspire others?
Title: Re: Water Heater Leak. Moteino to the Rescue
Post by: ssmall on December 19, 2017, 01:49:24 PM
I am using this sensor in my sump pit: https://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-Water-Level-Sensor-Depth-of-Detection-Water-Sensor-for-Arduino/381374758015?hash=item58cbb4fc7f:g:V80AAMXQyY1TV-CR (https://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-Water-Level-Sensor-Depth-of-Detection-Water-Sensor-for-Arduino/381374758015?hash=item58cbb4fc7f:g:V80AAMXQyY1TV-CR)
Plenty of code out there on how to use these.

I am using this sensor around the water heater: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NIB-DORLEN-PRODUCTS-SC-12-WATER-ALERT-SENSOR-CABLE-SC12/191839984248?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/NIB-DORLEN-PRODUCTS-SC-12-WATER-ALERT-SENSOR-CABLE-SC12/191839984248?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649)
This sensor detects water by resistance.  The resistance goes down as more water saturates it.  I use a simple voltage divider to detect the presence water.

The buzzer is 12volts so I had to use a MOSFET to turn it on when water is detected.
Title: Re: Water Heater Leak. Moteino to the Rescue
Post by: Felix on December 19, 2017, 01:52:16 PM
Excellent, thanks again!