Water Level Indicator

Water Level Indicator - without any microcontroller

In my area, we have always had warmer and drier summers in recent years - interrupted by heavy rain that could not be absorbed by the soil. A water tank is a good idea in times when there is little rain. As lightproof and cool as possible, the water stays fresh for a long time. I even have my own spring, the water from which trickles very slowly into a cistern under the terrace.

But how full is the tank? I've already built a few level meters with Arduinos, nice things, with divers ultrasound sensors and other stuff. But you always need electronics, electricity, cables, ...

Actually, you only need three things:

Floating body (bottle) - Indicator rod - Guide tube

• small but firm bottle
• wooden lath
• PVC pipe into which the wooden stick fits

• wooden boards
• wooden block
• silicone, wood drill in the diameter of the PVC pipe, paint, screws

There is already a hole in the heavy cover of my cistern. To close it, I use two small boards that are placed at the top and bottom and connected with screws. Holes in the diameter of the guide tube are already pre-drilled in the boards.

A wooden block - also with a hole - is used to stabilise the guide tube. It is also attached to the upper board with screws.

Many things can serve as floats. I decided to use a small solid plastic bottle. The indicator is simply a wooden strip that is inserted into the bottle and secured at the bottom with a little silicone or glue. Two additional small screws on the neck of the bottle hold the wood in the bottle. The neck of the bottle is sealed with silicone.

In my case, I pushed the indicator into the guide tube from below and checked it for mobility. Then I put the heavy cover back on the cistern.

To make it easier to keep an eye on the indicator and avoid tripping over it on the terrace, I give it a red tip with weatherproof paint.

Done!

Now I can see the water level at a glance - without electricity.