Pulse Output for water meter

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crazyjerry
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2011 10:02 pm

Pulse Output for water meter

Post by crazyjerry » Sat Jul 07, 2012 1:06 am

I've done some searching around on the forums. I just can't seem to find out where to figure out my pulse count. I even went on Sensuses website to see if the data sheets would show this, they didn't.

How can I find out what my water meter pulses out at so I can set-up ECM Engine to monitor it?
All's I can see on the water meter itself is that its a Sensus 5/8" SR.

P.S. I plan on changing over the braided wire to some solid, it was just dome speaker wire I had laying around to see if I could get this to work.


Thanks,
Jerry
vitaliy_kh
Posts: 43
Joined: Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:46 am

Re: Pulse Output for water meter

Post by vitaliy_kh » Sat Jul 07, 2012 10:26 am

Hi Jerry,

Usually utility companies do not like if you connect something to their equipment, specifically
meters. So, even if you find out how to use built-in sensor I would not recommend using it
anyway. You may end up into legal troubles. For this reason I am using “PS 989 SN Miniature
Diffuse Sensor” for my Gas Meter and “AFP 989 SN Miniature Diffuse Sensor” for my Water Meter.
I am lucky, my Water Meter has very fast spinning triangular wheel in middle. Sensor for the
Water Meter has fiber optic cables. Output from both sensors are “open collector” and it is very
easy to connect it to ECM-1240, Input-7. Bought these sensors from the same guy on Ebay
around $20 for each one.

- Vitaliy
crazyjerry
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2011 10:02 pm

Re: Pulse Output for water meter

Post by crazyjerry » Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:34 pm

vitaliy_kh wrote:Hi Jerry,

Usually utility companies do not like if you connect something to their equipment, specifically
meters. So, even if you find out how to use built-in sensor I would not recommend using it
anyway. You may end up into legal troubles. For this reason I am using “PS 989 SN Miniature
Diffuse Sensor” for my Gas Meter and “AFP 989 SN Miniature Diffuse Sensor” for my Water Meter.
I am lucky, my Water Meter has very fast spinning triangular wheel in middle. Sensor for the
Water Meter has fiber optic cables. Output from both sensors are “open collector” and it is very
easy to connect it to ECM-1240, Input-7. Bought these sensors from the same guy on Ebay
around $20 for each one.

- Vitaliy
Is this the only option? If I get this how do I find out how many pluses equal 1 Gallon?

Thank you,
Jerry
ptr727
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:26 am

Re: Pulse Output for water meter

Post by ptr727 » Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:30 am

I am also interested in monitoring water and gas consumption.

I am currently building a new house, and I have the option of installing my own flow meters for gas and water, or to use sensors monitoring the utility meters.

Can you please share where you bought the sensors?

Any thoughts on using my own flow meters so the utility company is not upset?

P.
vitaliy_kh
Posts: 43
Joined: Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:46 am

Re: Pulse Output for water meter

Post by vitaliy_kh » Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:19 pm

Hi Everyone,

Of course, there are many different options.
All depend on capabilities of utility meters and yours skils.
In my case the best option was to use diffused opto sensors.
I thought about installing my meters in addition to the utility meters
but finally decided to use optical sensors. It is much chipper and more
elegant. Plus I did not have to cut into water and gas pipes. This is
not very welcome option by many means.
Once again, it is better not to use any outputs from you meter(s)
even if they do exist and your utility company is not using them
(forget about this option instantly if it does).
I bought my sensors on EBAY. Part numbers are in my previous post.

Calibrating sensors is relatively easy.
Fastest spinning needle in my GAS Meter represents 2CUF per one turn.
This resolution is very good – brewing cap of coffee generates 1 or 2 pulses.
For the Water Meter I did not find any ratio so I drained few times couple
of gallons, calculated number of pulses and averaged the results.
The resolution is very good. In theory I can detect even dripping but
unfortunately not with a currently available software.


- Vitaliy
ptr727
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:26 am

Re: Pulse Output for water meter

Post by ptr727 » Thu Jul 12, 2012 8:47 am

My water meter is under the street sidewalk, so not feasible to run any cabling there.

If I were to install my own gas and water flow meters at a convenient place, can you recommend any models?

P.
kevini
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri May 11, 2012 12:22 pm

Re: Pulse Output for water meter

Post by kevini » Fri Jul 13, 2012 9:00 pm

Hi Vitaliy

Could you post pictures of how you attached the sensors? I have a AMCO meter and am looking at doing the same thing.

Does the AFP 989 SN have no issue picking up the spinning triangle?

Do you pick up the one edge?
vitaliy_kh
Posts: 43
Joined: Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:46 am

Re: Pulse Output for water meter

Post by vitaliy_kh » Sat Jul 14, 2012 1:14 pm

Hi,

Photos of Water and Gas Sensors are attached.
Both sensors are “diffused photo reflective sensors”.
Water Sensor has fiber optic cables. This way light spot
is very small and detecting fast spinning triangle is not
a big deal. But sensor location is very critical. My sensor
is mounted on a piece of clear plastic. Entire assembly
attached to the meter with “glue stick”. “Glue stick” is
strong enough to hold sensor in place but from the other
side it was easy to move sensor around and find a very
nice detection spot.

Well, as far as meters with pulse output, I am sorry but
I cannot recommend anything. I did my research
couple years ago but did not find anything reasonably
priced with relatively high resolution. High resolution
meter are very expensive (over $500). Meters around
$100 also are not cheap but resolution was very low.
I am very happy with my optical sensors.

- Vitaliy
Attachments
Gas Meter Sensor
Gas Meter Sensor
100_2096.JPG (3.8 MiB) Viewed 29507 times
Water Meter Sensor
Water Meter Sensor
100_2329.JPG (3.89 MiB) Viewed 29507 times
kevini
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri May 11, 2012 12:22 pm

Re: Pulse Output for water meter

Post by kevini » Sat Jul 14, 2012 3:54 pm

Thanks very much, I have exactly the same water meter so I will definitely get the same sensor!
vitaliy_kh
Posts: 43
Joined: Tue Sep 28, 2010 8:46 am

Re: Pulse Output for water meter

Post by vitaliy_kh » Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:11 pm

Hi,

Don’t forget to order fiber cables.
They are not coming with sensor.
There are few different fiber cable assemblies.
The difference is – diameter of the sensor side.
I forgot which one did I order but I am sure it
was smallest diameter. Smallest diameter gives
you less sensitivity but it will be much easier to
position sensor and to catch every peak of the
triangle.

- Vitaliy
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