EcoRenovator - View Single Post - A design chalange, build a smart water heater timer.

Ryland · 05-10-10, 12:45 AM

I've been reading a bit about the Arduino, a micro controller that is mass produced and so far it sounds like it might work for this kind of project! $30 for the micro controller, plus sensor cost... inline sensors are $100-150 it looks like, so the glue on piezo electric sensor on the pipe really does sound like the way to go as it looks like the micro controller might be able to respond to sound input so figuring out the sounds that water in the pipe make would be all that is needed.
It also sounds like some nifty inputs from things like blue tooth and network connections can be added on as well, so remote over ride could happen, or remote monitoring of your hot water tank and water use can happen as well.
From my reading an on demand water heater can cut your hot water bill by 25% (advertised number, 75-85% efficient compared to 95% or so for a tank) but my water heater timer cut our water heating bill by half... sees like it could be more if it kept an eye on what we used.

05-10-10, 12:45 AM	#7
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	I've been reading a bit about the Arduino, a micro controller that is mass produced and so far it sounds like it might work for this kind of project! $30 for the micro controller, plus sensor cost... inline sensors are $100-150 it looks like, so the glue on piezo electric sensor on the pipe really does sound like the way to go as it looks like the micro controller might be able to respond to sound input so figuring out the sounds that water in the pipe make would be all that is needed. It also sounds like some nifty inputs from things like blue tooth and network connections can be added on as well, so remote over ride could happen, or remote monitoring of your hot water tank and water use can happen as well. From my reading an on demand water heater can cut your hot water bill by 25% (advertised number, 75-85% efficient compared to 95% or so for a tank) but my water heater timer cut our water heating bill by half... sees like it could be more if it kept an eye on what we used.