Electronically Controlled Shower System

Mitchel Leeds, Electrical Engineering

Project Advisor: Dr. Marc Mitchell

April 26, 2017

Evansville, Indiana
 Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Dr. Marc Mitchell for advice on creating the demo for this project.

I would like to thank Naser Alangery for advice on programming the valves.
 Table of Contents

I. Introduction

II. Problem Definition

III. Project Design

A. Design

B. Costs

IV. Results

V. Conclusion

VI. References

VII. Appendix A

List of Figures

Figure 1: Picture of Final Product

Figure 2: Hardware Design for Project

Figure 3: Circuit Diagram for Project

Figure 4: Half inch 3-Way T Port Brass Motorized Ball Valve

Figure 5: DS18B20 Temperature Sensor

Figure 6: YF-S201 Water Flow Sensor

Figure 7: AT89C52 Microcontroller

List of Tables

Table 1: Detailed Costs of Project

I. Introduction

After having lived in houses with both reliable and not so reliable showers, a solution is

needed in order to fix the problems that some showers have. The solution is an electronically

controlled shower system that can automatically control temperature for the user and several

options for flow rate are included for water conservation. The need comes from the common

person being able to have a more relaxing way to finish the day, as showers are meant to be

relaxing in the first place. There are also those out there who can’t afford a lot of running water

due to low incomes and high bills. The intention is to deliver a project that can make the

temperature selecting process less meticulous in order for the showering experience to be more

enjoyable. Also, the intention is for the project to have options for different rates of water flow

so that those who may need to save a little extra money now have the means to do so.

II. Problem Definition

From an engineer’s perspective, the problem is that everybody has to spend several

minutes to get their shower to operate at the exact temperature that they think is relaxing. In the

process of finding the right temperature, everybody uses up water because they don’t know what

temperature they want the water to be without conducting a trial and error session. This problem

is important to solve because not only would it allow for others to immediately find the

temperature that is right for them, but will also cut back on their water bills since they won’t

have to let water run for several minutes each time they take a shower.

The client requirements are as follows:

• Automated temperature control

• Automated flow control

 • Shower head

• Unit for holding everything

• LCD screen for easy display of data

III. Project Design

A. Design

A picture of the final design is shown in Figure 1. Two valves are inserted into the pipes

leading toward the shower head. The valves are connected to the microprocessor and powered

using a separate battery voltage supply. The microprocessor itself is inside of a container unit.

This unit is attached on the wall much like a thermostat is in a standard home. The LCD screen is

at the top of the container, flashing its various messages when the time comes. The front of the

unit has several buttons. These buttons are wired into the microprocessor and allow the user to

control the water temperature, control the water pressure, and allow for saving certain settings

that can be recalled if needed later. All of the client’s requirements of temperature control and

pressure control are met using this design. A block diagram of the hardware design is shown in

Figure 2.

Figure 1: Picture of Final Product

 Figure 2: Hardware Design for Project

The circuit diagram is shown in Figure 3. The bulk of the circuit work is done through the

H-bridge. The H-bridge takes the values from the port pins of the microprocessor and outputs

them to the pins that the valves are connected to. Both of the logic pins are hooked to power in

order to enable the input/output values for each side. The sending of these values from port pins

to valve pins allow the valves to open and close as necessary. All of the buttons and sensors are

connected to power and ground with appropriate resistances.

Figure 3: Circuit Diagram for Project

 The software design is as follows. The program has a while loop that continuously runs

with several if statements inside of it. These if statements are conditional depending on which

button the user pushes. The program has target values for both temperature and water flow. By

pushing one of the buttons, the program increments or decrements the target values. The

microprocessor then moves the valves to change based on which target was changed. If the user

pushes one of the buttons relating to temperature, the program slightly closes one valve and

slightly opens the other depending on whether the user wants the water to be hotter or colder.

Both valves must change positions in order to preserve the flow rate. If the user pushes one of

the buttons relating to flow rate, the program opens or closes both valves at the same proportion

in order to keep the temperature constant and just change the amount of water coming through.

The full code for this project can be seen in Appendix A.

A standard valve cannot be used for this project because it has only two configurations:

open or close. The valve will remain open if the water flow is running normally. The valve can

be closed if there is a problem with the plumbing system so that the water won’t damage the

surrounding area. Therefore, an electronically controlled thermostatic valve fits this project the

best because it allows for both temperature control and flow rate control through very precise

movements. The valve that has been chosen for this project is a 5V brass motorized ball valve,

which can be seen in Figure 4 [1].

 Figure 4: Half inch 3-Way T Port Brass Motorized Ball Valve [1]

This motorized electrical valve allows full 90 degree rotation from a starting point, which can

allow the water flowing through the pipes to either be all the way open or all the way closed.

When placed in the pipe that transfers hot water and another on the cold water pipe, this allows

for any water temperature to be possible so long as the house is capable of providing the

temperature in the first place. A set of these valves also allows for flow rate control. If the user

wishes to turn the flow rate up, the valves both open the same amount, allowing more water to

flow out of the shower head while preserving the temperature the user had previously selected.

In order for the system to know what temperature and flow rate the shower is operating

at, two sensors are used. The temperature sensor used is a DS18B20 waterproof temperature

sensor, which can be seen in Figure 5 [2]. This sensor operates between 3-5.5V and is

completely waterproof. It is able to measure any reading from -131 to 257 degrees Fahrenheit

with an accuracy to about 0.2 degrees. Since the optimal showering temperature is 112 degrees

[3], the sensor can easily measure any realistic showering temperature. It also has one wire

interface to make the circuit easy. The sensor is placed further away from the rest of the circuit
into the area right before the shower head. This placement is necessary due to the fact that

showers get one pipe for hot water and one for cold water. If the temperature sensor is put where

the two pipes converge, an inaccurate reading occurs because the water hasn’t mixed yet. This

would result in the sensor reading very hot water or very cold temperatures. By putting it near

the shower head, the water has plenty of time to mix into its final temperature and an accurate

reading is recorded. The flow rate sensor selected for this project is the YF-S201 water flow

sensor, which can be seen in Figure 6 [4]. This sensor can measure flow rate between 1-30 liters

per minute. Since the average American uses about 8 liters per minute while showering [5], this

sensor is more than capable of accurately measuring the flow rate. It can also work in the range

of -77 to 176 degrees Fahrenheit with an accuracy of plus or minus ten percent. It is capable of

reacting to changes in flow rate in microseconds, so depending on how much it is checked, the

sensor quickly informs the user of the new pressure setting. This sensor is part of the piping itself

in order for the wheel in the sensor to turn and report data. It has been placed right after the two

pipes converge because all of the water will be flowing in one pipe at that point.

Figure 5: DS18B20 Temperature Sensor [2]

 Figure 6: YF-S201 Water Flow Sensor [4]

The final piece of this project is a microprocessor board that allows for the execution of

the project. The microprocessor board selected for this project is the AT89C52 microcontroller,

which can be seen in Figure 7 [6]. This microcontroller was selected due to having extensive

previous experience with it. The language for the microcontroller is also easy to understand

when compared to others. This has allowed for quick and efficient programming. However, the

settings can’t be saved in the event that power is lost to the system, requiring a reentry of the

settings.

Figure 7: AT89C52 Microcontroller [6]

 Some constraints are as follows. The economic restraints are mostly centered on how

much the shower valves cost. Depending on the needed quality, the shower valve could be semi-

expensive. The other materials, such as a microprocessor board, LCD screen, and buttons, are

not very expensive. The main health and safety restraint is making sure that the valve is able to

adjust the pressure and temperature correctly. If it fails at adjusting the temperature, the user

could get doused in scalding hot water and get burned. If the valve fails when it comes to

pressure, the user could get hit with water that has similar pressure to a firefighting hose, which

could come out with such force that can strip the bark off trees. The sustainability restraint

should be as standard as any other shower valve. When dealing with water, the valves used are

very sufficient and as such, could be sustained for a while.

The biggest concern with this project is how to minimize the risk of electrocution

considering electricity and water don’t mix. The proportional motorized electrical valves have

the valve and electrical section separated off from each other. Additionally, the wires running out

of the valve are insulated to prevent dripping water from shorting them out. The temperature

sensor is waterproof, eliminating the possibility of shortages there. The water flow sensor also

has the wires running separately from the water. In this case, the wires are connected to a wheel

that will spin from the water flow. The sections of the wires right next to the wheel and in the

connections are insulated to prevent shortages. Finally, the container that holds the circuit is 3D

printed and super glued together so that the steam from the shower will not cause any buildup of

moisture inside the box. To make sure the waterproofing was done successfully, I looked at the

standard set by the IEEE AdHoc meeting [7]. They talked about the construction of a connector

for a waterproof-protected multi-connector configuration. Since my project has several

connections from the circuit to the valves and sensors, this provided me valuable insight as to

how to waterproof the project effectively.

The testing for the parts was done at the beginning of the building process. In order to

accurately test the valves and sensors, a system resembling a shower had to be constructed.

Thanks to Dr. Marc Mitchell, the parts necessary for a system resembling a shower were

procured. For testing purposes, all that was needed was a supply of water and piping. Both the

sensors and the valves were integrated into the pipe. The programming of the valves came next.

Once the valve programming was finished, the box housing the circuit was made to resemble a

finished product.

In order to demo the project, a setup had been made. The project was attached underneath

the sink in the optics lab. Each valve was placed on the hot and cold faucets while the sensors

were placed accordingly. While not exactly a shower, this setup proved that the project can

adjust temperature and flow rate for a running water supply while still having the features as

listed before.

B. Costs

Table 1: Detailed Costs of Project

Name of Part Individual Quantity Total Cost

Cost Needed

DS18B20 Temperature $13.05 1 $13.05

Sensor
 YF-S201 Water Flow $7.57 1 $7.57

Sensor

8051 Microprocessor $10 1 $10

Brass Motorized Valve $24.99 2 $49.98

Total: $70.60

The cost of the project is described in Table 1. Each of the brass motorized valves cost

$24.99, so two of them were $49.98. The waterproof temperature sensor costs $13.05, while the

water flow sensor costs $7.57. Since the AT89C52 microcontroller is already built, its cost is

neglected. Altogether, the project costs $70.60. Compared to the proposal, the project cost less

because cheaper valves were found than what was previously envisioned.

IV. Results

Through working on this project, electronically controlled shower valves have been

integrated into a shower head. These valves are connected to a microprocessor, power, and

ground. The microprocessor is connected to several buttons that allow the user to change the

various settings available. The entire circuit fits into a small unit that is mounted on the wall like

a thermostat. This unit allows control over water temperature and water pressure.

V. Conclusions and Recommendations

In conclusion, this electronically controlled shower system allows users to enjoy a more

relaxing shower without worrying about getting the temperature just right. In houses with several

people living in them, being able to instantly get the shower to how you like it is a way to

alleviate even the smallest bit of stress from their day. Finally, for those who are looking to save
a little bit of money, this system allows them to pay as little money as possible for water so that

they can budget more of it for other important expenses. For possible future work on this system,

it is recommended that a water powered generator also be created. This way, the system would

not have to have its batteries changed and reduce the possibility of it shorting out. It is

recommended that multiple user memory be implemented that uses non-volatile memory so that

settings are saved even if power is lost to the system. Also, it is recommended that letters be built

into the system’s user interface so that each person can enter their own name as opposed to being

assigned a number when having their settings saved.

 References

[1] Hydraulics & Pneumatics. (2009, June 8). Proportional Control Valves. [Online].

Available: http://hydraulicspneumatics.com/other-technologies/book-2-chapter-14-proportional-

control-valves

[2] Engineering 360. Temperature Sensors Information. [Online].

Available: http://www.globalspec.com/learnmore/sensors_transducers_detectors/temperature_se

nsing/temperature_sensors

[3] H. Mitchell. (2016, January 4). Burning Question: What Is the Best Water Temperature for

Your Bath or Shower? [Online]. Available: http://www.wsj.com/articles/burning-question-what-

is-the-best-water-temperature-for-your-bath-or-shower-1451931152

[4] Omega. Flow Meters. [Online]. Available: http://www.omega.com/prodinfo/flowmeters.html

[5] Home Water Works. Showers. [Online]. Available: http://www.home-water-

works.org/indoor-use/showers

[6] Circuits Today. 8051 Microcontroller. [Online].

Available: http://www.circuitstoday.com/8051-microcontroller

[7] Minutes IEEE 802.3cg AdHoc Meeting. (2017, February 22). IEEE Standards Association.

[Online]. Available:

http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/3/cg/public/adhoc/8023cg_adhoc_minutes_00a_2017_02_17.

pdf
 Appendix A

This appendix includes the code used to program the project.

//

#include <at89c51cc03.h>

#include <stdio.h>

//

void Delay(int x);//Declare subprogram Delay as int

void Transmit(char byte);

void reset(void);

void GetTemp(void);

void receive(void);

void display(void);

void openall(void);

void closeall(void);

void openright(void);

void openleft(void);

void closeright(void);

void closeleft(void);

unsigned int calculate();

unsigned int calculateFlow();

unsigned int cal;

unsigned int flowrate;

unsigned char a;

unsigned int rdata;

unsigned int overflow;

unsigned int overflowF;

unsigned int period;

unsigned char Array[20];

char upflag;

char downflag;

char upflow;

char downflow;

//

void Main()
{

// int i;

int target = 73;

int targetflow = 20;

P1_6 = 1;

CR = 0;

IEN0 |= 0xC0;

CMOD = 0x01;

CCAPM3 = 0x48;

IEN0 |= 0x01;

IT0 = 1;

IEN0 |= 0x02;

TMOD = 0x01;

CKCON = 0x01;

SCON = 0x40;

RCLK = 1;

TCLK = 1;

RCAP2H = 0xFE;

RCAP2L = 0x91;

TR2 = 1;

REN = 0;

RI = 0;

//Set PCA into compare

CCAP3L = 2820 % 256;

CCAP3H = 2820 / 256;

P1_6 = 0;

while (1)

GetTemp();

calculate();

cal = calculate();

calculateFlow();

flowrate = calculateFlow();

sprintf(Array, "/ Temp = %d ", cal);

display();

sprintf(Array, "Flow = %d.%d ", flowrate/100, flowrate%100);

display();

if (P3_7 == 0 && upflag)

target++;

upflag = 0;

else

upflag = 1;

if (P3_6 == 0 && downflag)

target--;

downflag = 0;

else

downflag = 1;

if (P3_5 == 0 && upflow)

targetflow++;

upflow = 0;

else

upflow = 1;

if (P3_4 == 0 && downflow)

{
 targetflow--;

downflow = 0;

else

downflow = 1;

if(cal < target)

if(flowrate/100 > targetflow)

closeright();

else if(flowrate/100 < targetflow)

openleft();

else

closeright();

openleft();

else if(cal > target)

if(flowrate/100 > targetflow)

openright();

else if(flowrate/100 < targetflow)

closeleft();

}
 else

openright();

closeleft();

else if(cal = target)

if(flowrate/100 > targetflow)

closeall();

else if(flowrate/100 < targetflow)

openall();

void Int(void) interrupt 6 using 1

if(CF)

overflow++;

CF = 0;

void Freq(void) interrupt 0 using 1

TR0 = 0;

period = ((TH0 << 8) + TL0) + (overflowF << 16);

TH0 = 0;
 TL0 = 0;

overflowF = 0;

TR0 = 1;

void Timer(void) interrupt 1 using 1

overflowF++;

void Transmit(char byte)

int l;

for( l=0; l<8; l++)

P1_6 = 1;;

CCAP3L = 5%256;

CCAP3H = 5/256;

CL = 0;

CH = 0;

CR = 1;

while(CCF3==0);

CR = 0;

CCF3 = 0;

P1_6 = 0;

CCAP3L = 5%256;

CCAP3H = 5/256;

CL = 0;

CH = 0;

CR = 1;

while(CCF3==0);

CR = 0;

CCF3 = 0;

P1_6 = (byte >> l) % 2;

CCAP3L = 282%256;

CCAP3H = 282/256;
 CL = 0;

CH = 0;

CR = 1;

while(CCF3==0);

CR = 0;

CCF3 = 0;

P1_6 = 1;

void reset(void)

P1_6 = 1;

P1_6 = 0;

CCAP3L = 2820 % 256;

CCAP3H = 2820 / 256;

CL = 0;

CH = 0;

CR = 1;

while(CCF3==0);

CR = 0;

CCF3 = 0;

P1_6 = 1;

CCAP3L = 2256 % 256;

CCAP3H = 2256 / 256;

CL = 0;

CH = 0;

CR = 1;

while(CCF3==0);

CR = 0;

CCF3 = 0;

void GetTemp(void)

reset();
 Transmit(0xCC);

Transmit(0x44);

P1_6 = 1;

CL = 0;

CH = 0;

overflow = 0;

CR = 1;

while(overflow<58);

CR = 0;

CCF3 = 0;

reset();

Transmit(0xCC);

Transmit(0xBE);

receive();

reset();

void receive(void)

unsigned int bits = 12;

unsigned int m = 0;

unsigned int integer;

rdata = 0;

for(m=0;m<bits;m++)

P1_6 = 0;

CCAP3L = 5 % 256;

CCAP3H = 5 / 256;

CL = 0;

CH = 0;

CR = 1;

while(CCF3==0);

CR = 0;

CCF3 = 0;

P1_6 = 1;

CCAP3L = 47 % 256;
 CCAP3H = 47 / 256;

CL = 0;

CH = 0;

CR = 1;

while(CCF3==0);

CR = 0;

CCF3 = 0;

integer = P1_6;

rdata |= (integer << m);

CCAP3L = 259 % 256;

CCAP3H = 259 / 256;

CL = 0;

CH = 0;

CR = 1;

while(CCF3==0);

CR = 0;

CCF3 = 0;

unsigned int calculate()

unsigned int deg;

deg = ((rdata) / 16) * 9/5 + 32;

return deg;

unsigned int calculateFlow()

unsigned int flow;

flow = (470000000 / (7.5 * period));

return flow;

void display(void)

unsigned char a;
// CKCON = 0x01;

// SCON = 0x40;

// RCLK = 1;

// TCLK = 1;

// RCAP2H = 0xFF;

// RCAP2L = 0xA4;

// TR2 = 1;

// REN = 0;

// RI = 0;

a = 0;

while(Array[a] != 0)

TI = 0;

SBUF = Array[a];

a++;

while(TI==0);

void Delay(unsigned char x)

{int y;

unsigned char l;

for(l = 0;l<x;l++)

for(y=0;y<1000;y++);

return;

void openall(void)

P1_2 /*2*/ = 0;

P1_3 /*7*/= 1;

P1_4 /*15*/= 0;

P1_5 /*10*/= 1;

//Delay(50000000);

}
void closeall(void)

P1_2 /*2*/ = 1;

P1_3 /*7*/= 0;

P1_4 /*15*/= 1;

P1_5 /*10*/= 0;

//Delay(50000000);

void openright(void)

P1_2 /*2*/ = 0;

P1_3 /*7*/= 1;

Delay(50000000);

P1_2 = 1;

void openleft(void)

P1_4 /*15*/= 0;

P1_5 /*10*/= 1;

Delay(50000000);

P1_4 = 1;

void closeright(void)

P1_2 /*2*/ = 1;

P1_3 /*7*/= 0;

Delay(50000000);

P1_2 = 0;

void closeleft(void)

P1_4 /*15*/= 1;
 P1_5 /*10*/= 0;

Delay(50000000);

P1_4 = 0;