CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

The water level alarm is a simple system that can detect and indicate when the level of water in

overhead tanks or any vessel unto which it is mounted is at its maximum.

Nowadays, householders/owners store water in overhead tanks using water pumps. When the

water is being pumped into the tank, it is usually difficult to monitor and track when the water is

at its maximum level, i.e. when the tank is filled up, especially when the tank is situated at

locations where it cannot be seen directly. This causes an overflow of water in the tank, thus

there is wastage of energy and water.

To resolve this problem, the water level alarm is used. It helps to indicate when the water tank is

filled up by giving alarm when it happens, such that the householders, having heard the alarm,

may switch off the water pump circuit. This consequently eliminates wastage of water and

pumping energy.

The cost of the water level alarm system is low and it is useful for overhead water tanks,

swimming pools, etc. The water level alarm system may be used in the factories, chemical

plants, and electrical sub-stations and also in other liquid storage applications. It is principally

used for preventing overflow in liquid storage systems.

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 CHAPTER TWO

METHODOLOGY

AIM: To develop a system that gives alarm when a tank or fluid vessel is filled up.

APPARATUS: 3 plastic bottle caps, a small connecting rod, small buzzer, 9-V battery, battery

connector, connecting wires, glue, stopper, water tank, cardboard, floater.

PROCEDURE:

1. The head of one of the bottle caps was cut and coils of wire was wound around a hole

made at its centre;

2. The wire-wound head was used to cover another bottle cap using glue;

3. A circular hole was made symmetrically through the covered bottle cap above to

make it a hollow object;

4. A similar hole was made on the third and final bottle cap and coils of wire was wound

at its opposite sides;

5. The connecting rod was put into the holes made on the hollow object and the third

bottle cap, with the third bottle cap glued at one end and a stopper glued at the other

end of the connecting rod, and the hollow material in-between;

6. The floater was cut and inserted at the base of the hollow object, centred on the

connecting rod also;

7. The buzzer was soldered to the connecting wires mounted on a cardboard platform;

8. The battery with its connector fixed on its cap was mounted to the cardboard

platform;

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9. The connecting wire from the fixed bottle cap at one end of the connecting rod was

linked to the battery connector;

10. Using a network of glued cardboards, the connecting rod and other components on it

were glued onto the water tank, with the fixed cap end at the open end of the tank and

the other end inside the tank;

11. The assembly was tested to ensure proper functioning of the parts, and necessary

adjustments were made to ensure performance compliance.

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 CHAPTER THREE

WORKING PRINCIPLE

The water level alarm is an open-loop system. It consists essentially of an open circuit of

buzzer and 9-V battery, with the buzzer acting as the load and the 9-V battery as power

source.

As the water tank is filled with water or any appropriate liquid, the floater rises as the water

level increases. When the water level reaches its maximum point, indicated by the location of

the fixed end of the connecting rod, the water level alarm circuit closes due to the contact

between the moving part of the system connected to the floater and the fixed part at the upper

end of the connecting rod. This causes current to flow into the initially inert buzzer.

Consequently, the buzzer gives a buzz which indicates that the tank is filled up. The floater

moves up with the water level while the connecting rod keeps it in axial alignment with the

upper terminal so as to close the circuit when they make contact.

Fig1. Circuit diagram of a water level indicator alarm

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Fig. 2: Water level alarm system

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 CHAPTER FOUR

CONCLUSION

With this system, one can know easily when the water tank is fully filled. Furthermore, this

system is easy to build and maintain. It is also of low cost as its components are readily

available.

LIMITATION: Even when the water has being filled up, the buzzer continues to buzz, since the

contact remains (it is a step input). It has no capability of stopping the flow of water into the tank

when the tank is already filled up, and thus still needs the attention of a human operator to stop

the flow immediately it gives the alarm.

RECOMMENDATION: A feedback path may be incorporated in order for the system to

automatically stop the flow of water into the tank by switching off the water pump circuit. This

eliminates the need for a human operator.