Water Flow Meter suggestions

[jrich523]

Hey guys,

Im looking to get a water flow meter and was wondering what people have used and what worked or didnt work.

It doesnt have to be a simple solution (meaning I'd be willing to get something basic and attach it to a beaglebone/Arduino and write some code)

I'd like to keep it fairly cheap, based on some searches it looks like I can accomplish this for some where around $100, maybe max of $200.

Thoughts?

[Robert]

Try to stick a youless on your water meter. Not the cheapest solution but far out the simplest! Depending if there is something that reflexes during rotation. This is what I did and it works great!


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[jrich523]

hmm thats an interesting product. However it looks like it works based on the electrical meter's spinner (no idea what its actually called) which the Water doesnt have, and actually my power doesnt have that either. We had a similar meter on the house I grew up in, but, that was YEARS ago, i assume we've passed that method of measuring.

[Robert]

I'm lucky to have this meter:



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[jrich523]

yeah mine is an analog dial with a transmitter so they can drive by and pick up the water usage.

https://www.badgermeter.com/products/orion-classic-ce/

I tried to see if i could read this, but it uses FHSS and there is no good way to figure out how it jumps the spectrum. I dont have the tools to really figure it out and even if i did, who knows what format that data is in.. the water company owns all that and they definitely wont be helping me so I think the only option i really have left is to install a water flow meter. Im comfortable with the pipe work so not too worried about that..

the majority I saw were really expensive.. When i looked for a zwave one it was around $400.
then there was this

http://www.atlas-scientific.com/flow-meters.html

but thats $200 and I'd need to slap a beaglebone or something on there with it... ideally i'd like to keep this around $100 if i can.

[Jan Jansen]

Perhaps perhaps this is a solution https://www.domoticz.com/wiki/PiFace

[jrich523]

im not sure how that would help me out. The real problem is getting the reading from the meter. As i linked I found a product, and I can attach that to a beaglebone, since I'll have one in that area anyways, im looking for alternate solutions that are cost effective. Im fairly certain but will need to double check, the water lines are 3/4, which would make that flow meter almost $200. Ideally i'd like to get something a little cheaper.

if im actually 1/2 I can get it for $99, which is fine, guess i should check the pipe size