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Water tank level indicator/meter
mungaits
#1 Posted : Friday, July 20, 2018 10:31:22 AM
Rank: Member

Joined: 9/20/2007
Posts: 252
Good people,

I am looking for a gadget that can indicate the water level in a plastic water tank placed on the roof.

It’s quiet cumbersome (and risky) having to climb to the roof all the time to check.

Asanteni sana

XSK
#2 Posted : Friday, July 20, 2018 11:34:21 AM
Rank: Veteran

Joined: 12/8/2009
Posts: 975
Location: Nairobi
mungaits wrote:
Good people,

I am looking for a gadget that can indicate the water level in a plastic water tank placed on the roof.

It’s quiet cumbersome (and risky) having to climb to the roof all the time to check.

Asanteni sana



Why do you need to know the water level? I presume so that you can switch off the water supply to the tank. If this is the case then you are better off installing a float switch in the tank. It will switch on/off the water pump automatically based on the preset water levels in the tank.
You will know that you have arrived when money and time are not mutually exclusive "events" in you life!
kayhara
#3 Posted : Friday, July 20, 2018 11:54:10 AM
Rank: Veteran

Joined: 5/5/2011
Posts: 1,059
XSK wrote:
mungaits wrote:
Good people,

I am looking for a gadget that can indicate the water level in a plastic water tank placed on the roof.

It’s quiet cumbersome (and risky) having to climb to the roof all the time to check.

Asanteni sana



Why do you need to know the water level? I presume so that you can switch off the water supply to the tank. If this is the case then you are better off installing a float switch in the tank. It will switch on/off the water pump automatically based on the preset water levels in the tank.

If he is harvesting rain water it's very important to know water level or like those concrete tanks which you must leave a certain water level, anyway there those floater level meters used in the square metal tanks, plus today you can get smart level indicators like this smart water level indicator
To Each His Own
mungaits
#4 Posted : Friday, July 20, 2018 11:56:37 AM
Rank: Member

Joined: 9/20/2007
Posts: 252
Hi XSK, I actually get water delivered by a water bowser so the float switch wouldn’t help much.
XSK
#5 Posted : Friday, July 20, 2018 12:32:53 PM
Rank: Veteran

Joined: 12/8/2009
Posts: 975
Location: Nairobi
mungaits wrote:
Hi XSK, I actually get water delivered by a water bowser so the float switch wouldn’t help much.


In this case you better go with Kayhara proposal. Alternatively take a jua kali approach with the float switch, it switches on a Red light to indicated low level and a green one to indicate full tank. My opinion!
You will know that you have arrived when money and time are not mutually exclusive "events" in you life!
Njunge
#6 Posted : Friday, July 20, 2018 12:34:38 PM
Rank: Elder

Joined: 2/7/2007
Posts: 921
You can have a plumber install a sight glass on your tank. He would have to insert a coloured float inside the glass so you may be able to view the level in your tank from afar. The other alternative is a remote level indicator. The problem with this is, they require periodic maintenance/calibration which skill i highly doubt is available in your neighbourhood. Of course as also suggested by XSK, you can have your tank configuration to have a bigger tank at the bottom. A pump to the upper tank can be installed alongside a float switch and this can automatically top up or cut off your loft tank. The bowser would then empty into the lower tank. Sasa mfuko iongee!!smile



An example of a sight glass.

mungaits
#7 Posted : Friday, July 20, 2018 1:02:49 PM
Rank: Member

Joined: 9/20/2007
Posts: 252
Thank you guys for the feedback and input, let me try out the float switch option and see how it works out. Will update all on the outcome.

Cheers
winmak
#8 Posted : Friday, July 20, 2018 1:30:34 PM
Rank: Member

Joined: 12/1/2007
Posts: 539
Location: Nakuru
Njunge wrote:
You can have a plumber install a sight glass on your tank. He would have to insert a coloured float inside the glass so you may be able to view the level in your tank from afar. The other alternative is a remote level indicator. The problem with this is, they require periodic maintenance/calibration which skill i highly doubt is available in your neighbourhood. Of course as also suggested by XSK, you can have your tank configuration to have a bigger tank at the bottom. A pump to the upper tank can be installed alongside a float switch and this can automatically top up or cut off your loft tank. The bowser would then empty into the lower tank. Sasa mfuko iongee!!smile



An example of a sight glass.



I have been looking for this for a longtime. Now are these sight glasses commercialsy available and where?
For investors as a whole, returns decrease as motion increases ~ WB
Njunge
#9 Posted : Friday, July 20, 2018 7:23:13 PM
Rank: Elder

Joined: 2/7/2007
Posts: 921
Yes. You may not get them off-shelf locally but then any plumber can make one easily. All he would need is a pair of Tees, a pair of plugs, convenient length of glass or pyrex tube, a small length of hose pipe and two pairs of hose clips......it's actually a DIY thing!!
Gathige
#10 Posted : Friday, July 20, 2018 7:36:50 PM
Rank: Elder

Joined: 3/29/2011
Posts: 2,242
mungaits wrote:
Good people,

I am looking for a gadget that can indicate the water level in a plastic water tank placed on the roof.

It’s quiet cumbersome (and risky) having to climb to the roof all the time to check.

Asanteni sana



Use this Jua Kali one, thank me later.

1. Get two 1 litre plastic bottles.
2. Have a hole drilled nicely at the top of the tank, on top of the cover.
3. Fill one bottle with water and the othe one let it be empty. The one with water should be water tight.
4. Connect the two bottles with a fishing line kind of string, with the total length slightly a feet less than the height of the tank.
5. Insert the bottle with water inside the tank and the empty one let it be outside
6. When the tank s full, the bottle inside will float and the one outside will be at the base ouside, meaning tank full.
7. The two bottles will see saw as the lowers get low.
8. If you have kids, let the watch and get you a report daily.

There you have your meter at no cost. Try and thank me later.

Caveat: make sure the water bottle with water is air tight so it does not get water from the inside tank to avoid sinking and misleading.




"Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least." Goethe
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