WATER LEVEL ALARM The water crisis in Metro Manila and other parts of the country has made

the stockpiling of water in pails a common housework in every home. Its boring work nobody likes to do unless one enjoys watching water fill a bucket. So what most people do is just leave the water faucet on and do other important housework such as watch TV or gossip with next-door neighbors-an easy escape to kill the boredom. Unfortunately, most of the time, theyd forget about the open faucet, and by the time they remember it, about several gallons precious water have already been wasted. The more water wasted, the more serious is the water shortage, and the more is the need for stockpiling water. We have here a simple gadget that can help the user break this vicious cycle. It is not only solution to the water crisis but it can help conserve water. This project can be hanged on the outer rim of any liquid container and can be used to alert the user when the bucket is about to filled to the brim. This Water Level Alarm is a very useful and low cost gadget that you can build in your spare time. When the transistor is on, enough current to turn on the buzzer will flow from battery, to the buzzer and also through its collector-emitter junction. The buzzer emits a high frequency tone similar to the sound produced by whistling kettles. The current drain is only about 12mA when the buzzer is on and practically none when it is off. CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION The circuit of the WATER LEVEL ALARM is composed of only few components. This can be seen in the schematic diagram illustrated. Notice that the buzzer and the transistor used as a switch. The probe or a wire hanged around the rim of the water bucket as illustrated. When the water level reaches the tip of the probe or wire, sufficient current to turn on Q1 flows from the battery, through the 1 K resistor R1, and also through the water. The faucet water, despite much publicity about its high conductivity, presents as high 20 K resistance across the probes or wire. Notice that a 2.2 M resistor and a 0.1 F capacitor are placed across the base-emitter junction of transistor Q1. These components minimize or filter unwanted noise that could accidentally turn on transistor Q1 and the buzzer.

WATER LEVEL ALARM Parts List Semiconductor Q1 9013. NPN 0.625W 25V 0.8A Audio Power (TO-92) Resistor: (all are -Watt 5% tolerancr, carbon film unless specified otherwise.) R1 R2 - 1K - 2.2 M

Capacitor: C1 - 0.1 F ceramic

Miscellaneous: Son alert buzzer B1 9V battery with battery clip

HC811 plastic enclosure Wires PCB

CONSTRUCTION Because of the projects simplicity, the construction process is very straightforward. Simply buy the entire component required. Next make the recommended PCB illustrate or solder the components directly to each. The point is that the components should properly connect. A word of caution: do not take the project lightly just because it is simple. More mistakes are committed by hobbyists because of carelessness than any other reason. This is particularly true when constructing simple circuits such as these projects. Drill the holes needed for the housing. There are only two one for each hook-up wire. The hookup wire should be made from any low resistance metal such as wire. They should be as close to each other as possible to minimize the resistance of the water. The prototype used wire as probes. The ends of the wires were stripped of instruction to increase electrical contact with the water.

Lyceum of the Philippines University Intramuros, Manila

College of Engineering

Marketing Plan: Shark Shield

Marketing Plan: Shark Shield Project: WATER LEVEL ALARM

Submitted By: Jolly Monique B. Dela Pena

Submitted To: Engr. Ryan C. Reyes E-451 March 28, 2011