Water Sensor

[nov0798]

I would like to use some type of moisture meter that will wrap around a pvc pipe. Recently I had a vent that goes through my roof leaking when it rained really hard. Since then I have had the vent cap or whatever replaced, and all should be good now, however, I now need to redo some drywall on my ceiling that got wet. I would like to be able to monitor this in the future. Does anyone have any ideas on ehat could be wrapped around a pipe that would detect water dripping over it in a 360 degree sensor???

Thanks

 

[mustangcoupe]

I would like to use some type of moisture meter that will wrap around a pvc pipe. Recently I had a vent that goes through my roof leaking when it rained really hard. Since then I have had the vent cap or whatever replaced, and all should be good now, however, I now need to redo some drywall on my ceiling that got wet. I would like to be able to monitor this in the future. Does anyone have any ideas on ehat could be wrapped around a pipe that would detect water dripping over it in a 360 degree sensor???

Thanks

not sure of one commercially available, but maybe running a set of parallel wires, small gauge so as it will not be a current carrying, and strip the two wires to create a place for them to short out of it gets wet, keep them separate and isolated from the pipe if it is metal so it dosn't give a false trigger. You could connect this into a sensor module or hai or elk system and tell if the zone got violated...

 

[dtreyes]

What I did was wrap 2 copper wires around the pvc pipe separated by 2 sheets of "dry" paper towel so they won"t get in contact and finally wrap them around with sponge (2 pieces to completely wrap them around) so water would be absorbed by the sponge, soak the paper towel wet and circuit would be complete. So once the circuit is complete, I would be alerted by my ELK M1G

 

[nov0798]

you got a picture of this?

 

[dtreyes]

It is in the far end of my attic, but let me see what I can do.

 

[dtreyes]

Attached is a cut-out pic. Wrap around the first layer of copper wire then the paper towel to act as insulator and then the second layer of copper and finally the sponge to trap those water that would flow through the pipe. You can use a piece of cloth instead of paper towel.

 

[beelzerob]

Very interesting. I had often wondered just how easily a water sensor could be made. I like this idea mainly because it's reusable too, once it dries.

 

[PHJ424]

Did you test the sensor?

I made a water level sensor for an 8088 micro class I had to do a small system.

I used a pair of 22 gauge wires stripped in a plastic jug seperated about 1/2 inch. One set was high for high level the other set was low in the bucket for low level.

Worked great with regular tap water.

For my pump I used a 12V automotive washer fluid pump I had laying around the garage.

 

[beelzerob]

Do you have to worry about corrosion with that? The thing I like about the wrapping around the pipe is all the extra length for making sure a contact gets made.

 

[dtreyes]

The 2 ends are attached to my ELK digital input and works great. It already saved me once when I had another leak. Another option would be to use 3 water leaf sensor. This is how I am going to do it, wrap around the PVC with sponges and then place the 3 leaf sensor in triangle to make sure it covers the entire circumference and then wrap it again with sponges around. Just connect the leaf sensor in series.

 

[PaulD]

Can you surround the pipe with something that would channel all water to one point and then put a water sensor at the collection point. Other option would be to channel the water to a drain pipe and forget about monitoring it.

 

[Rupp]

The 2 ends are attached to my ELK digital input and works great. It already saved me once when I had another leak. Another option would be to use 3 water leaf sensor. This is how I am going to do it, wrap around the PVC with sponges and then place the 3 leaf sensor in triangle to make sure it covers the entire circumference and then wrap it again with sponges around. Just connect the leaf sensor in series.

Wouldn't the sponge soak up enough water to "flow" to one leaf weatness sensor?

 

[mustangcoupe]

......Other option would be to channel the water to a drain pipe and forget about monitoring it.

I don't think I'd want to just drain it and forget it... I'd want to know I have a leak.

 

[Rupp]

The "best" solution in this case is to abandon the old rubber based pipe flanges and have the good old fashion lead pipe flanges put in. I just had my roof replaced and they used the lead pipe covers for 2 reasons. They have a lifetime warranty and the squirrels will not eat my PVC pipes off at the roof line any more.

 

[briankelly63]

I would like to use some type of moisture meter that will wrap around a pvc pipe. Recently I had a vent that goes through my roof leaking when it rained really hard. Since then I have had the vent cap or whatever replaced, and all should be good now, however, I now need to redo some drywall on my ceiling that got wet. I would like to be able to monitor this in the future. Does anyone have any ideas on ehat could be wrapped around a pipe that would detect water dripping over it in a 360 degree sensor???

Thanks

not sure of one commercially available, but maybe running a set of parallel wires, small gauge so as it will not be a current carrying, and strip the two wires to create a place for them to short out of it gets wet, keep them separate and isolated from the pipe if it is metal so it dosn't give a false trigger. You could connect this into a sensor module or hai or elk system and tell if the zone got violated...

There are a variety of Liquid Detection Sensors at this site.... I use a few with the M1 system...

http://www.grisk.com/security_products.htm
http://www.grisk.com/specialty/2624-water-sensor.htm