How to Measure Water Level with an Ultrasonic Sensor Using a Single Board Computer

Water level measurement is a critical aspect in many industries, including agriculture, hydrology, and even household applications. Inaccurate water level measurement can lead to inefficient use of water resources, causing long-term economic and environmental implications. Therefore, precise and reliable measurement of water levels is imperative, and that's where Ultrasonic Sensor comes in.

Ultrasonic Sensor is a non-contact distance measurement sensor that uses sound waves to measure distance. It is a popular choice for water level measurement due to its high accuracy, wide range, and immunity to environmental interference. With the use of a Raspberry Pi, connecting an Ultrasonic Sensor for water level measurement is relatively easy and cost-effective.

Here, we will guide you through step by step on how to measure water level using an Ultrasonic sensor and a Raspberry Pi.

Hardware requirements:
- Raspberry Pi board
- Ultrasonic Sensor
- Breadboard and jumper wires
- A power supply for the Raspberry Pi

Step 1: Setting Up the Raspberry Pi
Before proceeding with the connection of the Ultrasonic Sensor, let's make sure that the Raspberry Pi is ready for use. Connect the Raspberry Pi board to a monitor through an HDMI port, download the latest version of Raspbian operating system, and install it on the Raspberry Pi's microSD card. After installing the OS, connect the Raspberry Pi to the internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable.

Step 2: Setting Up the Ultrasonic Sensor
Next, we need to prepare the Ultrasonic Sensor that will be used for water level measurement. Connect the Echo and Trig pins of the Ultrasonic Sensor to the GPIO pins of the Raspberry Pi. The Echo pin should be connected to GPIO pin number 12, and the Trig pin should be connected to GPIO pin number 16.

Step 3: Installing Python Libraries
To write the code for the water level measurement using the Ultrasonic Sensor, we need to install some necessary libraries. Open the terminal on your Raspberry Pi and type the following command to update the Raspberry Pi:

```sudo apt-get update```

Then, install the following libraries one by one:

```sudo apt-get install python-pip```

```sudo pip install rpi.gpio```

Step 4: Writing the Python Code
After installing all the required libraries, we can now write the Python code for the water level measurement using the Ultrasonic Sensor. Open a new file in Python IDE and add the following code:

```python
import RPi.GPIO as GPIO
import time

GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)

TRIG = 16
ECHO = 12

print("Distance measurement in progress")

GPIO.setup(TRIG, GPIO.OUT)
GPIO.setup(ECHO, GPIO.IN)

GPIO.output(TRIG, False)
print("Waiting for sensor to settle")
time.sleep(1)

GPIO.output(TRIG, True)
time.sleep(0.00001)
GPIO.output(TRIG, False)

while GPIO.input(ECHO) == 0:
pulse_start = time.time()

while GPIO.input(ECHO) == 1:
pulse_end = time.time()

pulse_duration = pulse_end - pulse_start

distance = pulse_duration * 17150

distance = round(distance, 2)

print("Distance:", distance, "cm")

GPIO.cleanup()
```

This code sends a signal to the Trig pin of the Ultrasonic Sensor, which sends out an ultrasonic wave. The wave travels to the surface of the water and bounces back, hitting the Echo pin of the Ultrasonic Sensor. The time it takes for the wave to return is then measured by the Raspberry Pi, and the distance of the water surface from the Ultrasonic Sensor is calculated using the speed of sound.

Step 5: Testing the Water Level Measurement
To test the water level measurement, run the Python code on your Raspberry Pi, and the distance between the Ultrasonic Sensor and the water surface will be displayed on the screen.

```python ultrasonic.py```

Conclusion
Water level measurement is vital for many industries and applications. With the use of an Ultrasonic Sensor and Raspberry Pi, we can accurately and reliably measure the water level, ensuring efficient use of water resources. This technology has endless possibilities and is becoming increasingly popular in various fields. Contact us to learn more about an Ultrasonic Sensor for Water Level Measurement!