Flow-sensor!

From April 2012 we can offer a flow sensor for the ProfiLux!

Attachment 2309

read more:
http://www.aquariumcomputer.com/Syst...cessories.html

Good news and most welcome!
Any plans to offer this for the pond as well?

this is a GREAT addition to the ProfiLux accessories! I can so see this being a valuable tool for many of us.

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Originally Posted by ganesh

Good news and most welcome!
Any plans to offer this for the pond as well?

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These sensors can be used for the pond as well.

Don’t get it.
PL-0867: Measurement range 300–5000 l/h, Nominal width DN20, 2x G1" outside thread.
In koi-ponds we have a flow ranging from 16.000–60.000 l/h and more.
??

then the flow sensor should be operated in a bypass, like the other sensors pH and temp etc.

Will that give correct measurements/readings of the flow rate?

Matthias

Does the flow sensor transmit on and off signals with varying frequency like the flow sensor in this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmTmD...e_gdata_player

So the Profilux level input is not a 0 to 10 volt analog input.... or is it? :)

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Originally Posted by tekfreak

Matthias

Does the flow sensor transmit on and off signals with varying frequency like the flow sensor in this video?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmTmD...e_gdata_player

So the Profilux level input is not a 0 to 10 volt analog input.... or is it? :)

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Well I've learned something today. I guess I never thought about "Vortices" being the "Countable Factor" in flow meters.

yes, we count pulses per second

we really need more level ports !!!!!

I love the sensor but its again connected to the level port and these can't be added to the system :(

What a fantastic idea, just love it.

Will you be bringing out a much larger measurement range? I know you said about bypass but that is not idea in most situations.

Something for the larger tanks, perhaps a 1.5" thread with a range of 5000 - 20,000.

Ill be getting one for sure if you bring out the above

First I'm sort of confused. If used in a "By-Pass" scenario you don't know the real "Flow" of the pump you're monitoring.

Or is this more designed to know if flow is greatly reduced/stopped and not really meant to be a precise gauge for total flow of a pump?

richard.mayo wrote:

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Will you be bringing out a much larger measurement range?

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It´s said in german part of the forum: No, there will be no bigger device of that kind.
The reason is that the measuring probe limits the diameter of the sensor and with that also the possible max. flow.

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First I'm sort of confused. If used in a "By-Pass" scenario you don't know the real "Flow" of the pump you're monitoring.

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In general the sensors are designed to measure the whole flow. If that flow is too high (very big tanks or ponds) the sensor can´t measure the whole flow. In that case it´s possible to build up a bypass solution. If the bypass is designed right, flow of bypass and main flow are equivalent. You have to measure once the big and bbypass flow, you can calculate the sum flow. But of course, accuracy is one degree lower than direct measurement.

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Or is this more designed to know if flow is greatly reduced/stopped and not really meant to be a precise gauge for total flow of a pump?

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The measuring is precise with the common limitation of such sensors: Best in the middle of range (~1-2%), less accuracy at lower and highter flow.
But it shows value according to the flow, not only a rough estimation.

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If that flow is too high (very big tanks or ponds) the sensor can´t measure the whole flow.

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I would say that a flow of 5000L is very low, and most reef tanks would have over 5000L water flow. so the flow sensor is not really of any value for most tanks.

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Originally Posted by reef

I would say that a flow of 5000L is very low, and most reef tanks would have over 5000L water flow. so the flow sensor is not really of any value for most tanks.

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Most tanks? Maybe not for larger tanks with higher return pump flow rates but 5000l/hr comes in at 1350gph which is what I ran on my 90g reef tank VERY successfully for over 4 years. I'd say there are far more tanks in the 90g and less range than the other way around.

If you factor in the "By-Pass" option then this sensor can be accurately used for some very high-flow situations.

if you have a higher flow than 5000l/h the bypass is the correct option

the sensor measures the flow through the bypass, that's right, but when you multiply this value by a factor you get the total flow

this factor can be adjusted in the ProfiLux so you will see the correct reading of the total flow (assumed you entered the correct factor)

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Originally Posted by Matthias

if you have a higher flow than 5000l/h the bypass is the correct option

the sensor measures the flow through the bypass, that's right, but when you multiply this value by a factor you get the total flow

this factor can be adjusted in the ProfiLux so you will see the correct reading of the total flow (assumed you entered the correct factor)

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How do you work out the factor??? It would be great if you could provide a little diagram on how an idea bypass should look.
Thanks in advance

Attachment 2318

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How do you work out the factor???

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You have to measure it once. That´s the main problem due the measurement decides between accuracy and absurdity
If it´s a bigger pipe, it may an idea to ask a specialist to measure it once with a transportable ultrasonic flowmeter (no cutting of the pipe, very easy to handle, very accurate and very expensive :mad: )

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It would be great if you could provide a little diagram on how an idea bypass should look.

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It´s nothing special. See the attached drawing. There are two diff. pressures and the flow will split into two parts proportional to the two diff pressures (they are always equal). There are a few points to respect:

• The bypass should be designed to have a flow. If it has too much resistance, the main pipe also should be throttled.
• There should be no change in bypass or main pipe like regulation valves during measurement.

If you once have a relation for one point of main pipe <-> bypass (best at your estimated desin point) it´s easy to calculate the flow in the main pipe for all other bypass flow points. Until you don´t change the pipe system, double flow in bypass means double flow in main pipe and vice versa.

Hi guys,

I can't seem to get my flow sensor to work at all. its connected at level port 3&4 since 1&2 are taken up for ATO/ASW. I can see the X turn on/off on port 3 in the level menu "settings and states level-sensor inputs" which would mean that its recognized?
I did calibrate it in the flow sensor sub menu but nothing seems to show up. Am i forgetting something?

what firmware and software level are you running?

what did you set for "Connected at level-sensor" in the flow-sensor settings?

you can chose between 1 and 2 - if you don't use a splitter it is level 1

-> use level 1 for flow and 3 and 4 for ATO/AWC

Firmware is 5.14 and control software is 5.1.4.3

I have my ATO/AWC already set up and connected on level port 1&2 so its connected to the other port 3&4.

what did you set for "Connected at level-sensor" in the flow-sensor settings? - I have tried both settings 1 & 2 and calibrating it both times with the right flow sensor and it still shows nothing.

Does that sound normal to you guys???

I wrote

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-> use level 1 for flow and 3 and 4 for ATO/AWC

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and you wrote

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I have my ATO/AWC already set up and connected on level port 1&2

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please change it

I saw what you wrote but I thought that it wouldn't matter. its fixed now, thank you :)