Published November 9, 2020

Lane Tech HS - PCL - Rain Detector

A sensor that detects rain.

BeginnerFull instructions provided1 hour325

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Elegoo Water Level Sensor

Particle Argon

Breadboard (generic)

Adafruit RGB Backlight LCD - 16x2

Jumper wires (generic)

USB-A to Micro-USB Cable

Software apps and online services

Particle Build Web IDE

IFTTT

Story

Due to my bed room being disconnected from the central heating in my house, the temperature in my room often times becomes unregulated and humid. To counter the lack of natural airflow in my room I keep my windows open. Since my windows are usually open constantly when I'm sleeping and when I'm outside of my room, there is a chance that it can start raining and water can seep into my room. This project will notify me when it starts to rain and can give me time to close my window.

Circuitry

The circuitry for the water sensor is fairly straight forward. The positive and negative pins are connected to the 5v and ground power rails and the analogue output is connected to A0 of the Particle Argon.

Circuit

Water Sensor

The water level sensor is capable of detecting the level of a liquid but can also be utilized to detect water on the sensor. Using the water sensor can allow us to detect if it is raining if the sensor becomes wet when placed outside.

Water Sensor

LCD Screen

The LCD Screen will allow the analogue value of the water sensor to be more easily monitored and will allow us to determine a number in which we can set our threshold to.

LCD Screen displaying analogue value

Errors With Screen

The LCD screen can be very finnicky from time to time and may not always display the correct data. Ensuring that all jumper wires are in securely is crucial in order for the screen to display correctly.

1 / 2 • Errors in screen

Code

The fundamental code for this project is and if and else statement that set a Particle Variable (A public variable that can be used outside of the Particle IDE) to 0 or 1 if the analogue value of the water sensor is greater than the threshold that determines if water is on the sensor or not. This Particle Variable can be used to notify us and will allow us to know if the water sensor detects rain without needing to constantly monitor the LCD screen.

Water Sensor Working

IFTTT

IFTTT (If that then this) is a website and application that can monitor a Particle Variable and will cause something to happen depending on what the output of the variable is. Creating an applet on the site that will check to see when the Particle Variable is 1 and call my phone accordingly can make a good notification for when rain is being detected.

A phone call is only one of the plenty notification methods somebody can use when IFTTT is triggered. A phone call can be a more audible method of notification and can allow a custom sound to be played when the Particle Variable is changed.

Code

Source Code

// This #include statement was automatically added by the Particle IDE.
#include <LiquidCrystal.h>

//Initialize Pins
LiquidCrystal lcd(1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7);
int waterSense = A0;
int waterDet = 0;

void setup()
{
    //Initialize LCD Screen
    lcd.begin(16, 2);
    pinMode(waterSense, INPUT_PULLUP);
    //Declare Particle Variable
    Particle.variable("Water Detected", waterDet);
}

void loop()
{
    //Read sensor value as an analogue input, if the input is greater than a predetermined threshold set Particle variable to true.
    int sensorValue = analogRead(waterSense);
    lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
    lcd.print(sensorValue);
    delay(400);
    if (sensorValue >= 900 && sensorValue < 2000){
        lcd.clear();
        lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
        lcd.print("WET");
        delay(50);
        waterDet = 1;
        
    }
    else{
        lcd.clear();
        lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
        lcd.print("NOT WET");
        delay(50);
        waterDet = 0;
    }
}

Credits

Johan Sandoval

2 projects • 4 followers

Lane Tech HS - PCL - Rain Detector

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Circuitry

Water Sensor

LCD Screen

Errors With Screen

Code

IFTTT

Schematics

Water Sensor

Water Sensor Schematic

Water Sensor File

Code

Source Code

Credits

Johan Sandoval

Comments

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Lane Tech HS - PCL - Rain Detector

Lane Tech HS - PCL - Rain Detector

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Circuitry

Water Sensor

LCD Screen

Errors With Screen

Code

IFTTT

Schematics

Water Sensor

Water Sensor Schematic

Water Sensor File

Code

Source Code

Credits

Johan Sandoval

Comments

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