water level...

[bubulindo]

Hello,

I need a cheap way to measure the water level in a glass container without inserting any type of component's or metal in the water.

Can someone help me???

Best regards, Carlos Cardoso

 

[IRstuff]

Have you tried marking the outside?

What other constraints are there? Can you have something close, but not touching, can you weigh the container, with and without water?

TTFN

 

[OperaHouse]

Glue some metal foil to the outside of the glass. A wide strip and another large section of foil. You can then run these into a 555 type timing circuit as the timing capacitor and you can measure frequency/time duration. Usually this is done with a metal container and an insulated probe but it should work the same.

 

[m3]

Hi,

try a weight scale.

M3

 

[47gandalf]

Yet another way is to shoot an ultrasonic wave down the container and measure the time delay for the reflected wave off the surface.

As you can see from the replies, there are many ways to do this so more specific help would require more information about your application, specification, and constraints.

You could hire a midget with a measuring stick to sit by the vessel and take snapshots periodically while holding the measuring rod next to the vessel.

(I'm not picking on midgets. It's a running joke with my cousin, who is one.) [upside down]

 

[BrianR]

There's a change of refractive index in water opposed to glass. Reflecting an angled IR LED off the interior wall of the glass container will see a change in IR intensity when water is behind it.

 

[jtsamuels]

My two cents. Do a google search for water level measurement and you will find optical, electrical, mechanical (weighing), and pressure (pressure sensors indicate rising level).

Good luck,
Jim

p.s. Of course if you are trying to get away cheap then you will have to explain more of your application and any restrictions around using various technologies. The more information you provide the better responses you will get on this site.