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Simple Automatic Water-Level Controller

Water level controllers are common nowadays. The automatic water level controller described here is built around a timer NE555 and inverter buffer CMOS IC CD4049. It uses readily-available, low-cost components, and is easy to build and install on the over-head tank (OHT) to prevent wastage of water.

Fig. 1: Simple automatic water level controller
Fig. 1: Simple automatic water level controller

The circuit works off a 12V battery or 230V AC mains using a 12V adaptor. The three sensors built from non-corrosive metal are fitted to the OHT as shown in Fig. 2 and connected to the circuit (Fig. 1) at appropriate terminals. Power supply terminal Vcc is at the bottom of the tank, sensor terminal L is just above the bottom of the tank and sensor terminal H is at the top of the tank. After you have properly installed the sensors in the OHT and connected the power supply, the circuit is ready to use.

Since Vcc terminal is at the bottom of the tank, when the water level falls below sensor L, timer IC2 is triggered at pin 2 via inverters N1 and N2 and its output goes high. As a result, the output of timer IC2 goes high. Relay RL1 energises and the motor starts filling water in the tank. The motor remains ‘on’ even when the water level crosses sensor L.

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Fig. 2: Sensor installation in the overheadtank (OHT)
Fig. 2: Sensor installation in the overheadtank (OHT)

As water in the tank rises to touch sensor H, timer IC2 is retriggered at pin 6 via inverters N3 and N4 and as a result, its output goes low. The relay de-energises and the motor stops filling water in the tank. The motor remains ‘off’ even when the water level falls below sensor H.

As water is consumed and its level falls below sensor L, the motor restarts. Thereafter, the cycle repeats.

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You can also manually start and stop the motor using switch S1.

More interesting projects available here.

28 COMMENTS

  1. during power failure & when power comes the motor is automatically starts despite of VCC & L are well under the water & cuts off when the water level comes to H as per this circuit . that means when dc is disconnected & when reconnected the motor starts automatically despite VCC & L are well under water level. Please fix the problem as it creates repeated start of motor during repeated power cut in summer . can it be possible to switch between back up battery & transformer dc ? if yes please let us the circuit also .

  2. Sir, I had build this circuit successfully,but the problem is when water is reached upto middle sensor the water pump is turned off. After water goes to down middle level sensor pump turned on..that why water tank doesn’t filled up.what can I do now???

  3. The NOT gate 4049 IC is used here to invert the signal as well as drive 555 IC. This IC is basically an inverting buffer having high current output. It can drive TTL circuit or high capacitive loads.
    As you can see in the circuit diagram, the water level sensor H comes in contact with the +12V through the water. This voltage signal may not be able to drive 555 IC directly without 4049 IC.

  4. You can use multistrand wire and the length depends on the type of wire used. The conductivity of copper is better than aluminum, means you can use longer wire with copper as compared to aluminum wire.

  5. Sir, I built the circuit on pcb and I got the output. But after sometime it didn’t work. It produce noise when water comes to H level and it doesn’t cut the relay properly. Relay goes to on and off with tik tik sound. How can I solve this problem?

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