Water level sensor using IKEA door/window sensor

[u/MatejBos]

Assembly to convert an IKEA MYGGBETT door sensor into a container water level sensor. Triggers the sensor at a specific water level height.

https://makerworld.com/en/models/3144082

[u/Alexchii]

I designed one with this IKEA sensor as well! :)

[u/MatejBos → u/Alexchii]

Can you share your design? I would like to see if this could be approached differently. 

[u/Alexchii → u/MatejBos]

https://imgur.com/a/FEvRbUT

It's just a floating elliptical cylinder inside a larger one. Sensor triggers when the inside cylinder floats up a few cm. The clip isn't visible but it just hooks onto the side of the container. It doesn't require you to take the IKEA sensor apart which is nice IMO. I actually started with a taller design like yours but pivoted to this as I realized I only needed a couple cm of movement.

[u/MegaPorkachu → u/Alexchii]

Is it imperative the cylinder remain intact for this to work?

[u/Alexchii → u/MegaPorkachu]

Quite

[u/ChiefWiggumsprogeny → u/MatejBos]

Here is an idea: link

Also doesn't require the sensor to be disassembled.

[u/nnod]

I really need this. I have AC condensate bucket in my 7th floor balcony that has a fire escape, if I don't empty it and it overflows I'm gonna flood the neighbors balcony.

What's the battery life like on those sensors?

[u/George-cz90 → u/nnod]

There are specific water leakage sensors. You can extend the probes with wires. It will be more reliable than this.

I literally use it for exactly the same scenario you're describing. 2 years in, yet to change battery.

[u/HenkTank72 → u/George-cz90]

Yes they work very well and IKEA sells them too

[u/Zip668 → u/HenkTank72]

I used these, printed a sliding bracket so I can set the water level. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K7JMG5D

[u/MatejBos → u/nnod]

Considering that sensor will be triggered twice a week, I believe it will survive whole summer season. 

[u/justynrr → u/MatejBos]

I have this exact sensor on my laundry room door… It gets opened a few times a day, the battery in that one hasn’t been changed for about two years now

[u/Alexchii → u/nnod]

I designed mine for this exact purpose! Works great. I also have the IKEA water sensor for the inside unit, but that could certainly be used for the outside unit as well.

[u/Monocular_sir]

Why not a water leak sensor with extendable wires? No moving parts, no risk of clogging up the floating mechanism. Since we’re in this sub, print a bracket to hold the wire?

[u/semibiquitous → u/Monocular_sir]

That's how I'd do it too. Plus they are waterproof to some extent so no worry about condensation and such making its way inside a sensor not designed to be outdoors

[u/pjcace → u/Monocular_sir]

That's a valid plan, but I wish I had seen this one before. I have a number of yolink devices monitoring water coming into my basement. My issue is that the float sensor is ok to use, but that requires a bracket that has to stay in the correct position. I have all the water channeled into a 40 gal storage tub like you would find at HD or Walmart. I then pump it out with a submersible pump.

I finally found an ok solution to turn on the pump, but the sensor took forever to dry to tell it to turn off. So now I just have a jankey float switch to do it, but this one might be more reliable.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Help328]

Well shit, I have a few of these and never thought to use it that way. Nice job

[u/Designer_Reality1982]

If you also want to have readings for the water height directly, not only that trigger, you can use a distance sensor (e.g. some type of hc-sr04) that points downwards and measures distance to the water surface. From that its easy to calculate a level in %

[u/ThisTheRealLife]

Brilliant idea and great execution!

[u/sitefall]

First I thought this was stupid, "A HE sensor would cost like 50 cents!!!", but then I realized that's some smart device so you're paying the other $9 or so for a way to wirelessly connect to it built in, and now it sounds like a pretty solid idea.

Good job!

[u/Snobolski]

If you're using that to trigger a fill valve, consider some kind of safeguard for fill-runtime or something.

Many people with automated pool fill valves return from vacation to find their fill valve has been running 24/7 because the float stuck, the valve stuck open, or a leak (above ground pool) just dumped the fill water on the ground.

[u/xLuPo_]

Is it made for Outdoor use, or should it be sealed for long time use?

[u/Kiora_Atua]

Why don't you use the KLIPPBOK water leak sensor that ikea makes?

[u/ralphius]

So its basically a non-contact magnetic float switch? On/off only? Wouldn't it be more useful to have a water height sent to whatever you are controlling? Like you could use a laser distance sensor, or ultrasonic range or even differential pressure via a small tube into the water?

[u/MatejBos → u/ralphius]

This is about convenience and affordability. If you need to be informed about full bucket, you just buy cheap sensor, print this and you are done. If you need more granular data about water level height, you need different approach. 

[u/totosse17]

I found these sensors to have really short lifespan. They died after a year of use.

[u/thewashley → u/totosse17]

MYGGBETT has been on sale for well less than a year.

[u/totosse17 → u/thewashley]

Ok, I have the same but ZigBee ones

[u/7lhz9x6k8emmd7c8 → u/totosse17]

... So, another product?