Transmitting board
convert analog input to digital output
then wireless transmit that digital output
Receiving board
Receive the digital output from the transmitting board
Output that digital signal to a computing device
I have a water temperature sensor that is installed 50 feet away from a computer. I cannot easily wire the temperature sensor directly to the computer. Rather, I would like to wirelessly transmit the voltage output from the temperature sensor to the computer.
We do not have an “off the shelf” product for that application but it sounds very doable with the hardware we offer. We would just need to do some minor code development to make that work. Can you answer the following:
What type of analog signal does the water temperature sensor generate?
How would you like the wireless receiver board to connect to the computer? USB, WiFi, etc?
What is the distance between the two devices and what physical obstacles would the wireless signal need to travel through/around?
Thank you for your reply. In response to you questions:
What type of analog signal does the water temperature sensor generate?
The water temperature sensor is branded as an HAI 14A00-8. The technical parameters are:
FREQUENCY = (4 TEMPERATURE) / 30
Example:
If the ambient temperature is 75 degrees:
FREQUENCY = (4 75) / 30
FREQUENCY = 300 / 30
FREQUENCY = 10 Hz
How would you like the wireless receiver board to connect to the computer? USB, WiFi, etc?
I would like the receiving board to replicate the output of the water temperature sensor. The signal is not being read by a computer; but rather an HAI home controller (OmniPro II). Therefore, I would like the receiving board to be connected to the HAI home controller using screw terminals to which I will use 18ga wire.
What is the distance between the two devices and what physical obstacles would the wireless signal need to travel through/around?
The distance between the transmitting board (to which the water temperature sensor will be connected) and the receiving board (which will be connected to the HAI home controller will be between 50 feet and 150 feet. There are no obstacles and a line of sight exists, absent some landscaping (bushes, flowers, etc.).
I strongly suspect that the solution you propose will have broader application in the home automation market as these water sensors are used in areas typically surrounded by hardscaping. While my set-up uses HAI (a Levitron product), the same concepts apply for Crestron, Control4, and the like.
Is there any reason you have to use that particular sensor? They do not give specifications on the output of the sensor that I can see. The sensor should output a signal like variable resistance, 0-5VDC, 4-20 mA, etc. If you can find more in depth information on the type of signal that device outputs I am sure we can help.
Once again we will need to know the type of signal it outputs. You might need to contact Leviton to find out.
Distance there should be no problem. We will use 900mhz wireless modules rated for 1000 ft for indoor applications.
Below, please find the technical information your requested (source, Leviton):
The 14A00-1 uses a 10K thermistor, which should read 76 degrees Fahrenheit at 10K.
Leviton uses a 10K "Curve A" type thermistor in its thermostats and temperature
sensors.
The part number of the thermistor is 14A1002-5.
The curve can be viewed at the following link:
http://www.alphatechnics.com/technical-support/thermistor-curves/a-curve/
Perfect. That is exactly the information I was looking for.
So the part numbers you need are PR53-15 and PR53-16
One of these boards is a 4 channel ADC which can read 0-10K resistance signals. The second board is a 4 channel 0-10K potentiometer output so it generates 0-10K signals.
Now these devices are both brand new. We have them here in stock but they have not yet been loaded to the site. The boards will be right around $249.00 when they are released so you would be looking at about $500 for the pair of devices. Please let me know if you are interested in these. You can take a look at this product which is very similar physically to what these new boards will be(Enclosure/form factor):
Can you let @brad99 know as soon as these boards are listed to the site? He will need the 4 channel ADC(with pull up resistors) and the 4 channel 10K digital potentiometer products.