Reading dihydrogen monoxide meter (Or water meter in plain speak)

[kolbep]

Hi All.
I thought the title might get some views.
I am looking to read the ticks of this water meter with a Wemos or Arduino,



But my Google Powers are at a low today.
I believe the pickup port is at the bottom left next to the window, but I am unsure of what type of pickup this meter would need.
Is it an IR Tx and Rx LED, or must I somehow put a reed switch in the hole (and do you get front on reed switches)?

I have tried shining a light in the hole, but I do not see any changes when the water is flowing.

Thanks for the input

[mikeselectricstuff]

Some meters use a rotating metal vane, picked up with 3 coils. On the ones I've seen, the vane is visible from the front but there may be other variants
 

[coppice]

What makes you think the meter has a port for measuring the flow electronically? Most don't, and it can be a PITA trying to adapt them for electronic measurement.

[johnkenyon]

I suggest that you positively identify the meter manufacturer and model (5 minutes of Googling suggests you have a LXH-15-20 meter), and see what kind of remote metering facility the meter has built in. IMHO the most sensible way a manufacturer can facilitate remote metering with a dumb meter is to fit a magnet on one of the dials and have it operate a reed switch.

That way you can have the insides good for potable water, and the sensor on the outside can be sealed against dirt/water ingress.


Here's a couple of links for you:
http://www.younio.com/pro_b.asp?bid=21
http://www.chinaaimei.com/200646/news_img/2010613171915.pdf

/John

[CatalinaWOW]

Seems to be a Precision Meters meter, unknown model and options.

The following suggests that their normal way of providing an output is with a reed switch (magnet would be mounted on the rotating piston) and also suggests a scale factor.

http://www.precisionmeters.co.za/volumetric-rotary-piston-meters-15a-20a/

While this gives some principals of operation:

http://www.precisionmeters.co.za/precision-meters-water-meter-selection-options/

With the model data sheet here:

http://precisionmeters.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/PM-ASM-LXHS-15-20mm-Plastic-v3.pdf

You may get lucky and just be able shove a reed switch down into the hole, or slightly less lucky, tape a reed switch to the outside of the meter in the appropriate spot.

[kolbep]

Thanks for those datasheets. It is interesting how those water meters work.
Anyway, I just hooked an LED, Resistor, 9v Battery, and a reedswitch from a door alarm together,
and dropped it in the hole next to the counter. And when I started drawing water, the LED was flashing at a rate to match the speed of the flow.
So I guess it really was that easy, and I should have actually done that before posting.

So, very soon I will be able to graph my water consumption (together with Electricity usage that I plan on using the OpenEnergyMonitor type setup.)

So many things to do, so little time.....