RIFT VALLEY INSTITUTE OF BUSINESS STUDIES

PROJECT TITTLE: WATER LEVEL INDICATOR WITH ALARM CIRCUIT

NAME : ONYUNA OTIENO GEORGE

INDEX NUMBER :

SUPERVISOR : MR RONOH

PRESENTED TO : KENYA NATIONAL EXAMINATION COUNCIL

DATE OF PRESENTATION : JANUARY 2021

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Contents
Abstract........................................................................................................................................................i
Technical terms...........................................................................................................................................ii
Abbreviations..............................................................................................................................................ii
CHAPTER ONE..............................................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................1
1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION..................................................................................................1
1.2 OBJECTIVES....................................................................................................................................1
1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY...................................................................................................1
1.4 SCOPE..............................................................................................................................................1
CHAPTER TWO.........................................................................................................................................2
LITERATURE REVIEW............................................................................................................................2
2.1 DISCUSSION OF EXISTING DESIGN...........................................................................................2
2.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED DESIGN..............................................................................2
2.3 DESCRIPTION OF UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE DESIGN........................................................3
CHAPTER THREE.....................................................................................................................................4
METHODOLOGY......................................................................................................................................4
3.1 DEFINING THE NATURE OF ACTIVITY.....................................................................................4
3.2 PREPARATION OF DESWIGNS OR DESIGN..............................................................................5
3.3 CLEAR INDICATION OF STEPS FOLLOWED.............................................................................6
3.4 PRODUCTION OF COMPONENTS................................................................................................7
3.5 TESTING OF PRODUCT.................................................................................................................7
3.6 DEMONSTRATION OF SERVICE.................................................................................................7
CHAPTER FOUR.......................................................................................................................................9
FINDINGS, DATA ANALYSIS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIIONS................................9
4.1 DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS/ PRODUCT/ SERVICE...........................................................9
4.2 EVIDENCE OF DATA ANALYSIS USING TABLES....................................................................9
4.3 CONCLUSIONS BASED ON THE FINDINGS...............................................................................9
4.4 RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THE FINDINGS............................................................10
References.................................................................................................................................................11
Appendix...................................................................................................................................................11

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Abstract
Water scarcity is one of the major problems facing major cities of the world and wastage during
transmission has been identified as a major culprit; this is one of the motivations for this
research, to deploy computing techniques in creating a barrier to wastage in order to not only
provide more financial gains and energy saving, but also help the environment and water cycle
which in turn ensures that we save water for our future.

We presented our research in embedding a control system into a controlling device through the
use of different technologies in its design, development, and implementation. The system used
integrated circuit to help the process of water pumping in an overhead tank storage system and
has the ability to detect the level of water in a tank. This research has successfully provided an
improvement on existing water level controllers by its use of calibrated circuit to indicate the
water level and use of DC instead of AC power thereby eliminating risk of electrocution.

Water level indicator electrical project explains about displaying information of water level in
the tank by using led lights. There are four led lights used in the circuit when LED1 is on it
means that water level is at ¼ of the tank and if LED 2 is displayed then water level is ½ of the
tank and if LED 3 is displayed water level is ¾ of the tank and if LED 4 is displayed water level
is full. This project uses IC Chip 89C2051.

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Technical terms
Water level indicator – is an electronic circuit which indicates the various levels of water inside
a tank

Crystal oscillator – is a mechanical device which uses piezoelectric mechanism to test

frequency

Microcontroller - A microcontroller is a compact integrated circuit designed to govern a

specific operation in an embedded system. A typical microcontroller includes a processor,
memory and input/output (I/O) peripherals on a single chip.

Buzzer - A buzzer is an electrical device that is used to make a buzzing sound for example,
to attract someone's attention.

Transistor - A transistor is a semiconductor device used to amplify or switch electronic signals

and electrical power.

Resistor – this is a device which opposes the flow of current in a circuit

Light emitting diode - A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor light source that emits
light when current flows through it.

Integrated circuit - Integrated circuit (IC), also called microelectronic circuit, microchip,
or chip, an assembly of electronic components, fabricated as a single unit, in which miniaturized
active devices (e.g., transistors and diodes) and passive devices (e.g., capacitors and resistors)
and their interconnections are built up on a thin substrate of semiconductor material
(typically silicon).

Abbreviations
IC – integrated circuit

LED – light emitting diode

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION

In the past years, there has been problems of water being wasted as a result of people opening the
water pump and forgot to close it, or even an abrupt finish of water in the tank.

This project therefore aims at eliminating these problems, by using engaging a water level
indicator, which functions by showing the level of water of water in the tank and also raising an
alarm as long as the water level is full, which is aided by the help of a buzzer. This helps to
notify the people around, so that they can close the pump.

1.2 OBJECTIVES
 To gauge and manage water levels in a water tank.
 To avoid wastage of water as a result of overflow.
 To eradicate the problem of abrupt finish of water in the tank.
 To create ease of knowing the water level in the tank without anyone climbing to the top
of the tank to check manually.
 To help someone plan well on how he\she is to use the water depending on the level of
water in the tank as indicated by the water level indicator.

1.3 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is not only important for academic purpose, but can also be practically applied in
the day to day life, by showing the level of water in the tank and also raising an alarm as long
as the tank is full.

1.4 SCOPE
This project does not only show the level of water in the tank, but also raises an alarm as long as
the tank is full. This is achieved by the presence of the buzzer, which produces sound to alert the
people around and they can do the necessary adjustments.

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 CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 DISCUSSION OF EXISTING DESIGN

In the year 2015, Jayant did a water level indicator project, where he used LEDs, whereby the
LEDs were used to help in showing the level of water in the tank. In order that the aim of the
project was achieved, transistors and resistors ware used to help in the regulation of the currents

In the year 2017, Nzioka Shadrack coming from United States, also did his best in doing a
project of water level indicator, but in his case, he used microcontroller together with LEDs,
transistors and resistors , he used microcontroller software techniques in designing the system,
since the microcontroller was the master brain of the entire system.

Another engineer named Vashti, coming from India also designed a water level indicator in the
year 2018, for his case, he used an arduino, together with LCD which displayed the level of
water in the tank directly, such that he never used LEDS since, the information to be given by the
LEDs are already in the LCD, other components that he did put in place were transistors and
resistors, which helped in the regulation of currents and voltages

2.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED DESIGN

We therefore, after conducting a thorough research of projects of the same kind that had been
previously done ,that is, water level indicator, we decided to make a water level indicator with
alarm circuit. In this, we did put in place components like IC, buzzer, transistors, resistors, LEDs
among others. In this project, IC is the master brain of the whole system we applied the
programming techniques of the IC in designing the whole system.

The resistors and resistors that we used were to aid in the controlling and regulation of currents
through the whole system, the LEDs were available to aid in indicating the level of water in the
tank.

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2.3 DESCRIPTION OF UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE DESIGN
Apart from the fact that the system shows the level of water in the tank, we also decided to
design it such that it raises an alarm when the water level in the tank reaches maximum. In order
that this was achieved, we used a buzzer in which when the tank is full signal is sent to it through
the IC, thereby producing the output by producing the sound. This helps to alert the people
around and can perform the necessary changes.

To ensure that the system is working or not, there must be some water in the tank, and therefore
if no water is in the tank, nothing will happen, using this technique, the water level indicator can
also help someone to know that there is no water in the tank

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 CHAPTER THREE

METHODOLOGY

3.1 DEFINING THE NATURE OF ACTIVITY

This system operates in the principle that, water conducts electricity, such that when the switch is
on and there is no water in the tank, nothing will happen until there is some water in the tank.

The sensing wires placed at different distances to help show the different levels of water, that is,
quarter, half, three-quarter and full level, will help in the working of the circuit. When the level
of water in the tank is full, current flows through the base terminal of the transistor and its
collector voltage becomes low, this transistor and the full level sensing wire is interfaced with
the IC by pin 15, the programming of the IC is ended and data is transferred from the IC to the
buzzer which will produce the output by producing a sound to alert the people around that the
tank is full.

When the water level goes below the full level sensing wire, then the base of the second
transistor T 2 ,opens by switching the first transistor off. For the second transistor T 2 , the collector
voltage is high at pin 15 of the IC, hence the overhead tank is not full and the data is sent to the
LED 3 ,through the IC, the LED will light to show that the water level in the tank is at three
quarter.

The same process is applied to the remaining sensing wires, for half and quarter, which are
connected to the base terminal of T 3 and T 4 transistors respectively. These are connected to IC
pins 13 and 12 respectively, where programming is done by the IC, with indication of water level
in the tank, LED 2 and LED 1 will glow.

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3.2 PREPARATION OF DESWIGNS OR DESIGN

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3.3 CLEAR INDICATION OF STEPS FOLLOWED
A) Getting the parts and tools

i) We got all the electronic components that are needed for the project. Some of the components
needed include;

 89c2051 integrated circuit which is necessary to complete the project

 Three LEDs which are used for indicating when the water level is low ,moderate and high
 5 sensing wires for measuring the water level
 A 5v battery and a battery connector are needed to provide energy to the water level
indicator.

ii) Finding all of the tools needed to make the water level indicator, these tools include

 Pliers which is necessary for preparing the IC to add the LEDs

 A soldering iron and a solder , these will help in connecting the circuit together

iii) The leads of the IC are pointed down to stick through the holes in a circuit board.

iv) Cutting the 5 sensing wires to the different lengths we want to measure. This will entirely
depend on the different water levels to be measured, the shorter sensing wires measure higher
water levels.

B) Connections

i) Solder the negative points of the LEDs to pins 16, 17 and 18 of the IC, solder also the resistors
between each LED and the respective IC pin.

ii) Solder the negative point of the buzzer to pin 19 of the IC with a resistor in between them.

iii) Connect all the positive points of the LEDs together and connect them to the positive of the
buzzer.

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iv) Connect pins 12,13,14 and 15 of the IC to the collectors of NPN transistors, attaching the
bases of these transistors with the sensing wires and dipping them into the tank, these will show
the level of water in the tank, between each transistor and the sensing wires resistors are
soldered.

3.4 PRODUCTION OF COMPONENTS

COMPONENTS SPECIFICATION
LED (1,2, and 3) 1- Red
2- Yellow
3- Green
Transistors (T,T 1,T 2,T 3,T 4) T – PNP BC557B
T 1,T 2,T 3,T 4- NPN BC547B
Resistors R1- R5 - 1 KΩ
R6 - R9 - 33KΩ
R10- R13 - 470KΩ

Capacitors C 1 and C 2 - 33PF

C 3 - 10PF
IC 89C2051
Crystal oscillator
Speaker

3.5 TESTING OF PRODUCT

To test the water level indicator, the sensing wires are placed into a glass or container, the
container is then slowly filled up with water. While filling up the container with water, the LED
with longest wire is watched, it indicates when the water level is lowest. At the shortest sensing
wire ,the buzzer is necessary to let one know when the water reaches the highest point, therefore
the buzzer has to be listened to as water is being added to the container.

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3.6 DEMONSTRATION OF SERVICE
In this project, IC is the master brain of the circuit and it is located at central position. The IC is a
20-pin type in which pin 1 is connected to a 8kΩ resistor then to the negative terminal, it is also
connected to a 10pf which is connected to the positive terminal of the circuit.

Pin 4 and 5 of the IC are connected to 33pf capacitors each, but before they share one crystal
oscillator whose other terminal is connected to pin 4 and the other to pin 5.

Pin 6 is connected to a PNP transistor via a 1kΩ resistor, whereby the collector of the transistor
is connected to the negative terminal through a speaker, while the emitter side is connected to the
positive terminal of the circuit. Pin 10 is grounded.

Pin 12 of the IC is connected to NPN transistor by the collector side, the emitter side is
grounded, while the base is connected such that the sensing wire connected to it is dipped into
the tank to indicate the level of water being at a quarter, a resistor is connected in this line to
ensure that the base current is limited.

Pins 13, 14 and 15 are connected to NPN transistors by their collectors, their emitters are
grounded and bases are connected and the sensing wires in this line are dipped into the tank, such
that they show different levels of water in the tank, half, three quarter and full respectrively,
resistors of the same values are also connected to ensure that base currents are kept low.

Pins 16, 17 and 18 are connected to LEDs, L1, L2 and L3respectively, all these glow depending on
the water level in the tank, when the tank is a quarter full, L1glows, when half L2 glows and when
three quarter full, L3glows,resistors are connected between each LED and the IC, this is so, to
regulate the amount of current flowing which might interfere with the intended output of the IC.

Pin 19 is connected to a buzzer through a resistor, the buzzer raises an alarm when the tank level
is at maximum while the resistor regulates the current flow

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 CHAPTER FOUR

FINDINGS, DATA ANALYSIS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIIONS

4.1 DISCUSSION OF THE FINDINGS/ PRODUCT/ SERVICE

The circuit operates at a voltage of 5v and for the output to be witnessed, there must be some
water in the tank, since the sensing wires that are dipped into the tank are meant for sending
signals to the IC and then to the LEDs once there is some water level in the tank

Therefore even if the circuit is on and current is flowing through the circuit, nothing will happen
until there is some water in the tank from low, moderate and full.

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4.2 EVIDENCE OF DATA ANALYSIS USING TABLES
6

Series 1
3
Series 2
Series 3
2

0
resistor transistor capacitor LED

4.3 CONCLUSIONS BASED ON THE FINDINGS

The base current of the transistors have to be kept low, with the help of resistors, this will aid in
the sensing wires sending the desired signal to the IC and hence to the LEDs.

The current through the LEDs also have to be regulated with the help of resistors before the
signal; is sent to the LEDs.

There must be some water in the tank, so that the sensing wires can send the signals to the IC and
hence to the LEDs.

4.4 RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO THE FINDINGS

In this project, we incorporated an IC, LED, buzzer, transistors and resistors, whereby it shows
the level of water in the tank by the LEDs and an alarm is produced through the buzzer when the
water tank level is at maximum.

In the coming days, arduino can also be used which will act as a controller of the circuit and the
circuit be connected directly to the water pump such that instead of only raising an alarm when
the water level is full, but it can also automatically close the water pump if there is no one around
to close it, this will help more in reducing the wastage of water.

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References
Water level indicator with microcontroller by Nzioka shadrack.

Water level indicator with microcontroller and a bell by Vashti.

Simple Water level indicator with LEDs, transistors and resistors by Jayant.

Appendix

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