Right,

I tested pin 5 again, I put the negative probe of the DVM on the - of the power in, then tested pin 5 when the circuit is activated, pin 5 reads 10.21v then after it has timed out it reads 9.56v.

It is still holding in even when sfter the float is opened, am well confused, and my eyes hurt.

 

Sorted it now.

I re-built the whole board from scratch.

 

Any clue what went wrong?

 

My soldering, I presume I had a cross wire or a bad connection, butIcould just not see it.

I knew it worked, before I changed out some of the wires, So I assumed it was that, just thought it may have been easy to tell, but it's all working now.

Thanks

 

Hi Bill,

Hope you are keping well, I have not been on this project for a while, lifes been pretty hectic lately.

As for the optical sensor I thought about using, what lead would need changing or moving to use that instead of the float.

 

Basically you need to look at the sensor. It should have 3 leads, a power, a ground, and the sensor itself. You should see the sensor lead change states when it is immersed or taken out of water. I'll need to know what these levels are for the sensor.

It's been a while since I looked at this schematic. Have you been using this circuit with a float switch?

 

Ok Bill,

I have not got the Optical sensor yet, but I will get it ordered soon, I have been trying to get time to finish the unit, it's nearly ready to test for a while.

The unit itself works, just got to put it together so it's watertight, as it will be in a wet enviroment.

It needs to be the type that runs when it's dry and stops when it's wet.

 

Hi Bill,

Hope your well.

This got project got put on the back burner for a while, but i am looking at restarting it, you still okay to help me out with this.

Thanks

 

No problem. I was just looking for this thread to point out to another user when I saw your reply. It was (is) fun.

 

Good, will dig out everything and make sure it's all where I left it.

 

If you have kids I'm sure they've harvested all the wires and parts by now. Look Dad, art!

 

Hi Bill,

Looks like it's all still there!

I seem to have hit upon a busy spell lately, I will hopefully get onto it by the end of the month and we can take it forward.

I really would like to get this completed and operational.

 

Long time no see. I'll be here. If I don't respond in few days of the last post send me a PM pointing the thread out. Do anything else electronics related since?

 

No nothing else Bill, never had the time to start any other projects, want to get this 1 done before I do or it will just end up getting shelved again!

I will get back to you when things have slowed down.

 

Welcome to my life!