Tuesday, November 5, 2024

More results...

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages

Make Your Own Portable Rain and Steam Detector

This is a simple portable rain and steam detector in one circuit. It is compact in size, runs on 9V battery and is easy to assemble.

Circuit and working

The circuit diagram of the portable rain and steam detector is shown in Fig. 2. It is built around transistor T1, piezo buzzer PZ1, 9V battery and a few other components. Sensor-connecting terminals are marked as P1 and P2 in the circuit.

Fig. 1: Author’s prototype
Fig. 1: Author’s prototype
Fig. 2: Circuit diagram of the rain and steam detector
Fig. 2: Circuit diagram of the rain and steam detector

When there is no rain or steam, impedance between P1 and P2 is high. Hence, T1 does not conduct. When sensor detects rain, impedance between P1 and P2 is low. T1 gets base current via resistor R1. T1 conducts and switches on PZ1, indicating that rain or steam is detected.

- Advertisement -

To stop buzzer sound, wipe out the water or steam from the surface of the sensor. Use of power on/off switch is optional in the circuit because current drain is negligible or nil when there is no rain or steam.

Construction and testing

Assemble the components as per the circuit diagram on a breadboard or veroboard. Connect 9V battery (6F22) for the power supply. You can assemble this unit in a suitable plastic box, too. Fix the circuit and battery inside the box.

- Advertisement -

Construction of the sensor is shown in Fig. 3. The rain and steam sensor is made of a general-purpose PCB or veroboard. A 3.8cm x 5cm veroboard having thirteen tracks is used as the rain sensor.

Fig. 3: Rain sensor board
Fig. 3: Rain sensor board

Take seven conducting wires (say, white) and solder these on alternate copper tracks of the Veroboard, as shown in Fig. 3. Join the other ends of seven white wires, connect the joint to a suitable cable and extend it to P1.

Take another six wires (say, blue) and solder these on the veroboard on remaining alternate tracks. Similarly, join the six wires and extend it to P2 using another cable. You can use two-to-three-metre shielded cables for connecting the rain sensor to the circuit. Keep the sensor outside at a suitable location for rain detection.


P.V. Vinod Kumar is an electronics hobbyist.

For reading other interesting DIY Projects: click here

2 COMMENTS

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS & COMMENTS

EFY Prime

Unique DIY Projects

Electronics News

Truly Innovative Electronics

Latest DIY Videos

Electronics Components

Electronics Jobs

Calculators For Electronics