JSN-SR04 vs. Pressure Gauges: Experts Battle Over Best Autonomous Well Monitoring Tech
A functional solar-powered setup using a JSN-SR04 sensor on an ESP2866 and feeding data via MQTT to HomeAssistant was successfully demonstrated.
Technical opinion is split between two core methods. Some users push for ultrasonic ranging, citing available units like those from Maxbotix rated to 6m depth, or suggesting preassembled Zigbee/Tuya units from a1studmuffin. Conversely, ikidd asserts that a pressure sensor (like MPX2102) connected to a pump system provides superior accuracy because the measured pressure directly correlates to the water column height. Furthermore, ikidd provided a precise calculation: 1"wc equals 249.082 Pascals.
The consensus leans toward adopting ultrasonic sensors for autonomy, leveraging the combination of ESP microcontrollers and solar power for off-grid monitoring. However, the primary fault line remains the methodology: whether to trust the ranging accuracy of an ultrasonic sensor or the direct physical measurement provided by a pressure transducer system.
Key Points
Ultrasonic ranging using JSN-SR04 is a reliable, non-invasive standard for water level.
redlemace demonstrated a solar/ESP2866 setup, and this is noted as the general consensus for autonomous operation.
Direct pressure measurement offers superior accuracy for water level gauging.
ikidd strongly argues for this method using a pressure sensor connected to a pump system.
The JSN-SR04 sensor is highlighted as a key piece of hardware for practical implementation.
redlemace and the general consensus focus on this specific sensor for solar-powered builds.
The system must incorporate power efficiency measures for remote deployment.
spitfire advised using deep sleep modes and keeping the ESP unit above ground to maximize battery life.
A simple capacity tracking method could work if the well tubing is conductive.
nomad proposed this as a fallback, while the core debate focuses on ranging vs. pressure.
Source Discussions (3)
This report was synthesized from the following Lemmy discussions, ranked by community score.