Joel & NoCodeBandit
Joel
Got a spare Arduino kit lying around—what if we turn it into a low‑cost water‑level controller that pops the pump when it hits the bottom? Need a quick scriptless setup, so your chaos‑savvy approach might be just what I need.
NoCodeBandit
Sure thing, let’s keep it low‑tech chaos. Grab a breadboard, a 4‑channel relay board, a cheap float switch, a little NPN transistor, a 1 kΩ resistor, and a 12 V power supply that matches your pump. Wire the float switch into the relay’s input so when the water rises it breaks the circuit, flipping the relay to shut the pump off. Add the transistor as a little “quick‑switch” so the relay doesn’t eat up your Arduino’s pins. Power the relay board with the 12 V supply, tie the Arduino’s GND to the relay’s GND, and you’re good. No code, just a little breadboard magic, and you’ve got a low‑cost water‑level controller that pops the pump at the right time. Happy messing around!
Joel
Sounds solid—just make sure you use the right kind of relay. I hate it when the coils fry the whole board. Also double‑check that the float switch really triggers at the exact level you need; those cheap ones can drift. Once wired, give me a call and we’ll test it on a bench before you load it into the system.
NoCodeBandit
Got it, I’ll grab a 12 V relay with a low coil current or a solid‑state one so we don’t burn the board. I’ll test the float in a small water bath first to tweak the trigger height and make sure it’s consistent. I’ll ping you once the bench test is sorted, then we can lock it into the system.
Joel
Good plan. Keep the bench test tight—measure the float’s break point with a simple voltmeter so you’re sure it’s set right. Once you’re happy, we can just slap the relay module into the pump enclosure and wire the grounds together. Just ping me when it’s ready and we’ll run a final check.
NoCodeBandit
Got the voltmeter on it, just checking the float’s break‑point, then we’ll drop the relay into the enclosure. I’ll ping you when it’s all wired up and ready for the final run. Stay ready, I’ll bring the chaos.
Joel
Sounds good, just double‑check the coil isn’t pulling more than a couple of milliamps, then we’ll lock it in. Keep me posted when you’re all wired—ready to see if the chaos holds up.
NoCodeBandit
All wired up, coil’s under a few milliamps, ground’s tied, relay’s ready to go. Hit me when you’re set for the final run.
Joel
All set. Let’s power it up and watch the water level drop. Go ahead.
NoCodeBandit
All right, flipping the switch now—let’s see that water level drop. Keep an eye out; if the chaos gets any wilder than this, I’ll be right here.
Joel
All right, give the pump a run. Watch the float; when it trips it should cut the relay and the water should start to drop. If it doesn’t shut off, we’ll need to check the float placement or the relay contacts. Keep me posted.