TRADE PROJECT

INSTITUTION: SIAYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

PRESENTER: MARGARET WAIRIMU GACHAU

PROJECT TITLE: AUTOMATIC WATER LEVEL INDICATOR WITH

ALARM SYSTEM

COURSE: DIPLOMA IN ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS

. ENGINEERING (TELECOMMUNICATION OPTION)

INDEX NO: 7051010643

CENTER NAME: SIAYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

COURSE CODE: 2602/3

DEPARTMENT: ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

SUPERVISOR: MR. GEORGE OGEGA

SERIES: JULY 2024

PRESENTED TO: KENYA NATIONAL EXAMINATION COUNCIL IN PARTIAL

FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF DIPLOMA IN
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING

(TELECOMMUNICATION OPTION)

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 DECLARATION

I certify that this report is my own work, based on my personal study and research and that I
have acknowledged all material and sources used in its preparation, whether they be books,
articles, reports, lecture notes, and any other kind of document, electronic or personal
communication. I also certify that this report has not previously been submitted for assessment in
any other unit, except where specific permission has been granted from all unit coordinators
involved, or at any other time in this unit, and that I have not copied in part or whole or
otherwise plagiarized the work of other students and persons

Name: Margaret Wairimu Gachau

Signature…………………………

MR.GEORGE OGEGA

Signature………………………….

Date…………………………………

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 DEDICATION

I dedicate this report to God Almighty my creator, my strong pillar, my source of inspiration,
wisdom, knowledge and understanding. He has been the source of my strength throughout this
program and on His wings only have I soared. I also dedicate this work to my grandparents,
brother, sister, lecturers and all my course mates who have encouraged me all the way and whose
encouragement has made sure that I give all it takes to finish the report since the time I started.
God bless you

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 ACKNOWLEGEMENTS

This work would not have been possible without the financial support of my guardians and all
the efforts I have made to achieve the fulfillment of this report. They have been supportive of my
career goals and worked actively to provide me with the protected academic time to pursue those
goals. I am grateful to all of those with whom I have had the pleasure to work with during this
report project. Each of the members of my report have provided me extensive personal and
professional guidance and taught me a great deal about electrical and electronic engineering.
Nobody has been more important to me in the pursuit of this project than the members of my
family. I would like to thank my parents, whose love and guidance are with me in whatever I
pursue. They are the ultimate role models.

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 ABSTRACT

Water tank overflow is a common problem which leads to the wastage of water. Though there
are many solutions to it like ball valves which atomically stop the water flow once the tank gets
full. This system is very useful to indicate the water levels in a tank. Whenever the tank gets
filled, we get alerts on particular levels. Here we have created 4 levels (low, medium, high and
full); we can create alarms for more levels. We have incorporated 3 LEDs to indicate initial three
levels (A, B, C), and one buzzer to indicate FULL level (D). When tanks get filled completely,
we get beep sound from buzz

TANK FULL WIRE SENSOR

BC547 BUZZER
REFERENCE

HIGH LEVEL WIRE SENSOR BC547 LED

MEDIUM WIRE SENSOR

BC547 LED

LOW LEVEL SENSOR

BC547 LED

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Contents
DECLARATION ............................................................................................................................................... ii
ABSTRACT...................................................................................................................................................... v
CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 1
1.0 BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................. 1
1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 JUSTIFICATION ................................................................................................................................ 1
1.3 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT .................................................................................................................. 2
1.4 CONSTRAINS.................................................................................................................................... 2
1.5 LIMITATIONS OF THE PROJECT........................................................................................................ 2
BLOCK DIAGRAM OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................... 3
CIRCUIT DIAGRAM .................................................................................................................................... 4
1.6 PROJECT RESPORT ORGANISATION ................................................................................................ 4
CHAPTER TWO .............................................................................................................................................. 5
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................................... 5
Transistor BC 547 .......................................................................................................................................... 5
Fig 2.1.0 Transistor BC 547 ........................................................................................................................... 5
LED ................................................................................................................................................................ 5
Fig 2.1.1 LED .............................................................................................................................................. 5
Electrolytic Capacitor .................................................................................................................................... 6
Fig 2.1.2 Electrolytic Capacitor ..................................................................................................................... 6
Resistors 220v ............................................................................................................................................... 6
Fig 2.1.3 Resistors 220v ................................................................................................................................ 6
Buzzer ............................................................................................................................................................ 6
Fig 2.1.4 Buzzer ......................................................................................................................................... 7
Transformer .................................................................................................................................................. 7
Fig 2.1.5 Transformer 220AC/9V............................................................................................................... 7
2.1 APPLICATIONS ..................................................................................................................................... 8

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CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................................................ 9
3.0 METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................................. 9
3.1 SYSTEM ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................... 9
3.2 STEP-DOWN TRANSFORMER .............................................................................................................. 9
3.3 DIODES .............................................................................................................................................. 10
3.4 TYPES OF DIODES .............................................................................................................................. 11
3.5 LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (LED) ......................................................................................................... 12
3.6 BRIDGE RECTIFIER ............................................................................................................................. 12
3.7 HOW TO READ RESISTORS VALUES ................................................................................................... 14
3.8 TRANSISTOR ...................................................................................................................................... 15
3.8.0 TRANSISTOR CURRENTS ............................................................................................................. 16
3.9 CAPACITOR ........................................................................................................................................ 17
CHAPTER FOUR ........................................................................................................................................... 20
4.0 SYSTEM TESTING ............................................................................................................................... 20
4.1 COMPONENT TEST ............................................................................................................................ 20
4.2 TEST FOR TRANSISTORS .................................................................................................................... 20
4.3 SYSTEM TEST ..................................................................................................................................... 21
4.4 TRANSFORMER TEST (step down)..................................................................................................... 21
4.5 PERFORMANCE EVALUATION ........................................................................................................... 21
4.6 PACKAGING ....................................................................................................................................... 21
4.7 BILL OF ENGINEERING MEASURMENT AND EVALUATION................................................................ 22
CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................................................. 24
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................................... 24
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED ..................................................................................................................... 24
RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................................................................................................. 24
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................ 25

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 BACKGROUND

The project “automatic water level control with an automatic pump control system” is design to
monitor the level of liquid in the tank. The system has an automatic pumping system attached
to it so as to refill the tank once the liquid gets to the lower threshold, while offing the pump
once the liquid gets to the higher threshold. Sustainability of available water resource in many
reasons of the word is now a dominant issue. This problem is quietly related to poor water
allocation, inefficient use, and lack of adequate and integrated water management. Water is
commonly used for agriculture, industry, and domestic consumption. Therefore, efficient use
and water monitoring are potential constraint for home or office water management system.
Moreover, the common method of level control for home appliance is simply to start the feed
pump at a low level and allow it to run until a higher water level is reached in the water tank.
This water level control, controls monitor and maintain the water level in the overhead tank
and ensures the continuous flow of water round the clock without the stress of going to switch
the pump ON or OFF thereby saving time, energy, water, and prevent the pump from
overworking Besides this, liquid level control systems are widely used for monitoring of liquid
levels in reservoirs, silos.

1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal or objectives of which the designed device is expected to accomplish is to build an
automatic water level control with automatic control system. In this project sensors are place at
different level of the tank and with the aid of this sensors, the micro-controller monitor the
level of the liquid at any particular point in time, some of the objectives are

a To design an automatic water monitoring system

b To incorporate an interactive medium between the end user and the machine
c To prevent over labor of the pumping machine and prevent it from getting bad
d To avoid wastage of water
e Since the demand of electricity is very high, automatic water level control saves energy
1.2 JUSTIFICATION

Automatic water level monitor came into existence because of human error and inconsistence
that is associated with manually operated water pumping machine. This is because it takes time

1
for individual who is manually operating the water pump to turn off the pumping machine and
this may cause water spillage and at times the individual might not know that the water level
has drop so low until the tank is completely empty. This was the problem that leads to the
development of the ideal of an automatic water level control and automatic pump short down.

1.3 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT

The project was design to automatically control the pump which ensures constant reserve of
water in the reservoir. The scope of the design was keep concise and simple to in other not to
introduce unnecessary complexities and render it generally uncomfortable. The system does
not have attached complex peripheral device which though impossible for the detail printable
information has been excluded for reasons of affordability material of low range and less
accurate performances as opposed to a well-built automatic water pump was use d to achieve
this aim, the automatic water level controller detect and control the water in the tank

1.4 CONSTRAINS

The biggest setback experience during the course of this project is difficulties in finding the design of
the project.

1.5 LIMITATIONS OF THE PROJECT

It is significant to know that this design is limited to AC current.

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 BLOCK DIAGRAM OVERVIEW

Fig 1.0 Block Diagram Overview

This project report writing is written is design in such a way that each chapter is related to the next as
shown below

3
 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

Fig 1.1 Circuit Diagram

1.6 PROJECT RESPORT ORGANISATION

The organization of this project report is well detailed and vast in its coverage it covers all the
activities encountered during the research work. The first chapter of this work took care of the
introduction, aims and objective, scope, Justification and project report organization. Chapter
two highlight on literature review chapter three highlight on description of system and some of
the component used were emphasized chapter four highlight on the system design and
implementation, construction, testing and water reservation in the tank. Chapter five is all
about the conclusions problem encountered recommendation and cost of the project.

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 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

An automatic water level control detects the water level in the tank and also ensures continuous
water flow round the clock because of its automatic; this automatic water control is made up of:

Transistor BC 547

Fig 2.1.0 Transistor BC 547

LED

Fig 2.1.1 LED

5
 Electrolytic Capacitor

Fig 2.1.2 Electrolytic Capacitor

Resistors 220v

Fig 2.1.3 Resistors 220v

Buzzer

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 Fig 2.1.4 Buzzer
Transformer

Fig 2.1.5 Transformer 220AC/9V

The level measurement consist of determining the distance from the upper surface of a liquid in
a reservoir or vessel or any arbitrarily chosen mark located above or below this surface by itself
the level is not an independent physical quantities describing the state of a substance through
direct and indirect level, some examples of direct level measurement are dipstick, the bubbler,
immersion electrode, capacitor type ,liquid level radiation type liquid level measurement for
instance the dipstick, it is very simple, the stick being dipped periodically through a hole and the
hole and the immersion mark is being read off with the aid of the calibration on the stick.

Then, the direct level measurement are sight glass ,depending on the manometer principle, the
transparent tube is place in a convenient and its being connected to the lower part of tank and
graduated for safety reasons, the top the bright glass is vented into the tank and the sight has
isolation valve top and bottom while the micro base; water level controller has the ability to
switch on the pumping machine when the water in the tank has gone below gauge level
automatically switches the OFF the pumping machine when the water in the tank has reach its
maximum level.

Electronics circuit has undergone tremendous changes since the invention of a triode by LEE DE
FOREST in 1907. In those days the active component likes resistors, inductors and capacitors etc.
Of the circuit were separated and distinct unite connected by soldered lead with the invention of a
transistor in 1984 by W.H Brattain and I. Barden, the electronic circuit became considerably
reduced in size. IT was due to the fact that transistors were not only cheaper, more reliable and less
power consumption but was much smaller in size than an electronic tube.

7
To take advantage of small transistors size, the passive component too were reduce in size there
by making the entire circuit very small development of printed circuit board (PCB) further
reduce the size of electronics equipment by eliminating bulky wiring and tie point. In the early
1960s a new field of micro-electronics was born primarily to meet the requirement of the
military which was to reduce the size of it electronics equipment to approximately one tenth of it
then existing volume.

2.1 APPLICATIONS

The water level indicator circuits are used in factories, chemical plants, and electrical substations
and in other liquid storage systems. There are many possible uses for this simple system,
examples include monitoring a sump pit (to control pump activation), rainfall detection, and
leakage detection. Electronic water level circuits have the capability of alerting if there is a water
leak somewhere in the factory. When the water level is too high or too low or exceeds the higher
limit, it can detect the water level easily by hearing an alarm sound or from different colors of a
light bulb. We can also measure the fuel level in motor vehicles and the liquid level containers
which are huge in the companies.

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 CHAPTER THREE

3.0 METHODOLOGY

The circuit is designed to indicate 3 levels of water stored in the tank: low but not empty, half and
full but not overflowing. When there is no water in the tank, all the LEDs are off of an indication
that the tank is completely empty. When water level increases and touched the terminal, the red
Led glows indicating that there is water within the tank. As the water level continues to rise and
reaches half of the tank, the yellow Led glows. When the water in tank rises to full, an alarm is
made by the buzzer as an indication that the tank is full.

Fluid level Sensors LED

Detection Signal PCB Board Display
Sensors AMP Alarm

Regulated Power Supply LED

Display and
Alarm

Fig 3.0.1 Project Block Diagram

3.1 SYSTEM ANALYSIS

This project design automatic water level controller for both overhead and underground tank
with switching device is to ensure a higher rate of water monitoring the major component used
in the project design are fund level detection sensors, the power supply unit, switch and LEDs

3.2 STEP-DOWN TRANSFORMER

A transformer is a device consisting of two closely coupled coils called primary and secondary
coils. An AC voltages applied to the primary appears across the secondary with a voltage

9
multiplication proportional to the primary appears across the secondary with a voltage
multiplication proportion to the turn ratio of the transformer and a current multiplication
inversely proportional to the turn ratio power is conserved turn ration = VP/VS = NP/Ns and power
out = power in or Vs x
Is = UP X IP
VP = primary voltage
NP = number of turns in primary coil
IP = primary input current
Vs = Secondary output voltage
NS = number of turns on secondary coil

For the 9v volts step down transformer needed for this project, the turn ratio is 240:9 it is represented
as shown below.

Transformer Voltage

Input high voltage Output:

Low Voltage
Main supply AC
AC

Fig 3.2.1 Transformer Circuit Representation

3.3 DIODES

The term diode usually implies a small signal device with current typically in the milliamp
range. A semiconductor diode consist of a PN junction and has two (2) terminals, an anode (+)
and cathode (-) current flows from anode to cathode within the diode. Diodes are
semiconductor device that might be described as passing current in one direction only. The
latter part of that statement applies equally vacuum tube diodes. Diodes however are far more
extremely versatile in fact. Diode can be used as voltage regulators, turning devices in radio

10
frequency tuned circuit, frequency multiplying device in radio frequency circuit, mixing
devices application or can be used to make logic decision in digital circuit. There are also
diodes which emit “light” known as light emitting diodes or LED.

LED

Diode Zener Varactor Vacuum

Diode Diode Diode
Fig 3.3.1 Symbols of Diodes

3.4 TYPES OF DIODES

The first diode in figure is a semiconductor diode which could be a small signal diode of the
IN914 type commonly used in switching application, a rectifying diode of the IN4001 (400v 1A)
type or even one of the high power, high current stud mounting types. You will notice the
straight bar end has the letter “K” this denote the „cathode” while “a” denotes anode current can
only flow from anode to cathode and not in the reverse direction, hence the “arrow” appearance.
This is one very important property of diodes.

The next diode is the simplest form of vacuum tube or valve it simply has the old cathode and
anode these term were passed on to modern solid state devices vacuum tube diode are mainly
only of interest to restores and tude enthusiasts. The third diode is a Zener diode which is fairly
popular for the voltage regulation of low current power supplies whist it is possible to obtain
high current Zener diodes most regulation today is done electronically with the use of
dedicated integrated circuits and pass resistors the last diode is the light emitting diode or LED,
A led actually doesn‟t emit as much a plastic lens installed over it and this concentrates the
amount of light.

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3.5 LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (LED)

Light emitting diodes commonly called LED they do dozens of different jobs and are found in
all kinds of devices. Among other things they form the numbers on digital close, transmit
information from remote controls, light up watches and tell you when your appliance are
turned on collected together they can form images on a jumbo television screen or illuminate a
traffic light. Basically, LED are just ting light bulbs that fit easily into an electrical circuit but
unlike ordinary incandescent bulbs, they don‟t have a filament that will burn out and they don‟t
have get hot. They are illuminated by the movement of electron in a semiconductor material.
Many circuits use a LED as a usual indicator of some sort even if only as an indicator of power
supply being turned on.
A sample calculation of the dropping resistor is included below.
VC

Fig 3.5.1 Light Emitting Diodes

Most LED operate at 1.7v although this is not always the case and it is wise to check. The
dropping resistor is simply the net supply voltage minus the 1.7v led voltage then divided by
the led brightness current express as “amps” (ohms law) note the orientation of both cathode
and anode with respect to the ground end and the supply end usually with led the longer lead is
the anode. LED has several advantages over conventional in can descent lamps for thing, they
don‟t have a filament that will burn out, so they last much longer. Additionally, their small
plastic bulb makes them a lot more durable. They also fit more easily into modern electronic
circuits but the main advantage is efficiency, in conventional in can descent bulb the light
production process involve generating a lot of heat the filament must be warm this completely
waste energy.

3.6 BRIDGE RECTIFIER

A bridge rectifier can be made using four individual diodes, but it is also available in special
packages containing the four diodes required. It is called full-wave rectifier because it uses the
entire AC waves (both positive and negative section) 1.4v is used up in the bridge rectifier
because each diode uses 0.7v when diodes conducting as shown in the figure below. The

12
maximum current they can pass rates bridge rectifiers and the maximum reverse voltage they
can withstand this must be of least three times the supply RMs voltages so the rectifier can
withstands the peak voltage.

Fig 3.6.1 Bridge Rectifier Circuit Representation

Alternate pairs of diode conduct changing over the connections so the alternating directions of AC are
converted to the direction of DC.

R1 R
R

Fig 3.6.2 Resistors Corrected In Series

When resistors are connected in series their combined resistance is equal to the individual
resistance added together for example if resistor R1andR2 are connected in series their combined
resistance R is given by:

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Combined resistance in series R = R1 + R2 and can be further extended depending on the
number of resistor. The combined resistance in series will always be greater than any of the
individual resistance

R1
R2 = R

Fig 3.6.3 Resistors Connected In Parallel

When resistors are connected in parallel their combined resistance is less than any of the
individual resistance. There is a special equation for the combined resistance of two resistors
R1andR2combined resistance in parallel R = R1+R2
R1X R2

For more than two resistors connected in parallel a more difficult equation must be used. This
adds up the reciprocal (“one over”) of each resistance to give the reciprocal of the combined
resistance R: R = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + 1/R3.

3.7 HOW TO READ RESISTORS VALUES

B G
R
l r
Brown e Orange Yellow Green Violet
u a
d
e y
1 3 4 5 7
2
6 8

Must resistor have four bands

i. The first band gives the first digit

14
 ii. The second band gives the second digit
iii. The third indicate the
iii. The fourth band is use to show the tolerance of the resistor

Red RedRed Gold

22 x 100 = 2200 ohms Fig

3.7.1 Resistor Bands

3.8 TRANSISTOR

A transistor is a semiconductor device, commonly used as an amplifier or an electrically

control switch. The transistor is the fundamental building block of the circuitry in computers,
cellular phones, and all other modern electronics because of its fast response and accuracy, the
transistor is used in a wide variety of digital and analog functions, including amplification,
switching, voltage regulation, signal modulation and oscillators. Transistors may be packaged
individually or as part of an integrated circuit, some with over a billion transistors in a very
small area. They are contain to electronics and there are two main types, NPN and PNP

C C

B B
PNP

E
NPN E

Fig 3.9 Transistor Circuit Symbols

15
The letter refers to the layer of semiconductor material used to make the transistor, must
transistors used today are NPN because this is the easiest type to make from silicon. This page is
mostly about NPN transistors the lead are labeled based (B) collector (C) and emitter (E) these
terms refer to the internal operation of a transistor but they are not much in understanding how a
transistor is used.

3.8.0 TRANSISTOR CURRENTS

The diagram below shows the two current palls through a transistor. The small base current
controls the larger collector current. When the switch is closed, small current flows into the base
(B) of the transistor. It is just enough to make LED B glow dimly. The transistor amplifiers this
small current to allow a larger current to flow through from its collector (C) To its emitter (E).
This collector current is larger enough to make LED C light brightly

0 +9V Close
Switch
0 470

Collector
Current
LED C
Bright
LED B
Dim C

Base B
E
OV 10k

Base
current path

Collector current path

Fig 3.1.0 Current Path of a Transistor

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When the switch is open no base current flows, so the transistor switches off the collector
current. Both LED are off. A transistor amplifiers current and can be used as a switch. This
arrangement where the emitter (E) is in the controlling circuit (base current) and in the
controlled circuit (collector current) is called common emitter mode.

It is the most widely use arrangement for transistors.

3.9 CAPACITOR

Capacitor is a passive two-terminal electrical component used to store energy in an electric field.
The forms of practical capacitors vary widely, but all contain at least two conductors separated by
a non-conductor. Capacitors used as parts of electrical systems, for example consist of metal soils
separated by a layer of insulating film. A capacitor is passive electronic component consisting of
a pair of conductors separated by a dielectric (insulator) when there is a potential difference
(voltage) across the detected on one plate and negative charge on the other plate. Energy is stored
in the electrostatic field and is measured in farads.

3.1.0 PIEZO ELECTRIC BUZZER

Piezo electric ceramic buzzer element have a simple structure in which piezo ceramic element
is glued to vibration plates. When alternating voltage is applied to piezo ceramic element, the
element expands or shrinks diametrically. This characteristic is utilized to make vibration plate
bend to generate sounds. The acoustic generating method can be roughly divided into self-
drive oscillation method and external-drives oscillation method. The former shows the lowest
impedance on the acoustic generator, and produces the sound by the positive feedback
oscillation circuit to make neconace there by big sound pressure can be obtained by a simple
circuit.

3.1.1 POWER SUPPLY UNIT

There are main types of power supply some are designed to convert high voltage AC mains
electricity to a suitable low voltage supply for Electronic circuits and other devices. A power
supply can be broken down into a series of blocks, each of them perform a particular function.

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 220v Regulator
AC Transformer Rectifier Smoothing

Main 9VDC

Fig 3.1.1.0 Block Diagram of a Regulated Power Supply

3.1.2 SYSTEM

Transformer: Steps down high voltage AC mains to low voltage AC

Rectifier: Converts AC to DC but the DC output is varying diode are the main rectifier use.

Smoothing: Smoothers the DC from varying greatly to a small ripple regulator: eliminates ripple by
setting DC output to a fixed voltage.

As seen in chapter one, the project consist of several blocks. Which depicts the functional parts
of the system. In this section, I will like to make conceptual design of the design of the system to
have in the detail design of the project. The design gives an overview on the function of the
major block, how they are integrated and the data flow arrangement. A sensitive automatic
detector of water level controller will switching device can the design process characterized by
the following

i. Definition of task
ii. Requirement
iii. Factor that influence choice

In defining a task, every design comes from an idea or a problem that require a solution.
Questions may be generated on what exactly that is required to be achieved and the feasibility
of the ideas as regards to the implementation. If these questions are analyzed critically with
tangible solutions to the problem, a development of this idea into a reality is the next step.
Requirement for design process have to be considered once an idea has been. However it
came my though that among all the component used here the one that consumes the higher

18
power is the light emitter diodes (LED) which need as much as 9-voit to glow and draws as
maximum as 500m amp of current.

As a result of this I decided to use 9-voit 1 amps rated transformer for this design after the
voltage is step to 9-voit using a transformer, a full wave rectifier circuit was design using four
diodes (IN4001). This value of diode is used here because from the specification of
voltage/diodes rectifying data books this value is adequate for lower voltage say 0.24 volt
current =1 amps therefore 1.27 amps is the maximum load current that can be drawn in the
whole system. Also it is known that after rectification, the same voltage (9-volt) continues to
flow into the filter. As a result the load voltage 9-volt thus VDC=load voltage =9-volt

19
 CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 SYSTEM TESTING

After the design and implementation phase, the system built has to be tested for durability and
effectiveness and also ascertain if there is need to modify the design .the system was first
assembled using breadboard all the component were properly soldered to the Vero board from
whence some test were carried out at various stage to ensure proper functioning of component
expected, the component were tested using a digital multi-meter (DMM). Resistors were tested
to ensure that their tolerance value. Faulty resistor were discarded.

4.1 COMPONENT TEST

Similar component like resistor were packed together. The other component include capacitor,
switch, transformer, resistor, Diodes (rectifier) LED, transistor, voltage regulators etc. Reference
was made to color coding data sheet to ascertain the expected value of resistors used. Each
resistor was tested and the value read and recorded. Also for transistor test the DIMM was
switched to the diode range. The collector, base, emitter junctions were tested in the following
order. The collector, emitter and base pins were gotten from the data analysis on power
transistor.

4.2 TEST FOR TRANSISTORS

Blackprobe Redprobe

1 st t e s t o n p i n s Collector Base

2 nd t e s t o n p i n s Emitter Base

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4.3 SYSTEM TEST

The system was powered and operated upon using several possibilities they include making sure
that the buzzer only send a signal when the water level has gone above the mark. Also red Led
turns ON when water level is below the mark. The seven segment display was also tested to make
sure correct level was display on the seven segment display screen.

4.4 TRANSFORMER TEST (step down)

Expectedly the transformer was rated 220v/9v, 1000mA. From the mains power supply, the primary
coil receives 220v input, the output was measure to be 16.75v using a DMM. Test data on transformer
has it that the resistance of the primary windings for step down transformer is higher than that of the
secondary side this was ascertained.

4.5 PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

From the table above, it shows that range between the expected value and the actual can be
tolerated. As a result of this the drift in expected value has no critical effect on the system
design since the result current range was also exceeded, also the operational voltage was not
exceeded.

4.6 PACKAGING

After the completion of the work, the circuitry was enclosed in a case to avoid damage. This is
very vitally to the packaging of any electronic equipment, the enclosure provides protection as

21
well as attraction that is, and it add aesthetic value to the work. The sizes of tank to be used for
packaging was first of all determined after considering the following factors

i. Easy input and removal of water from the tanks

ii. Positions of the tanks
iii. Space for future modifications, easy accessibility to circuit board
iv. EASY mobility of the tanks.

4.7 BILL OF ENGINEERING MEASURMENT AND EVALUATION

To carry out this project, some things were put into considerations. Among those things include
the cost of component used for the construction was the priority. The table below shows the
component that are used in the project construction, the quantity and also the price of ach
components

C O M P O N E N V A L U E QUANTITY UNIT T O T A L
T
1 TRANSFORMER 220V/9 V 1 1 5 0 150

2 DIODES I N 4 0 0 2 60 60
1

3 LED 5 50 50

4 C A P A C I T O 2200 35V 2 70 70
RS
5 RESISTORS 220 6 60 60

22
6 TRANSISTORS BC547 4 80 80

7 BUCKETS 1 50 5 0

TOTAL KSH. 520

23
 CHAPTER FIVE

CONCLUSION

Going through the planning, flow process, the system has been a tough one, the chapter one to
four has actually tried as much as possible to explain vividly almost all (if not all) what is
involved in the construction of this project. After the complete design of the system, the
deviation between the expected result and the actual result was very close. The performance
and efficiency was beyond expectation and from every ramification the design of automatic
water controller was successful.

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED

During the course of designing this system there were series of problems encountered which
came on the way of achieving the desired goals of this project. Some parts require re-designing
and the system hence creating a bit of problem, LEDs blew and PCB board cracked while
soldering.

RECOMMENDATIONS

I strongly recommend that government should set up industries for production of basic
electronic component locally and establish research centers in each university to enable student
have good sound practical knowledge on electronics component and their operation

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Belone, S., &Graw, H. W. (2004). Electronic Circuit Discrete & Integration, (23rd
Edition). New Delhi, India: S, Chand & Company.

Byrne, L., Lau, K. T., & Diamond, D. (2002). Monitoring of Headspace Total Volatile
Basic Nitrogen from Selected fish Species using Reflectance Spectroscopic Measurements of
pH Sensitive filmsî,The Analyst Company, vol. 127.
Dietz, P., Yerazunis W., & Leigh, D. (2003). Very Low-Cost Sensing Devices.
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Javanmard, M., Abbas, K. A., & Arvin, F. (2009). A Microcontroller-Based

Monitoring System for Batch Tea Dryer, CCSE Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol. 1, No.
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Paul, H., &Windfied, R. (2008). The Art of Electronic, (2nd Edition). Ronald, J., (2005).
Digital Systems. U.S.A: Prentice Hall Inc.

Tharaja, B. L., &Tharaja, A. K. (2006). A Text Book On Electrical Technology, (23rd

Edition). New Delhi, India: S, Chand & Company www.microchip.com APPENDIX:
SYSTEM COMPONENT LIST i Dc water pump ii Lm7805 voltage regulator iii Vero
board iv Connecting wire v Seven segment display vi 240/12v, 1000ma transformer vii
Soldering iron viii 30ph capacitor ix 10uf 16v capacitor x Rectifier diodes xi 2200uf/25v
capacitor

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