N.O. DS10A Water Leak Detector

[systemdm]

Just having fun with the DS10A.
parts:
DS10A
#4-40 x 1-1/2" Machine screws
springs from 2 ball point pens
sponge cut to 1 x 1-1/2"

[lodtrack]

Simple but nifty idea...patent pending? 

[B.A.]

I was just thinking about adding leak detection yesterday!
Like it.
Helpful from me!

[systemdm]

Hmmmm....Wonder what it would cost to patent... 

[Dan Lawrence]

Hmmmm....Wonder what it would cost to patent... 

Don't think you can patent it. The DS10 is X10's. I suspect they will object.

[Noam]

Maybe the water sensor part could be patented - you can then hook that to ANY alarm system. ;-)

[jediagh]

So when the sponge gets full of water, the DS10a is triggered? Why?  What causes a sponge full of water between the 2 sensors to do that? thank

[Brian H]

The switch moves in respect to the magnet. When the sponge gets wet. The springs from the pens pushes the switch closer to the magnet. Triggering a change from open to closed status.

[jediagh]

so when the sponge gets wet the springs push and thus compress the sponge?  so this in turn forces the 2 sensors closer to each other?  is this not backwards?  you want the 2 sensors to go away from each other so they trigger right?  not following???

[Brian H]

Yes it is backwards from a normal security use.
I would guess that is why it was called a NO {Normally Open} sensor.

There are other thread on water sensing with a DS10A on some automation sites.
I believe a search here may also find a few.

[Noam]

couldn't you use a Normally Closed (NC) sensor, so that when the sponge gets wet and the two halves push together, the circuit would open.

[jediagh]

couldn't you use a Normally Closed (NC) sensor, so that when the sponge gets wet and the two halves push together, the circuit would open.

For a NC sensor you would want to do this:
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=20345.0

I read that thread first & thus my mindset was NC sensor so that is why this thread for a NO sensor was not making sense. =)

[dbemowsk]

Many irrigation rain sensors use a similar concept.  It is a stack of disks on a small spindle that expand when they get wet causing the compression of a micro switch.  This is an interesting idea though.

[Brian H]

A Security Console may get confused by the reverse logic.
The DS10A mod may work fine for those with other systems not of an X10 brand.
Like this person is doing.
http://www.gardnerswebsite.com/ds10a/index.html

I have been playing around with his modification and may have found a way to trigger a DS10A in a normal way. closed is dry and open when wet.
Now that I have a DS10A I may try my theory out.

[dbemowsk]

Just connect it to a powerflash.