Ultrasonic Water level using Blynk iot

Ultrasonic Water level using Blynk iot

Building an Ultrasonic Distance Meter using Blynk IoT is a fun project that involves using an ultrasonic sensor to measure distance and then sending the data to a Blynk app on your smartphone for real-time monitoring. You'll need an Arduino (or compatible board), an HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor, and the Blynk App for the IoT integration.

Here’s a step-by-step tutorial to guide you through the process:

What You’ll Need:

1. Arduino Board (Arduino Uno, Nano, or any compatible model)
2. HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor
3. Jumper wires
4. Breadboard (optional)
5. Blynk Account (for mobile app interface)
6. Wi-Fi Module (ESP8266/ESP32 if you're using a Wi-Fi-enabled Arduino or a standalone ESP module)
7. Blynk App (installed on your smartphone)

Step 1: Setting Up Blynk

1. Download the Blynk App: Go to your smartphone’s app store (Google Play or Apple App Store) and install the Blynk app.
2. Create an Account: Open the app, create a new account, and log in.
3. Create a New Project:
   • Tap on the "New Project" button.
   • Choose your board type (e.g., Arduino Uno, ESP32, ESP8266).
   • Select Wi-Fi as your connection type.
   • Tap Create Project. Blynk will generate an Auth Token, which you’ll receive in your email.
4. Set Up Your Blynk Dashboard:
   • After creating your project, add a Value Display widget to show the distance readings.
   • Tap on the widget to configure it, set the unit to cm (centimeters).
   • You can also add a Button widget to control things like triggering the sensor, or setting thresholds for alerts.

Step 2: Wiring the Components

1. Connect the Ultrasonic Sensor (HC-SR04) to your Arduino board:

   • VCC to 5V on Arduino.
   • GND to GND on Arduino.
   • Trig to Pin 9 (you can choose any digital pin).
   • Echo to Pin 10 (you can choose any digital pin).

2. If using ESP8266/ESP32:

   • For ESP8266/ESP32, use the respective 3.3V pin for the sensor's VCC. The wiring otherwise remains the same.

Step 3: Installing Blynk Library and Code

1. Install the Blynk Library:

   • Open the Arduino IDE.
   • Go to Sketch > Include Library > Manage Libraries.
   • Search for Blynk and install it.

2. Install the ESP8266/ESP32 Library (if using these):

   • Go to Tools > Board > Board Manager, search for ESP8266 or ESP32, and install the necessary package.

3. Code for the Ultrasonic Distance Meter:

• Use the following code to read the distance from the ultrasonic sensor and send it to the Blynk app:

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

#define BLYNK_TEMPLATE_ID "...................."

#define BLYNK_TEMPLATE_NAME "...................."

#define BLYNK_AUTH_TOKEN "....................."

// Comment this out to disable prints and save space

#define BLYNK_PRINT Serial

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>

#include <BlynkSimpleEsp8266.h>

#define trig D5   // Trig pin

#define echo D6

char auth[] = BLYNK_AUTH_TOKEN;

// Your WiFi credentials.

// Set password to "" for open networks.

char ssid[] = "Manmohan Pal";

char pass[] = "8989811397";

int depth =30;

BlynkTimer timer;

 

void waterlevel()

{

  digitalWrite(trig, LOW);

  delayMicroseconds(2);

  digitalWrite(trig, HIGH);

  delayMicroseconds(10);

  digitalWrite(trig, LOW);

  long t = pulseIn(echo, HIGH);

  long cm = t / 29 / 2;

  Serial.println(cm);

  long level= depth-cm;

  if (level<0)

  level=0;

  level = map(level,0,depth-3,0,100);

  Blynk.virtualWrite(V0, level);

  Blynk.virtualWrite(V1, cm);

}

 

void setup()

{

  pinMode(trig, OUTPUT);

  pinMode(echo, INPUT);

  Serial.begin(115200);

  Blynk.begin(auth, ssid, pass);

  timer.setInterval(10L, waterlevel);

 

}

void loop()

{

  Blynk.run();

  timer.run();

  }

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Step 4: Uploading the Code to the Arduino

1. Select Your Board: Go to Tools > Board and select the appropriate board (Arduino Uno, ESP8266, ESP32, etc.).
2. Select the Port: Go to Tools > Port and select the correct COM port for your board.
3. Upload the Code: Click the Upload button in the Arduino IDE to upload the code to your board.

Step 5: Using the Blynk App

1. Open the Blynk App: Launch the app on your smartphone.
2. View the Distance: The Value Display widget will show the distance in real-time, updated by the ultrasonic sensor readings.
3. Control the System (optional): If you’ve added any buttons for triggering or controlling the sensor, you can interact with the app to modify the behavior.

Step 6: Testing the Distance Meter

1. Test the Ultrasonic Sensor: Place an object at a known distance from the sensor, and check if the Blynk app displays the correct value.
2. Adjust the Sensor: If necessary, adjust the maxDistance or the triggering interval in the code.

Optional Enhancements:

• Add Multiple Sensors: If you want to monitor multiple distances, use multiple ultrasonic sensors and corresponding virtual pins in Blynk.
• Sound Alerts: You can also integrate a buzzer or LED that activates when the distance crosses a certain threshold.

Conclusion

Now, you’ve successfully created an ultrasonic distance meter that sends data to the Blynk IoT platform, enabling you to monitor the readings remotely on your smartphone!