Hi guys,

Way OT, but maybe someone here can point me in the right direction. I'm trying to find out what to look for (or if they even exist) in electronic sensors that can monitor water-solubal chemical parameters, ie: here's a water sample, please provide some readings. Temperature is an easy one, I'm also looking for sensors that can monitor nitrate, ammonia, nitrite, ph, gh (general hardness), and kh (carbonate hardness). The intention is a mental exercise to get me more experienced with electronics, these sensors would be "hooked up" to a circuit which would "be connected" to a pc via serial/parallel. You can tell the bits I haven't researched yet

It's easy to measure these parameters via chemical test kits, so I'm sure sensors must exist for them.

I'm coming up blank trying to find these sensors, but whether that's because I'm looking in the wrong place (I've checked all the national electronic component suppliers I know) or looking for the wrong keywords I don't know. All pointers appreciated, unless they're void* . I'm hoping someone here knows off the top of their head whether what I want exists and what it's called. A name or supplier would be great!

Cheers!

Howdy,

You want to search in the area of optics. I do such things and
all the newer technology is with optics and lasers.

If you need more just let me know.

Woodmann

http://www.abb.com

That sounds very interesting Silver. If you glean any useful info you might want to share eventually, or if Woodmann or others have some cool things to share, please feel free. You probably already have good PC interfacing books, but one I found helpful was:

Real-World Interfacing with your PC
A Hands-on guide to parallel port projects
James Barbarello

I once did the project that uses an LM335 temperature sensor and ADC0831 A/D converter. Even wrote the software in VB (Gag!) I wish I had time to play more with other projects. It would be interesting to see what kind of IC's might be used for those types of water measurements. I would think that some of them would require specialized probes, what's the latest developments in glass pH probes, membrane technology or conductivity meters? You might be able to pick up some cheap bits at a scientific equipment disposal site.

I work in the chem/bio field, I'll ask the guys in the electronic shop their thoughts on chemical sensors, they're always building something interesting

Cheers,
Kayaker

think you need ion selective electrodes.
expensive though.
Regards,

Thanks for the replies guys. From what I've found (now that I know what I'm looking for), I think this project will have to be abandoned. I can only find US suppliers for most of the probes, and the cost is huge - the ammonia one alone is $555...

So unless anyone knows different, looks like I'll have to leave it for now. Kayaker - I'd appreciate it if you let me know what your biochem guys say.

www.trios.de

You owe me a dollar

Woodmann

Lol, actually they suggested taking up another hobby such as making your own beer This being a Friday afternoon idea of course. One of them had just picked up a nice little gas sensor kit for alcohols, smoke contents,.., that looked like a reasonable home IC project
http://www.kemo-electronic.com/en/home/index.htm

Nice Trios inline cuvette units there, nice bucks! Maybe playing with a scrap O2 sensor from an automobile exhaust system might be more affordable :P

thanks guys!

And that dollar is.. er.. in the post.