Step-by-Step Guide
Required Hardware
To monitor water levels in your lake, pond, cistern, or tank using a BL-5406 pressure biCoder with an aftermarket lake level sensor, you will need the following components:
- BaseStation 3200
- BL-5406 pressure biCoder
- Separate lake level transducer (aftermarket)
- Body of water (lake, cistern, wet well, or tank)
The example transducer used is a Dwyer model number SPLT2-5-40, which has a 0 to 5 PSI range and comes with a 40-foot long cord. Several other aftermarket transducers are available on the market. Be sure to order one that fits your application and expected pressure range.
Installing the Lake Level Transducer
1. Hang the transducer portion in the water as low as practical to get the most accurate reading of the water level.
2. Connect the output wires from the transducer to the sensor side of the biCoder using waterproof splices.
3. Connect the biCoder to the two-wire path following the manufacturer's instructions. Use the included DBRY-6 splices and ensure that you get the red and black wire polarity correct.
Configuring the Sensor in BaseManager
1. Open BaseManager and navigate to Devices.
2. Search the wire path for pressure sensors.
3. Give your new sensor a unique name and save the configuration.
Viewing Water Pressure Readings
Once the sensor is assigned, you can monitor water levels in two ways:
- Use the Test function to see the current water pressure
- Go to Quick View to see the pressure reading
Understanding Pressure-to-Water Level Conversion
The pressure reading corresponds directly to the water level in your body of water. Each foot of water produces 0.433 PSI of pressure. This relationship allows you to calculate water depth from pressure readings:
- A 10-foot deep wet well will show 4.33 PSI when completely full
- The same well will read 2.16 PSI when half full
- At a quarter full, it will read 1.08 PSI
The sensor provides consistent readings, so a specific PSI value will always correspond to the same water level mark.
Creating a Water Source Empty Condition
Water source empty conditions allow you to discontinue the use of a water source when the sensor indicates the water level is too low, preventing pumps from running dry.
1. Navigate to the Flow Setup tab in BaseManager.
2. Go to Water Sources and select Edit.
3. Select Add Empty Condition to see the different sensor options.
4. Select your previously named pressure sensor from the device list.
5. Set the Empty Condition PSI to the appropriate threshold. For example, set it to less than 0.86 PSI, which corresponds to two feet of water—the lowest acceptable level before the pump runs dry.
6. Set the Wait Time to determine how long the system waits before checking the water level again. For example, 240 minutes (4 hours).
7. Check Enabled and save the program.
With these settings, when the water level drains down to the lowest acceptable level and the sensor reads 0.86 PSI or less, the water source is taken offline. After the wait time (4 hours), the system checks if the water level has increased. If the level has risen above 0.86 PSI, the water source will resume watering. If the well is still below the two-foot level, it will wait another four hours before checking again.
Creating a Cistern Fill Program Based on Water Level
You can automate cistern filling by creating a program that starts when the water level drops below a certain threshold.
1. Navigate to the Schedules tab in BaseManager.
2. Add a new program and give it a descriptive name.
3. Select the zone that fills the tank (for example, zone 6).
4. Set a run time for the zone. For example, 120 minutes (2 hours). Calculate the run time to ensure the cistern fills completely but does not overfill.
5. Make sure the entire water window is available.
6. Remove the start time, as the program will start based on a condition rather than a scheduled time.
7. Allow only start days to remain active.
8. Select Add a Condition from the drop-down menu and choose to use a pressure sensor to start the program.
9. From the device list, select your previously assigned pressure sensor.
10. Set the pressure limit to less than 0.86 PSI to reflect the lower two-foot water limit.
11. Click Save.
With this configuration, the program will start when the water level is low enough for the pressure sensor to read 0.86 PSI or less. The selected zone will run for the specified time (2 hours), filling the cistern back up.
Adding a Stop Condition to Prevent Overfilling
If you cannot accurately calculate the fill time or want to ensure the cistern never overfills, you can add a stop condition based on pressure.
1. Change the run time to allow more than enough time to fill the cistern. For example, set it to 4 hours instead of 2 hours.
2. Select Add a Condition from the drop-down menu and choose to use a pressure sensor to stop the program.
3. From the device list, select the same pressure sensor used for the start condition.
4. Set the pressure limit to 4.3 PSI or above to reflect the upper limit of a 10-foot deep cistern.
5. Uncheck Finish Run so the program stops before the full four-hour run time when the pressure threshold is reached.
6. Click Save.
It is recommended to allow a little room before the overfill point to account for controller response time.
With this programming, when the cistern drains down to the lowest level and the sensor reads 0.86 PSI or less, the program will start filling it. The program can run as long as four hours, but when the pressure sensor reads 4.3 PSI or more, the program will stop before the cistern overfills.
Video Walkthrough
Video originally published February 2023.
If you have questions, here are 3 ways to get answers:
1. Search within this HydroPoint knowledgebase
2. Visit the HydroPoint support page
3. Call 800-362-8774 or email support@hydropoint.com, hours are Mon-Fri 3:00 AM – 6:00 PM PT and Sat 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM PT.