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Flood Detector Part 3 of 3
Having decided NOT to use the Tuya Smart Wifi Water Leakage Detectors for their intended purpose, I wondered if they could be used for some other purpose. After all, they are just VERY sensitive switches able to be interfaced with Grid Connect and could thus be used to control other smart devices rather than just provide an alarm.
The Water Probe wires could be connected to many different things to monitor a change in switch status – for example a micro switch or relay output etc.
The following may not be of any practical use but is intended to provide ideas of how some smart devices can be adapted for other uses.
As a worked example I decided to re-imagine my (rather complicated) ‘DIY Grid Connect Low Voltage Interface’ (Light Sensitive Switch) as per a previous post.
I had on hand a 5V DC light sensor module, a small PVC project box, an old 5V phone charger cable and a Tuya Smart Wifi Water Leakage Detector. All I had to do was mount the light sensor module in a box, cut off the water probe and connect its two wires to the module’s relay output. You could simply assemble everything, insert the batteries, create a suitable Grid Connect Automation and you’re done!
Note: ‘Flood Normal’ could indicate ‘Switch OFF’ and ‘Flood Alarm’ could indicate ‘Switch ON’
OPTIONAL:
I decided to go one step further and make the Leakage Detector module ‘battery free’. This involved re-wiring the Detector with a 4 core cable. The red & black wires connect to the battery terminals and the blue & white wires connect to the ‘water probe’ connections of the Leakage Detector’s PCB. The red & black wires were then connected to the 5V input of the light sensor module and the blue & white wires were connected to the light sensor’s relay output. (I know - the Leakage Detector is now running on 5V instead of its intended 3V, but CMOS logic can run on higher voltages – and, to quote Vice Grip Garage: “If it works, is it really a dumb idea?” 🤔
I even repurposed the redundant Water Probe by connecting it in parallel with the non smart leak detector under the kitchen sink and installing it on the floor, adjacent to the dishwasher. 🙂
(The dishwasher flooded due to over sudsing a few weeks ago, and so, this could prove handy!)
@GreenHouse you can always use a 3v lithium rechargeable battery and apply 3.3vdc hard wired volts to it that way you have hardwired/battery backup 
You so need to start playing with Raspberries or Arduinos, I only work with Raspberries these days as they are extremely powerful for a single board computer and so many libraries. Plus ChatGPT is your coding buddy with them.
Grid Connect Notifications:
For the first time the other night, I had a quick look at Grid Connect 'Notifications'.
I wrote down a few operational notes for myself from my findings. See photo of my notes below.
I would like to know:
- Is there any more to it (have I missed anything)?
- Are any of my notes incorrect?
- Are there any other tips and tricks people have?
Hello @w0mbat
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your Grid automation work around project.
What a fantastic clever idea to use another PIR sensor to carry out a small piece of coding. It's truly a creative solution to get the behaviour you're looking for in the system. I'm sure this information will come in handy to those members who are after the same setup.
In regards to starting a new topic, if you look at the very top of the webpage, you'll see big red buttons saying, "Ask a question" and "Share a project". Once you start simply follow the prompts.
Again, thank you for sharing such an interesting project.
Eric
