MSGID: <10fkcfa$27h91$1@dont-email.me> 57da1e76   
   REPLY: <10fk8la$26m94$1@dont-email.me> 09732dc4   
   PID: PyGate 1.5   
   TID: PyGate/Linux 1.5   
   CHRS: CP437 2   
   TZUTC: 0000   
   REPLYADDR tnp@invalid.invalid   
   REPLYTO 3:633/10 UUCP   
   Subject: Re: OIL level sensor (was ODD DNS behaviour on Pi ZERO W with   
   Bullseye OS)   
      
   On 19/11/2025 11:11, Daniel James wrote:   
   > On 19/11/2025 10:08, The Natural Philosopher wrote:   
   >> Oh. I designed a board with   
   >>   
   >> - a Pi Pico W.   
   >> - a three pin temperature sensor ( TMP36) to monitor outside temperature   
   >> - an ultrasonic transmitter/receiver ( HCRS04) on it   
   >> - a nano power timer that (Was a sparkfun nano power switchÿ TPL5110    
   >> until I blew it up and replaced it with a sub-boardÿ with an Adafruit    
   >> TPL5110 Low Power Timer ) wakes up every 2 hours, tries to make    
   >> contact with the wifi, sends a short message to the server, and then    
   >> commits suicide and shuts the timer down again.   
   >    
   > OK, thanks. What sort of oil tank do you have and how do you fit the    
   > sensor to it?   
      
   One of these basically   
      
   https://www.fueltankshop.co.uk/2500-litre-oil-tank-titan-h2500gr/p5305   
      
   The tank already had a hole in the top to take an oil watchman sensor,    
   so I 3d printed a case to use the same mounting holes and gasket. I will    
   need to open up the hole a bit for the ultrasonics   
   >    
   > I'm part-way through designing something similar myself, but using an    
   > ESP8266 to control the sensor and talking mqtt to a Pi (happens to be a    
   > Pi3B, because I have one always-on for other things but I could have    
   > used a ZeroW). It's really at Proof-of-Concept stage at present.   
   >    
   Well since I am 100% custom I didn't bother with mqtt - I simply send a    
   short text string . The more problematical bit is establishing a wifi    
   connection and what to do if it fails to connect.   
      
   If I had Ethernet out there I would never have gone to the complexity of    
   battery operation....   
      
   > I have a 3V-compatible HCSR04 to play with, but was wondering whether an    
   > ir laser ToF device might be better. Those ultrasonic sensors are a bit    
   > chunky ... (I'm told there is no chance of the laser in,say, a VL53L1X    
   > igniting heating oil vapour!)   
   >    
   Good with the 3v version Mine isn't and I expect it to get sketchy at    
   around 3.9V.   
   If that proves to be a problem I'll probab;y make a new board up and    
   transfer the modules from the existing...   
      
   > I haven't yet put either anywhere near the oil tank, yet. I'm using    
   > readings from a BME280 to test the logic.   
   >    
   > I have a "Cheap Yellow Display" (ESP32 with LCD) that acts as a mqtt    
   > client and display panel ... it can record data (but doesn't yet) but    
   > I'll probably want something more sophisticated later ... as I say, it's    
   > all PoC at present.   
   >    
   Well the history of my controller goes back 20 years when I installed    
   everything and just threw in 'enough to get it working'   
      
   But I never had proper control. And the RF thermostat was bulky and not    
   especially reliable. So I finally decided to mess around with a Pi.   
      
   Because the website I built on the zero has everything I want to know    
   exactly where I want it, the experience is MUCH better.   
      
   Sometimes stuff gets stuck after a power cut. But hard resets have    
   always fixed it.   
      
   I don't like the commercial solutions that rely on a cloud somewhere.   
      
      
   --    
   Truth welcomes investigation because truth knows investigation will lead    
   to converts. It is deception that uses all the other techniques.   
      
      
   --- PyGate Linux v1.5   
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)   
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