Rain Alarm using Water Sensor

Rain alarm is a simple circuit using water sensor (transducer) that produces an audible alarm whenever rain falls. The circuit can be based on two transistors and or a NE555 IC.

The two transistors are wired as a switch which goes on when the base of Q1 is shorted to the positive of the supply by the rainwater falling on the sensor. When the transistors are ON power supply is available to the IC1 which is wired as an astable multivibrator .The out put of IC1 drives the speaker to produce a alarm.

A 555 astable multivibrator is used here which gives a tone of about 1 KHz upon detecting water. The sensor when wetted by water completes the circuit and makes the 555 oscillate at about 1kHz.

The Circuits of Rain Alarm

Water Sensor (Transducer)-Rain Sensing Grid Schematic

It has to placed making an angle of about 30 – 45 degrees to the ground. This makes the rain water to flow through it to the ground and prevents the alarm from going on due to the stored water on the sensor.

The metal used to make the sensor has to be aluminium and not copper. This is because copper forms a blue oxide on its layer on prolonged exposure to moisture and has to be cleaned regularly.

The aluminium foils may be secured to the wooden / plastic board via epoxy adhesive or small screws.
The contact X and Y from the sensor may be obtained by small crocodile clips or you may use screws.

Source : Rain Alarm Circuit – Rain Alarm