Need help to create script for RS232 sensor

[luisr320]

Hi.
I'm about to receive a capacitive sensor from CAPNAVI to measure the level of my heating diesel tank.
The idea is to use the sensor to monitor the level of the tank in realtime, thus providing me with the ability to assess the consumption of the diesel and to make Homeseer give me some kind of warning when a ceirtain level is reached, or even automattically send an e-mail requesting a refill.
The sensor costs about 120 US Dollars, including the calibration cable and it comes from Russia.

The sensor is this one:
http://www.capnavi.com/en/shop/showproduct/12/

It gives an ASCI output every second with the level of the tank trough a RS232 port, with a resolution of up to 4096 points.

The data protocol is this one:
http://www.linhadafrente.net/Luis/Se...20protocol.pdf

I'm a complete newbee to Homeseer. Is there someone who may be able to help me create a script to measure the level of my tank?

Thank's

[Mark42]

Please read the following with regard to Intrinsic Safety. The vapor space in a fuel oil tank is vented to the atmosphere and so can potentially contain an explosive mix of hydrocarbon vapor and air.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrinsic_safety

Has the device been certified for use in the EU?

Best Regards

Mark

[Midon]

Good point, Mark!

Here is an untested script to get you started, luisr320:

sub Main(ByVal strReceived As String)

    dim LogResults as string
    dim FrequencyVal as string
    dim TemperatureVal as string
    dim LevelVal as string


    LogResults =        "y1"        ' enable/disable logging
    FrequencyVal =        "y2"        ' received frequency
    TemperatureVal =    "y3"        ' received temperature
    LevelVal =        "y4"        ' received level
' use the following to debug your connection to the sensor
    if hs.IsOn(LogResults) then
        hs.writelog ("CAPLLS Data",Cstr(strReceived))
    end if
' Parse the received string
    if InStr(strReceived,"=") <> 0 then    ' look for the expected string
        FrequencyVal =         trim(hs.StringItem(strReceived,1,"="))
        TemperatureVal =     trim(hs.StringItem(strReceived,2,"="))
        LevelVal =         trim(hs.StringItem(strReceived,3,"="))
    else
        hs.writelog ("CAPLLS Unexpected String = ",Cstr(strReceived))    
    end if

end Sub
'=============================================================
' Run this once whenever starting HomeSeer
'=============================================================
sub StartCom(parm as object)            ' no need to pass a parameter

    dim COM1 as string = "1"        ' change to the correct serial port
    dim e as string
    hs.closecomport(COM1)            ' close the port in case was already open
    e=hs.OpenComPort(COM1,"19200,n,8,1",1,"CAP_LLS.vb","main")
    if e<> "" then
        hs.writelog "Error opening com"+COM1,e
    else
        hs.writelog "COM"+COM1, "Setup complete for CAP LLS"
    end if

end Sub 

[luisr320]

Thank for your interest.
I'm not sure if it is EU certified. I'm guessing it is not. However, the sensor electronics is contained in a cap on top of it that remains outside the tank. The probe is two concentric tubes with air between them. As they are filled with fuel, the capacitive property of these tubes change, being the fuel the dielectric mean.

I haven't received the sensor yet but will try the script and give you some feedback ASAP.
How would you go about to make the data arrive to HS wirelessly?

How about this? http://www.usconverters.com/index.ph...roducts_id=186
It costs about 50US.

Or this: http://www.usconverters.com/index.ph...roducts_id=228
It's also about 50US but uses bluethoot, which my computer already have.