PRESTON UNIVERSITY

SUBJECT:-PROPOSAL WRITING FOR

SEMESTER

PROJECT TITLE:- DESIGN OF RAIN ALARM

PREPARED BY:- KHURAM SHAHZAD

GROUP MEMBERS
NAME Reg #
1 Khuram Shahzad 1450-116009
2 Arslan Iftikhar 1456-116002
3 Naqash Gulfraz 1456-116043

SUBMITTED TO:- Mr. Aatif Saeed

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
As we know electronics field is the art of combining the knowledge of science and physics to
acquire the ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs. So we would
like to thank the department for giving this chance even if it is part of the course.

ABSTRACT

In this project we tried to present the essence of conservation of rain water.

The main purpose of this project is to collect clear rain water automatically using water sensor.
The rain water detector can be used to conserve Water, prevent Groundwater and Waterways
Pollution, to save money on fertilizer.
The rain alarm circuit produces an audible alarm whenever the rain falls. the rain detector circuit
is based on simple idea.
TABLE OF CONTENT

1- Introduction
2- Background
3- Aim of the project
4- Literature review
4.1- Rain water sensor
4.2- Irrigation sensor
5- Block Diagram
6- Equipment required
7- Complete circuit diagram
8- Working Principle
8.1- First section
8.2- Second section
8.3- Third section
9- Applications
10- Conclusion
11- References
 1- INTRODUCTION
Water is basic need in every one’s life. Saving and proper usage of water is very
important. Here is an easy project which will give the alarm when there is rain, so that we can
make some actions and save the rain water. As a result, we can increase the water levels of
underground water by using underwater recharge technique. Rain water detector will detect the
rain and make an alert, rain water detector is used in the irrigation field, home automation,
communication, automobiles etc.

We are interested in doing this project due to different reasons.

Firstly, as we know the rain is seasonally varies .As a result it is important to handle and
utilize the incoming rain from the sky for irrigation and home application.
Secondly, in communications it will boost the power of the antenna and increase the
signal strength to send or receive the signals. This will enable us to forecast for the
communication sector to reduce the network problem that’s happening which is becoming the
worst case.

2- BACK GROUND
The idea of collecting rain water has been around thousands of years. Archeologists have
found that the rain water harvesting system was being used in the Negev desert 4000 years ago.
in ancient Rome villas had their own individual cisterns and the rain water was collected from
paved courtyards which made them less reliant on the supply fed by the municipality. Today
around the world rain water harvesting is enjoying renaissance and systems are being extensively
installed for domestic, commercial and industrial use.
Rain water is ideal for washing machines;on average people use 20 litres a day for washing
clothes.the advantage is that the soft rain water allows the use of natural soaps and biological
washing powders,which are much more gentle on clothes than standard detergents.
Rain water can also used for washing and other cleaning tasks around the home.
Waste not, want not is a common saying. If you waste an important resource, you might find
you don’t have enough of it when you want it.
One of the most important resources we have is clean water. In many part of the world including
the major parts of PAKISTAN, water shortage pose serious problems. In this project we will
built an electronic circuit that can-
 Detect when it is raining and
 Shutoff power such as to the sprinkler system
 Conserve the natural rain water that can be harnessed for different purpose.

3- Aim of the project

The primary aim or purpose of the project are-

3.1- To Conserve Water

There is a lot of water that you can save by using a rain sensor. By automatically turning
off your lawn irrigation system every time it rains, the conserved water can be used in other
essential purposes such as fighting fire.

3.2- To Prevent Disease Damage and Nutrient Loss

Over-watering prevent the roots of your plants from reaching deep into –the ground
making your plants vulnerable to disease. Over-watering is also one of the major cause of
nutrient loss in plants as excessive watering washes away the nutrients of the soil leaving your
plants weak and unhealthy.

3.3- To Save Money on Fertilizer

A rain sensor prevents you from overwatering your plants and lawn. When a plant is
overwatered, the nutrients from the turf wash away into the drainage system. You have to
compensate by adding more fertilizers to your lawn and plants. This means spending more
money on fertilizers. With a rain sensor that effectively prevents your lawn irrigation system
from overwatering your lawn and plants, your garden turf will remain to be an ideal environment
for your plants in accordance with the fertilizer that you are using.

3.4- To Increase the Life-span of your Irrigation System

Using a rain sensor prevents unnecessary wear and tear of your lawn irrigation system
since it minimizes the amount of time that your lawn irrigation is in operation. This is especially
useful during the rainy season where rain unpredictably come and go.

3.5 To Prevent Groundwater and Waterways Pollution

A lawn irrigation system equipped with a rain sensor minimizes wasteful runoff such as
pesticides, motor oil, fertilizer, pet waste and sediments from reaching your waterways. It also
minimizes garden pollutants such as herbicides and fertilizers from getting into your
groundwater system.

4 LITRATURE REVIEW

Rain alarm is a device which will really work as you wish what you want to do. It is a
device which will generate the signal when the rain comes. The circuit will generate melodious
tone whenever the rain starts.

4.1 RAIN WATER SENSORS

A rain sensor is a rain switch device activated by a rain fall. There is two main
applications for rain sensor. The first is water conservation device connected to an automatic
irrigation system that causes the system to shutdown in the event of rain fall. The second is a
device used to protect the interior of an automobile from rain and to support the automatic mode
of wind screen wipers. An additional application in professional satellite communications
antennas is to trigger a rain blower on the aperture of the antenna feed, to remove water droplets.

Rain water sensor is the main component in the circuit. For this rain sensor, no need to go
and buy in the market. We can do it ourselves just by taking the piece of Bakelite or mica board
and aluminum wire.

4.2 Irrigation Sensors

Rain sensor in irrigation systems are available in both wireless and hard-wired versions,
most employing hygroscopic disks that swell in the presence of rain and shrink back down again
as they dry out. . Wireless and wired versions both use similar mechanisms to temporarily
suspend watering by the irrigation controller — specifically they are connected to the irrigation
controller's sensor terminals, or are installed in series with the solenoid valve common circuit
such that they prevent the opening of any valves when rain has been sensed.

5 Block diagram
6 EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
This project can be constructed using cost effective materials that can be obtained within
affordable price and easily available on the market;

A) Op-Amp 741 IC
B) Rain sensors (3)
C) Zener Diode 2.8V
D) Ordinary Diode
E) Transistor PNP
F) Resistors of Different values
G) Relay
H) +ve 5V Power Supply
I) Buzzer
J) wires

7 Complete circuit diagram

8 Working Principle

Working principle of Rain Alarm System is discussed below section wise;

8.1 First Section

First section consists of Op Amp in summer configuration, which sums the three
inputs in ordinary way. When only one sensor is closed, it will provide output of -1.67v approx.
When two sensors will close, it will provide -3.33v (double of above) approx. When three
sensors will close, It will provide approximately all the input volts at output negatively on the
basis of input and feedback resistor.
This strategy of three sensors is used to avoid the fallen of water drops by mistake.
Note that output values will be changed if resistors values changed.

8.2 Second Section

Second section consists of a zener diode used in reverse biased. Zener of 2.8v will
conduct only when voltage are 2.8v or above, only in case when two or more sensors will
conduct at a time.
It will drive the third section of circuit.

8.4- Third Section

Third section of circuit consists of a PNP transistor biased at the edge of

conduction region using calculated values of resistors, a relay and a buzzer mainly. When zener
will conduct and will provide an output, the transistor will conduct and drive the relay. When
relay will be closed, the buzzer will produce alarm.
Flywheel diode is an ordinary diode named as for its use across relay in reverse bias to
avoid the relay to damage due to reverse high voltage spikes produced by coil itself.

9. Applications

To Conserve Water
To Prevent Disease Damage and Nutrient Loss
To Increase the Life-span of your Irrigation System
To Prevent Groundwater and Waterways Pollution

10. Conclusion
Generally there was no question that water is very essential to our life. We can summarize that,
after the end of the project, it will give enormous advantages for home, commercial and
industrial appliances.
11. References

Websites
 all about circuit-basic electronic equipment function
 Wikipedia-www.wikipedia.org
 http//seminarprojects.net/t-rain detector
 http//seminar projects.net/t-rain-detect…e=threaded