Cheap inline flow meter

slogan315

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Any recommendations for cheap flow meters (not apex, hydros, or Ghl)? Need something to get a ballpark of my return pump flow rate, and want to eventually plumb it inline for my UV.

specs: 3/4” npt threaded or slip flow meter. Doesn’t need to be super accurate.

thought the diy community may have some go to’s. I have microcontrollers and other electronics hardware laying around and am very open to just the sensor. A digital complete meter would be preferred, but I can program something to read the flow sensor if that’s the best option.

I’ve found a ton of garden hose meters and a perfect sensor, but they both have the wrong threads. I have NPT threaded pvc I would be plumbing this to.

thanks
 

WestMI-Reefer

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If it’s just a ballpark estimate, you could just get a stopwatch and a 1l container to measure how long it takes to fill 1l. A little math and you should be pretty close to your GPH. I did this for several speeds on a dc return pump and then logged the measurements in apex incase I ever want UV to target something specific.
 
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slogan315

slogan315

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If it’s just a ballpark estimate, you could just get a stopwatch and a 1l container to measure how long it takes to fill 1l. A little math and you should be pretty close to your GPH. I did this for several speeds on a dc return pump and then logged the measurements in apex incase I ever want UV to target something specific.
I’ll probably do this at worst case. It would answer the first of my 2 questions:
1. Does my return provide enough flow for my Uv?
2. If I plumb the Uv off a manifold, how much flow to send to the Uv line vs the main return line?
 

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