Water Flow Sensor Flowmeter 0.3-6L/min YF-S401

Features:

• Stainless steel ball impeller for enhanced durability and wear resistance
• Integrated Hall effect sensor for precise flow detection
• Leak-proof design with stress-applied sealing ring
• Encapsulated internal components to prevent moisture damage and aging
• Compact and lightweight structure for easy installation
• Low power consumption suitable for embedded systems
• Stable pulse output proportional to water flow rate
• Designed for vertical installation (tilt angle < 5°)
• Compatible with microcontrollers like Arduino and ESP-based boards

Principle of Work:

When water flows through the sensor, it rotates the internal impeller. Each rotation triggers the Hall effect sensor to generate a pulse signal. The output signal is a square wave where the frequency corresponds to the flow rate.

By counting the number of pulses over time, a microcontroller can calculate the flow rate (L/min) or total volume of water passed through the sensor. This makes it suitable for both real-time monitoring and cumulative measurement applications.

Pinout:

• VCC Red: Power supply (DC 4.5V – 5V)
• Signal Yellow: Pulse output signal proportional to flow rate
• GND Black: Ground

Applications:

1. Water flow monitoring systems
2. Smart irrigation and agriculture
3. Water dispensers and vending machines
4. Industrial liquid measurement systems
5. Home automation and IoT water tracking
6. Cooling systems and fluid control applications

Circuit:

• Connect VCC to 5V supply
• Connect GND to system ground
• Connect Signal pin to a digital input pin on the microcontroller
• Use interrupt-capable pins for accurate pulse counting

Code:

volatile int flowCount = 0;

void flow() {
  flowCount++;
}

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(2, INPUT);
  attachInterrupt(digitalPinToInterrupt(2), flow, RISING);
}

void loop() {
  flowCount = 0;
  interrupts();
  delay(1000); // Measure for 1 second
  noInterrupts();

  // Example conversion (depends on sensor calibration)
  float flowRate = flowCount / 7.5; // L/min approximation

  Serial.print("Flow Rate: ");
  Serial.print(flowRate);
  Serial.println(" L/min");
}

Technical Details:

• Flow Range: 0.3 – 6 L/min
• Working Voltage: DC 5V (range 5V – 18V)
• Minimum Operating Voltage: 4.5V
• Maximum Current: 15mA (at 5V)
• Load Capacity: ≤10mA
• Water Pressure: ≤0.8 MPa
• Operating Temperature: ≤80°C
• Operating Humidity: 35% – 90% RH (no condensation)
• Storage Temperature: -25°C to +80°C
• Storage Humidity: 25% – 95% RH
• Dimensions: Approx. 5.8 × 3.4 × 2.7 cm
• Outlet Diameter: Outer ~7mm, Inner ~3mm

Comparisons:

Compared to mechanical flow meters, this sensor provides digital output, making it easier to integrate with microcontrollers and IoT systems. Compared to high-end industrial flow sensors, it is more compact and cost-effective, making it ideal for small-scale and DIY applications, though with slightly lower precision.