Riffle: an Open Source Water Monitoring Approach
riffle

The **Riffle** is a collection of designs that take an open source approach to water monitoring, with the intent of making gathering water information easier and more accessible. It is part of Public Lab's [Open Water Project](https://publiclab.org/wiki/open-water). (Lead image by @cfastie) For an overview of the design philosophy behind the Riffle, and **what constraints and uses it was aimed at**, see [this wiki page](https://publiclab.org/wiki/riffle_design_philosophy). Public Lab has supported development of an [Arduino](https://www.arduino.cc)-compatible [Riffle version - a datalogger enclosed in a water bottle](https://github.com/OpenWaterProject/riffle_328). This is great, because the Arduino community is huge, and lots of knowledge and troubleshooting resources are now applicable to the Riffle project. (The first **Riffle** design was an [ARM-based datalogger board enclosed in PVC](https://github.com/bgamari/riffle)) **** # Riffle Water Monitor Designs By now, several instrument designs have been constructed around the **Riffle**, some of which of are described in an array of Github repositories: - [Openwaterproject](https://github.com/OpenWaterProject) -- the main organization on github - [riffle_328](https://github.com/OpenWaterProject/riffle_328) -- hardware designs, instructions and software for getting started with the Riffle_328 datalogger - [riffle_328-conductivity](https://github.com/OpenWaterProject/riffle_328-conductivity) -- Design considerations around conductivity - [riffle_328-depth](https://github.com/OpenWaterProject/riffle_328-depth) -- Depth measurement circuit prototype - [riffle_328-turbidity](https://github.com/OpenWaterProject/riffle_328-turbidity) -- Turbidity sensor prototype - [riffle_328-thermistor](https://github.com/OpenWaterProject/riffle_328-thermistor) -- Connecting a thermistor to a Riffle - [riffle_328-i2c](https://github.com/OpenWaterProject/riffle_328-i2c) -- Connecting i2c sensors to a Riffle - [riffle_328-one-wire](https://github.com/OpenWaterProject/riffle_328-one-wire) -- Connecting one-wire sensors to a Riffle # Sensor Designs We've started to summarize some of the approaches to sensing water parameters like conductivity and turbidity: - [Sensing conductivity](https://publiclab.org/wiki/conductivity_sensing) - [Sensing turbidity](https://publiclab.org/wiki/turbidity_sensing) # Activities Here are some activities the Public Lab community has conducted using the Riffle [activities:riffle] # Project Status 2017: A second small order of Riffle_328 boards was shipped on May 30th, and is on its way to the Public Lab kits department in Portland, Oregon. From there it will be sent to Public Lab community members who ordered them. The Riffle was available for pre-order until March 17. https://publiclab.org/questions/warren/06-12-2017/what-s-the-battery-life-of-the-nano-data-logger#answer-comment-16862 2016: A small order of Riffle_328 boards arrived late April 2016, and were sent to Public Lab community members as a way of testing the design and informing further development. Projects using this riffle can be found at https://publiclab.org/tag/riffle and https://publiclab.org/tag/riffle-beta # How to get a Riffle Datalogger The Riffle is open source, so if Public Lab is not currently offering it for sale, anyone can take the designs above to a PCB fabricator and have one made, copy and remix the design, or investigate other dataloggers. # Riffle Alternatives The following dataloggers also have a real time clock and log to a micro SD card as the Riffle does. All of them are based on Arduino and will run more or less the same sketches. These are all open source hardware. 1. [EnviroDIY Mayfly Logger](https://envirodiy.org/mayfly/). Designed at the Stroud Water Research Center and commercially available through Amazon but currently out of stock (as of Feb 2017). 2. [Adafruit Feather M0](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2772) and [Adalogger FeatherWing RTC + SD Add-on](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2922). These are two commercial products which snap together. 3. [Cave Pearl Project logger](https://hackaday.io/project/6961-the-cave-pearl-project). Ed Mallon's design for a DIY data logger made from very inexpensive clone components (Arduino Pro Mini, SD card board, RTC board). Requires soldering and care. 4. see more open source data loggers collected on the [Data Logging page](/wiki/data-logging) **** ## Questions [questions:riffle] **** ###All updates related to the Riffle [notes:riffle] **** ##Related Questions Since the Riffle is Arduino-compatible, here are also some Q&A for Arduinos in general: [questions:arduino] The Riffle is also a part of a larger area on data logging. Here are some Q&A asked more generally: [questions:data_logging] [questions:nano-data-logger]...


Author Comment Last activity Moderation
liz "^^ interesting! A whole new angle on this problem. I think I would actually do this first to see the results coming out of the sensor, whether or n..." | Read more » over 6 years ago
liz "ok thanks @cfastie and @kinasmith, i think i get it now! " | Read more » over 6 years ago
yamanoorsai "In fact, if the analog output is linear, I would not need the meter " | Read more » over 6 years ago
yamanoorsai "Hello, I would be glad to help as long as I get to share my work under an open license with everyone. How does one gain access to the HCHO meter li..." | Read more » over 6 years ago
kinasmith "so, how long will the sensor need to collect data for? If there is reliable power, and it's inside of a house, and it isn't running for weeks on en..." | Read more » over 6 years ago
kinasmith "I've read through the datasheet/manual for this sensor. Their use of audio connectors for signal and power connections is pretty questionable, but ..." | Read more » over 6 years ago
cfastie "Liz, I don't know the specs of the 1/4" phone plug, but it needs only two contacts, the tip and one ring along the shaft. I'm not sure which types ..." | Read more » over 6 years ago
warren "Thanks to all the software contributors who helped fix that -- @siaw23 @sagarpreet " | Read more » over 6 years ago
warren "OK - links and uploads now working again on the site! " | Read more » over 6 years ago
liz "wow awesome! @cfastie sorry to ask more but can you draw a picture on paper of what you expect these cables to look like? "A 1/4" stereo/phone plug..." | Read more » over 6 years ago
zengirl2 "@cfastie @warren ah, ok that makes sense now. " | Read more » over 6 years ago
warren "https://gist.github.com/jywarren/599b76ef9cdecdce764a7348f728ae31 " | Read more » over 6 years ago
warren "We're still struggling with a comment formatting bug -- apologies -- over in https://github.com/publiclab/plots2/pull/2605 -- here it is for the ti..." | Read more » over 6 years ago
cfastie "New answer below where I could attach a file. " | Read more » over 6 years ago
cfastie "A 1/4" stereo/phone plug connects to the HCHO sensor and two wires from that cable connect to the Arduino (tip of plug to A3, ring to GND). Below (..." | Read more » over 6 years ago
zengirl2 "@liz I can meet with @nshapiro with some Arduinos, but I think my question is where do you attach alligator clips or wires for testing this beast? " | Read more » over 6 years ago
liz "Perhaps @Zengirl2 can go over the Nick's house and bring an Arduino? (They are both in Philly) and for good measure we can open up a video link wit..." | Read more » over 6 years ago
cfastie "The first step might be to arrange for the co-location of the HCHO sensor, an Arduino, and somebody casually familiar with Arduino. Has the proper ..." | Read more » over 6 years ago
liz "Hi @cfastie -- thank you so much for asking these questions. Here's what i know -- Nick has to go to Georgia with a working solution in 2 weeks...." | Read more » over 6 years ago
cfastie "Kina, Thanks for the great information. Liz, It might help to know more about this project. What is the time frame for deployment? What has been tr..." | Read more » over 6 years ago
liz "Please give me a call at +1 336-269-1539 " | Read more » over 6 years ago
liz "OK awesome @kinasmith and @cfastie ! What would be helpful for me to do as a facilitator to help Nick get all the way there? Here's some ideas: 1) ..." | Read more » over 6 years ago
kinasmith "this is actually an excellent solution to this problem without adding additional parts/complexity. The 1.1v internal reference is much more stable ..." | Read more » over 6 years ago
kinasmith "I'll just chime in here for a second as someone who has worked a lot with arduino dataloggers and ADC's, etc. I agree with @cfastie on all points...." | Read more » over 6 years ago