Liquid Level Sensor | Non-Contact Capacitance Module | XKC-Y21

The XKC-Y21 is a low-cost, non-contact liquid level sensor module for smart home devices. This bare-board sensor is made to go into your own products. It finds water levels through non-metallic containers without touching the liquid. It acts as a simple liquid level switch. Features and Benefits - Bare PCB design is ready for product integration. It's a cost-effective way to add liquid detection to coffee machines or water purifiers. - Finds liquid through non-metallic walls up to 12mm. This non-contact liquid detector works well with plastic, glass, and ceramic containers. - Simple high/low signal output. It easily connects with an Arduino or other microcontrollers for your custom smart home water sensor projects. - The electronic circuit structure is stable and dependable. With no moving parts to wear out, this sensor lasts a long time. Applications - Smart appliances: Put it into coffee makers, electric kettles, or humidifiers for automatic shut-off or refill alerts. - DIY electronics: Add a water level alarm to a sump pump basin or a rainwater collection barrel. - Dispenser products: Use it in water coolers or other drink dispensers to show when the container is empty. Mechanical Ball / Rolling-Element Switches (Simple On/Off) These are straightforward electrical switches that use a conductive ball or rolling element inside a housing. When the device tilts beyond a certain angle, the ball rolls to make or break an electrical connection, changing the state of the switch from on to off, or vice versa. They are typically used for basic tilt detection where a simple binary output is sufficient, such as determining if an appliance has been knocked over. Their simplicity makes them robust and cost-effective for applications that do not require precise angle measurement. MEMS Accelerometers (Precise Angle Measurement) MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) accelerometers are advanced tilt sensors that measure acceleration in multiple axes. By detecting the force of gravity (1g) acting on the sensor, they can accurately determine the angle of tilt relative to the Earth's gravitational field. Unlike simpler switches, these sensors provide a continuous output that corresponds to the degree of tilt, allowing for precise angle measurement. They are often found in smart home appliances for more nuanced liquid levelling and stability monitoring. Optical Tilt Sensors Optical tilt sensors operate by detecting changes in light pathways or reflections as an object tilts. These sensors typically use an emitter and a receiver, with the light path being interrupted or redirected by a reflective surface or a moving element as the tilt angle changes. This non-contact method can offer high precision and durability, as there are no moving parts to wear out. While the specific detection method for the Appliance Tilt Sensor is non-contact, it uses a capacitance theory rather than optical principles. Quick Comparison The Appliance Tilt Sensor, model XKC-Y21, is a non-contact liquid level sensor based on capacitance theory. This differs from mechanical ball switches, which rely on physical contact for on/off states, and MEMS accelerometers, which measure gravitational force for precise angle data. While optical sensors also offer non-contact detection, they use light, whereas the XKC-Y21 uses changes in capacitance. This product is specifically designed for smart home appliances, focusing on liquid levelling applications rather than general tilt detection. The Gravity Sensor A gravity sensor, in the context of tilt and shake, is a device that detects the direction and magnitude of the force of gravity. This allows it to determine the orientation or tilt of an object relative to the ground. When an object is tilted, the gravity sensor registers a change in the gravitational force components along its axes, enabling it to calculate the angle of tilt. For shake detection, the sensor measures rapid changes in acceleration beyond the steady pull of gravity, indicating movement or vibration. This product, a tilt sensor, utilises the principle of detecting changes in its orientation relative to gravity for liquid levelling.