Industrial Bin Level Monitor Kit v2
Build a Solar-Powered Snow Depth Monitoring Station with ESP32 & HC-SR04
Every part needed, pre-tested for compatibility, with an AI build companion trained on this exact project. Shipped from Bengaluru in 3-5 days.
Deploy a fully autonomous snow depth logger that survives Himalayan winters or use the same ultrasonic architecture to track inventory levels in a grain silo. The ESP32 reads distance from the HC-SR04 sensor every hour, applies DS18B20 temperature compensation to the speed of sound, timestamps the measurement via the DS3231 RTC, and writes it to a microSD card. With solar charging through the LM2596 buck converter and 18650 cells, this station runs unattended for an entire season.
What You'll Build
A weatherproof monitoring station that mounts above the snow surface or material pile. It wakes from deep sleep once per hour, takes a temperature-corrected distance reading accurate to ±3 mm, stores the data to SD, and optionally displays the latest depth on the 0.96‑inch OLED. The waterproof enclosure, solar panel, and battery management circuitry are all included — you'll solder the components onto prototype boards, calibrate the ultrasonic threshold, and set the logging interval. The result is a self-contained, field‑ready instrument that can be left at 4000 m elevation or in a dusty warehouse.
What You'll Learn
- Temperature-compensated ultrasonic distance measurement using HC-SR04 and DS18B20
- Solar power budget design with LM2596 buck converter, TP4056 charging, and ESP32 deep-sleep optimization
- Precision timestamping and CSV data logging with the DS3231 RTC and microSD module
- Enclosure engineering for cold‑climate deployment, including condensation management and cable gland routing
Kit Contents
| Component | Quantity |
|---|---|
| ESP32 Dev Board | 1 |
| HC-SR04 | 1 |
| DS18B20 Waterproof | 1 |
| DS3231 RTC | 1 |
| MicroSD Module | 1 |
| LM2596 Buck Converter | 1 |
| 0.96in OLED | 1 |
| 18650 Cell | 2 |
| TP4056 Module | 1 |
| 100nF Caps | 10 |
| 4.7kΩ Resistors | 5 |
| PCB Prototype Board | 2 |
| Waterproof Enclosure | 1 |
| Solar Panel 6V 1W | 1 |
| Soldering Iron | 1 |
| Solder Wire | 1 |
Why Buy This Kit Instead of Sourcing Parts Separately
| Factor | Sourcing Separately | Compoden Kit |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility checks | You verify every part | Pre-tested as a system |
| Build support | Forums and scattered tutorials | AI companion trained on this exact project |
| Time to first working build | Days of debugging | Hours, with step-by-step guidance |
| Shipping coordination | Multiple sellers, multiple delays | One shipment from Bengaluru in 3-5 days |
Who This Kit Is For
This kit is built for hydrologists, avalanche forecasters, and industrial engineers who need reliable, unattended level sensing. In India, it fits M.Tech IoT capstones on disaster management, Smart India Hackathon teams prototyping cold‑region monitoring, and B.Tech ECE/EEE students building end‑to‑end data loggers. It also serves researchers at institutes like IIT Roorkee or NIT Srinagar deploying weather stations in the Himalayan watershed.
Built and Backed by Compoden
Every Compoden kit ships with an AI build companion trained on this exact project — accessible via a QR code on the box, with WhatsApp and email backup. We've spent 10 years building projects for makers, schools, and institutions across India. If a part fails because of a manufacturing defect, replace it free within 7 days.
What if I get stuck during the build?
Open the AI companion via the QR code. It provides schematic verification, wiring checks, and debugging steps. Still stuck? Send photos over WhatsApp and our engineers will help within 24 hours.
Can this kit really survive outdoors in winter?
Yes. The included waterproof enclosure and temperature-rated cables work down to -10°C. The 18650 cells are insulated, and the solar panel charges even on cloudy days when angled correctly.
How do I size the solar panel for my deployment location?
The kit’s 6V 1W panel is adequate for most Indian latitudes with 4–5 peak sun hours. For high-altitude or shaded sites, you can calculate the energy deficit using the data sheet and swap in a larger panel, keeping the same connector.
Will this work for measuring grain levels in a silo?
Yes, the same ultrasonic principle applies. Ensure the sensor is protected from dust ingress — the enclosure can be fitted with an acoustic window or placed at the top with a clean line of sight.
Industrial Inventory — HC-SR04 ultrasonic above snow surface logs snow depth every hour. Temperature corrects speed of sound.
What's in this kit
Choose your assembly option:
- Soldering Kit — 25W soldering iron, 60/40 solder wire, flux, and small perfboard for permanent assembly.
- Breadboard Combo — 800-point full-size breadboard with 65-piece jumper wire pack for solderless prototyping.
Shipping Information
- Prepaid Orders: ₹75 for orders up to ₹999, FREE shipping above ₹999
- COD Orders: ₹125 shipping + ₹50 COD fee = ₹175 total
- Delivery Timeline: Dispatch in 1-2 days, delivery in 2-7 days depending on location
Returns & Warranty
- 7-Day Return: Manufacturing defects only (approval required)
- Warranty: 7 days from delivery
- Non-Returnable: Batteries, consumables, cut wires, clearance items