Water Level Sensor Circuit Design

flux

1:58

Considering resistor options.

Evaluating resistor options.

Accessing knowledge base.

Searching for components.

Searching library for: "100kΩ Resistor"

Searching library for: "6.8kΩ Resistor"

Searching library for: "10kΩ Resistor"

Creating search plan for: "100kΩ Resistor"

Creating search plan for: "6.8kΩ Resistor"

Creating search plan for: "10kΩ Resistor"

Searching.

Found 77 results.

Searching: "100kΩ Resistor"

Searching.

Found 70 results.

Searching: "6.8kΩ Resistor"

Found 76 results.

Searching: "10kΩ Resistor"

Finished searching for components.

Proposing resistor options.

Based on Flux knowledge-base guidance and safe GPIO practices, here’s my recommendation:

Pull-down resistor
- Use a 100 kΩ pull-down on the Pico GPIO to define a solid LOW when no water bridge is present.
- At 5 V this draws only 50 µA, minimizing corrosion and power drain.
Voltage level shifting (only if you must keep the probe at 5 V)
- Because the Pico’s GPIO is not 5 V-tolerant, add a simple divider:
  - R1 = 6.8 kΩ from the probe to the GPIO node
  - R2 = 10 kΩ from the GPIO node to ground
- This yields ≈2.98 V at the pin—well above the ~2 V logic-high threshold and within 3.3 V tolerance.
Better alternative
- Power the probes from the Pico’s 3.3 V rail instead of 5 V and omit the divider. The 100 kΩ pull-down alone is then sufficient.
- Or implement a capacitive water sensor using PCB pads (per soil-moisture-sensor best practices) to avoid galvanic corrosion altogether.

Part suggestions (all < 60 % power rating, AEC-Q200, good stock):

Table

Function	Part
100 kΩ Pull-down	CRCW0603100KFKEA
6.8 kΩ Divider R1	CRCW08056K98FKEA
10 kΩ Divider R2	RC0805FR-1310KL

Let me know which option you’d like to implement or if you’d prefer the 3.3 V-powered variant—then I can help place and wire them in Flux.

Use 3.3V rail

Implement 5 V divider

Ask wiring divider

Capacitive sensor option

260 days

M3-

Dir+2

WHigh

M3-

M4-

M2-

Dir-3

M2+

SDA0

PWM1

M2+

PWM4

Dir-4

PWM2

Dir+3

Dir-4

Dir+3

Dir+4

SCL0

Dir-3

M1-

M1+

WLow

SCL0

M1+

Dir-1

M2-

M3+

PWM3

M1-

Dir+1

Dir-2

Dir+2

M3+

WHigh

Dir+4

M4+

Dir-1

Dir-2

M4+

Dir+1

Resistance

6.8kΩ

3.3v

12v

Resistance

10kΩ

12v

Resistance

10kΩ

Resistance

6.8kΩ

3.3v

Rpi1

Reviews

Ground
A common return path for electric current. Commonly known as ground.
jharwinbarrozo
20.5M
Net Portal
Wirelessly connects nets on schematic. Used to organize schematics and separate functional blocks. To wirelessly connect net portals, give them same designator. #portal
jharwinbarrozo
43.0M
Power Net Portal
Wirelessly connects power nets on schematic. Identical to the net portal, but with a power symbol. Used to organize schematics and separate functional blocks. To wirelessly connect power net portals, give them the same designator. #portal #power
jharwinbarrozo
11.4M
Generic Resistor
A generic fixed resistor ideal for rapid circuit topology development. Its footprint automatically adapts based on the selected package case code—supporting 0402, 0603, 0805, 1203, and many other standard SMD packages, as well as axial horizontal and vertical configurations. Save precious design time by seamlessly add more information to this part (value, footprint, etc.) as it becomes available. Standard resistor values: 1.0 ohm, 10 ohm, 100 ohm, 1.0k ohm, 10k ohm, 100k ohm, 1.0M ohm 1.1 ohm, 11 ohm, 110 ohm, 1.1k ohm, 11k ohm, 110k ohm, 1.1M ohm 1.2 ohm, 12 ohm, 120 ohm, 1.2k ohm, 12k ohm, 120k ohm, 1.2M ohm 1.3 ohm, 13 ohm, 130 ohm, 1.3k ohm, 13k ohm, 130k ohm, 1.3M ohm 1.5 ohm, 15 ohm, 150 ohm, 1.5k ohm, 15k ohm, 150k ohm, 1.5M ohm 1.6 ohm, 16 ohm, 160 ohm, 1.6k ohm, 16k ohm, 160k ohm, 1.6M ohm 1.8 ohm, 18 ohm, 180 ohm, 1.8K ohm, 18k ohm, 180k ohm, 1.8M ohm 2.0 ohm, 20 ohm, 200 ohm, 2.0k ohm, 20k ohm, 200k ohm, 2.0M ohm 2.2 ohm, 22 ohm, 220 ohm, 2.2k ohm, 22k ohm, 220k ohm, 2.2M ohm 2.4 ohm, 24 ohm, 240 ohm, 2.4k ohm, 24k ohm, 240k ohm, 2.4M ohm 2.7 ohm, 27 ohm, 270 ohm, 2.7k ohm, 27k ohm, 270k ohm, 2.7M ohm 3.0 ohm, 30 ohm, 300 ohm, 3.0K ohm, 30K ohm, 300K ohm, 3.0M ohm 3.3 ohm, 33 ohm, 330 ohm, 3.3k ohm, 33k ohm, 330k ohm, 3.3M ohm 3.6 ohm, 36 ohm, 360 ohm, 3.6k ohm, 36k ohm, 360k ohm, 3.6M ohm 3.9 ohm, 39 ohm, 390 ohm, 3.9k ohm, 39k ohm, 390k ohm, 3.9M ohm 4.3 ohm, 43 ohm, 430 ohm, 4.3k ohm, 43K ohm, 430K ohm, 4.3M ohm 4.7 ohm, 47 ohm, 470 ohm, 4.7k ohm, 47k ohm, 470k ohm, 4.7M ohm 5.1 ohm, 51 ohm, 510 ohm, 5.1k ohm, 51k ohm, 510k ohm, 5.1M ohm 5.6 ohm, 56 ohm, 560 ohm, 5.6k ohm, 56k ohm, 560k ohm, 5.6M ohm 6.2 ohm, 62 ohm, 620 ohm, 6.2k ohm, 62K ohm, 620K ohm, 6.2M ohm 6.8 ohm, 68 ohm, 680 ohm, 6.8k ohm, 68k ohm, 680k ohm, 6.8M ohm 7.5 ohm, 75 ohm, 750 ohm, 7.5k ohm, 75k ohm, 750k ohm, 7.5M ohm 8.2 ohm, 82 ohm, 820 ohm, 8.2k ohm, 82k ohm, 820k ohm, 8.2M ohm 9.1 ohm, 91 ohm, 910 ohm, 9.1k ohm, 91k ohm, 910k ohm, 9.1M ohm #generics #CommonPartsLibrary
jharwinbarrozo
1.5M
Generic Capacitor
A generic fixed capacitor ideal for rapid circuit topology development. You can choose between polarized and non-polarized types, its symbol and the footprint will automatically adapt based on your selection. Supported options include standard SMD sizes for ceramic capacitors (e.g., 0402, 0603, 0805), SMD sizes for aluminum electrolytic capacitors, and through-hole footprints for polarized capacitors. Save precious design time by seamlessly add more information to this part (value, footprint, etc.) as it becomes available. Standard capacitor values: 1.0pF, 10pF, 100pF, 1000pF, 0.01uF, 0.1uF, 1.0uF, 10uF, 100uF, 1000uF, 10000uF 1.1pF, 11pF, 110pF, 1100pF 1.2pF, 12pF, 120pF, 1200pF 1.3pF, 13pF, 130pF, 1300pF 1.5pF, 15pF, 150pF, 1500pF, 0.015uF, 0.15uF, 1.5uF, 15uF, 150uF, 1500uF 1.6pF, 16pF, 160pF, 1600pF 1.8pF, 18pF, 180pF, 1800pF 2.0pF, 20pF, 200pF, 2000pF 2.2pF, 22pF, 220pF, 2200pF, 0.022uF, 0.22uF, 2.2uF, 22uF, 220uF, 2200uF 2.4pF, 24pF, 240pF, 2400pF 2.7pF, 27pF, 270pF, 2700pF 3.0pF, 30pF, 300pF, 3000pF 3.3pF, 33pF, 330pF, 3300pF, 0.033uF, 0.33uF, 3.3uF, 33uF, 330uF, 3300uF 3.6pF, 36pF, 360pF, 3600pF 3.9pF, 39pF, 390pF, 3900pF 4.3pF, 43pF, 430pF, 4300pF 4.7pF, 47pF, 470pF, 4700pF, 0.047uF, 0.47uF, 4.7uF, 47uF, 470uF, 4700uF 5.1pF, 51pF, 510pF, 5100pF 5.6pF, 56pF, 560pF, 5600pF 6.2pF, 62pF, 620pF, 6200pF 6.8pF, 68pF, 680pF, 6800pF, 0.068uF, 0.68uF, 6.8uF, 68uF, 680uF, 6800uF 7.5pF, 75pF, 750pF, 7500pF 8.2pF, 82pF, 820pF, 8200pF 9.1pF, 91pF, 910pF, 9100pF #generics #CommonPartsLibrary
jharwinbarrozo
1.5M
Generic Inductor
A generic fixed inductor suitable for rapid circuit topology development. The footprint automatically adapts based on the selected package, supporting standard SMD sizes (e.g., 0402, 0603, 0805) as well as well-known inductor packages such as SDR1806, PA4320, SRN6028, and SRR1260. Standard inductor values: 1.0 nH, 10 nH, 100 nH, 1.0 µH, 10 µH, 100 µH, 1.0 mH 1.2 nH, 12 nH, 120 nH, 1.2 µH, 12 µH, 120 µH, 1.2 mH 1.5 nH, 15 nH, 150 nH, 1.5 µH, 15 µH, 150 µH, 1.5 mH 1.8 nH, 18 nH, 180 nH, 1.8 µH, 18 µH, 180 µH, 1.8 mH 2.2 nH, 22 nH, 220 nH, 2.2 µH, 22 µH, 220 µH, 2.2 mH 2.7 nH, 27 nH, 270 nH, 2.7 µH, 27 µH, 270 µH, 2.7 mH 3.3 nH, 33 nH, 330 nH, 3.3 µH, 33 µH, 330 µH, 3.3 mH 3.9 nH, 39 nH, 390 nH, 3.9 µH, 39 µH, 390 µH, 3.9 mH 4.7 nH, 47 nH, 470 nH, 4.7 µH, 47 µH, 470 µH, 4.7 mH 5.6 nH, 56 nH, 560 nH, 5.6 µH, 56 µH, 560 µH, 5.6 mH 6.8 nH, 68 nH, 680 nH, 6.8 µH, 68 µH, 680 µH, 6.8 mH 8.2 nH, 82 nH, 820 nH, 8.2 µH, 82 µH, 820 µH, 8.2 mH #generics #CommonPartsLibrary
jharwinbarrozo
15.8k
Terminal
An electrical connector acting as reusable interface to a conductor and creating a point where external circuits can be connected.
natarius
RMCF0805JT47K0
General Purpose Thick Film Standard Power and High-Power Chip Resistor 47 kOhms ±5% 0.125W, 1/8W Chip Resistor 0805 (2012 Metric) Automotive AEC-Q200 Thick Film Features: - RMCF – standard power ratings - RMCP – high power ratings - Nickel barrier terminations standard - Power derating from 100% at 70ºC to zero at +155ºC - RoHS compliant, REACH compliant, and halogen free - AEC-Q200 compliant
jharwinbarrozo
1.2M
875105359001
10 µF 16 V Aluminum - Polymer Capacitors Radial, Can - SMD 30mOhm 2000 Hrs @ 105°C #commonpartslibrary #capacitor #aluminumpolymer #radialcan
jharwinbarrozo
1.2M
CTL1206FYW1T
Yellow 595nm LED Indication - Discrete 1.7V 1206 (3216 Metric)
jharwinbarrozo
1.1M

Project Name

ENGG1100

Description

Welcome to your new project. Imagine what you can build here.

Properties

Properties describe core aspects of the project.

Pricing & Availability

Distributor	Qty 1
Arrow	$6.62
Digi-Key	$5.86–$6.74
LCSC	$8.08
Mouser	$6.48
TME	$1.25
Verical	$1.06–$1.76

Controls

Welcome 👋

Flux helps you build PCBs faster with an AI teammate!

Create your account to collaborate, stay updated, fork your own version, and get instant answers from our AI agent.

jasperblack1 / ENGG1100

Schematic