Best 5 Digital Water Flow Meters Reviewed + FAQ

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Water flow meters are a must-have tool if you are a habitual gardener. Especially when you are looking forward to growing vegetables or “garden-farming.”

When you are dealing with special plants or shrugs that require just the right amount of water for proper growth, you need a device to tell you how much water you are giving your garden, and that is where Water Flow Meters kick in.

Alternatively, water flow meters can also be used with Water Sprinklers or Water Storage Tanks.

Here are some of the most widely used Digital Water Flow Meters that may help you in gardening:

ProductsPrices
Rainwave RW-9FM LCD Digital Water Flow MeterCheck Price
Gardena – Flow MeterCheck Price
Best Buy
P3 Save A Drop Water Flow Meter
Check Price
Best Overall
Fill-Rite TT10AN Fluid Flow Meter
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DIGITEN Water Flow Control MeterCheck Price

Rainwave RW-9FM LCD Digital Water Flow Meter

Rainwave RW-9FM LCD Digital Water Flow Meter

These are the things you should know about the Rainwave LCD digital water flow meter,

Introduction and Features

Designed and manufactured by “Rainwave”, this digital water flow meter is an excellent information tool if you are looking to find the quantity of water you are using at any point.

The meter follows a conventional construction and works on the same impeller principle. Unlike analog meters which give a random value, digital flow meters give precise readings.

Rainwave’s digital flow meter features an electronic LCD, as we see in Calculators these days.

There are also a couple of buttons that can be used to Power ON/OFF or unit switching.

The meter functions in both Gallons and Liters. So, you can set the meter to the unit you prefer.

The major construction of this meter is plastic to save it from rusting and it is a battery-operated device. However, the only thing that keeps the water away from the battery is a seal which seems pretty solid and well-fitting.

Depending on the usage, this seal might leak or break, which can practically ruin the flow meter.

The Good:

  • Easy to use
  • Durable
  • Accurate
  • Reliable
  • Battery Operated

The Bad:

  • Limited in operation
  • Cannot deal with high flow rates
  • Easily breakable
  • Cheap Seal Quality

User Insights

It is a straightforward product and there is no rocket science behind its entire use. The application of this flow meter is for household water outlets like in the garden and it cannot deal with strong flow rates.

It is a sensitive device and therefore should be respected and used within its limits. The flow meter itself can provide almost instant readings, but it requires the water to be flowing continually.

The batteries usually last a long time if the seal does not wear out. Unfortunately, the company has not included any other safety measures to save the device in case of a leak.

Any water that goes into the IC of the flow meter can permanently damage it and render it useless. Therefore, it is recommended to be used in Gardens or Backyards where high flow rates are not required. In the last part, the device is sensitive and should be handled carefully.

It can provide easy and accurate readings for the water flow and is very easy to use. The setup process is very easy and you are not required to have any tools for its installation: just a socket and a water outlet.

Conclusion

All in all, this water flow meter is recommended for home users and habitual gardeners who want to know how much water is consumed by them in a day.

However, its use is justified but not limited to gardening. It is just an informative device that provides some extra information to power users. You can also use it to measure the flow rate of a small house, like an RV or something like that.

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Gardena – Flow Meter

GARDENA WATER TIMER - WATER SMART - FLOW METER

This is what you should know while buying Gardena Water Timer – Flow Meter,

Introduction and Features

Gardena provides most of the impressive gardening tools in the market. The company has always focused on the actual difficulties and challenges their products face while in the consumer’s hands and modified their products to overcome the barrier between man and machine.

Gardena Water Timer and Flow Meter is yet another masterpiece from the company that provides many value-added features to its users.

It includes a tough battery and an LCD that shows the battery’s status and other information necessary for the operation instead of simply displaying the quantity of water like normal water flow meters. However, the device is high in battery consumption.

Gardena also has an onboard memory that can keep showing you the quantity of water used per month, day, or even season.

All these features make Gardena one of the best options to choose from.

The Good:

  • Easy to use
  • Accurate
  • Water Timing
  • Control
  • Premium Build
  • Onboard Memory
  • Tough Battery

The Bad:

  • Expensive
  • Requires Cleaning
  • High Battery Consuming

User Insights

This flowmeter is suitable for people with automated gardening systems installed in their homes. Gardena computer systems are a perfect fit for their flow meters as they help the flow meter to reach the full potential of its work.

The flow meter is made of hard plastic and is crafted well enough to deal with an average garden’s atmosphere.

Nonetheless, the flow meter can be used as a single component. It is a bit tricky when setting the units up on this thing but once you get the job done, it should last you a lifetime if you respect the device in terms of usage.

The installation process is really simple and the device provides a tight fit on any water outlet. This not only saves the water spills from the water source but also helps the device get even more accurate readings.

You might need a complete set of fitters that are provided with the meter.

The battery of Gardena’s flow meter is a tough one but it bleeds rapidly with the device and you might need a couple to last a season. There is a battery icon displayed on the screen that helps you keep track of the status of the battery. So, you can replace the batteries whenever needed.

The device, being accurate, helps you in finding the exact timings as to when you should turn off the tap in your garden. For some people, that window could be hours. So, it helps you manage your time as well if you think technically and have been dealing with flow meters for a while.

Conclusion

In the end, the flow meter is a perfect device to use for experienced personnel or people who have automated systems installed for gardening.

The device works as well as it should and helps you keep track of time because of its accuracy.

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P3 Save A Drop Water Flow Meter

P3 Save A Drop Water Flow Meter Measure Gallon Usage

This is what a P3 Save A Drop Water Flow Meter sounds like,

Introduction and Features

Manufactured by P3 International, the Save A Drop Water Flow Meter is another precise and accurate flow-measuring device that can give you more information about your garden’s water consumption through an LCD. You’ll need to manually turn off the water as there is no solenoid valve to automatically stop the water flow.

It uses a formula to calculate the gross flow which can be obtained by measuring a singular gallon flow. It features an easy-to-read LCD combined with a rugged and waterproof housing. In low-light situations, you will need a light to read it.

The device is battery-operated and the battery is claimed to be long-lived.

The entire body of this water meter is made of plastic which makes it easily breakable but safe from rusting. It is all plastic, so be gentle when screwing it on and off so as not to cross-thread it.

The water meter is, like the Rainwave, a simple one and features two buttons on the front just below the LCD.

The meter is very accurate and precise. It is easy to install, so no problems in its usage should be expected if you use it carefully.

The Good:

  • Fast and Easy to use
  • Highly Accurate Readings
  • Long-lasting battery
  • Simple Installation

The Bad:

  • Weak Assembly
  • Mediocre Build Quality
  • Short life span

User Insights

Now, this water flow meter is a very delicate device and should be handled carefully because a strong turn can break this thing.

It is not meant to be used for high flow rates and is made to be precise and sensitive rather than strong and inaccurate.

The Save A Drop Water Flow Meter is a simple flow meter that tells you the amount of water that has flowed through it. You can set a target volume of water and keep an eye out to check if the target is reached.

There are no automatic shutting systems, so you have to turn off the water source yourself.

Conclusion

It can be recommended for household use because of its relatively low price and accuracy.

For use from the simplest of gardens to filling ponds and pools in your garden, the Save a Drop water flow meter would do more than just fine.

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Fill-Rite TT10AN Fluid Flow Meter

Fill-Rite TT10AN 1 2-35 GPM(8-132 LPM) Digital In-line Turbine Meter, Aluminum, Fuel Transfer Meter

Here is what you should know about the Fill-Rite TT10AN Fluid Flow Meter,

Introduction and Features

The tough and premium Fill-Rite fluid flow meter can easily make it to the list of some of the best flow meters out there waiting to be fitted in a pipe or a water hose.

This flow meter, unlike ordinary flow meters, can be used at many other places where normal flow meters will not survive a day.

There are three variants of this flow meter commercially available and each of them has a different application.

For domestic usage, a polymer version of this flow meter can more than suffice. Fill-rite flowmeter features an “in-pipe” fitting design, so it can be plumbed into a pipeline or be fitted with a hose or water outlet.

There is a rubber cover all over the meter that saves it from falling or impact damage. The AA replaceable batteries are the major power source for this device.

The meter provides an accurate reading of up to 1% give or take. There are almost all the volumetric units included and can be switched with just a click of a button.

Four buttons in total let you control, calibrate, switch, and reset the meter. The meter also comes with CE certification, which further highlights the quality of the product itself.

The Good:

  • High accuracy
  • CE Certified
  • Durable
  • Well-fitting Design
  • AA Battery Operated

The Bad:

  • Complex Setup
  • Maintenance Cost
  • Expensive

User Insights

This water flow meter is not aimed at homeowners who only want information about the volume of water they have used in a season.

The installation of this meter is a bit tricky and might require you to have specific tools for proper set-up. Once ready to go, this flow meter can keep working for a very long time.

Fill-Rite has aimed its flow meter in a more diverse and wide area of operation. The hard-built and durable design of this flow meter enables it to work from the coldest to hottest environments under a maximum pressure of 50 psi.

The meter is very accurate in terms of readings and provides 99% true readings within moments.

This listed meter is not only limited to being used with water but also for gasoline, diesel, or kerosene.

The flow meter operates on two AA-sized rechargeable batteries and can alert the users by issuing an alert on the LCD screen in case of low battery power.

The LCD panel of the water flow meter is easily readable and has a permanent memory. So, you won’t have to worry about losing your data while unplugging/changing the batteries.

Conclusion

All in all, this fluid flow meter is recommended to be used for people who want a more durable and strong flow measuring device.

The set of features this flow measuring device provides can charm only those who need them in their gardens.

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DIGITEN Water Flow Control Meter

DIGITEN Water Flow Control Meter LCD Display Controller

The DIGITEN Water Flow Control Meter encompasses the following features,

Introduction and Features

This flow meter features a full-fledged water control system and an accurate flow measuring device as well.

There is a large Backlit LCD for easy reading in both, well-lit and dark-light situations. Quantitative and Supply control alarms are present that can automatically stop water from flowing when the desired volume of water is reached and set off the alarm simultaneously.

For example, if you want a specific liter/gallon of water, you can set up the same amount on the controller screen. When the water in the container reaches the limit, the controller will command the solenoid valve to shut the water flow.

DIGITEN includes a large number of sensors such as the temperature and hall sensor that provide even more information to the consumer.

The flow meter can be used at a swimming pool, water dispenser, coffee machine, drip irrigation system, beer brewing, and many more places.

The Good:

  • Innovative Design
  • Large Backlit LCD
  • Quantity Control
  • Alarms Blaring
  • Accuracy

The Bad:

  • Complex Calibration
  • Maintenance Cost
  • No Battery

User Insights

In one line, the DIGITEN flow meter can be a much-advanced option for a garden/household water flow measuring device, but it is not easy to calibrate and set up at all. However, this meter appears to be rock solid once calibrated (using a weight measuring scale and adjusting the “K” Factor in settings).

It comes with default “K” at 7.50 which has to be adjusted accordingly.

Instructions are good except for the installation time of the solenoid valve and flow sensor, which has no information about whatsoever.

They need a bunch of adapters to interconnect to more common ¼ inches or ½ inches water pipes and they are NOT easy to find. You might also want to take a look into the power supply of this device.

For normal functionality, DIGITEN recommends a 5A supply; however, only a 2A power adapter is provided with the flow meter.

One thing to keep in mind is that the valve is closed until the solenoid receives the voltage to open.

This is critical to understand if you’re keeping the valve open for extended periods.

The solenoid heats up quite a bit when it’s open continuously for an hour or so.

Conclusion

Ultimately, DIGITEN can be recommended to elite gardeners or swimming pool owners who are more biased towards controlling their water flows while keeping a record of its physical aspects at the same time.

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Frequently Asked Questions

These questions might pop in your head,

How does a digital flow meter work?

A flow meter works by measuring the fluid flowing through the flow meter sensors or impellers. They are widely used in industries and gardeners as well as domestic users who want to know how much water they have been using to take care of their gardens.

Can I use the flow meter to check a small water pump?

Yes, the pump’s outlet valve can be connected to the flow meter and real-time data about the pump’s accuracy can be found out. Make sure the pump is not a powerful one as it can damage the flow meter.

Can digital flow meters be run for a longer period such as 8-10 hrs.?

Since the digital flow meters have mechanical moving parts, they can wear out after long usage. That is why it is recommended not to run any type of flow meter dry or unnecessary to have a longer lifespan.

How do you reset a Digital Water Flow Meter?

The digital water flow meters can be reset by a single button click for many models. However, you can also refer to the instruction manual provided with each product, as the process may be different for particular models.

I would like to know the pressure that the device can take without damage.

50 PSI is the standard operating pressure of many digital flow meters built for home usage. For industries, you might want a flow meter with much more durability.

Will this work for a pressure washer?

You could use it.

Do water flow meters measure total usage only, or do they give gallons per minute as well?

This may vary from meter to meter. Many water flow meters show only the total usage. However, new digital flow meters show the number of gallons per minute as well.

What is the measurement accuracy of a water meter?

The required accuracy of a good water meter is ± 2% in general and ± 5% at a very low flow rate range.

The exact flow range for a particular water meter depends on the size and class. However, if you are using a flow meter for a chemical reactor, make sure you buy a highly accurate one and not a domestic flow meter.

Does the flow meter require pipe length before the meter?

Suppose you anticipate elbows or other piping arrangements that might create swirls. In that case, it could affect the meter’s accuracy as bends and swirls significantly slow down the water by creating turbulence. So, do not use extra piping unless it is necessary.

How do I select the size of the water meter?

The range of operation (flow rate) is specified for each water meter. Water meters should be selected based on the flow rate range expected at the installation location. It is not dependent on the adjoining pipe size.

Will the water meters register air?

Air passage through the meter will be registered in all mechanical types of water meters.

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