Design and Implementation of Microcontroller based Borewell Timer

Abstract

This paper presents an intelligent time-based control system for borewell motors to address the challenge of water wastage and unregulated groundwater extraction. In many industrial and agricultural setups, borewell motors are operated without adequate monitoring, resulting in tank overflows, energy loss, and excessive water consumption. The proposed system introduces a microcontroller-based automation framework that limits motor operation to a pre-calibrated duration per day, aligned with a total daily extraction capacity of 25 kL according to industrial demand. The system supports real-time monitoring, countdown tracking, and pause/resume operations, thereby ensuring equitable water distribution among multiple sectors. Implemented on the STM32F103C8T6 microcontroller with an RTC module, relay control, and digital display interface, the solution offers high processing speed, industrial-grade precision, and low power consumption. Test results confirm the system’s reliability, accuracy, and suitability for continuous 24/7 operation in water-stressed regions. The approach is scalable and cost-effective, contributing to sustainable water management practices.

Introduction

Water scarcity has become a global crisis, intensified by urbanization, population growth, and climate variability. Overdependence on groundwater, particularly through uncontrolled borewell extraction, has led to severe aquifer depletion and escalating pumping costs. Manual methods for regulating borewell usage are inefficient, error-prone, and often result in wastage and non-compliance with water usage policies. To address this, the study presents a microcontroller-based automated borewell timer system designed to control water extraction precisely and ensure sustainable resource management.

The proposed system allocates a fixed daily operational duration based on tank capacity and flow rate. It integrates a Real-Time Clock (RTC) for accurate timekeeping, a relay-based motor control mechanism for automated switching, and a 7-segment display for real-time feedback. The STM32F103C8T6 microcontroller serves as the system’s core, coordinating all components and maintaining high-speed real-time processing. Additional modules include an EEPROM for retaining user settings during power loss, a DS1307 RTC for accurate timing, and manual keypad controls for flexible time adjustment. Upon reaching the preset water usage limit, the system triggers an automated shutdown, preventing overextraction.

The system’s performance was validated through simulation in Proteus 8 and real hardware testing. Results confirmed precise timekeeping, reliable relay operation, accurate display updates, and retention of configuration data across power cycles. Compared to traditional timer-based systems, this automated design minimizes human intervention, conserves water, and enhances operational efficiency.

A detailed review of related works shows the evolution from basic 555-timer-based circuits to IoT-integrated and GSM-enabled borewell monitoring systems. However, most prior models lacked real-time adaptability and autonomous regulation. The proposed solution bridges this gap by offering a low-cost, standalone, and scalable design, capable of future integration with IoT-based platforms for remote monitoring and data logging.

Conclusion

The designed system successfully achieved its objective of automating water flow control based on real-time scheduling. The integration of the RTC (DS1307) with the Arduino/STM32 microcontroller ensured highly accurate and reliable timekeeping, which is essential for consistent daily scheduling. The 7-segment display interface provided clear and continuous real-time feedback of system parameters, including current time and motor runtime, while the EEPROM (FM24C64) effectively preserved user-configured settings during power interruptions. Experimental verification confirmed that relay switching operations were precise, safe, and robust, enabling secure control of external devices such as water pumps or solenoid valves. The overall system demonstrated stable performance, minimal timing deviation, and high operational efficiency under varying load conditions. This design can be effectively implemented in automatic water distribution, irrigation management, and industrial scheduling systems, where controlled daily water usage is essential. Future enhancements may include IoT-based monitoring, remote control via Wi-Fi or GSM, and flow sensor feedback integration for volume-based automation and cloud data logging.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Devashri Shastri, Janhavi Tambat, Rajas Yeole, Shraddha Shelke. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.