Method and apparatus for monitoring and reporting salt level in a water softener

1. A device for monitoring a salt level in a water softener brine tank having a perimeter wall extending upwardly from a bottom and having a maximum brine level, said device comprising:

a first capacitive sensor located at a first position on an outside surface of said perimeter wall of said brine tank and spaced from said bottom at a first distance, a second capacitive sensor located at a second position on said perimeter wall and spaced at a second distance from said bottom, and a third capacitive sensor located at a third position on said perimeter wall and spaced at a third distance from said bottom, said first, second, and third distances being above said maximum brine level;

each said capacitive sensor having a corresponding sensing probe located between said perimeter wall and a shield, said shield overlaying said sensing probe, each said capacitive sensor having a corresponding output, said corresponding output movable between a salt absent reading and a salt present reading, said absent reading defined by a capacitance reading corresponding to said salt level being below said sensing probe, said present reading defined by said capacitance reading corresponding said salt level being overlaid by said sensing probe;

each said sensor communicating with a controller, said controller reading said corresponding outputs from each said capacitive sensor, said controller comparing said outputs from said first, second, and third capacitive sensors;

said controller reporting a low salt condition when at least two of said outputs of said capacitive sensors read said salt absent reading.

2. The device according to claim 1 , said controller connected to a computer network, said reporting of said low salt condition occurring over said network.

3. The device according to claim 2 , said reporting includes a recurring push notification while said low salt condition exists.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said first, second, and third positions are substantially equally spaced around said perimeter wall.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein said first, second, and third distances are at substantially equal vertical positions on said perimeter wall.

6. A method of monitoring a salt level in a water softener brine tank, said brine tank having a perimeter wall extending from a bottom, said method comprising:

providing a first, second, and third capacitive sensor, each said sensor having a sensing probe;

providing a controller in communication with said sensors;

attaching said first, second, and third capacitive sensors on an outside surface of said perimeter wall with each said sensing probe above a maximum brine level;

said controller monitoring and comparing outputs of said capacitive sensors;

said controller converting said outputs of said capacitive sensors into a value between a salt present or salt absent value; and

reporting a low salt condition when at least one of said capacitive sensor values have a salt absent value.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said reporting of said low salt condition generates a visual or audible alert.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said reporting of said low salt condition occurs wirelessly from said controller.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said reporting occurs through a push notification.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said reporting is recurring while said low salt condition is reported by said controller.

11. A device for monitoring a salt level in a water softener brine tank having a perimeter wall extending upwardly from a bottom and having a maximum brine level, said device comprising:

a first capacitive sensor located at a first position on an outside surface of said perimeter wall of said brine tank and spaced from said bottom at a first distance, a second capacitive sensor located at a second position on said perimeter wall and spaced at a second distance from said bottom, and a third capacitive sensor located at a third position on said perimeter wall and spaced at a third distance from said bottom, said first, second, and third distances being above said maximum brine level, each said capacitive sensor having a corresponding sensor probe;

each said capacitive sensor having a corresponding output, said corresponding output movable between a salt absent reading and a salt present reading, said absent reading defined by said salt level being below said sensor probe, said salt present reading defined by said salt level being above said sensor probe; and

when at least two of said capacitive sensors substantially agree, a controller reporting said output.

12. The device according to claim 11 , said controller connected to a computer network, said reporting occurring over said network.

13. The device according to claim 12 , said reporting includes a recurring push notification while said salt level being below at least two of said sensor probes.

14. The device according to claim 11 , wherein each said sensing probe having a corresponding shield overlaying a sensing probe to place said sensing probe between said perimeter wall and said shield.

15. The device according to claim 11 , wherein said first, second, and third positions are substantially equally spaced around said perimeter wall.

16. The device according to claim 11 , wherein said first, second, and third distances are at substantially equal vertical positions on said perimeter wall.

17. The method according to claim 11 , when said output corresponds to a salt absent condition, said controller generates a visual or audible alert.

18. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said reporting occurs through a push notification.