Self-charging water usage monitor, systems, and methods

A water usage monitor, comprising:

• a housing having:
• a fluid flow path;
• a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid flow path and configured to facilitate fluid communication between a fluid source and the fluid flow path;
• a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid flow path at an end of the fluid flow path opposite the fluid inlet, the fluid outlet facilitating outflow of fluid from the fluid flow path to an exterior of the housing;
• and
• a dry housing interior fluidly isolated from the fluid flow path;
• a power generator positioned at least partially in the fluid flow path, the power generator configured to generate a voltage when fluid flows through the fluid flow path from the fluid inlet;
• at least one sensor positioned at least partially within the dry housing and configured to measure at least one characteristic of a fluid flowing through the fluid flow path;
• a signal generator operably connected to the power generator and to the at least one sensor, the signal generator configured to transmit signals from the power generator and from the at least one sensor to a remote processor;
• wherein the power generator is configured to power both the at least one sensor and the signal generator in response to fluid flow through the fluid flow path, wherein the power generator is configured to output signals usable for calculating flowrate of fluid through the flow path, and wherein the power generator is configured to generate a voltage indicative of fluid flow rate through the fluid flow path;
• a controllable valve that is controllable in to at least an open configuration and a closed configuration via remote signals;
• the water usage monitor in combination with a water monitoring system including:
• one or more network hubs;
• a plurality of water usage monitors;
• and
• a network of distributed servers hosted on the internet and configured to bilaterally communicate with the plurality of water usage monitors through the one or more network hubs;
• wherein:
• the plurality of water usage monitors are configured to wirelessly communicate with each other and with the one or more network hubs;
• at least two of the plurality of water usage monitors are configured to wirelessly communicate flow data to the one or more network hubs;
• and
• the network of distributed servers is configured to calculate water flow rate from the flow data communicated from the at least two water usage monitors and wherein the network of distributed servers detects leaks in the system based upon water flow and induces selected monitors to close the controllable valve to isolate the leaks.