In the long run I want to make an automated garden setup indoors, with hydroponics and wireless data logging. In this first part I’m beginning it all by creating a little automated watering system for seeds using an arduino and some moisture sensors. I’ll try to grow some herbs as the first test.
Gardening With Cody series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3gtNKRRVjA
Music by Epidemic Sound. Want a 30-day free trial? Check it:
https://goo.gl/eor22N
Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/nerdforge
Schematic: Coming soon
Code: Coming soon
PARTS USED:
– Grow Light LED Strip: http://bit.ly/growstip
– Submersible pump: http://bit.ly/sub-pump
– Moisture Sensors: http://bit.ly/moisturesensors
– Arduino: http://bit.ly/arduinonanobg
– 8mm tubing: http://bit.ly/silicon-tube
– Breadboard: http://bit.ly/breadbaord
– Jumper wires: http://bit.ly/jumperwires
FOLLOW:
Website – http://www.natural-nerd.com/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Nerdforged/
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thenerdforge/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/TheNerdforge
CONTACT: contact@thenerdforge.com
Plants need space…you have deprived them of that…you nerded it all up its supposed to be simple
where is the update? or has it not been done yet? I wanna see some growth. get your mind out of the gutter
I already have one and I love it I am getting another one now love these>>>t.co/OZGSUsu51i . They are very easy to set up and to maintain they are fantastic .
I've been watching some nerdforge videos, and like what you guys are doing. From experience, I think you will have some future issues with corrosion and bad readings on the soil moisture sensors. There are methods to prevent that, but not with the sensors you are using. Also you can save the hassle/issues by switching to hydroponics, and ebb flow, or just spray/drip system on a timer. I recently posted a diy mini aquaponcs ebb flow system with free 3d print files. I think you could tweak and utilize. http://www.gardenisto.com/cultivation/horticulture/desktop-aquaponic-tank-part-1/
Here are some links similar to your project, or may be helpful.
http://www.gardenisto.com/systems/controls/analog-soil-moisture-sensor/
http://www.gardenisto.com/cultivation/hydroponics/simple-drip-setup/
http://www.gardenisto.com/cultivation/hydroponics/diy-apartment-hydroponics-with-light-for-30/
One last note, I don't see any Lumens output specs on the LEDs you are linking to, but that height, plus the unknown lumen and saturation/light angle, could cause your plants to sprout in a weak and spindly sort of way, if they are sufficient at all. I learned that with anything over 3" using 1watt per channel rgb LEDs here:
http://www.gardenisto.com/systems/lighting/diy-led-grow-lights/
Maybe I am late to the game and just missed the update. If not, I hope you post an update, revisit, and make the improvements with the ESP mcu you mentioned. Looking forward to seeing more on this.
Er du norsk ?
This is an inspiring idea for self-sustainability, Keep it up! It's Ligit!
hm.. why you need 3 sensors if you don't control each box individually ?
Wich relay do You user?
Just ordered components, want to do the same, just the code is still missing… Please!!!
Cody wasts too much time talking. Please dont follow in his example. Plus his "experiments" isnt real science
Haha!! I knew it!! Seriously I immediately thought about Cody when I saw your post about this on instagram 🙂 Well done as always!
Good to know that you're a fellow fan of cody
You need to increase the light (By a lot) and uncover the soil. It defeats the purpose of having an auto-waterer if you dont have any evaporation from the soil. With it covered it will get moldy very quickly, and that is a sure way to kill seeds and seedlings.
I would also add a fan that blows periodically throughout the day.
Love the videos
I would suggest adding some gravel in the bottom of the containers and some holes to allow water to drain out. Otherwise, you just built a really cheap mold growing machine. Also, maybe do a single pump per box you are monitoring in case there is a different plant that needs a different watering schedule or water saturation. The way you have it setup now is that the lowest common denominator will trigger watering for the whole system. You may have the other two containers over watered, or worse, overflowing with water if one of the sensors fails or reads below the triggering event.
Emo!
You are going to want to replace those clear tubes and containers with something opaque or you will be constantly cleaning them. Algae will grow anywhere the light is able to get in, including the tubing.
You wont be happy with these sensors for long. Thres's a steady current flowing between the two electrodes, so electrolysis will slowly eat them up and produce not-so-healthy metal salts which then will be spreadet in your soil…
Putting the water container and pump on the same level or higher than the delivery tubes would take some stress off of the pump and possibly extend the life of it. There are also inexpensive spray nozzles available on Amazon which might work with the flexible tubing but would work for sure if pvc pipe were to be substituted. A similar concept would work if the system were to be aeroponic and the electronics could be simplified. Great idea with the arduino and sensors, nice inexpensive project.