![]() Pick a value that is a little higher than the dry value, open the watering_system_simplified Arduino sketch, and on the line that says Watch the Serial Monitor and write down the values the sensor shows when wet and dry. One sample should be dry, and represents the level of dryness where you want the system to start watering. Connect your Arduino to the computer via USB and upload that sketch to it.ħ:09 Open the Arduino Serial Monitor and watch the first sensor value changing - it should change even if you touch the header pins.ħ:52 Take two samples of the soil you'll use the system with. Open the example sketch called AnalogInOutSerial. USB power is sufficient to power the sensor circuit, no need to wire up the power supply yet.Ħ:55 Open the Arduino application on your computer. At this stage, you really only need to wire up the bit with the moisture sensor (the 2 blue wires represent the jumper wires on the end of the mains cable), the 1M and 10k resistor, and the jumper from the moisture sensor to the A0 analogue pin. For the watering_system_simplified, sketch, you'll need to build 2 moisture sensors.ģ:53 Plug the components into the breadboard, following the Fritzing file or the screen capture that I've attached to this Instructable. Wrap those solder joints in electricians tape or heatshrink them. TIP - I found these work better if you remove the 4 unsoldered pins from the plastic, so you just get 2 metal pins held a consistent distance apart by the plastic.ģ:28 For each moisture sensor you want to build, take the mains cable with the header pins soldered to it, and solder 2 jumper wires to the other end of the cores. Solder one core to pin 1 of the header pins, and the other core to pin 6. At 1:38 I was trying to be clever by using only 3 jumper wires for the 4 cores of wiring from the mains cables, but it's easier just to use 2 jumper wires for each mains cable.ģ:20 For each moisture sensor you want to build, cut a 1 metre length of 2 core mains cable, and take one 6-wide row of header pins. I covered the solder joints with electrical tape but you can use heatshrink if you want a neater finish! I soldered jumper wires to the other ends of the cables, so they can plug into the breadboard. IMPORTANT - this is not to plug them into the mains, I just find 2 core mains cable convenient. I cut 2 x 1 metre lengths of the mains cable and soldered one to each motor. A plastic nozzle, for example from a garden hose connector or washing machine tap adaptor Ġ:00-1:38 The first version of the system had 2 sensors and 2 pumps.Another plastic tray or 5 litre water bottle, to act as a water reservoir.Cooling rack (for cooling baked goods, etc) - small enough to sit on the bottom of that tray.Plastic tray, big enough for your plantpots to sit inside.If using a metal box - Gromits, about 6mm internal diameter - big enough to fit the wires through.Box large enough to hold the breadboard.2 X LEDs (optional, as an indicator to show the sensor has been triggered).6V AC/DC converter / power supply / wall wart. ![]() ![]() 3-4 metres of 2 core mains electrical cable or any other durable flexible wiring - I just find mains cable convenient.2 x 6-wide row of header pins - 0.1 inch / 2.54mm spacing, the bent variety if possible.Plastic or silicone hose with an *inner* diameter of 6-7mm, or another size if your pump has a differently sized water outlet.* DC pump (search for 3-6V or 5V mini submersible pump).Arduino (I used a Pro Nano, but an Uno will do fine).In this Instructable, I'm attempting to condense the contents of two videos I made about my watering system, to take the best aspects from the builds in each video.
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