Built my own garden micro computer for <$100 (arduino based)

readysetawesome

readysetawesome

Active Member
Primary Features:
  • Realtime Temperature & Humidity readouts
  • Measures soil moisture and keeps the max reading on the screen
  • Automatically Stores & displays the ongoing maximum and minimum temperature
  • Uses joystick input for resetting Temp max/min or clearing the soil moisture reading (so you can take a new measurement in a different location)

Would people have interest in a full parts list and a link to the source code? I'll be continuing to evolve this and taking feedback if people are interested.

I plan to extend this quite a bit in the future, and maybe some years from now I'll begin to automate garden functions with a grid of arduino-based micro computers, sensors, solenoid valves, servos, etc. I may also use the platform for security, adding motion-sensor based cameras and even a device to send me a text message when ever the grow area's motion sensors are triggered or a gate or door is opened (this is actually possible with a few off-the-shelf components and almost no technical skill at all).
 

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Rotweiller

Rotweiller

Well-Known Member
readysetawesome said:
Primary Features:
  • Realtime Temperature & Humidity readouts
  • Measures soil moisture and keeps the max reading on the screen
  • Automatically Stores & displays the ongoing maximum and minimum temperature
  • Uses joystick input for resetting Temp max/min or clearing the soil moisture reading (so you can take a new measurement in a different location)
Would people have interest in a full parts list and a link to the source code? I'll be continuing to evolve this and taking feedback if people are interested.

I plan to extend this quite a bit in the future, and maybe some years from now I'll begin to automate garden functions with a grid of arduino-based micro computers, sensors, solenoid valves, servos, etc. I may also use the platform for security, adding motion-sensor based cameras and even a device to send me a text message when ever the grow area's motion sensors are triggered or a gate or door is opened (this is actually possible with a few off-the-shelf components and almost no technical skill at all).
Click to expand...
Well done for such a Great idea and for getting it all working :clap:
I thought about doing something like this with my Raspberry Pie when i bought it a couple years ago but didn't have a clue on where or how to start :wall:
I wouldn't mind knowing what the part list is if you have the time please.
 
readysetawesome

readysetawesome

Active Member
Started with a basic arduino leonardo board (which was given to me like 3 years ago). To which I added 2 "shields" (boards that are made to mount directly on top and extend the arduino):
Once you have the above hardware you just need to plug in a couple cheap but high quality sensors:
Thats it, no soldering or surprises, 100% plug and play.

You'll need to power it somehow - any external micro USB battery will work well (my shitty old one can run this thing for 24+ hours.)

Here's the source:
https://gist.github.com/readysetawesome/6f548b4b0800e50b510e

I hadn't written c in a while but the people who wrote examples I pulled from wiki's were even worse at it than I am, lol... so this is cleaned up a bit but definitely still needs more cleanup. There are probably some bugs.
 
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green217

green217

Well-Known Member
readysetawesome said:
Primary Features:
  • Realtime Temperature & Humidity readouts
  • Measures soil moisture and keeps the max reading on the screen
  • Automatically Stores & displays the ongoing maximum and minimum temperature
  • Uses joystick input for resetting Temp max/min or clearing the soil moisture reading (so you can take a new measurement in a different location)
Would people have interest in a full parts list and a link to the source code? I'll be continuing to evolve this and taking feedback if people are interested.

I plan to extend this quite a bit in the future, and maybe some years from now I'll begin to automate garden functions with a grid of arduino-based micro computers, sensors, solenoid valves, servos, etc. I may also use the platform for security, adding motion-sensor based cameras and even a device to send me a text message when ever the grow area's motion sensors are triggered or a gate or door is opened (this is actually possible with a few off-the-shelf components and almost no technical skill at all).
Click to expand...
I would love to see your sketch. I made my own soil sensor from one i found googling, it negates the electrolysis that seems to be the most common problem with them. I am glad to see some one starting a thread with a arduino based grow room. I am about to do the same soon. I've been to busy to get it all together yet.
I've got the d22 already, and have a tsl2561 for a light sensor, the home made soil sensor works great though. If you are interested in checking it out google garduino and he has a write up on it. I have a yun, and plan on making it so I get alerts if anything goes wrong, and get real time reading on soil moisture, ambient temp, and etc. Please keep us posted.
I love this stuff
 
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E

elrodvoss

Well-Known Member
I hope not to hijack this in any way, but im looking for something like this.

Basicly, looking for a arduino system, that will read ph and ppm. If the data could be saved and accessed remotely, excellent. Otherwise would settle for it to be displayed on lcd screen and use a security cam to "remotely read" it. Idea is to be able to view status on my phone.

Thanks in advance as always.
 
green217

green217

Well-Known Member
elrodvoss said:
I hope not to hijack this in any way, but im looking for something like this.

Basicly, looking for a arduino system, that will read ph and ppm. If the data could be saved and accessed remotely, excellent. Otherwise would settle for it to be displayed on lcd screen and use a security cam to "remotely read" it. Idea is to be able to view status on my phone.

Thanks in advance as always.
Click to expand...
Check afafruit, I saw a pH sensor there for hydro.
 
readysetawesome

readysetawesome

Active Member
PH sensor is a great idea but I'm using reverse osmosis water and so don't really worry about it.
elrodvoss said:
I hope not to hijack this in any way, but im looking for something like this.

Basicly, looking for a arduino system, that will read ph and ppm. If the data could be saved and accessed remotely, excellent. Otherwise would settle for it to be displayed on lcd screen and use a security cam to "remotely read" it. Idea is to be able to view status on my phone.

Thanks in advance as always.
Click to expand...
Yeah some of my code may be useful, especially if you use the same LCD unit - i have a loop that reads from sensors and updates the screen with info. You would just need to add PH sensor and code to read data from it (there are examples of that available too)

http://www.tbaquatics.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=315&gclid=CIG1m8XB4sYCFYeCfgodCHYCSg&zenid=9d7f8db328f76fd5f9bf031b7c39bfa3
^^^ This is an all-in-one digital TDS, haven't found an arduino-compatible one yet but that doesn't mean it isn't out there..
 
readysetawesome

readysetawesome

Active Member
Arduino Leonardo base board: ~$19
Grove Base shield: $9
LCD: ~$23
Moisture Sensor: $5
Temp & Humidity sensor: $10

so around $70 plus some S&H

This basic configuration I have can be extended with a lot of other sensors / those are generally the cheapest part. I know someone who is planning for long-term automation of lights and water (possibly even PH balancing one day!) with such a system.
 
readysetawesome

readysetawesome

Active Member
Joedank said:
ok so how do you extend all the connections so they reach the desired spot?
Click to expand...
The sensors I'm using all have standard connections (the grove base shield uses 4 pins, while some digital probes connect directly to the arduino with only 3 pins), grove sensors can be extended easily up to 50cm with longer premade cables: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/Grove-Universal-4-Pin-Buckled-50cm-Cable-5-PCs-Pack-p-928.html or buy some of the ends & some wire, make your own even-longer leads (for some sensors there may be a limit to how long you can run the leads, but I'd bet its pretty long).
 
green217

green217

Well-Known Member
readysetawesome said:
Arduino Leonardo base board: ~$19
Grove Base shield: $9
LCD: ~$23
Moisture Sensor: $5
Temp & Humidity sensor: $10

so around $70 plus some S&H

This basic configuration I have can be extended with a lot of other sensors / those are generally the cheapest part. I know someone who is planning for long-term automation of lights and water (possibly even PH balancing one day!) with such a system.
Click to expand...
Keep us posted on any additions or your friends automation specs if u can. There is so much available to us out there it is crazy, I want to see more threads like this. I will throw my stuff up when I get it done.
 
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Joedank

Joedank

Well-Known Member
readysetawesome said:
The sensors I'm using all have standard connections (the grove base shield uses 4 pins, while some digital probes connect directly to the arduino with only 3 pins), grove sensors can be extended easily up to 50cm with longer premade cables: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/Grove-Universal-4-Pin-Buckled-50cm-Cable-5-PCs-Pack-p-928.html or buy some of the ends & some wire, make your own even-longer leads (for some sensors there may be a limit to how long you can run the leads, but I'd bet its pretty long).
Click to expand...
wow this might change the game for me:) might need your code for it though
 
K

Karin Kloosterman

New Member
green217 said:
I would love to see your sketch. I made my own soil sensor from one i found googling, it negates the electrolysis that seems to be the most common problem with them. I am glad to see some one starting a thread with a arduino based grow room. I am about to do the same soon. I've been to busy to get it all together yet.
I've got the d22 already, and have a tsl2561 for a light sensor, the home made soil sensor works great though. If you are interested in checking it out google garduino and he has a write up on it. I have a yun, and plan on making it so I get alerts if anything goes wrong, and get real time reading on soil moisture, ambient temp, and etc. Please keep us posted.
I love this stuff
Click to expand...
We have developed a suite of sensors pH, EC, temp and can customize to unlimited sensors and sharing/collecting data. Very low price point. Wifi. See www.fluxiot.com. Am looking for beta customers. Anyone who wants to try it please drop me a line: [email protected]
 
K

Karin Kloosterman

New Member
readysetawesome said:
Primary Features:
  • Realtime Temperature & Humidity readouts
  • Measures soil moisture and keeps the max reading on the screen
  • Automatically Stores & displays the ongoing maximum and minimum temperature
  • Uses joystick input for resetting Temp max/min or clearing the soil moisture reading (so you can take a new measurement in a different location)
Would people have interest in a full parts list and a link to the source code? I'll be continuing to evolve this and taking feedback if people are interested.

I plan to extend this quite a bit in the future, and maybe some years from now I'll begin to automate garden functions with a grid of arduino-based micro computers, sensors, solenoid valves, servos, etc. I may also use the platform for security, adding motion-sensor based cameras and even a device to send me a text message when ever the grow area's motion sensors are triggered or a gate or door is opened (this is actually possible with a few off-the-shelf components and almost no technical skill at all).
Click to expand...
We have developed a suite of sensors pH, EC, temp and can customize to unlimited sensors and sharing/collecting data. Very low price point. Wifi. See www.fluxiot.com. Am looking for beta customers. Anyone who wants to try it please drop me a line: [email protected]
 
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