Automatic Arduino Garden-Watering Project

RE: Automatic Arduino Garden-Watering Project

adiclepcea — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 05:34:18 GMT

I did a project that might help you with some ideas.

It uses however an older version of Arduino IDE.

Arduino Multiple Timer. Day Based and Alarm Based: 3 Steps

With it you can use up to 6 timers and set up the period they run for and also choose the days of the week when they run.

It uses a DS1307 timer but other compatible timers have been used for this project with success.

HTH.

RE: Automatic Arduino Garden-Watering Project

ntewinkel — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 03:04:55 GMT

A few years ago I built a similar watering setup for my greenhouse, but using pumps.

Mine has 2 relays - 1 for the water pump, and 1 for a fertilizer pump.

It would run the fertilizer pump at the start of the watering cycle to inject fertilizer in with the water, and shutting the fertilizer off early so that none of it was left in the lines (to avoid algae and such).

The timing doesn't have to be accurate, so the software just relies on the internal clock. That seemed to stay close enough on time that I didn't notice any deviation throughout the watering season.

I use 120v (not really safe for beginners) but it can be done with lower safer voltages too if you choose 12v pumps, for example.

I originally had much bigger plans, like tracking sunlight, humidity, temperature, soil moisture, and the idea was to only water the plants when the soil moisture was down to a certain point. Ultimately I ran into issues with sensor numbers being unreliable, likely due to wire lengths, so I settled for having it just be a timer.

I like the water valve you mentioned - it sounds like you could use the same 9v supply to run the Arduino as well as open the valve. And no need for a water barrel and pump!

Let me know if you want the source code for that, I'd be happy to share. I don't have schematics or anything, but it's really just as simple as "connect pin A to relay 1, connect pin B to relay 2). And you don't even need relay2. It was mostly unused in my setup for several years. In any case, it might give you some starting ideas.

Cheers,

-Nico

RE: Automatic Arduino Garden-Watering Project

DAB — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 19:06:18 GMT

I suggest you start small and build up capability as you get experience with the project.

DAB

RE: Automatic Arduino Garden-Watering Project

dougw — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 17:08:54 GMT

Cool project. It will be interesting to watch it develop.

Be sure to ask questions here if you run into snags.

Thanks for sharing.