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https://github.com/eindiran/autowater

Automated watering system for potted plants using Arduino Uno.
https://github.com/eindiran/autowater

arduino arduino-uno automation moisture-sensor watering-plants

Last synced: 2 months ago
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Automated watering system for potted plants using Arduino Uno.

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README 

          
# AutoWater

AutoWater is a project which automates watering a potted plant by measure soil moisture levels using a capciative moisture sensor. If the water levels are beneath a threshold, AutoWater will trigger a normally-closed solenoid valve, pumping water into the pot.



## Ingredients

In order to begin this project you will need:

- __Arduino Uno__ or compatible board, with a __9v power supply__ (1)

- __TIP 120 transistor__ (1)

- __1N4007 Diode__ (1)

- __1k Ohm Resistor__ (1)

- [__Analog Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor v1.0__](https://www.dfrobot.com/wiki/index.php/Capacitive_Soil_Moisture_Sensor_SKU:SEN0193) (1)

- __Breadboard__ (1)

- __Jumper wires__ (10+)

- __Alligator clamps__ (2)

- __Solenoid Valve__ (1)

- __Plastic tubing__ (10 feet)

- __Potted plant__ (1)



## Reading the moisture sensor

The first step is to set up the moisture sensor and get a reading off of it.

In the tests directory, there is a file which can be used to run the test: `MoistureSensorTest.ino`



Place the moisture sensor carefully in the potted plant, leaving the wire section exposed. Notice that on the sensor there is a horizontal white line: *do not submerge the sensor beyond this line*, as it is possible to damage the sensor if the top gets wet. Ideally place the sensor such that the dirt level is approximately __1 inch__ below this.



Take three jumper wires (1 red, 1 black, 1 blue). Match them to the same colors coming off of the sensor. Run the red wire into the __5v__ pin on the Arduino: this will provide power to the sensor. Next run the blue wire to the __Analog 0__ pin, and the black wire to the ground pin (__GND__).



### Moisture Sensor diagram

Here is a diagram showing the connections between the Arduino and the moisture sensor:



![Moisture Sensor Diagram](diagrams/MoistureSensorDiagram.png "Moisture Sensor Diagram")



### Testing the moisture sensor

Plug in the Arduino to your computer, then open the __Arduino IDE__ and upload `MoistureSensorTest.ino` to it. If you get permissions issues and can't upload it, look up the error message it spits out. Likely you will need to run a command like `sudo chmod a+rw /dev/ttyACM0`, which will give you write permissions for the Arduino.



Once you have successfully uploaded the file to the board, from the __Tools__ menu of the IDE, select __Serial Monitor__. If everything has been set up correctly, the window which opens will display a reading from the sensor which is updated every few seconds.

If the monitor displays nonsensical symbols instead of human-readable text, make sure that the baud rate for the monitor matches what is set in the code: using the vanilla code, set to __9600 Bd__.



In order to be sure that the sensor is working proper, after you have begun to see readings from it, slowly add water to the plant. Pour carefully, taking care to not splash the sensor directly. Gradually the reading from the sensor should *decrease* in value.



### Calibrate moisture sensor (optional)

This step is optional, depending on the accuracy you want the moisture sensor to report human-readable moistures with (e.g. "75% Humidity").



To calibrate your moisture sensor, follow the steps above to set it up for testing. In addition you will need a glass of water. First, dry off the moisture sensor entirely. Then fire up `MoistureSensorTest.ino`, and record the value that the sensor reports while held outside of any soil, in the air. Write down this value, which will be used as the 0% Humidity value.



Next, submerge the sensor up to the horizontal line in the glass of water. After the readings stabilize, write down the number, as this will be used as the 100% Humidity value.



Once we've captured these two values, open up the Arduino IDE, as we are going to make some small changes to the code. First find a global variable named `DEBUG`. It is set to __0__. Change the value to __1__. Next, find the variables `AIR_VALUE` and `WATER_VALUE`.

Change the value for the first from __1000__ to the number you recorded when calibrating the moisture sensor in the air.

Next, change the value for the second from __200__ to the value you recorded when calibrating the moisture sensor in the cup of water.

Finally, we need to make the interval correct. Find the variable `INTERVAL`. You need to set this value to `(AIR_VALUE - WATER_VALUE)/4`. Originally the variable was set like so: (1000 - 200)/4 = 800/4 = 200. If the result gives you a fraction, round to the nearest integer.



Save the code and re-upload it to the Arduino. Re-run the test in the air, water and soil, and see what values you get. Now you should see lines like "*Humidity: >50%*" in the output, which indicates that the humidity is >50 % and <75 % of `WATER_VALUE`.



## Turning the Solenoid Valve

Here is a diagram showing the setup of the solenoid valve.

![Solenoid Valve setup](diagrams/SolenoidValveDiagram.png "Solenoid Valve setup")



The setup in this section is based on a tutorial from BC Robotics, which can be found [here](https://www.bc-robotics.com/tutorials/controlling-a-solenoid-valve-with-arduino/).



Note that none of the pins used here overlap with those used during the moisture sensor test. As a result, you don't need to unplug anything from the previous step. If you leave the moisture sensor plugged in during the next step, all the pieces will be correctly set up.

If you want to just play around with the solenoid valve setup, however, feel free to start with a clean breadboard.



### Setting up the power to the solenoid valve

To begin with turn the breadboard so that __j1__ is in the top left corner. Next, take a red wire and connect it to the __Vin__ pin on the Arduino. Plug this in to the __positive rail__ on the top right of the breadboard. This will take the direct voltage from the __9v__ power supply and pass it to the solenoid valve, without first sending it to the board's regulator. If you tried to use a lower voltage, the solenoid valve would not be able to turn. With another red wire connect the positive rail to the near end of a column, on the left side of the breadboard. Immediately below plug in another red wire; take an __alligator clamp__ and attach it to this wire. Connect the other end of this alligator clamp to the __positive__ side of the __solenoid valve__.



### Setting up the Diode

Take the __diode__ and put the side with the __white line__ immediately beneath the last wire plugged in to the breadboard. Plug the other end into __row c__ of the same column. In __row b__ plug in a black wire. Take the second alligator clamp and attach it first to this black wire, then to the __negative__ side of the solenoid valve.



### Setting up the Transistor

Take the __TIP-120 transistor__ and find the front. With the transistor facing you, plug all three pins into three columns in __row j__ beginning several columns to the right of the diode column. Take a black wire and plug it first into __row a__ of the diode column, then into __row i__ of the column containing the transistor's __middle pin__. Take the __resistor__ and plug it into the column of the __left pin__, leaving at least one open pin; in __row a__ of the same column, plug in a yellow wire. Plug the other end of the yellow wire into __digital pin 7__ on the Arduino.



### Setting up the ground

In the column of the __right pin__ of the transistor, add a black wire. Run this wire into the __ground rail__ at the top of the breadboard. Take another black wire and run it from one of two __GND__ pins on the Arduino to the ground rail on the breadboard. The circuit is now complete!



### Running the tests

Open up the IDE and connect the Arduino to your computer. Upload the file `SolenoidTest.ino`. Pick up the solenoid valve and put it next to your ear. You should hear it turn once per second.



Unplug the Arduino. Take a short length of __aquarium tubing__ and cut it off, placing one end inside the solenoid valve and the other end inside the __water reservoir__ or __pump__. Cut off a second length of tubing and put it into the other side of the solenoid valve. For the test, place this other end inside a bucket.



Plug the Arduino back in and run `SolenoidTest.ino` again. The valve should alternate between opening for a second and closing for a second, letting water out into the bucket each time it is open.



## Putting it all together

![AutoWater diagram](diagrams/AutoWaterDiagram.png "AutoWater diagram")

If you didn't unplug the moisture sensor during the last step, congratulations! You are almost ready to run AutoWater. If you did, follow the instructions for plugging in the moisture sensor while leaving all the wires from setting up the solenoid valve plugged in.



The last step before you run everything is connecting the potted plant. First place the moisture sensor in the soil, then take the output side of the tubing amd place it so that the output water will end up watering the plant, but not directly on the moisture sensor.



Open up `AutoWater.ino` in the IDE and edit the file to fit the values calibrated during the moisture sensor testing phase. Set the `DEBUG` value to the appropriate level of logging: __0__ has minimal logging, __1__ has normal logging, and __2__ has logging set to max while disabling the actual watering functionality. This last mode is very useful for debugging and experimenting.



Upload the completed file to the Arduino and open the __Serial Monitor__. Immediately you should see a reading from the moisture sensor. If that reading is too low and `DEBUG < 2`, AutoWater will water your plant! Once you've played around for a bit and have a good idea of how things work, change the time variables to fit the watering needs of your plant. Now you can happily go about your day knowing that the needs of your plant are being taken care of!