Arduino moisture sensor

Scuba_Steve

Scuba_Steve

Just got my Arduino setup to test soil moisture levels.  This system will get more complicated as time passes.  For now it simply lights up 5 LEDs based on the moisture level of the soil.
 
2ns25j5.jpg
 
which humidity sensor do you use ? 
 
for a while I started watching more system and yesterday I installed the fritsing software to start my to my plan
 
I don't use any humidity sensors at the moment.  Just moisture.  I got mine on ebay, but here is an identical pic.  I plan to add temperature next and probably a digital display. 
 
I must add, I thought my soil was pretty dry at the moment.  I have 4/5 LEDs lit still though. 
 
Should I wait until I'm in the red to water, 1 day after the red, or just let it get down to the yellow? 
 
The sensor takes a reading of 0-1000 based on how much electricity it can conduct through the soil.  0 is perfect, 1000 is nothing.  I have it set to illuminate 5th green if it is below 250, 4th green if below 410, 3rd yellow if below 615, 2nd yellow if below 820, and 1st red if 820+.  For a reference my body only illuminates 2nd yellow.
 
Electronic-block-arduino-Soil-Moisture-Sensor.jpg
 
 stop to power the sensor when it is not used. Let says we want to get a value each 1min
http://www.homautomation.org/2014/06/20/measure-soil-moisture-with-arduino-gardening/
 
 
I won't use this type of sensor. A resistive sensor are not extremely reliable, because the exposed electrodes can degrade and get oxidized over time.
Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor is better I think.
bR4nvpO.jpg

https://www.tindie.com/products/miceuz/i2c-soil-moisture-sensor/
cost $12.00 or you can do a PCB as a Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor
a9zE4J2.jpg

http://zerocharactersleft.blogspot.ca/2011/11/pcb-as-capacitive-soil-moisture-sensor.html
 
you can find link for frequency measuring library for the Arduino
http://soulysolar.mudventions.com/?p=681
 
sirex said:
So that's just a shield?
Click to expand...
 
Basically, although to my understanding a shield is placed on top of the Arduino.  This is placed on a breadboard and wired to it.
 
floricole said:
 
 stop to power the sensor when it is not used. Let says we want to get a value each 1min
http://www.homautomation.org/2014/06/20/measure-soil-moisture-with-arduino-gardening/
 
 
I won't use this type of sensor. A resistive sensor are not extremely reliable, because the exposed electrodes can degrade and get oxidized over time.
Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor is better I think.
Click to expand...
 
Great info!  I wish I would've known about those sensors before I ordered.  I did know that the resistive sensors are prone to corrosion.  I added the transistor that you provided in the first link and have it set to turn on once a minute now.  Thank you!
 
Scuba_Steve said:
 
Great info!  I wish I would've known about those sensors before I ordered.  I did know that the resistive sensors are prone to corrosion.  I added the transistor that you provided in the first link and have it set to turn on once a minute now.  Thank you!
Click to expand...
good, here is something that might interest you 
 
http://mganucheau.github.io/Connect-to-the-Natural-World/
A guide to plugging plants into the web using Arduino, Processing and Google Docs.
 
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