Automatic irrigation options?

V

Valeris

Member
Right now I'm looking at smartbee because it's water content sensors allow you to automatically bounce between moisture content levels, say, 50 and 80%. Problem is that the system costs almost 3k and doesn't seem to have an app, and hasn't answered the phone or called me back. Not sure I want to give them my money.

Are there any other options? Perhaps delving into Arduino? I need it to grab readings from water content sensors and then power a 110v outlet for my pump. I also need to be able to set rules for watering such as only watering during certain hours and stopping for the day once I hit the max WC level I set.

Any ideas?
 
simpleleaf

simpleleaf

Well-Known Member
Several years ago I was thinking about the Arduino for just that purpose. I personally decided I was old enough and that I didn't have to keep learning new things, such as how to program it. But it seemed like it was doable. I'm pretty sure some of the growers here use such systems.

Get your Geek on and control your grow room with Arduino!

Fourteen months ago, I got a Raspberry Pi (3 b+) and I started on a quest to automate my grow. It was an idea that began as a discussion with a small group of friends at the now defunct Cannabis Culture forum. Topics ranged from the usual temperature and humidity blah blah, to a robotic hand...
www.rollitup.org
 
V

Valeris

Member
simpleleaf said:
Several years ago I was thinking about the Arduino for just that purpose. I personally decided I was old enough and that I didn't have to keep learning new things, such as how to program it. But it seemed like it was doable. I'm pretty sure some of the growers here use such systems.

Get your Geek on and control your grow room with Arduino!

Fourteen months ago, I got a Raspberry Pi (3 b+) and I started on a quest to automate my grow. It was an idea that began as a discussion with a small group of friends at the now defunct Cannabis Culture forum. Topics ranged from the usual temperature and humidity blah blah, to a robotic hand...
www.rollitup.org
Click to expand...
What did you end up doing?
 
simpleleaf

simpleleaf

Well-Known Member
Valeris said:
What did you end up doing?
Click to expand...
Without the desire to learn how program it, I dropped consideration, I couldn't and still can't afford to hire someone to program it for me. So I water my plants by hand, and they grow in potting mix. But from what I was perceiving about the Arduino, it could be made into a near ideal automated system, particularly for hydro.
 
V

Valeris

Member
simpleleaf said:
Without the desire to learn how program it, I dropped consideration, I couldn't and still can't afford to hire someone to program it for me. So I water my plants by hand, and they grow in potting mix. But from what I was perceiving about the Arduino, it could be made into a near ideal automated system, particularly for hydro.
Click to expand...
I'm worried about burning down my house lol. The programming isn't the problem for me. It's the wiring.
 
H

HanabiraAsashi

Member
there has to be some affordable alternatives. I believe trolmaster has a good system but i dont think they do much with WC other than display the amounts.
 
grotbags

grotbags

Well-Known Member
Valeris said:
I'm worried about burning down my house lol. The programming isn't the problem for me. It's the wiring.
Click to expand...
that smartbee set up is overpriced junk...
a raspbery pi4 running home assistant can do everything the smartbee can at a fraction of the cost.
 
V

Valeris

Member
grotbags said:
that smartbee set up is overpriced junk...
a raspbery pi4 running home assistant can do everything the smartbee can at a fraction of the cost.
Click to expand...
What's home assistant? I'm new the the whole maker thing.

I was researching using Arduino. Doesn't seem too difficult, just alot to do. Have you done something similar?
 
grotbags

grotbags

Well-Known Member
Valeris said:
Yessss! This is perfect! Thank you!!
Click to expand...
if you get time watch the rest of ledgardeners videos on home assistant they are a great source of info., he also has a forum with a section on home automation loads of great info on there aswell...

also read up on node red...

them soil moisture sensors the smartbee uses are the cheapest type available, how much do they charge for them?.
 
V

Valeris

Member
grotbags said:
if you get time watch the rest of ledgardeners videos on home assistant they are a great source of info., he also has a forum with a section on home automation loads of great info on there aswell...

also read up on node red...

them soil moisture sensors the smartbee uses are the cheapest type available, how much do they charge for them?.
Click to expand...
A fuckton! Like 70 a pop. The entire irrigation system is 3k and they don't even have an app. I'm defin going to watch that whole series. It seems to be exactly what I'm looking for.
 
grotbags

grotbags

Well-Known Member
Valeris said:
A fuckton! Like 70 a pop. The entire irrigation system is 3k and they don't even have an app. I'm defin going to watch that whole series. It seems to be exactly what I'm looking for.
Click to expand...
good soil moisture sensors (teros 12, acclima) are expensive @ around £300, the ones the smartbee uses are cheap standard capacitive sensors that can cost less than £5.

im just starting to gather the parts to set up a crop steering auto irigation system based on dryback times and pore water ec.

i already have a rp4 running home assistant/node red which is currently controlling temps, humidty, pump timing, fans ect.
 
V

Valeris

Member
grotbags said:
good soil moisture sensors (teros 12, acclima) are expensive @ around £300, the ones the smartbee uses are cheap standard capacitive sensors that can cost less than £5.

im just starting to gather the parts to set up a crop steering auto irigation system based on dryback times and pore water ec.

i already have a rp4 running home assistant/node red which is currently controlling temps, humidty, pump timing, fans ect.
Click to expand...
Mind if I DM you? Would be nice to have a head to bounce ideas off of that's working on the same system.
 
grotbags

grotbags

Well-Known Member
Valeris said:
Mind if I DM you? Would be nice to have a head to bounce ideas off of that's working on the same system.
Click to expand...
yer no worries man, im no programer that parts hard for me (although node red simplifys that somewhat) but i love building stuff and know my way round a soldering iron!...
 
V

Valeris

Member
grotbags said:
yer no worries man, im no programer that parts hard for me (although node red simplifys that somewhat) but i love building stuff and know my way round a soldering iron!...
Click to expand...
I'm not a programmER but I can program. Wiring is hard for me and this all seems to avoid the wiring the Arduino was gonna make me do.
 
G

GOT420

Well-Known Member
Check out Growlink's system. It monitors VWC, EC & Temp. It can also control solenoids and its extremely user friendly. Getting ready to order two of these with 8 sensors and have it control my whole operation. It's a little pricey, but you absolutely get your moneys worth in support and ease of use and quality.

https://cropsteering.com/
 
JustBlazin

JustBlazin

Well-Known Member
Dude just get some blumats and save your self the headache and a pile of money.
They are just a moisture sensor you set to whatever moisture level you want. Just keep your res topped up and your plants will feed themselves. I run straight tap water through mine with promix and dry amendments, but alot of people use them with coco and salt nutrients.
 
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