Growing, Horticulture Discussions

Microcontroller Unit Controlled Aeroponics Growing System

2020-06-11T04:05:41.8600000

My Friends,

As a side project, I am going to put together a MCU Controlled Aeroponics Growing System, just simple for a start.

Aeroponics Stats:

Chamber is kept at temperatures between 16.7C or 62F to 21.7C or 71F with good stability.
The Misting, three to five seconds every 5 minutes, or less than 5 seconds on every 4-5 minutes.
PH and EC (Electrical Conductivity) Control.
Nutrient mix in the Water that gets sprayed. Recommended replaced every 2 - 3 weeks.

Parts include:

Parts are inexpensive and its a project that just might be able to feed my family cheaply and efficiently with the freshest food possible.

Arduino or Wemos Mega +WiFi R3 Module:

I like the Arduino rebranded stuff. Its cheap and full of features. This has inbuilt WiFi and will be wireless to my network.

Here is some nice code online to get the wireless working, I have slightly modified it: medium.com

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Header:
#include "WiFiEsp.h"

#ifndef HAVE_HWSERIAL3
#endif

char ssid[] = "SSID";            // your network SSID (name)
char pass[] = "password";        // your network password
int status = WL_IDLE_STATUS;     // the Wifi radio's status

char server[] = "myserver";
const String URI PROGMEM = "/api/exee/UpdatePowerConsumption";

// Initialize the Ethernet client object
WiFiEspClient client;
int amps;




// Setup:
void setup()
{
  // initialize serial for debugging
  Serial.begin(115200);
  // initialize serial for ESP module
  Serial3.begin(115200);
  // initialize ESP module
  WiFi.init(&Serial3);

  // check for the presence of the shield
  if (WiFi.status() == WL_NO_SHIELD) {
    Serial.println("WiFi shield not present");
    // don't continue
    while (true);
  }

  // attempt to connect to WiFi network
  while ( status != WL_CONNECTED) {
    Serial.print("Attempting to connect to WPA SSID: ");
    Serial.println(ssid);
    // Connect to WPA/WPA2 network
    status = WiFi.begin(ssid, pass);
  }

  // you're connected now, so print out the data
  Serial.println("You're connected to the network");

  printWifiStatus();

  Serial.println();
  Serial.println("Starting connection to server...");
  amps = analogRead(A0);
  String tempData = "";
  tempData.concat("{\"AccessToken\" : \"");
  tempData.concat("AccessToken");
  tempData.concat("\",\"LocationCode\" : \"");
  tempData.concat("L001");
  tempData.concat("\",\"TotalConsumption\" :\"");
  tempData.concat(amps);
  tempData.concat("\"}");
  Serial.println(tempData);

  if (client.connect(server, 80)) {
    Serial.println(F("con..."));
    // send the HTTP GET request:
    client.println("POST " + URI + " HTTP/1.1");
    client.println("Host: " + String(server));
    client.println("Content-Type: application/json");
    client.print("Content-Length: ");
    client.println(tempData.length());
    client.println();
    client.println(tempData);
    // note the time that the connection was made:

  } else {
    // if you couldn't make a connection:
    Serial.println(F("con failed"));
  }

}



// Main Loop:
void loop()
{
  // if there are incoming bytes available
  // from the server, read them and print them
  while (client.available()) {
    char c = client.read();
    Serial.write(c);
  }

  // if the server's disconnected, stop the client
  if (!client.connected()) {
    Serial.println();
    Serial.println("Disconnecting from server...");
    client.stop();

    // do nothing forevermore
    while (true);
  }
}



// Print WiFi Status:
void printWifiStatus()
{
  // print the SSID of the network you're attached to
  Serial.print("SSID: ");
  Serial.println(WiFi.SSID());

  // print your WiFi shield's IP address
  IPAddress ip = WiFi.localIP();
  Serial.print("IP Address: ");
  Serial.println(ip);

  // print the received signal strength
  long rssi = WiFi.RSSI();
  Serial.print("Signal strength (RSSI):");
  Serial.print(rssi);
  Serial.println(" dBm");
}

Tons of cool libraries and code samples online if you want to look around. I hope to have more soon.

GY-BMP280-3.3 High Precision Atmospheric Pressure Sensor Module:

I want to measure the Atmospheric pressure also, its a simple cheap sensor that may hep give results.

This example requires: https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_BMP280_Library and https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Sensor

The following code example is from: arduinolearning.com/ or best-microcontroller-projects.com

/***************************************************************************
This is a library for the BMP280 humidity, temperature & pressure sensor
 
Designed specifically to work with the Adafruit BMEP280 Breakout
----> http://www.adafruit.com/products/2651
 
These sensors use I2C or SPI to communicate, 2 or 4 pins are required
to interface.
 
Adafruit invests time and resources providing this open source code,
please support Adafruit andopen-source hardware by purchasing products
from Adafruit!
 
Written by Limor Fried & Kevin Townsend for Adafruit Industries.
BSD license, all text above must be included in any redistribution
***************************************************************************/
 
#include <Wire.h>
#include <SPI.h>
#include <Adafruit_Sensor.h>
#include <Adafruit_BMP280.h>
 
#define BMP_SCK 13
#define BMP_MISO 12
#define BMP_MOSI 11
#define BMP_CS 10
 
Adafruit_BMP280 bme; // I2C
//Adafruit_BMP280 bme(BMP_CS); // hardware SPI
//Adafruit_BMP280 bme(BMP_CS, BMP_MOSI, BMP_MISO, BMP_SCK);
 
void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial.println(F("BMP280 test"));
 
if (!bme.begin()) {
Serial.println("Could not find a valid BMP280 sensor, check wiring!");
while (1);
}
}
 
void loop() {
Serial.print("Temperature = ");
Serial.print(bme.readTemperature());
Serial.println(" *C");
 
Serial.print("Pressure = ");
Serial.print(bme.readPressure());
Serial.println(" Pa");
 
Serial.print("Approx altitude = ");
Serial.print(bme.readAltitude(1013.25)); // this should be adjusted to your local forcase
Serial.println(" m");
 
Serial.println();
delay(2000);
}

CJMCU-1080 HDC1080 High Precision Temperature And Humidity Sensor:

This Temperature and Humidity Sensor is to measure the Enclosure, Green House, Air Temperature and Humidity. Its a reasonably expensive sensor, but does a fine job for its price.

You will need to download the following library and install it from https://github.com/closedcube/ClosedCube_HDC1080_Arduino

The Texas Instruments website gives code examples, but this example is from: arduinolearning.com

#include <Wire.h>
#include "ClosedCube_HDC1080.h"
 
ClosedCube_HDC1080 hdc1080;
 
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
Serial.println("ClosedCube HDC1080 Arduino Test");
 
// Default settings:
// - Heater off
// - 14 bit Temperature and Humidity Measurement Resolutions
hdc1080.begin(0x40);
 
Serial.print("Manufacturer ID=0x");
Serial.println(hdc1080.readManufacturerId(), HEX); // 0x5449 ID of Texas Instruments
Serial.print("Device ID=0x");
Serial.println(hdc1080.readDeviceId(), HEX); // 0x1050 ID of the device
 
printSerialNumber();
 
}
 
void loop()
{
Serial.print("T=");
Serial.print(hdc1080.readTemperature());
Serial.print("C, RH=");
Serial.print(hdc1080.readHumidity());
Serial.println("%");
delay(3000);
}
 
void printSerialNumber() {
Serial.print("Device Serial Number=");
HDC1080_SerialNumber sernum = hdc1080.readSerialNumber();
char format[12];
sprintf(format, "%02X-%04X-%04X", sernum.serialFirst, sernum.serialMid, sernum.serialLast);
Serial.println(format);
}

DS18B20 Temperature Sensor:

This Temperature Sensor is for the Water Temperature. This will be the Water in the tank.

The code example here: randomnerdtutorials.com

/*********
  Rui Santos
  Complete project details at https://randomnerdtutorials.com  
  Based on the Dallas Temperature Library example
*********/

#include <OneWire.h>
#include <DallasTemperature.h>

// Data wire is conntec to the Arduino digital pin 4
#define ONE_WIRE_BUS 4

// Setup a oneWire instance to communicate with any OneWire devices
OneWire oneWire(ONE_WIRE_BUS);

// Pass our oneWire reference to Dallas Temperature sensor 
DallasTemperature sensors(&oneWire);

void setup(void)
{
  // Start serial communication for debugging purposes
  Serial.begin(9600);
  // Start up the library
  sensors.begin();
}

void loop(void){ 
  // Call sensors.requestTemperatures() to issue a global temperature and Requests to all devices on the bus
  sensors.requestTemperatures(); 
  
  Serial.print("Celsius temperature: ");
  // Why "byIndex"? You can have more than one IC on the same bus. 0 refers to the first IC on the wire
  Serial.print(sensors.getTempCByIndex(0)); 
  Serial.print(" - Fahrenheit temperature: ");
  Serial.println(sensors.getTempFByIndex(0));
  delay(1000);
}

0.96 Inch 4Pin Blue Yellow IIC I2C OLED Display Module:

The net is filled with code examples: create.arduino.cc

//www.diyusthad.com
#include <Wire.h>
#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>
#include <Adafruit_SSD1306.h>

#define OLED_RESET 4
Adafruit_SSD1306 display(128, 64, &Wire, OLED_RESET);

//Paste your bitmap here

void setup(){
  display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3D); //or 0x3C
  display.clearDisplay(); //for Clearing the display
  display.drawBitmap(0, 0, myBitmap, 128, 64, WHITE); // display.drawBitmap(x position, y position, bitmap data, bitmap width, bitmap height, color)
  display.display();
}

void loop() { }

I have not yet purchased a Pump or Aeroponic Housings. I am still researching these items. Perhaps a baby version of this might be a good start:

https://youtu.be/Fssc0g3JneY

Our little CopyCat friends have just opened a thread, almost the same as the Growing Threads here. I don't care, they could try to be original however!

Sustainability and knowing your Garden just might be a very important thing in the near future!

Of course, with Aboveunity Energy System, these Aeroponics Systems are possible on a large scale underground! All you need do, is learn and build them as we have.

Best wishes, Stay safe and well My Friends,

Chris

Plant Nutrients, keep them healthy!

2020-07-15T03:42:31.0000000

My Friends,

The future is very much unstable at best! The Hopi Indians, wise as they are, said: "Know your Garden"!

There are 16 elements essential to growth of plants:

Supplied by air and water:
- Carbon (C)
- Hydrogen (H)
- Oxygen (O)
Macronutrients:
- Nitrogen (N)
- Phosphorous (P)
- Potassium (K)
Secondary Nutrients:
- Calcium (Ca)
- Magnesium (Mg)
- Sulfur (S)
Micronutrients:
- Boron (B)
- Chlorine (Cl)
- Copper (Cu)
- Iron (Fe)
- Manganese (Mn)
- Molybdenum (Mo)
- Zinc (Zn)

You can buy two types of Nutrient Solutions:

Dry.
Liquid.

Some nutrients can stop other nutrients from being accessible to the plants! This is referred to as: Inhibiting the Plants Up-take. Methods of Mixing and supplying the nutrients are necessary!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI2K45je-Rw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gtFvhEjA3o

For Blooming and Fruiting Plants, normally more Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K). More Nitrogen (N), for Green Leaves. But, all 16 Nutrients are needed! All 16 Nutrients are important!

There are different methods of buying and mixing nutrients, Buy Solid and use Solid, this is cheaper normally:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoFVy1jfBN4

Don't forget, there may be Nutrient Deficiencies:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SotrCwqfHo

Water Replacement, your Water will not last forever. Aeroponics Systems are around 95% Water efficient compared to other Growing methods, however, you will need to replace your water, or do Reverse Osmosis on the Water at the very minimum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYOTiD85T8Q

The Diet we have, each one of us, is lacking! We have food that is not all that good for us and we eat it in the hopes to feel better, but this is not enough!

Best wishes, stay safe and well My Friends,

Chris

Measuring the PH of Water

2020-07-15T02:37:32.5470000

My Friends,

The future is very much unstable at best! The Hopi Indians, wise as they are, said: "Know your Garden"!

Today I want to share my research on the PH of Water.

a figure expressing the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a logarithmic scale on which 7 is neutral, lower values are more acid and higher values more alkaline. The pH is equal to −log₁₀ c, where c is the hydrogen ion concentration in moles per litre.

The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14:

Normally, the Water Nutrients are added to the water:

N-P-K mix, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Calcium Nitrate
Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate)

At this stage, the PH is measured:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLTLGlMm5as

I have an Arduino PH Sensor I will be sharing more on soon, it looks like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fMTcYgg0yY

This is fairly easy and I will be sharing more on this soon! The Code found online is pretty average, I have re-written an small method to take an average:

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Read Water PH Sensor:                                                                                                             //
float ReadPHSensor(){//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
  
  // Product Name: PH value acquisition sensor module (with temperature compensation)
  // Heating voltage: 5±0.2V (AC·DC)
  // Working current: 5-10mA
  // Detection concentration range: PH0-14
  // Detection temperature range: 0-80 °C
  // Response time: ≤ 5S
  // Stabilization time: ≤60S
  // Component power consumption: ≤0.5W
  // Working temperature: -10~50°C (nominal temperature 20°C)
  // Working humidity: 95% RH (nominal humidity 65% RH)
  // Service life: 3 years
  // Size: 42mm × 32mm × 20mm
  // Weight: 25g
  // Output mode: analog voltage signal output

  // Number of Samples to take:
  float Samples = 10.0;

  // Totsl Values:
  float TotalReadings = 0.0;

  // Read the Analog Pin BufferSize Times and Store:
  for(int i = 0; i < Samples; i++) {

    // Analog Read:
    // Data type: int
    // Although it is limited to the resolution of the analog to digital converter (0-1023 for 10 bits or 0-4095 for 12 bits).
    
    // Save Reading:
    TotalReadings += (float)analogRead(PHSensorPin);

    // Delay:
    delay(30);
  }

  // PH values are from: 0 to 14:
  float ScaleMax = 14.0;

  // Analog Resolution is 1024 on most Arduino MCU's:
  float AnalogResolution = 1024.0;

  // Calculate:
  PH = (float)(((TotalReadings / Samples) * ScaleMax) / AnalogResolution);

  // Return PH:
  return PH;
}

Currently, there is no allocation for Calibration, this needs to be added.

Of course, this can be partly Automated and the Arduino can PH Up and PH Down as needed in the near future, but the basic understanding is required first.

https://youtu.be/OCYezZtpQOI

Best wishes, stay safe and well My Friends,

Chris

Measuring TDS or EC in Water

2020-07-15T02:29:42.1370000

My Friends,

The future is very much unstable at best! The Hopi Indians, wise as they are, said: "Know your Garden"!

Today I want to share my research on the TDS or Total Dissolved Solids Sensor, or also known as Water Electrical Conductivity or EC Sensor.

An electrical conductivity meter measures the electrical conductivity in a solution. It has multiple applications in research and engineering, with common usage in hydroponics, aquaculture, aquaponics, and freshwater systems to monitor the amount of nutrients, salts or impurities in the water.

The basic Aquaponics nutrients are:

N-P-K mix, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Calcium Nitrate
Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate)

TDS indicates that how many milligrams of soluble solids dissolved in one liter of water, from the above list.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaZ_x-sgLO4

I have an Arduino based EC or TDS Sensor, similar to this. To measure the TDS, you need to take into account the Water Temperature.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofZ7D8lVsXM

I have a little bit of code, it looks like this:

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// DallasTemperature DS18B20 Temperature Sensor Init:                                                                                //
////////////////////////////////////////                                                                                             //
OneWire wire(7);                      // One Wire Reference, set the pin to your Digital Pin.                                        //
DallasTemperature DS18B20(&wire);     // The DS18B20 DallasTemperature Sensor Reference...                                           //
                                      /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Read TDS Water Conductivity Sensor:                                                                                               //
float ReadTDSSensor(float waterTemperature){///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
  
  // Input Voltage: DC 3.3 ~ 5.5V 
  // Output Voltage: 0 ~ 2.3V 
  // Working Current: 3 ~ 6mA 
  // TDS Measurement Range: 0 ~ 1000ppm 
  // TDS Measurement Accuracy: ± 10% F.S. (25 ℃) 
  // Module Interface: XH2.54-3P 
  // Electrode Interface: XH2.54-2P

  // Pass the Temperature for Compensation:
  gravityTds.setTemperature(waterTemperature);  

  // Sample and Calculate: 
  gravityTds.update();

  // Get Sensor Reading:
  TDS = gravityTds.getTdsValue();

  // Return TDS:
  return TDS;
}

As mentioned in the Video, it is a measurement normally taken after the Nutrients have been added and dissolved.

Of course, this can be partly Automated by the Arduino, but the basic understanding is required first.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPT3Sd5DYsI

Don't buy it, build it! Its easy!

Best wishes, stay safe and well My Friends,

Chris

Growing, Horticulture - Aeroponics, Aquaponics, Hydroponics and more.

2020-06-02T03:54:21.7670000

My Friends,

I want to share something a little of normal topic, but extremely important! Food, and the ability for each and every family to grow in-expensively and efficiently enough Greens to become self sufficient.

I have seen the documentary: Back To Eden:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rPPUmStKQ4

Another avenue, with much less space, and less cost: Aquaponics or Aeroponics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4gsnFJRAB0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1gNPx8TwTI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpd1MhIsVWg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYvYkWS_pEM

I would like to say a special Thanks to YouTube Channel: Art Garden Benjamin & Sara Staffeldt. Kickstarter

The Growth, the cost, and the rate of production is absolutely amazing! All you need is a small Green House, and you can do this all year around! Feed your family from a small glass house! Amazing!

I am happy to start an Microcontroller Automation thread for this section, Growing, monitoring and so on!

Best wishes, stay safe and well My Friends,

Chris