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32
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32
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33
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The machine is using two microcontrollers, an [Arduino Nano clone](https://amzn.to/3sQ4Otl) and an [ESP32](https://amzn.to/3xmDh6k).
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33
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The machine is using two microcontrollers, an [Arduino Nano clone](https://amzn.to/3sQ4Otl) and an [ESP32](https://amzn.to/3xmDh6k).
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34
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34
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35
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-The Arduino provides the userinterface, using a 20x4 LCD from a now-obsolete Sparkfun project called [SerialLCD](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/retired/9568).
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35
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+The Arduino provides the user interface, using a 20x4 LCD from a now-obsolete Sparkfun project called [SerialLCD](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/retired/9568).
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36
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It is connected to the Arduino via serial.
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36
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It is connected to the Arduino via serial.
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37
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Input is done using a cheap 3x4 Keymatrix directly conencted to the Arduino GPIOs.
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37
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Input is done using a cheap 3x4 Keymatrix directly conencted to the Arduino GPIOs.
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38
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I also added a power switch and some voltmeters for the different voltage regulators and a main power switch.
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38
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I also added a power switch and some voltmeters for the different voltage regulators and a main power switch.
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52
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For the outlet valves I'm using cheap small chinese solenoid valves.
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52
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For the outlet valves I'm using cheap small chinese solenoid valves.
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53
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For the inlet, I'm using a more expensive metal solenoid valve from Germany that is able to resist the mains-water-pressure (up to 8bar) that I still had from my cocktail machine experiments.
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53
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For the inlet, I'm using a more expensive metal solenoid valve from Germany that is able to resist the mains-water-pressure (up to 8bar) that I still had from my cocktail machine experiments.
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54
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Two float switches are used to tell the fill-height of the water tank.
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54
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Two float switches are used to tell the fill-height of the water tank.
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55
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-The ESP32 also provides a simple webinterface to allow the same controls as from the userinterface.
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55
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+The ESP32 also provides a simple web interface to allow the same controls as from the user interface.
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56
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56
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57
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<div class="lightgallery">
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57
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<div class="lightgallery">
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58
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<a href="img/giessomat_web.png">
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58
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<a href="img/giessomat_web.png">
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59
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- <img src="img/giessomat_web_small.png" alt="Screenshot of the webinterface">
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59
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+ <img src="img/giessomat_web_small.png" alt="Screenshot of the web interface">
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60
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</a>
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60
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</a>
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61
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</div>
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61
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</div>
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62
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62
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86
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</div>
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86
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</div>
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87
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87
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88
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The software can easily be configured to run with more or less fertilizers and outlets, as much as the ESP32 GPIOs can provide.
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88
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The software can easily be configured to run with more or less fertilizers and outlets, as much as the ESP32 GPIOs can provide.
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89
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-Alternatively, you can also use an Arduino for the controller instead of the ESP, losing the webinterface.
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89
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+Alternatively, you can also use an Arduino for the controller instead of the ESP, losing the web interface.
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90
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Or you can also compile the software to run both UI and control on one Arduino, as long as it has enough GPIOs for your needs (or an ESP, but I haven't tested that).
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90
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Or you can also compile the software to run both UI and control on one Arduino, as long as it has enough GPIOs for your needs (or an ESP, but I haven't tested that).
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91
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-You can of course also just leave out the UI and use solely the webinterface on the ESP. See the [README.md of the project](https://git.xythobuz.de/thomas/giess-o-mat/src/branch/master/README.md) for more details.
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91
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+You can of course also just leave out the UI and use solely the web interface on the ESP. See the [README.md of the project](https://git.xythobuz.de/thomas/giess-o-mat/src/branch/master/README.md) for more details.
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92
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92
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93
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Doing some programming, it would also be possible to use some kind of port-extender or run also the UI on an ESP.
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93
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Doing some programming, it would also be possible to use some kind of port-extender or run also the UI on an ESP.
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94
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And of course also the now-obsolete SerialLCD could be replaced with something different without too much work.
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94
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And of course also the now-obsolete SerialLCD could be replaced with something different without too much work.
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101
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I tried to work-around that by using [Plastik70](http://www.kontaktchemie.com/koc/KOCproductdetail.csp?division=&product=PLASTIK%2070&ilang=en&plang=en) in liberal amounts with multiple coatings on the sensor, but even with that they show quite considerable drift over a couple of months.
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101
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I tried to work-around that by using [Plastik70](http://www.kontaktchemie.com/koc/KOCproductdetail.csp?division=&product=PLASTIK%2070&ilang=en&plang=en) in liberal amounts with multiple coatings on the sensor, but even with that they show quite considerable drift over a couple of months.
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102
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The data is good enough to see when I watered the plants, but it is difficult to determine a value where automatic watering should occur.
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102
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The data is good enough to see when I watered the plants, but it is difficult to determine a value where automatic watering should occur.
|
103
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Because of that, I have not yet added completely automated watering into the system.
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103
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Because of that, I have not yet added completely automated watering into the system.
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104
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-It still has to be started manually via the userinterface.
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104
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+It still has to be started manually via the user interface.
|
105
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|
105
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106
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But recently I got a different sensor from a colleague of mine, which is from another project called [Giesomat](https://www.ramser-elektro.at/shop/bausaetze-und-platinen/giesomat-kapazitiver-bodenfeuchtesensor-erdfeuchtesensor-mit-beschichtung/).
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106
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But recently I got a different sensor from a colleague of mine, which is from another project called [Giesomat](https://www.ramser-elektro.at/shop/bausaetze-und-platinen/giesomat-kapazitiver-bodenfeuchtesensor-erdfeuchtesensor-mit-beschichtung/).
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107
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The similar name was totally incidental, I only heard of it after naming my own project like this.
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107
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The similar name was totally incidental, I only heard of it after naming my own project like this.
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