Sistema de Irrigação Automática com Arduino e Sensor de Umidade do Solo

Summary

This tutorial demonstrates how to build an automatic irrigation system using an Arduino. It walks through the process of wiring a soil moisture sensor, TIP122 transistor, and 5V water pump, followed by coding the Arduino to control the pump based on soil moisture readings. The system waters plants when the soil is dry and pauses after each watering cycle. The tutorial also includes a real-life demonstration and tips for assembling the project into a more permanent form, making it perfect for small-scale plant watering automation.

Takeaways

• 😀 The project is about building an automatic irrigation system using an Arduino.
• 😀 You will need a soil moisture sensor, TIP122 transistor, 5V power supply, and a small 5V pump for this project.
• 😀 The soil moisture sensor has two parts which can be connected in any order to the board.
• 😀 The sensor is connected to the Arduino using GND, VCC, and A0 pins for power and data.
• 😀 The TIP122 transistor is used to control the power to the pump based on moisture levels detected by the sensor.
• 😀 The 5V power supply is connected to both the Arduino and the pump to power them.
• 😀 The code is written to monitor soil moisture and activate the pump when moisture is below a certain threshold (500).
• 😀 The pump will run for 10 seconds, then wait for 120 seconds before taking another moisture reading.
• 😀 The system checks the moisture level and turns the pump on if the soil is too dry, and off when the soil is sufficiently moist.
• 😀 After testing, the setup is placed in a weatherproof box, and hoses are connected for practical use in a plant container.
• 😀 The final step involves connecting the circuit to the power source and observing the automatic operation of the system.

Q & A

What components are needed to build the automatic irrigation system?

The system requires an Arduino, a soil moisture sensor, a TIP 122 transistor, a 5V power supply (such as an old phone charger), and a 5V water pump.

How does the soil moisture sensor work in the system?

The soil moisture sensor detects the moisture level of the soil and outputs a value between 0 and 1023, where 0 represents completely wet soil and 1023 represents dry soil.

What is the purpose of the TIP 122 transistor in the circuit?

The TIP 122 transistor acts as a switch to control the water pump based on the signals from the Arduino. It allows the low-power Arduino to control the higher-power pump.

How is the water pump activated in the system?

The water pump is activated when the soil moisture sensor detects a value greater than a predefined threshold (e.g., 500), indicating that the soil is dry and needs watering.

What are the adjustable parameters in the Arduino code for the irrigation system?

The adjustable parameters in the code include the moisture threshold value (e.g., 500) to activate the pump and the time the pump stays on (e.g., 10 seconds).

How long does the system wait before taking another soil moisture reading?

The system waits for 120 seconds (2 minutes) before taking another reading to check if the soil needs more water.

What happens if the sensor detects that the soil is sufficiently moist?

If the soil is sufficiently moist, the sensor will not trigger the pump to turn on, ensuring that the plant is not over-watered.

How is the system tested after the connections are made?

After making the necessary connections, the code is uploaded to the Arduino, and the system is powered up. The pump will turn on if the sensor detects dry soil.

How can the user simulate moist soil for testing?

The user can simulate moist soil by wrapping the sensor in a wet cloth, which causes the sensor to detect moisture and prevent the pump from turning on.

What modifications are made to house the circuit for protection?

The circuit is transferred from the breadboard to a protected container, where wires are soldered and sealed with hot glue to prevent water from entering, ensuring the system is safe for outdoor use.