DIY Any Arduino? Lets see em!

[Saint Skinny]

Howdy doody rowdy booties,
For the last 6 months or so I've been looking into arduino and have been really intrigued by the possibilities. (For those of you that aren't familiar with Arduino, Check out this page here.) Due to some financial issues, I haven't been able to get one yet, but that gives me more time to get inspired! I'm wondering if any growers have used Arduino in their grow, and if you have, what for?

For those who don't know, In a nutshell, Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software. It uses its ability to read inputs (such as light on a sensor, a button being pushed, a sensor sensing what it senses) and turns it into an output (such as activating a motor, turning on a light, or even making an online post.)

To put in in layman's terms, you can use it to build something that reacts to something else. like turning on an LED and/or sounding an audible alarm when your Reservoir is too low. With the wide selection of sensors, shields, add-ons, etc, the possibilities seem endless.

 

[mintberrycrunch]

I’ve been really fascinated by this for a while now. I’m a software engineer and I think it would be a really cool project to get my garden automated. I haven’t bitten the bullet yet on the hardware required to make it a reality, but the one I always go back to for inspiration and detailed instructional documentation is this one, mainly because it’s such a great looking setup. Obviously it would need some modification depending on your garden, but it covers the basics relatively well.
There are also lots of inexpensive kits out there now like Grove from SolarRobotics. So anyway, I haven’t done it yet, but I’m also interested!

 

[Saint Skinny]

I’ve been really fascinated by this for a while now. I’m a software engineer and I think it would be a really cool project to get my garden automated. I haven’t bitten the bullet yet on the hardware required to make it a reality, but the one I always go back to for inspiration and detailed instructional documentation is this one, mainly because it’s such a great looking setup. Obviously it would need some modification depending on your garden, but it covers the basics relatively well.
There are also lots of inexpensive kits out there now like Grove from SolarRobotics. So anyway, I haven’t done it yet, but I’m also interested!

It’s a really cool concept, I’m kind of surprised more people don’t use them in their grows. The possibilities are damn near endless!

I had heard about Arduino before, but for awhile I thought it was just something too expensive for me to get my hands on. I started looking into these when I was wanting to build a Data logger for Temp and RH. I found a how-to and realized there were only a few parts aside from the Arduino itself. I could build my Data logger for around $30 including the price of an Arduino clone and breadboard. One of these days when I’m not so broke I’m gonna have to make one of these puppies!

 

[mintberrycrunch]

I’ve been thinking about this a lot in the last 24 hours. I think I’m going to bite the bullet and build a miniaturized version of the https://www.grobo.io/ product. Might get started this month- I’ll start a log and tag you in it!

 

[Saint Skinny]

I’ve been thinking about this a lot in the last 24 hours. I think I’m going to bite the bullet and build a miniaturized version of the https://www.grobo.io/ product. Might get started this month- I’ll start a log and tag you in it!

Thats awesome!!! I've considered the possibilities of something like that but it'll be awhile until I could afford to build anything close to that. Once you break it down it's really not all that complicated as long as you know how to use schematics and have some experience with wiring and tinkering.
Are you goin' balls deep and having it adjust the pH as well? I've seen peristaltic pumps for around $15-$20 online, but it seems like the more expensive bit will be the sensor.
It's really amazing the potential that these little boards have! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Heres a few products I've found as I was messing around this morning, not sure if it'll be of any help, but if nothing else maybe someone else will run across this in the future and find it useful.
Analog pH Meter
Analog CO2 Sensor
Sparkfun Soil moisture sensor

 

[hairyman]

Thats awesome!!! I've considered the possibilities of something like that but it'll be awhile until I could afford to build anything close to that. Once you break it down it's really not all that complicated as long as you know how to use schematics and have some experience with wiring and tinkering.
Are you goin' balls deep and having it adjust the pH as well? I've seen peristaltic pumps for around $15-$20 online, but it seems like the more expensive bit will be the sensor.
It's really amazing the potential that these little boards have! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Heres a few products I've found as I was messing around this morning, not sure if it'll be of any help, but if nothing else maybe someone else will run across this in the future and find it useful.
Analog pH Meter
Analog CO2 Sensor
Sparkfun Soil moisture sensor

Really intresting this ,,,tagged ,,,,thanks for sharing ,,, I think about this a lot lol but I ain't computer or techy but captures my imagination ,,,,keep it up ,,,

 

[KsjAuto]

ATM I have made.
pH meters.
Ppm meters.
Timers.
Fully automated reservoir systems: (550 liter)
With automated ph.up and down.
With automated nutes dosage that tracks the ppm and pH and adjust accordingly, up the feed ore delute. Dumps the Res,refill with water and nutes, Adjust pH. Etc..
Hooked up to SQL server. And a rpi. With vnc client for updates on the go.

ATM. My controller (at home).
pH. Automated up ore down.
Rh.temp 2 tents.
4 AC outlets 230volts:
2.ac out with timer for pumps.
2.ac out with timer for light.

All fully adjustable with menu system.
Can easily be configured to act. On rh ore temp to control humidity. heat..e.t.c.
Well you do all sorts of things with these arduinos and a couple of sensors.
And it's fun too.

Well I'm here to help.so any questions regarding arduinos and accessories.
Just send me pm.
Stay green.


[emoji85][emoji86][emoji87]

Edit: ATM working on a 10v PWM.
For dimming 4 led drivers
With 2 PWM signals.
LCD display showing: power draw from wall.mah to led. And of course % of dimming.
Work in progress.

 

[Saint Skinny]

ATM I have made.
pH meters.
Ppm meters.
Timers.
Fully automated reservoir systems: (550 liter)
With automated ph.up and down.
With automated nutes dosage that tracks the ppm and pH and adjust accordingly, up the feed ore delute. Dumps the Res,refill with water and nutes, Adjust pH. Etc..
Hooked up to SQL server. And a rpi. With vnc client for updates on the go.

ATM. My controller (at home).
pH. Automated up ore down.
Rh.temp 2 tents.
4 AC outlets 230volts:
2.ac out with timer for pumps.
2.ac out with timer for light.

All fully adjustable with menu system.
Can easily be configured to act. On rh ore temp to control humidity. heat..e.t.c.
Well you do all sorts of things with these arduinos and a couple of sensors.
And it's fun too.

Well I'm here to help.so any questions regarding arduinos and accessories.
Just send me pm.
Stay green.


[emoji85][emoji86][emoji87]

Edit: ATM working on a 10v PWM.
For dimming 4 led drivers
With 2 PWM signals.
LCD display showing: power draw from wall.mah to led. And of course % of dimming.
Work in progress.

That's awesome! This is exactly the type of thing I'd imagined when I first heard of arduino! There are so many sensors, shields, Breakouts, it's like an amateur engineer's dream playground! I've always wondered, do you use a new board for each project, or do you 'cannibalize' older unused projects for their boards? I had seen some people buying the micro-controller chips along with the board, that way when they get it working they can replace the 'duino board with a $3 micro-controller chip and use the 'duino for their next project.

I've been drooling over these for far too long, I think it's about time to get one. Hopefully I'll get a response with some of the stuff I've got on craigslist, that's the only way I'll be able to swing it. I'll consider it a birthday present to myself if it ends up working out that way. Only time will tell!

 

[Ryker604_BT]

Very interesting stuff, subbed up for now, gonna do some more reading later.

 

[KsjAuto]

That's awesome! This is exactly the type of thing I'd imagined when I first heard of arduino! There are so many sensors, shields, Breakouts, it's like an amateur engineer's dream playground! I've always wondered, do you use a new board for each project, or do you 'cannibalize' older unused projects for their boards? I had seen some people buying the micro-controller chips along with the board, that way when they get it working they can replace the 'duino board with a $3 micro-controller chip and use the 'duino for their next project.

I've been drooling over these for far too long, I think it's about time to get one. Hopefully I'll get a response with some of the stuff I've got on craigslist, that's the only way I'll be able to swing it. I'll consider it a birthday present to myself if it ends up working out that way. Only time will tell!

New project new Arduino board.
But I also take old projects apart and reuse what I can. I have been "playing" around with this for years. Sold custom build systems and earned a "little" in the process[emoji6].
So I have all sorts of bits and Pieces at hand. I'm a programmer by education.and can also do electronic schematics. So combining these with growing, Was a now brainer.
If you want cheaper than arduino. Look at attiny. It's also an atmel mcu. But you need a arduino to program it.
I have books by the lots (pdf) if you need it.
Stay green.

[emoji85][emoji86][emoji87]
Look at AliExpress for arduino stuff.