instructables

Arduino Plant Watering System

by benrbill

This Instructable will explain how to make a plant watering system powered by Arduino. Each of the components
is specified with a link to where they can be purchased online. The process of making the system will be detailed
step-by-step from the hardware to the code.

Arduino Plant Watering System: Page 1

Step 1: SHOPPING LIST

Arduino Uno - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/UNO-R3- More cables - [40x female to female 20cm option] -
Arduino-Rev3-ATME... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dupont-Jumper-Cable-
Wire...
Soil Moisture sensor -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Soil-Sensor-Moisture- 12v pump - https://www.google.com/url?
Hyg... hl=en&q=http://www.ebay...

Bread board + cables [170 points clear option]- 12v power supply - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solderless-Prototype-Bre... 12V-LED-Driver-Power-...

Cables - [40x male to male 20cm option] - Hose for irrigation - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4mm-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dupont-Jumper-Cable- Car-Van-Vehicle-Wind...
Wire...
Chocolate block connector (5a) -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chocolate-Block- - plant + 50/50 compost/soil mix

Connecto...
- a stand/base to compile the parts on (possibly piece
Vessel for water - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1L- of 12mm plywood (350 x 200mm - if using a small
1000ML-BOROSILICATE-G... plant pot this should be okay)

Additionally you will need: TOTAL COST: £54.31 (note that prices will vary
depending on supplier and the country you order
- some wire cutters within).

- plant pot with hole in bottom for drainage + tray for

underneath (if inside)

Step 2: Wiring the Arduino

This sketch gives an overview of the logic behind the readings from the soil each minute and when the
system. The system takes 240v of mains electricity moisture content drops below the pre-set value the
through a step-down converter power supply relay is triggered sending 12v to the water pump. The
transforming it to a 12v output. The Arduino is power is cut again when the moisture sensor reads a
connected to a moisture sensor and relay via a value greater than 70% content.
breadboard. The Moisture sensor takes multiple

Arduino Plant Watering System: Page 2

Step 3: Wiring the Power Supply

This step is specific to the specified power supply. If POWER IN - Mains Electricity
you have no previous experience of wiring you MUST
seek the advice of a qualified professional. 240v is 1. Take the live wire and connect it to the 'L' terminal
potentially deadly. on the power supply. In the image this is the brown
wire.

2. Take the Neutral wire and connect it to the 'N' 1. Connect a brown wire to the V+ terminal.
terminal. Ensure that both are securely connected
with none of the copper wire exposed. 2. Connect a blue wire to the Com(Neutral) Terminal.

POWER OUT - 12v Conversion

Arduino Plant Watering System: Page 3

Step 4: Chocolate Block

This component is called a 'Chocolate Block', it is 2. Wire the blue neutral wire from the power supply
used to take a single wire input and connect it to output to the other channel of the chocolate block.
multiple wire outputs. For this project you need two
channels. 3. Run two wires of the same colour from the other
side of each channel. These steps are best
1. Wire the brown live wire from the power supply understood when read in conjunction with the image
output to one side of the chocolate block. above.

Step 5: Wiring the Arduino

The Arduino is the 'brains' of the system. Follow 3. Connect the one of the blue wires running from the
these steps to wiring it up, it is important that you use chocolate block to the pin hole marked 'GND'.
the same coloured wire as in my explanation to avoid
confusion further down the line. 4. Connect one of the brown wires running from the
chocolate block to the pin hole marked 'VIN'.
1. Connect a 'male' red wire to the pin hole marked
'5v' leave the the other end disconnected for now. 5. On the other side of the Arduino Board, connect a
red wire to the pin hole marked '12v' leave the other
2. Connect a grey wire to the pin hole marked 'A1' side disconnected for now.
leave the other end disconnected for now.

Arduino Plant Watering System: Page 4

Step 6: Wiring the Breadboard

This component is called a breadboard, I elected to You may find it useful to refer to the sketch at the top
use it in this project to save myself and others from of this Instructable in addition to following the written
having to solder components together. It works like instructions.
this;
In connected series (Horizontally at a portrait
HOW IT WORKS orientation) connect the following wires.

The board is rectangular, place it on the surface you 1. The '5v' pin that runs from the Arduino board and is
are working on in a portrait orientation. the holes are currently not connected at the other end. - In this
electrically connected to one another horizontally, but same series connect two more wires of the same
not vertically. This means that you can plug in various colour and leave the other end of the wires
pins to the board running horizontally and power will disconnected for now.
flow through them all in series.
2. Below take the wire that runs from the 'GND' pin
BACK TO THE PROJECT hole on the arduino. Connect another two wires of the
same colour to the same line and leave the other end

of the wires disconnected for now.

Arduino Plant Watering System: Page 5

Step 7: Moisture Sensor Module

1. From the breadboard take one of the positive wires (Brown) and connect it to the moisture sensor module

2. From the breadboard take one of the neutral wires (Blue) and connect it to the other second input hole on the
moisture sensor module.

Step 8: The Moisture Sensor Itself

From the sensor module in the last step connect two 'female' wires to the other side, run these to the moisture
sensor itself. The length of these wires is important for you to decide as it is what will dictate how far the plant can
sit from the components on completion.

Arduino Plant Watering System: Page 6

Step 9: The Relay

This component is called a 'Relay' it is essentially a 2. Take the last remaining neutral (blue) wire that is
switch. When the moisture sensor takes a reading connected to the breadboard and connect this to the
that is less that 40% moisture content of the soil the pin hole marked 'NO'
arduino will trigger the relay which sends 12v from the
power supply to the water pump. 3 On the other side of the Relay connect a red wire to
the hole marked 'VCC', a yellow wire to 'GND' and a
1. Take the last remaining positive (brown) wire that brown wire to 'INN'
is connected to the breadboard and connect this to
the pin hole on the relay marked 'NC'

Step 10: The Water Pump

WARNING - DO NOT RUN THE PUMP DRY, IT touch as they will spark.
WILL DESTROY THE PLASTIC COGS
3. Cut the plastic tube in two parts and connect a
1. Take the positive wire (brown) running from the piece to each end of the water pump, you may also
relay and connect it to one of the pins of the water choose to secure the pipe with zip-ties and epoxy. It
pump. It doesn't matter which pin you connect it to, is extremely important that the pump does not leek
however, by changing this around you change the given its proximity to live electrical components.
direction that the pump will push the water in.

2. Take the remaining neutral (blue) cable from the

chocolate block and connect it to the other pin on the
water pump. Ensure that these two cables do not

Arduino Plant Watering System: Page 7

Step 11: Building a Housing for Your Watering System

I built the housing seen in the images from 16mm birch faced ply offcuts from a previous project, you can make the
housing however you please. If you choose to stick the components to the housing, ensure that you do not use a
conductive adhesive as this will risk short-circuiting the system.

Step 12: Coding the System

The final step is to write the code and upload it to the pump is cut again when the moisture content is read
Arduino. The code seen in the image above works for as having risen. You may wish to change this value
this system. In essence this code works to take an depending on the plant type, environmental
almost constant moisture content reading. When the conditions etc.
reading is below 30% 'humidity real', the relay is
triggered, sending 13v to the water pump. The water

Arduino Plant Watering System: Page 8