Office plant monitoring

[meanmrgreen]

I made a node with 1 fork and it works great!

Any tips on how i can use more than one fork to monitor say 3-4 plants?

[Stric]

@mfalkvidd I'm going to do some tests with changing the sampling time and sleep time, but I'm not so hopeful since the effect is seen hours/days after an "unrelated" change.. I got stuck yesterday playing with ESPEasy, but I'll get back to debugging this..

[Stric]

@meanmrgreen See my post a few up, I'm seeing some weird effects when connecting to more than one plant..

[meanmrgreen]

@Stric

Does reverse polarity really help with corrosion then? Maybe it has something to do with that.

[meanmrgreen]

Small problem with my plant sensor. Used only the fork and the reverse polarity.

But the sensor is reporting around 80-70% all the time, alltho the plant is pretty dry.

When i remove the sensor from pot it shows 0% ?

Can you calibrate the fork somehow?

[mfalkvidd]

@meanmrgreen I calibrate by putting my finger in the soil. When the soil is too dry I note the current value and set a notification to trigger next time it reaches that level.

[meanmrgreen]

@mfalkvidd

Ok :)
But Its normal just to lower by a few percent in a few days time?

[Eawo]

I'm going to try do this with the slim node and a cr2032 battery. Which cap do you recommend using to help battery?

[mfalkvidd]

@meanmrgreen said:

But Its normal just to lower by a few percent in a few days time?

It depends on the soil type, the plant, the temperature, if the plant gets direct sunlight and probably some more factors.

[meanmrgreen]

I need to check my node. It Constantly shows 80-90%. Have switched forks and plant same number. If I pull it out of the dirt it gets to 0%

Using only the fork no board in the middle with the alternate current sketch.

[Dennis van der Wolf]

Re: Office plant monitoring
Hello, i have build the sensor from the building page. I directly connect the fork to pin D6,D7. When i show the measurement i see strange values. anyone an idea what i did wrong?

09.02.2017 19:22:23	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	3 %
09.02.2017 19:16:51	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	0 %
09.02.2017 19:11:20	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	3 %
09.02.2017 19:05:48	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	5 %
09.02.2017 19:00:17	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	-1 %
09.02.2017 18:54:46	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	8 %
09.02.2017 18:48:41	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	5 %
09.02.2017 18:43:10	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	6 %
09.02.2017 18:37:38	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	1 %
09.02.2017 18:32:07	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	-1 %
09.02.2017 18:26:36	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	-1 %
09.02.2017 18:21:04	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	4 %
09.02.2017 18:15:33	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	4 %
09.02.2017 18:10:02	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	6 %
09.02.2017 18:03:57	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	6 %
09.02.2017 17:58:26	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	0 %
09.02.2017 17:52:54	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	6 %
09.02.2017 17:46:50	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	5 %
09.02.2017 17:41:19	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	-1 %
09.02.2017 17:34:41	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	6 %
09.02.2017 17:29:10	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	-3 %
09.02.2017 17:23:39	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	-11 %

[Jan Gatzke]

@Dennis-van-der-Wolf

Which sketch did you use? The one from this page needs the fork connected to analog input pins Ax.

[Dennis van der Wolf]

@Jan-Gatzke I have connected the fork to A0 and A1 of mine arduino nano. Now i have this result:

10.02.2017 12:17:35	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	-182 %
10.02.2017 12:12:04	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	-455 %
10.02.2017 12:06:33	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	-317 %
10.02.2017 12:01:02	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	255 %
10.02.2017 11:55:31	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	-547 %
10.02.2017 11:49:26	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	1169 %
10.02.2017 11:43:55	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	40 %
10.02.2017 11:38:24	Multi Sensor (multi2)	SoilMoistPercentageSensor	-250 %

This is the sketch i use:

/*
 * The MySensors Arduino library handles the wireless radio link and protocol
 * between your home built sensors/actuators and HA controller of choice.
 * The sensors forms a self healing radio network with optional repeaters. Each
 * repeater and gateway builds a routing tables in EEPROM which keeps track of the
 * network topology allowing messages to be routed to nodes.
 *
 * Created by Henrik Ekblad <henrik.ekblad@mysensors.org>
 * Copyright (C) 2013-2015 Sensnology AB
 * Full contributor list: https://github.com/mysensors/Arduino/graphs/contributors
 *
 * Documentation: http://www.mysensors.org
 * Support Forum: http://forum.mysensors.org
 *
 * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
 * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
 * version 2 as published by the Free Software Foundation.
 *
 *******************************
 *
 * DESCRIPTION
 *
 * Arduino soil moisture based on gypsum sensor/resistive sensor to avoid electric catalyse in soil
 *  Required to interface the sensor: 2 * 4.7kOhm + 2 * 1N4148
 *
 * Gypsum sensor and calibration:
 *    DIY: See http://vanderleevineyard.com/1/category/vinduino/1.html
 *    Built: Davis / Watermark 200SS
 *        http://www.cooking-hacks.com/watermark-soil-moisture-sensor?_bksrc=item2item&_bkloc=product
 *        http://www.irrometer.com/pdf/supportmaterial/sensors/voltage-WM-chart.pdf
 *        cb (centibar) http://www.irrometer.com/basics.html
 *            0-10 Saturated Soil. Occurs for a day or two after irrigation
 *            10-20 Soil is adequately wet (except coarse sands which are drying out at this range)
 *            30-60 Usual range to irrigate or water (except heavy clay soils).
 *            60-100 Usual range to irrigate heavy clay soils
 *            100-200 Soil is becoming dangerously dry for maximum production. Proceed with caution.
 *
 * Connection:
 *  D6, D7: alternative powering to avoid sensor degradation
 * A0, A1: alternative resistance mesuring
 *
 *  Based on:
 *  "Vinduino" portable soil moisture sensor code V3.00
 *   Date December 31, 2012
 *   Reinier van der Lee and Theodore Kaskalis
 *   www.vanderleevineyard.com
 * Contributor: epierre
 */

// Copyright (C) 2015, Reinier van der Lee
// www.vanderleevineyard.com

// This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
// it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
// any later version.

// This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
// GNU General Public License for more details.

// Enable debug prints to serial monitor
#define MY_DEBUG

// Enable and select radio type attached
#define MY_RADIO_NRF24
//#define MY_RADIO_RFM69

#include <math.h>       // Conversion equation from resistance to %
#include <MySensors.h>

// Setting up format for reading 3 soil sensors
#define NUM_READS 10    // Number of sensor reads for filtering
#define CHILD_ID 0

MyMessage msg(CHILD_ID, V_LEVEL);
unsigned long SLEEP_TIME = 30000; // Sleep time between reads (in milliseconds)

long buffer[NUM_READS];
int index;

/// @brief Structure to be used in percentage and resistance values matrix to be filtered (have to be in pairs)
typedef struct {
    int moisture; //!< Moisture
    long resistance; //!< Resistance
} values;

const long knownResistor = 4700;  // Constant value of known resistor in Ohms

int supplyVoltage;                // Measured supply voltage
int sensorVoltage;                // Measured sensor voltage

values valueOf[NUM_READS];        // Calculated moisture percentages and resistances to be sorted and filtered

int i;                            // Simple index variable

void setup()
{
    // initialize the digital pins as an output.
    // Pin 6,7 is for sensor 1
    // initialize the digital pin as an output.
    // Pin 6 is sense resistor voltage supply 1
    pinMode(6, OUTPUT);

    // initialize the digital pin as an output.
    // Pin 7 is sense resistor voltage supply 2
    pinMode(7, OUTPUT);
}

void presentation()
{
    sendSketchInfo("Soil Moisture Sensor Reverse Polarity", "1.0");
    present(CHILD_ID, S_MOISTURE);
}

void loop()
{

    measure(6,7,1);
    Serial.print ("\t");
    Serial.println (average());
    long read1 = average();

    measure(7,6,0);
    Serial.print ("\t");
    Serial.println (average());
    long read2= average();

    long sensor1 = (read1 + read2)/2;

    Serial.print ("resistance bias =" );
    Serial.println (read1-read2);
    Serial.print ("sensor bias compensated value = ");
    Serial.println (sensor1);
    Serial.println ();

    //send back the values
    send(msg.set((long int)ceil(sensor1)));
    // delay until next measurement (msec)
    sleep(SLEEP_TIME);
}

void measure (int phase_b, int phase_a, int analog_input)
{
    // read sensor, filter, and calculate resistance value
    // Noise filter: median filter

    for (i=0; i<NUM_READS; i++) {

        // Read 1 pair of voltage values
        digitalWrite(phase_a, HIGH);                 // set the voltage supply on
        delayMicroseconds(25);
        supplyVoltage = analogRead(analog_input);   // read the supply voltage
        delayMicroseconds(25);
        digitalWrite(phase_a, LOW);                  // set the voltage supply off
        delay(1);

        digitalWrite(phase_b, HIGH);                 // set the voltage supply on
        delayMicroseconds(25);
        sensorVoltage = analogRead(analog_input);   // read the sensor voltage
        delayMicroseconds(25);
        digitalWrite(phase_b, LOW);                  // set the voltage supply off

        // Calculate resistance
        // the 0.5 add-term is used to round to the nearest integer
        // Tip: no need to transform 0-1023 voltage value to 0-5 range, due to following fraction
        long resistance = (knownResistor * (supplyVoltage - sensorVoltage ) / sensorVoltage) ;

        delay(1);
        addReading(resistance);
        Serial.print (resistance);
        Serial.print ("\t");
    }
}



// Averaging algorithm
void addReading(long resistance)
{
    buffer[index] = resistance;
    index++;
    if (index >= NUM_READS) {
        index = 0;
    }
}

long average()
{
    long sum = 0;
    for (int i = 0; i < NUM_READS; i++) {
        sum += buffer[i];
    }
    return (long)(sum / NUM_READS);
}

[ronnyandre]

Thanks for this great solution @mfalkvidd! It works great when my Arduino Pro Mini is connected to the computer, but not when I try to run it off a battery pack.

I have a Pro Mini 3.3v connected to a 0.8-3.3v step up from a battery pack (2xAA; 3v). And then I have connected the radio and sensor to VCC on the Pro Mini. When the Pro Mini is connected to my iMac, Domoticz receives everything as it should. However, when I disconnect it from the computer and connect the battery source, all LEDs light as they should, indicitating that they have power, but it won't connect to Domoticz over NRF24.

I have used a multimeter to check the voltage and if the radio receives enough power, and it does. All power/ground pins show around 3.3v. Any ideas to debug what's wrong?

[Fat Fly]

@joshmosh said in Office plant monitoring:

mfalkvidd

Where i find mfalkvidd's sketch ?

[mfalkvidd]

@ronnyandre a multimeter is unfortunately not sensitive enough to display if there is enough power during the short bursts when the radio is active.

Most step-ups don't deliver power that is stable enough. You could try adding more/larger capacitors, but from what I have seen in the forum, people seldom get thing working reliably with a step-up. I have never tried using step-up myself, I use power directly from the batteries.

If you haven't checked already, see the troubleshooting chart at https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/666/debug-faq-and-how-ask-for-help/

[mfalkvidd]

Where i find mfalkvidd's sketch ?

At github, but be aware that this code is for MySensors 1.x. It does not work with MySensors 2.x.

[ronnyandre]

@mfalkvidd Thanks for the quick answer! I also read on the page for battery powered sensors that the step up generates alot of noise that can interfere with the radio, and that a solution might be to add capacitators (which I already tried), but also powering the radio directly from batteries. I'll try that later today. Thanks! :smiley:

And thank you for the link to the troubleshooting. It's now bookmarked! :wink:

[Fat Fly]

Please somebody help me add to skech one relay for water pump. I use this in Domoticz. I do not want build other hardware for this.It is possible ?

[gohan]

Just copy the relay code from https://www.mysensors.org/build/relay and add it your sketch and make necessary changes to adapt it: like setting child_id in presentation