Design Green House Automation - Give Your Feedback Here

Friends,

You can design yourself your small green house automation system and write here and share your ideas. Key sensors are for the followings. Estimated cost about $1000 for sensors and control system (without including cost of Green house, water tank, water pump)

1) Ambient Temperature and Relative Humidity of air

2) Ambient light Intensity

3) Soil Moisture

4) Water level in a Tank

For Relative Humidity measurement I am selecting Humirel HS1101LF capacitive sensor which is available for $14.43 each from www.digikey.com/ and for temperature measurement a NTC thermistor temperature of Betatherm or equivalent to be used.

For ambient light intensity measurement LDR is preferred for its low cost. However, Photovoltaic cell can also be used. I have tried Vishay photovoltaic cells but they are expensive.

Soil moisture to be measured using insulated electrode type capacitive sensor inserted in the soil. Two or three Aluminum rods of length 100mm with sharp edge are ideal. One student group tried sweater knitting needles and they worked fine.

For tank water level measurement again a capacitive sensor made of metal tube with insulated central electrode is preferred for its simplicity.

For controller, Atmel AT89S52-24P with 2 line LCD display and serial interface is preferred but other controllers can also be used. Some amount of electronics is required for interfacing sensors, controlling pumps and switching light sources.

Those want to join this discussion and want to be a part of the design program can list their names. We can share resources here. I will try to get some parts in quantity to get then at low price and can make PCB using Protel and these can be made available for those who are not finding these easily.

It is open for discussion for those who have interest in this field.