ESP32 Automated Irrigation Control System Project - PART 1 - Problem/Design/Water-Valve

[@chrisbrewer3886]

Thanks for this great video. Super helpful. Do you have a parts list for the valve portion of your project?

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Id have to put one together and post it in the comments, i thought i did.

[@gazorbpazorbian]

any advice on how to connect those solenoid valves to a solar cell? do those require too much electricity? I need to make something similar to this but totally independent and solar. with luck I can send some wifi to the ESP.

[@jcrubin78]

There is no such think as too much electricity. There could be power limitations. Also the solenoids are AC so there would be losses for conversion

[@gazorbpazorbian]

@@jcrubin78 I actually was thinking that I don't have enough electricity. Hehe.

[@mohdrais5908]

Thanks for the wonderful video. How do you control the opening of the valve, let say half open? Do use PWM to control it? Can ESP32 supply voltage 0- - 10 VDc? Thank you

[@retrotechandelectronics]

This is relay controlled on this motor for open or closed only. The sensor can read midway as a status.

[@patrickmclaughlin6013]

Did you have any issues with the logic level voltages? 3.3 vs 5 volts? Thanks for posting! That's kinda funny 'final', guess you mean this week?

[@retrotechandelectronics]

No problems with the logic levels. It’s set up like a standard reed switch. What did you mean by final, I missed that.

[@patrickmclaughlin6013]

@@retrotechandelectronics probably more like close to version 1.0 Thanks for making the libraries.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

@@patrickmclaughlin6013 if you mean library revs I accidentally had two of the same version on the local system.

[@patrickmclaughlin6013]

@@retrotechandelectronics that, and then you'll probably be adding soil sensors, zone controls, sunlight tracking, ... cool project, Thanks for sharing it.

[@patrickmclaughlin6013]

@@retrotechandelectronics I'm trying to use a esp8266 and a mega with i2c maybe I'm to nervous about the voltage issue? hackaday.com/2016/07/28/ask-hackaday-is-the-esp8266-5v-tolerant/

[@mosesbinzi339]

Do you have a parts list for this project? What esp32 board did you use?

[@retrotechandelectronics]

Not the final board but this us a standard nodemcu im using.

[@davidhitchins8870]

enjoying this video! Just one thing: here in Melbourne Australia you would have paid $1787 USD for 143 thousand gallons. So we think $407.57 is cheap!

[@retrotechandelectronics]

In fairness...... I did not pay sewage on this water leak. Also there was a dispensation as their monitoring system did not operate as it should have.

[@davidhitchins8870]

@@retrotechandelectronics The $1787 doesn't include sewage; our water is clearly more expensive here in downunderland. Don't get me wrong, your videos are excellent and I am really finding them useful and so very well thought out and presented - straight to the point. I had a similar problem in my holiday property in France where an OpenSprinkler unit failed to turn off on three occasions (it just lost its settings mid-cycle then did not close the solenoid valves). It cost me a thousand euros or more in wasted water. The water ran for over a week before I discovered it. So I am looking to replace it with something like what you are describing as I never want to pay a bill like that again for no good reason. I thought by buying a well-known system that I could trust it. NOT SO.

[@doctorwade927]

Following this project. My house is 1000' from the city water meter. Would be great to have a solar unit that could detect excessive flow and shut off a valve buried inline.

[@retrotechandelectronics]

I will be adding such analytics in the 5th series in and about.

[@mrbreeze732]

You don't have a master control valve on you timer now I'm guessing..

[@retrotechandelectronics]

I don’t understand

[@alanbeazley1758]

Yes that is mandatory here in Australia, goes in place just after the check valves and connects to the pump terminal of timer. That would have stopped it leaking continuously, only when the stations come on would it open and leak wasting a fraction of the water.