Micro:bit Automatic Plant Watering System

[@Seamore_ishere]

I can’t wait for my mircobit to deliver!!!

[@rickjohnson9208]

Great! I'm going to try this with my class.

[@karlbouaoun9939]

Can you please make a video explaining more specifocly how to connect the wires and the whole circuit please? Great video❤

[@MichaelKlements]

I've linked to my blog post in the video description and that has a lot more detail on how to connected things up.

[@urmilsinha7305]

I am aware you have posted a circuit diagram on your website. Unfortunately, it's still unclear as the wires are all jumbled up! Would appreciate if you posted a video on how to join the wires step by step..

[@xiq2062]

great job Michael Klements

[@bjraval9818]

Michael, Great project! 👋👍I will implement it! It would be nice to have code for multiple plants (20-30 plants) throughout a home, managed wirelessly and centrally watered with inexpensive wireless sensors in each plant!

[@MichaelKlements]

Thank you! For a setup with multiple plants managed wirelessly, it would be more cost effective and compact to use an ESP32 rather than micro:bit.

[@bjraval9818]

@@MichaelKlements Would you mind sharing its Instructable please? I am sure many tinkerers who love indoor (or even outdoor plants) would sincerely appreciate it! - Thank you in advance!!

[@idk-um8bu]

Good video Needed this for a school project Keep it up the good work earned a subscriber! :D

[@MichaelKlements]

Thank you! Hope the project goes well.

[@affanhossain3973]

Hey man, I'm also doing this for a school project, and ive been wondering how u managed with the coding. Did it work for you?

[@robertsimpson4693]

Michael, Another great project ! - Robert

[@MichaelKlements]

Thanks Robert!

[@robertsimpson4693]

@@MichaelKlements How about a MUSIC BOX for a next project ?

[@victoriafriasmunoz1550]

Thank you very much for the video! I want to know, if could help with the Building The Components Into The Housing, because rigth now it´s not very clear to me. Thanks.

[@jandregerber7534]

Hi Michael, great project! Am I missing something..the coded image shows 0, 2, 3V and GND pins connected, but the physical connection, shows 0, 2 and GND. Also, where is the power supply? I'm trying to replicate, but struggling to connect the relay components etc. Thanx!

[@MichaelKlements]

The capacitive sensor that I used can handle a 3.3V or 5V supply as it has an onboard regulator, so I connected it straight to the power supply (you can see this @2:18). The code platform doesn't have a moisture sensor so I've used a pot in it's place and this needs a 3V connectiong to the micro:bit or the code won't work.

[@yurigarcia5107]

Hello, I love your project, the truth is that it seemed very good to me, I am a novice and I have problems with the wiring, could you please explain me a little more about this part of the project?

[@MichaelKlements]

There is a guide with a lot more detail linked in the video description

[@counteldamar5135]

This is incredibly inspiring

[@TrackerX2007]

Hi. Great tutorial! Do we need an external power for the pump? Or just using the power connected to the Microbit?

[@MichaelKlements]

Yes you'll need to power the pump with its own 5V source, that why the relay is used to turn it on and off.

[@TrackerX2007]

@@MichaelKlements thanks!

[@TrackerX2007]

@@MichaelKlements hi, further questions. 1. Did you connect the 3v pin from the Microbit to the moisture sensor? 2. How do you power up and trigger the 5v relay? Because the Microbit only outputted a max of 3v Thanks

[@TrackerX2007]

@@MichaelKlements Hi, nevermind, finally it works after changing the relay to 3v relay instead of 5v relay. Thanks for this wonderful project

[@tomboulton5693]

@@TrackerX2007 Ricardo thanks I had the same issue - 3v Relay everyone - NOT the 5V

[@ohoh33]

Hi!: Could someone help me with the wiring diagram to connect it?

[@petro3569]

Hello, I have a question about your Micro:bit Automatic Plant Watering System. I live in Albania and here it's a bit hard to find all the components, I can't find a power supply with output 3V : 1A, but I have found one with 0.5-4.2V : 0.5A. Can it work with it?

[@MichaelKlements]

0.5A should still be ok to run the pump, as long as you keep the tubing short so that there isn't a lot of back pressure on it.

[@petro3569]

@@MichaelKlements thank you very much sir 👍

[@petro3569]

@@MichaelKlements hello again, I'm having a bit trouble building it, because my moisture sensor is a little different, if you could help me a little bit it would mean a lot. Where can I send you a photo of the sensor?

[@petro3569]

@@MichaelKlements this project is very important important for me, please.

[@adamkznoah]

Hey man, I love your plant watering system project! I was wondering if you have a video or a link on how to make the code for the plant watering system?

[@MichaelKlements]

Hi Adam, There is a bit more information in the blog post linked in the video description. Other than that, I haven't made a detailed post on the code and I unfortunately don't have a copy of the code anymore.

[@deepikakvrjn]

makecode.microbit.org/_YhdAF4erYdDL I think this is it. Please correct me if I am wrong in the code.

[@MichaelKlements]

That looks correct! Thanks Deepika

[@deepikakvrjn]

@@MichaelKlements thank you for replying and also tell me how you made the 3 volt power supply

[@adamkznoah]

@@deepikakvrjn this one you can buy it online but you need to buy it seperately, if I remember correctly, you need to purchase a female dc jack and a 3V 1A Power supply

[@KingShoxx96]

Great job! Is it possible to wire Multiple Sensors for more seperate plants on one device?

[@MichaelKlements]

You'd need to use the plug in expansion board to access more of the Micro:bits IO, but it is possible. You just need one analogue input and one digital output per plant (one moisture sensor and one relay and pump combination).

[@sherylsargent4978]

hi Michael, we cannot get this system to work. the relay we are using in Takamisawa JV 3S KT, which is a none polarised, high sensitive 3 VDC relay with 45 ohm coil. power consumption is 200 mW. In our set up we are connecting the relay to pin2 of the microbit, the on- voltage on that pin will collapse to about 1 volt when the pin goes to on, the relay doesnot pull in. do you have any idea, if the microbit might be overloaded with that relay? we have tried other output terminals with the same result. if we connect an LED to this output pin, the microbit ? LED works fine. Your help is appreciated. Wolfgang Killian, Happy Valley Middle School, Oregon.

[@MichaelKlements]

The pins on the Micro:bit aren't designed to drive components that require more than a few milliamps of current. With a 45 ohm coil, the relay is likely trying to pull around 75mA to switch. This is probably overloading the pin and this causes the voltage to collapse. If you look closely at the relay module that I've linked to, it has a small transistor and diode onboard that drive the relay and suppress the EMF from the coil - that's why the module needs an external power source and not just the input pin.

[@NoName-vg1gz]

Very well done.

[@0959kedi]

Can we use a L298N or we should use a relay module?

[@xiq2062]

can you make a touch sensor video or add a touch sensor for this project

[@MichaelKlements]

Do you have a particular sensor you'd like me to look at?

[@smallDGaming]

how did u connect the wires to the m3 screws? please help quick

[@MichaelKlements]

Either just twist the wires around the threaded section of the screws or add a suitable terminal to the wire to screw down onto.

[@smallDGaming]

@@MichaelKlements you should also mention like how you used the barrel jack connector, or however you allow the wires to work with the AC/DC adapter plug

[@mustafa6273]

Great video! Currently using this for a school project. Is it possible to do it without a relay?

[@MichaelKlements]

The Micro:bit can't handle the current requirements of the pump, so you'll need some form of switching device.

[@amoratiara]

How can I make it watered once a week, and make it 5 milliliters? Do i need to make any other code?

[@activewind3111]

How many pins does the Relay have to have? Could you tell me?

[@MichaelKlements]

It's a single throw relay, so two coil pins and three contact pins

[@zakiazri3651]

nice

[@ayten_edits]

Hi I am doing a project can you do a video how to program this

[@jambaygawa6584]

Hello sir, do you have any circuit diagram draft of this project. If you have that will be helpful to me. Thank you.

[@odalmer8110]

Bro, can i use clips of your video for a homework?

[@benparker2160]

Do you have a wire diagram for this? I am a noob so it would be great.

[@MichaelKlements]

There’s a diagram in the post linked in the video description. It’s quite simple, great for beginners. Good luck!

[@benparker2160]

I am a noob. But I find it difficult to understand from the microbit thinker site. Can you share a clean wire diagram?

[@sam_jun]

@@benparker2160 I also tried to make sure the circuit diagram from this content but it quite unclear

[@gabriel0783]

excellent video, could I replace the micro bit with an arduino? if yes, how can this happen? can you help me to do?

[@MichaelKlements]

You can use an Arduino but you'd have to re-write the code

[@gabriel0783]

@@MichaelKlements What did you use to power the water pump? a stack or source?

[@shahadsa0764]

I wanted to do it and I came to order the tools from Amazon, but I am from Saudi Arabia and the shipping cost is high, so there is another location, I can order from it at a reasonable shipping cost?

[@MichaelKlements]

You can order the items from Aliexpress as well.

[@alanbabstiurkdiaz4592]

Hello, do you have an electrical circuit diagram?

[@MichaelKlements]

Hi, there is a circuit diagram provided in the post that is linked in the video description

[@affanhossain3973]

Can this work without a relay module?

[@MichaelKlements]

No, the Micro:bit can't handle the current that the pump requires to run

[@affanhossain3973]

@@MichaelKlements I'm actually making my own pump with a DC motor, do you think in this situation I could do it without a relay module?

[@kaweing7336]

hi, I am currently trying to do this for my physics project, and I am unable to see exactly how the dc pump is connected and also how the other wiring is connected, is it possible for u to elaborate a little more on the wiring?

[@MichaelKlements]

The blog post linked in the description shows you a wiring diagram.

[@bodapetric2679]

BRO, WHERE I CAN GET ONE?

[@isme_Violetta]

I am doing a school project for this and I need to use my money for those😢

[@caterinapomari9180]

Can this also be linked to an app? Thanks

[@MichaelKlements]

You can link it to a mobile phone or tablet using Bluetooth and control it from an app. I haven't tried this, but there are a number of tutorials online that cover this.

[@KOABOYIMoe]

can you send the code link, i am lazy to type🛌

[@mysteryshake]

Do you use a Bread board

[@MichaelKlements]

I soldered the components together for this project. The Microbit interface is a bit difficult to use with a breadboard unless you have a breakout adapter.

[@tbranc1]

How long would the batteries last?

[@MichaelKlements]

This project isn’t being powered by batteries, it’s being powered by a 3V power supply. A 2 x AA battery pack would probably only last a day or two at the most on this setup.

[@deepikakvrjn]

@@MichaelKlements how do make a 3v power supply?

[@deepikakvrjn]

@@MichaelKlements please reply quickly 🙏😢😭😔😫

[@AngelyGarciaRopero]

Los cables q usa son MM, FF o MF?

[@ai__beyond6146]

Simple Awesome

[@rockingyash4112]

wiring diagram u post bro

[@dannasofiagonzalezmedina1772]

great job but i need more explicit information 🙄😒

[@syahrilmohd2903]

where is the battery?

[@MichaelKlements]

It's running on a 5V power supply

[@rrxyqq]

can someone list the components for me in the comment?

[@tr_yxl2362]

can somebody comment the javascript?

[@GLEES345]

@Michael Klements. I copied your wiring but it doesn't work bruv.

[@mariehenriksen-hm5uz]

give us the code pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[@sulfurdioxide6534]

It is so expensive tho I can't afford it :(

[@mylillamb]

it does not work

[@sam_jun]

I think you didn't explained it clearly, especially for the circuit diagram among, relay, pump and microbit board, power supply. Also the code blocks' shape is quite different. Thanks

[@MichaelKlements]

That’s why I’ve included a link to a step by step write up in the video description.

[@MysticTales-Vault]

still the diagram makes no sense

[@sam_jun]

@@MichaelKlements I got it, thank you for your reply. Keep it up 💪

[@cat_animations7414]

Можно было и без насоса сделать, зачем так утруждаться когда за тебя это может сделать серво и гравитация?★

[@RestuSinggih-z9e]

Tak pahammmm

[@kingmu6870]

sub indo please

[@kaweing7336]

I will pay u $100 SGD + shipping fee for that system

[@deepikakvrjn]

You can't buy everything with money person

[@deepikakvrjn]

It would take less than 100 dollars to buy the parts and make it

[@kaweing7336]

@@deepikakvrjn spending money is now considered shameless?

[@deepikakvrjn]

@@kaweing7336 no but offering more money to buy something which you can make at home is just straight up foolish.

[@kaweing7336]

@@deepikakvrjn so going to a restaurant to order food would also be foolish?