May 17, 2024 by rithik krisna
Tried a New automatic Plant watering System using a simple BC547, which is better than the expectation.
Forget watering worries! This automatic system uses a common BC547 transistor for a low-cost, easy-to-build design. No coding required, and readily available components make setup a breeze. Plus, it has a built-in adjustable delay for customized watering schedules.
At its heart lies the soil moisture sensor, diligently detecting soil moisture levels to keep your plants hydrated just right.
Now, you might raise an eyebrow at the apparent redundancy of two transistors. But fear not, for we've cracked the code to optimal watering precision! By employing the humble RC timer circuit, we've conquered the challenge of motor trigger timing. With the resistor and capacitor combo, we can fine-tune the delay to ensure your plants receive just the right amount of hydration.
Let's decode the magic: Transistor Q1 swoops in to discharge the capacitor upon receiving a HIGH signal from the soil moisture sensor. Then, cue Transistor Q2, the ultimate inverter, flipping the signal to perfection. Finally, enter Q3, the motor-driving hero of our tale.
But wait, why not let Q2 drive the motor directly, you ask? Ah, the beauty lies in its versatility! While Q2 could indeed handle the motor duty, most soil sensors play by the "High for Dryness, Low for Wetness" rule. Thus, we enlist Q3 to bridge the gap and ensure seamless motor operation.
Use a breadboard for simplicity. For stability, solder it to a Dotted PCB and enclose it. Check the waterproofing of the motor; if not perfect, seal it with gum or hot glue.
Finally, we completed this Project. You can learn more about this project in this article A Simple Automatic Plant Watering System without Microcontroller.
