Automated Greenhouse: an Arduino Adventure
Goal: retrofit a greenhouse to autonomously monitor and control interior temperature and humidity.
Result: The final product works to automatically open and close 6 roof vents using 8" stroke linear actuators, open/close side louvers, turn on/off an ventilation fan, turn on/off a 1 gallon per hour misting system, and turn on/off a 240V, 5kW heater. Current temperature and humidity conditions are continuously monitored and are shown on a wall-mounted iPhone that is also used to display and adjust temperature and humidity set points for the system.
Materials:
Processes:
Result: The final product works to automatically open and close 6 roof vents using 8" stroke linear actuators, open/close side louvers, turn on/off an ventilation fan, turn on/off a 1 gallon per hour misting system, and turn on/off a 240V, 5kW heater. Current temperature and humidity conditions are continuously monitored and are shown on a wall-mounted iPhone that is also used to display and adjust temperature and humidity set points for the system.
Materials:
- Awesome greenhouse (already built)
- Arduino Mega
- 8" linear actuators (to open roof vents)
- Pololu motor driver boards
- 2kW heater
- Massive relays
- Wireless router
- Patio misters
- Solenoid valve (for water flow)
- Old iPhone
- 12V DC power supply
- Lots of additional electrical components
Processes:
- Arduino programming
- CNC Fabrication (motor mounts and actuator arms)
- Circuit design and protoboard soldering
- Networking and debugging