Automatic Irrigation System

automatic irrigation system

Hi all,
I am planning to build a small automatic irrigation system for my garden.
The electrodes in the soil will detect when water is required.This will switch on the water flow until moisture is restored in the soil.
I am looking for cheapest way to control water flow ( on or off).
Is it possible using float or I will have to use a pump?The water will be drawn from a overhead tank or even from tap whatever is easier.
If someone knows of such project then kindly post suggestion/links.

water sprinkler solenoid making ticking sound

You can use a solenoid valve to open or close the water flow, the water pressure is enough to push itself into your garden.

automatic irrigation system project

glenjoy said:

You can use a solenoid valve to open or close the water flow, the water pressure is enough to push itself into your garden.

Click to expand...

Where do I get this solenoid valve?
Won't a pump/motor be cheaper option?

overhead automatic irrigation system

What is the diameter of your pipeline? using a pump is good if your water pressure is low.

ibr273

[quote="coolchip
Where do I get this solenoid valve?
Won't a pump/motor be cheaper option?[/quote]

Where are you located? Here in the US you can get a garden solenoid valve for approx $ 10-12. I doubt you will be able to find a pump at a cheaper price.

project on automatic irrigation system

Solenoid valves are used usually in bottling plants or water refilling stations (botlled water refilling stations), you can ask them where they are buying their solenoid valves.

indian washing machine water outlet mechanism

Hi Coolchip,

how do you measure soil humidity?

I made a search on the internet, but it doesn't seem to be a simple thing.

stamp microcontroller sprinkler system

I am located in India.The pipe can be bought according to the requirement.The whole setup is on a small scale and I want to do it as cheaply as possible.I haven't thought anything special about measuring soil moisture content but I remember seeing a similar project somewhere in a magazine.I will find out the details soon.

I am sure there's a cheaper option ( but not so perfect) than using a valve or pump...sooner or later I will come up with it.

irrigation solutions selling solenoid valves

You can measure the resistance of the soil between two points. Try to inject a signal and read the time decay.

You can check the projects in Basic Stamp by Parallax.

sprinkler valve triac

You'll need two probes,space them 1 inch-25mm- appart.(It must work like a megger,the instrument you use to measure resistance.)The 1 will send a small curent through the moister in the ground to the other probe.When the soil becomes dry the current can't flow.You can use a relay to switch the solenoid on and off.(The current through the ground will retain the relay_keep it energised)

automatic sprinkler solenoid high pressure

The larger is the garden, the higher has to be the pressure.
The pressure required depends also from the irrigation system. Drop by drop irrigation requires much less pressure than fountain irrigation.
Probably an overhead tank doesn't give you pressure enough (10 m. of overhead give 1 bar of static pressure).
At the tap you should have at least 3-4 bar.
So if you use an overhead tank probably need a pump, taking the water from the tap a solenoid valve is enough.
I believe that the cheapest solution is to recycle the solenoid valve of a washing machine.

project on automatic irrigation

Thanks people.I like the idea of recycling the solenoid valve of a washing machine.I guess even an electronic water purifier has one ?

irrigation valve driver circuit

Hi there, I only have a aside idea for the valve.

I supose is posible but dont know if will work also you already have a solution , you only will need: a chord motor, a "molino", gears and metal with holes. I dont know how to construct this thing .

You use the moline ("molino") for load the chord of the motor, you use the gears for trasmit the movement to the valve, and you use a 4 state machine for change between states (open, close, loading chord motor, and motor stoped when there is no open or close or loading).

I think that the more complicated is contruct the "4 state machine", because it need change between wich one will be, the mechanism for open or close is near the same plus one gear (that change the direction), you need to "connect" the load to the motor in some way or put in the way of stop (dont let liverate the energy).

There are things that should be taked in care , like is the force imprimed to the load suficient to "charge" the chord motor? the motor can move the valve?

Modifications can be done I guess, I think in a way where is not needed the motor, but only the load and 2 states: closing and at the end stop, and opening.

I think is fun to think in a way like that, but perhaps not enought easy or aplicable easely and not tested .


I only let the idea perhaps some time will be of use .

pic16f and water solenoid valve

you need also to control the ph of the irregation water.

simple automatic irrigation

It seems nowadays washing machine don't have a solenoid valve anymore.The water flow is controled manually by switch which explains why it works even when machine is not connected.
I looked inside a washing machine and didn't find any solenoid valve.

automatic irregation system

glenjoy said:

You can measure the resistance of the soil between two points. Try to inject a signal and read the time decay.

You can check the projects in Basic Stamp by Parallax.

Click to expand...

ahahha
and if a Worm Dig in the Middle ?
or water move the Wires ?

i think that there some companant like the ibr273 that is more Accurate

basic stamp irrigation

Hello Coolchip.
You should find the water solenoid just near the water inlet.
Sometimes it is part of the inlet itself.
My machine also has one....
Check it.
About measuring the resistivity of the water: I think there is no easy way to get rid of oxidation.....the electrodes may get damaged by oxidation... any opinion on this?
I would suggest you to dig 2 twisted wires into the ground and measure the capacitance between them (The wire are both isolated). Maybe you can measure a good capacitance variation with/without water. Don't forget that the dielectric constant of the water is very high, 70 or more..... It may help...

S.

pic16f84 irrigation system projects

you need HUMIDITY transmitter many companies sell such transmitters. also you must use pump and solonoides. search for the word solonoid for irregation and you will find many sellers all over the world.

automatic irrigation systems

sinatra said:

Hello Coolchip.
You should find the water solenoid just near the water inlet.
Sometimes it is part of the inlet itself.
My machine also has one....
Check it.

Click to expand...

My washing machines are semi-automatic which I guess aren't eqipped with solenoid valve or even a pump.It has 2 tumblers one for washing and other for spinning.I don't
see any need for a solenoid valve or pump.There's no provision for seperate hot and cold inlet.
I guess you must be having a machine like the following :

project on automatic irrigation system

My dishwasher has (I think) a solenoid valve. It's quite a big device outside the machine, connected in series with the inlet pipe and it has a large black lighting bolt on it (high voltage). It makes a "tick" noise when turning on, letting water through.

Sputnik :idea: