Hi , I'm a computer engineering student and we have this project in which you can hopefully help. I made a proposal of having a time-based self-watering pot for our innovation project in my CoE subject. I proposed this in thoughts of having a fully automated watering system for a plant pot so that you can leave it without doing anything and waters itself.

Now I researched about it and all that pops out are projects with arduino implemented on them. I would like my circuit to be simple and not so overly-complicated with just a bunch of IC to work with. So if anyone can help me out it would be very much appreciated, give some advice in what IC and circuit I could use and the circuitry design. Unfortunately our professor didn't really told us the basics of how an IC should work, and I don't even know what an IC is. I think our professor just wanted us to search up in google and just do whatever DIY videos that pops up with our proposed project. I want to understand more about Electronics that's why I want to make my project with an actual understanding in what it really does. I hope someone hears me out and help me with this because I'm a total newb in making these. Thank you.

 

You're going to need a moisture sensor with hysteresis using an IC like a Lm324 or other op amp,( Ac sensing will reduce erosion of probes), a pump, relay output , psu, and a tank of water ideally with a ball cock topup supply.

Here is an example, this uses DC probes, which will eventually erode away.

 

A solenoid to control a flapper valve in supply tank, 555 IC to control solenoid timing, 555 to supply long time hysteresis, & comparator to monitor moisture via stainless steel probes.

 

this uses DC probes, which will eventually erode away.

Unless you use carbon rods as the electrodes.

 

You're going to need a moisture sensor with hysteresis using an IC like a Lm324 or other op amp,( Ac sensing will reduce erosion of probes), a pump, relay output , psu, and a tank of water ideally with a ball cock topup supply.

Here is an example, this uses DC probes, which will eventually erode away.


View attachment 145166

is it okay if I don't use a moisture sensor but instead use a time-base one instead? I just need a trigger circuit to "on" the water pump in a certain interval of time like half a day or so, supplying the trigger with a dc battery and relay it with an ac for the water pump.

 

Timing is used on most automatic watering systems but prof. might not approve of using a Rain bird timer. You have AC 60 or 50 Hz & DC so there is an accurate time base, just need to divide the isolated AC down to a pulse every 24 hrs. then a 555 IC for pump timing. Or,
use a day- night sensor as 24 hr. control.

 

Timing is a terrible way to water plants. You will end up with either water starved plants or rotted roots.
Most house plants are watered at intervals from 4 to 10 days, not twice a day.