TU (Hmawbi)
Electrical Power Engineering
Project Showcasing
(a) Probe (Soil Moisture Sensor)
1. The probe is made of two conductive metal rods (usually copper or stainless steel). 2. It is inserted into the soil, and it measures the resistance or conductivity between the two rods. 3. When the soil has more water, it conducts electricity better (low resistance). 4. When the soil is dry, it resists electricity (high resistance).(b) Electronic Module (Control Board)
1. The probe is made of two conductive metal rods (usually copper or stainless steel). 2. It is inserted into the soil, and it measures the resistance or conductivity between the two rods. 3. When the soil has more water, it conducts electricity better (low resistance). 4. When the soil is dry, it resists electricity (high resistance).
Wet soil → more conductivity → lower resistance → higher analog output voltage. Dry soil → less conductivity → higher resistance → lower analog output voltage. The control board reads this data and sends the signal to a microcontroller (like Arduino). Based on the reading, the system can turn on or off a water pump automatically.
1. Provides real-time soil moisture levels for better irrigation control. 2. Prevents overwatering and saves water. 3. Affordable and easily available in local markets. 4. Can be easily connected with Arduino or other control systems. 5. Enables automatic irrigation systems in greenhouses.
1. The metal probes can corrode over time, especially in wet soil. 2. Frequent exposure to moisture shortens its durability. 3. Requires regular calibration for accurate readings. 4. Soil with high salinity may affect accuracy.
1. The main 5V Supply connects to the Arduino Uno R3 board's USB Port with a blue wire to power the microcontroller. 2. The Arduino provides power to the Breadboard, connecting its 5V pin to the positive rail and the GDN pin to the negative rail. 3. The Soil Sensor Module's VCC and GDN pins are powered from the Breadboard's positive and negative rails using red and black wires. 4. The Display Module's VCC and GDN pins also connect to the Breadboard power rails for their operation. 5. A separate 5V Battery connects its positive terminal to the positive input of the Mini DC-DC Converter. 6. The 5V Battery's negative terminal connects to the negative input of the Mini DC-DC Converter.
1. The Soil Sensor Module's DO (digital output) pin
connects directly to the Arduino's Digital Pin 8
with a black wire.
2. The Soil Sensor Module's AO (analog output) pin
connects to the Arduino's A0 analog input pin with
a green wire.
3. The Display Module's SCL and SDA pins connect to the
Arduino's A5 and A4 analog pins, respectively, for data
communication.
1. The 1 Channel Relay's VCC and GDN pins are powered
by connecting to the Arduino's 5V and GDN pins.
2. The Relay's IN (input) pin connects to the Arduino's
Digital Pin 7 with a green wire to be controlled by
the program.
3. The positive output of the Mini DC-DC Converter connects
to the positive terminal of the 12V Water Pump.
4. The negative output of the Mini DC-DC Converter connects
to the COM (common) terminal of the 1 Channel Relay.
5. The negative terminal of the 12V Water Pump connects to
the NO (normally open) terminal of the 1 Channel Relay
with a red wire.
1. A Soil Sensor Module is used to measure the
moisture level of the soil.
2. The system is built around an Arduino Uno R3
which processes the sensor data and controls the pump.
3. The Soil Sensor provides both a digital and
an analog signal to the Arduino for flexibility
in measurement.
4. The Display Module is connected using the two wires
communication standard on pins A4 and A5.
5. A dedicated 5V Battery is used to power the high voltage
12V Water Pump circuit separately.
6. A Mini DC-DC Converter is necessary to boost the
5 volt battery voltage up to 12 volts for the pump.
7. A 1 Channel Relay is used as an electrically controlled
switch to turn the Water Pump on or off.
8. The Water Pump is connected to the Normally Open (NO)
terminal of the relay meaning the pump is off by default.