Setting up The Project
The Hydroponic Set Up
Using peat moss I was able to successfully start some Bibb lettuce seeds in the net cup. I was able to set up the air stones and air pumps so the plants can get oxygen. The plant seems to be stable and is growing.The blue tube in the bottle is a pH sensor and wire with a metal tip is a temperature thermistor.
Connecting Components
Using the circuitry diagram on the first page of the arduino projects. I began connecting wires connecting the arduino board to the breadboard. On the breadboard I have an ESP wifi module wires up connecting tx of the ESP to rx of arduino and having the temperature thermistor running to the A1 port of the Arduino board all being powered via the programmable cable. Unlike the diagram, for my setup I only will be connecting up one thermistor and leaving the pH for another step later on. I have connected all grounds into one row of the breadboard.
Connecting to ThinkSpeak
I have a basic knowledge of how to code from a previous class in high school. Using a base code from this youtube video "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK4Lp1Ko0l8" and this one "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f_wOVnBb4g"these videos I was able to combine both into a working code. I used the wifi connection part of the first video to then help me set up, my wifi connection to the ESP module. The second video I took part of the thermistor thermistor code loop to gather the temp data. Then using the ThinkSpeak website guides and a couple videos was able to get the temperature data to show up on my ThinkSpeak account.
​
​
The code works by first connecting to my wifi and then it sends that data. By using my SSDI name and password.Then reading the data from the A1 port of the Ardunio board. Then that data gets sent to the ThinkSpeak ip address and send it to a specific web link. This link inputs the data onto a graph on ThinkSpeak. The bigger graph to the left is showing the change in temperature when I take my finger on and off the temperature thermistor. This data is being taken and sent to ThinkSpeak servers every second. In the beginning when I was setting up the program the temperature started off erratic. The temperature was jumping up and down, then settled down to a more constant temperature. This is shown in the smaller graph to the left.
​
Setting Up the pH Probe
Using the same codes that I used in the previous version I tried to use with conjunction of the ph probe. With many unsuccessful attempts to get the ph data to Transfer to ThinkSpeak. I decided to make sure i can get the pH probe to work on its own. So Instead i was able to find a public code that can be used in conjunction with the ph sensor that I have. Since it's already connected I simply connect it into my laptop and open the arduino program, open the serial monitor. The picture to the left shows how the output on the serial monitor looks. The pH is displayed in number format. In order to get accurate readings I first had to use the pH buffer solutions that came with my kit. One vial was marked at a pH of 4 and the other at a pH of 7. To the left is a picture of the same pH probe kit that I was using. Those two pH's allow me to make the code readout at the pH of 4 and the pH of 7. This means that the pH probe is accurate is calibrated and is ready to be used.
The Final Project
This is an image of my final Arduino Hydroponic Monitoring System Project with all components set up. This system allows me to monitor temperature via wifi. I can send the temperature data via wifi to a website called ThinkSpeak. The pH sensor output requires being connected to a computer and looking at the serial monitor in the arduino program. This is because I was having problems getting the data to go to ThinkSpeak under another data channel. The project was successful in helping me further my knowledge about arduino and coding and showing me real world applications.