Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor

Using capacitive touch sensor as soil moisture sensor.

ohmohm

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Description

According to research "Low-cost Soil Moisture Profile Probe Using Thin-Film Capacitors and a Capacitive Touch Sensor" (doi:10.3390/s16081292), It is possible to use MPR121 capacitive touch sensor to measure soil moisture with thermal compensate. This project attempts to implement prototype of soil moisture sensor that uses that principle for irrigation.

Details

In order to reduce agricultural water cost, soil moisture should be measured by affordable low-cost sensors. As well as gypsum soil moisture sensors in Vinduino project, this project tries to build soil moisture sensors. There is research demonstrates that it is possible to measure soil moisture by soil capacitive and employs capacitive touch sensor for that task. From that research, improvement for how to build (easily, for example: using PCB), how to install sensors, contact between sensors and soils (mentioned in that research).

Files

cap-touch-soil-moisture-sensor-001.jpg draft drawing JPEG Image - 34.77 kB - 04/22/2018 at 08:28		Preview

Components

1 × MPR121 Break-out Board MPR121 Capacitive Touch Sensor Module
1 × NCP18WF104J03RB Thermistor

Project Logs

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MPR121 break-out board arrived
ohmohm • 04/22/2018 at 08:48 • 0 comments

MPR121 capacitive touch sensors break-out board has arrived. I've just tested it with Arduino example library (actually Adafruit library) in order to ensure that it works. Testing as capacitive touch device, not instrument that measures capacity.

OK, in breadboard, it contains other break-out boards/modules for my other projects.
Thermistors arrived
ohmohm • 04/08/2018 at 16:00 • 0 comments

I ordered thermistors from Chinese website. Now they've just arrived. I wonder can I solder SMT components by hands?