A True Soil Moisture Sensor: SHT20
1. Most so-called "Plant-Hydration-Kit" in the market
There're soooooo many companies designed kits called "Plant-Hydration-Kit", such as the https://www.smart-prototyping.com/Zio-Plant-Hydration-Kit-v1, but the most significant feature is that they all have a “soil moisture sensor” in their product/kit... Like this:
Or this: ![Capacitive Moisture V2.0](//v4-upload.goalsites.com/275/1563332028_Capacitive Moisture V2_0.png)
But, I want to ask all these vendors, do you have used this kind of module really, to test the soil moisture sensors, while try to watering them?
What I have tested for this kind of "soil moisture sensor" is ugly bad……
1. The sensor output bad... The output data either high, or low, or unstable... For example, in the air, it can be 100, while a finger touches 500, while in dry soil 300, if a little water touched, 500. It changes a lot depends on how deep you dig it into the soil...
2. No water-poof… It is impossible that you can avoid some water touch them, and the whole board got useless, and even short the VCC to GND… Burn the whole system. This is a high risk even this “Plant-Hydration-Kit” a kit for Maker.
![Soil Moisture Sensor](http://v4-upload.goalsites.com/275/1563331919_Soil Moisture Sensor.png)
![Capacitive Moisture V2.0](http://v4-upload.goalsites.com/275/1563332028_Capacitive Moisture V2_0.png)
But, I want to ask all these vendors, do you have used this kind of module really, to test the soil moisture sensors, while try to watering them?
What I have tested for this kind of "soil moisture sensor" is ugly bad……
1. The sensor output bad... The output data either high, or low, or unstable... For example, in the air, it can be 100, while a finger touches 500, while in dry soil 300, if a little water touched, 500. It changes a lot depends on how deep you dig it into the soil...
2. No water-poof… It is impossible that you can avoid some water touch them, and the whole board got useless, and even short the VCC to GND… Burn the whole system. This is a high risk even this “Plant-Hydration-Kit” a kit for Maker.
2. SHT20 Soil Temperature and humidity Sensor
So, in a real watering kit, an industry leaves soil moisture sensor is necessary. Which I suggest the SHT20 Soil Temperature/ humidity Sensor.
![Soil Moisture Sensor SHT20](http://v4-upload.goalsites.com/275/1563332239_Soil Moisture Sensor SHT20.jpg)
It’s output stable, and water-proof.
I tested the module with Maduino, with the library of SHT20. Connect it to Maduino with A4/A5, and the VCC/GND:
![Maduino UNO Board by Makerfabs](http://v4-upload.goalsites.com/275/1563334322_Maduino UNO Board by Makerfabs.jpg)
![Library of SHT20](http://v4-upload.goalsites.com/275/1563334349_Library of SHT20.jpg)
In the air, the output humidity and temperature really good:
![SHT20 Testing Result of Air](http://v4-upload.goalsites.com/275/1563332927_SHT20 Testing Result of Air.jpg)
And then insert it into the soil, in 10s, the output data get stable, and reliable, no matter how deep you dip it into the soil:
![SHT20 in the soil](http://v4-upload.goalsites.com/275/1563334730_SHT20 in the soil.jpg)
The output:
![SHT20 Testing Result of Soil](http://v4-upload.goalsites.com/275/1563334796_SHT20 Testing Result of Soil.jpg)
I try to put some water around the sensor, the output data changes Continuously, without any jumping… Which is reasonable.
The metal case also proofs waters in, which ensures the soil moisture sensor works OK with rain:
![SHT20 is working well in the plant](http://v4-upload.goalsites.com/275/1563333007_SHT20 is working well in the plant.jpg)
The soil moisture sensor works well in the rain…~ this makes the kit a really working smart plant watering kit…
Related Blogs
- [2023-06-26] Exclusive Giveaway Event - Win Exciting Prizes: $200 Coupon or Raspberry Pi 4 Computer 8GB!
- [2022-12-07] Cautions in Using ESP32 ADC - Makerfabs
- [2022-09-06] ESP8266 WiFi Shield Firmware Upgrade V1.0
- [2022-07-15] Production Errors of Lora Soil Moisture Sensors
- [2022-05-20] How to Make an Ultrasonic Levitation Device