After spending quite some time troubleshooting and configuring, I finally got the DFRobot EC sensor with the integrated temperature probe working seamlessly with ESPHome! 
Here’s a quick rundown of my journey and some tips that might help others avoid the headaches I encountered.
Challenges Faced:
- Temperature Calibration: The temperature sensor had a fixed offset that needed manual adjustment. Through testing, I found that setting it to -2.87 provided more accurate readings, though it’s still not perfect compared to my other probes.
- EC Accuracy: The EC readings were spot-on after calibration, which was a huge relief! I used a 53,000 µS/cm reference solution for calibration, which made a significant difference.
Key Takeaways:
- Calibration is Key: Regular calibration is crucial, especially if you rely on the sensor for critical applications like reef tank monitoring. I added a calibration reminder sensor that alerts me every 60 days.
- Data Smoothing: Implementing a moving average filter helped reduce noise in the readings, making the data more reliable.
- Integration with Node-RED: For those interested, I’m using Node-RED to cross-check salinity calculations, which adds an extra layer of accuracy.
Configuration Highlights:
- The I2C setup with the ADS1115 worked perfectly. I kept the default I2C address for simplicity.
- Using template sensors for calibration parameters made it easy to tweak settings without reboots.
Final Thoughts: While the temperature readings aren’t as consistent as I’d like, the EC performance is stellar. This setup has been a game-changer for monitoring my reef tank, and I’m hopeful that future firmware updates will refine the temperature sensor further.
If anyone has tips on improving the temperature accuracy or alternative calibration methods, I’d love to hear them! Happy tinkering! 
