Hi everyone! I wanted to share a fun project I recently completed—automating my garden’s irrigation system. I’ve always loved gardening, but keeping up with watering has always been a challenge, especially during busy weeks or when traveling. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and create a smart irrigation system.
Here’s what I did: I started by replacing my old water supply pipes, which was a bit of a DIY challenge but very rewarding. I then integrated solenoid valves wired to Sonoff 4CH Pro units. This setup allows me to control each irrigation zone independently. To make it user-friendly, I designed a basic UI that includes manual overrides for each zone.
The automation part is where things get interesting. I pulled weather data from my personal weather station and used it to adjust the irrigation schedule dynamically. For example, if it rains, the system skips watering for that day. Each zone has three variables: a toggle to switch automation on or off, a start time to stagger watering due to water pressure limitations, and a duration setting.
I set up two automations per zone: one to check the start time, rainfall data, and toggle switch, and another to handle the timing. This ensures that each zone gets watered precisely when needed. I’m really happy with how it’s working so far, but I’m looking to add more features in the future, like scheduling watering every day or every few days.
If anyone has tips or suggestions on how to improve this system, I’d love to hear them! It’s been a great learning experience, and I hope others might find this useful for their own gardens. Happy planting! 