I am try to add a solar panel and rain drop detector.
How the water timer works with out the upgrades. The frequency is set to how many hour/s until the water time starts e.g every 24 hours. Run time how long the water timer will run until it stops e.g 5 mins.
Advance information
The water timer control board sends power to one of the motors which turns the cogs, that opens up one of the water valves and the motor continues to turn until the click switch is pressed, which closes the water valve and stops the motor from running.
My setup
I was thing of using Arduino control board to form the solar panel and rain drop detector.
Solar parcel
Solar parcel would make power from the sun to the battery that my need a overcharge protection board.
rain drop detector
When the water timer starts to run, I was thinking that if the the power when to the Arduino control board and if it was raining the rain drop detector would send a signal to the rain sensor module the to the Arduino control which would sent power to the - wire of the switch to the water time control board what would end the run time for the water time before it starts up.
Sun
When the water timer starts to run, I was thinking if the power when to the Arduino control board and if it was not raining the Arduino control would send power to one of the motors. The Arduino control which would sent power to the + wire of the motors and the water timer would finish its run time by leting the motor just turns until it press the click switch.
Motors
I was thinking of cutting the + wires to the motors and putting, one wire in input slot and the other + wire in output slot on the Arduino control board.
Click Switch
I was thinking of cutting - wires from both switches and putting, one wire in input slot and the other - wire in output slot on the Arduino control board.
What I have ready:
1 water timer
soldering iron
wire shrink tubing
Need to get:
1 solar panel
1 rain drop detector and 1 rain sensor module
maybe 1 overcharge protection board (for solar pancel to batterys)
1 Arduino control board (not sure what type to get, maybe mini Arduino control board)
Your write-up seems to cover most of the points you want to do.
Put together all the pieces that you can .
Test each piece and as you go your system will take shape.
One of the things we have learned from experience is that the end result is often different than what we expect in the beginning.
We learn from our work. we adapt, make changes and in the end get the job done.
Get a rain sensor, get an Arduino, get a relay, get a water valve.
You should be able to connect all those things and make a basic system work.
Then you can add more sensors, different timing patterns and different ways of watering such as your rain delay.
l am look at getting a Multimeter as I can test the wires.
Right now I looking for the parts I will need.
What a relay ? would that be the rain sensor module ?
For the timing patterns I was thinking of using the water timer's own circuit board, as it has already got the timer built in.
Does the Arduino have a timer built in ? or will I need a timer module ?
Would the solar module cover the overcharge protection board ? E.g. solar parcel is making power but the batteries a full changed so it stops sending power, utill the battery have drop in power.
My last question so far, can Arduino control the water timer's circuit board or can Arduino only control parts made for Arduino ?
the ARDUINO is a micro-controller.
you program it to do 'stuff'
you can have a sensor that will detect rain drops, really just a circuit board with lots of stripes that would know when water drops hit it.
the Arduino has a rather simple built in timer.
you can use it to water the plants once every 24 hours, for 5 minutes.
both times are things you control.
the output is just as simple low-power output.
to turn on the water valve, you would need to turn on the power to the valve.
google arduino relay to see what we typicaly use.
you can have it set to water the plants each moring around 6:00 AM. and if it rains for some time, it could skip a day.
all under your programming.
to get more information about arduino related things, add arduino to your searches
arduino rain detector
arduino relay
arduino water valve....
arduino sprinkler control.....
this can be a good first project.
I would highly recomend you spend some time with google and then before you buy things, post links to the things here. we can advise if they will work together.
