Hello everyone, how are you?
I’m working on a college project (this semester I'm studying embedded systems and IoT). I need help determining the components I will need (I've done some initial research and identified a few components, but I'm not sure if I'm missing anything). Since I don't know much about electronics, I decided to come here to ask. I'll list the details of my group's part of the project, and I've already listed some components that I found and seem necessary. Will I need diodes or voltage regulators? How many resistors and capacitors? If I'm missing anything, please let me know. Thank you in advance for your attention and help. Regarding connectivity, is it better for me to use an Arduino UNO with a Wi-Fi module or use the ESP32? Project: A concrete tank that will contain some fish, with dimensions of 4.5 meters in length, 2 meters in width, and 54 centimeters in depth. I need to control the water temperature, and if it reaches a harmful temperature, a buzzer will sound. In addition, I need to control the water level, and if it exceeds a certain level, I need to activate a solenoid valve (the connected pipe will be 3/4 inch). Also, I need to have a button to activate the valve at any time (in case it needs to be emptied for maintenance or cleaning). Lastly, I need to include proximity LED lighting, which should turn on only at night for 5 minutes. All relevant information (water temperature, water level, and whether the valve is open or not) should initially be displayed on a screen.
List of components I researched: General:
1x SSD1306 OLED screen (to display temperature, water level, and valve status);
1x 4.7K resistor;
Temperature Control:
1x 1-wire temperature sensor DS18B20;
1x Active buzzer.
Water Level Control:
1x Liquid level sensor (ON/OFF) or Rain/water level sensor module;
One step at a time! For a beginner with Arduino, it is extremely important to learn how to handle each independent part of a project separately, and get each part working properly before combining the project parts.
Measuring and controlling the water temperature of a big tank is a large and very serious project in itself, using potentially dangerous electrical components like high power heaters and pumps, with the possibility of disaster if the heater and pump controllers are not properly designed and configured. Qualified electricians are generally required by local laws for this part.
A good place to start the journey is to just measure the temperature, and work up from there.
Your proposed list of components sounds reasonable. A simple float switch is probably all you need, rather than a level gauge. Since you don't actually mention heating and/or controlling the water, I won't either, but note that Arduino projects are inclined to grow while you build them, and this is the sort of thing that invites recording and remote monitoring.
some time ago I implemented a river monitoring system using The Things UNO with a BMP280 temperature/pressure sensor, a SR04M ultrasonic transducer and a DS18B20 DallasTemperature sensor uploading data over LoRaWAN to the myDevices/cayenne desktop
I was reading the sensors and uploading data every 10 minutes
you can see the river is tidal – rise and fall of about 10cm
may give you some ideas - recommend you use an ESP32
Very possibly. Without a more detailed design, cannot say for sure.
As many as are required by the detailed design.
From your description, there is no need for connectivity, so no WiFi adapters required. You could use an ESP32 and not use it's WiFi. I would not recommend an Uno unless you plan to use a shield of some kind, and I saw no mention of any shield. If you want a suggestion for a basic Arduino, a classic Nano V3 is a good starter board.
Controlling the water temperature and monitoring and alerting the temperature are 2 different functions. I don't see any components in your list relating to controlling the temperature, only to monitoring/alerting, so please clarify if both functions are required.
More detail required about these things so that the forum can give advice.
Initially? What will be displayed on the screen later? Or did you mean the temperature, water level etc will be displayed somewhere else in a later enhancement to the project? Is this why you mentioned WiFi?
What would this be for? You listed it under "general components" which gives us no clues.
There may be better alternatives to relays, but as we do not know what they will be switching, can't say if those alternatives would be suitable or not.