Hello
Im wanting to build this automatic water feeder : http://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Automatic-Watering-System-For-Plants/?ALLSTEPS
unfortunately I've got a water pump different to the one in the tutorial, is it possible for me to just cut the power cable and attach the wires for the driver to it?
or would I have to look for a water pump which is compatible with the driver & wires.
thanks
I've attached images of the water pump.
I've got a water pump different to the one in the tutorial, is it possible for me to just cut the power cable and attach the wires for the driver to it?
What did the guys over at Instructables say?
That pump appears to be designed to plug into a mains voltage AC outlet, so it's not suitable to be controlled by the Arduino. You need some sort of driver circuit that can be controlled by the Arduino, and a pump with voltage and current requirements within the spec of the driver. They're quite common and inexpensive, but what you haven't isn't it.
thanks PeterH
I do have a driver, it's a L298 Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver
It's schematics state that it provides :-
Motor supply: 7 to 24 VDC
Control Logic: Standard TTL Logic Level
Output Power: Up to 2 A each
AWOL - I haven't contacted anyone through Instructables however i have emailed the person who uploaded the tutorial, I'm just waiting on a reply.
Hi WalkItOut,
A H-Bridge isn't going to cut it for this pump. Look at the label in your picture, it clearly states that it operates off of 220 volts.
It's not the end of the world however, you can build a relay driver for your pump that runs off of the 'Duino, and switches the power on to your pump.
See: http://www.ikalogic.com/bjt-switches/
For a discussion on how to do this (specifically figure 3.A).
On the other hand, you would have to be somewhat crazy to run your pump off of a homebrew circuit at 220 volts in and around water. I would recommend swapping your pump out for a 12 VDC windshield pump that you can get at your local junkyard. You'll live longer.
Otherwise, be sure to plant daisies, since that is what you will be pushing up...
very simple to use.
get a relay that will work from 12 to 5 volts
use a MOSFET on the control side
place the relay in side an electric box you would get for a receptacle.
install the receptacle in the box and wire it to the relay
you can turn the relay on and off easily.
grow something heathly and have fun.
if you want to run a pump at different speeds, get that DC voltage one, or learn about triac's.
WalkItOut:
I do have a driver, it's a L298 Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver
That's a good start. Now you just need a pump that will run on less than 2A at somewhere between 7 .. 24V, and a matching power supply.
Thanks for the great replies!
As rootboy kinda pointed out I'm almost a total noob at this.
@rootboy I think I'm going to go with a smaller pump, i've found this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390673653009?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
It runs between 2v and 12v.
@dave-in-nj I think most of that has gone totally over my head, i'm sorry. I will educate myself on receptacles, MOSFETS and more.
@PeterH I think your recommendation's will be best suited for me, thanks a lot!
you can use your 110 volt pump if you use a relay.
the receptacle is the thing on the wall you plug your lamps into.
at the hardware store, you can buy a metal box to put it into, with a cover plate.
if you get a square box, you will have room for more stuff in the box. specifically the relay.
there are loads of posts on how to turn a relay on and off. in order to do that, you need something to take the light signal from the arduino and make it a much stronger siganl. the typical choices are transistors or MODFETS. when you read about relays you will find the how-to and what to buy.
it is not that hard and you will have lots of fun with it.
good luck
dave-in-nj:
it is not that hard and you will have lots of fun with it.
However, mixing high voltage and electronics can be very dangerous, especially if you're using a metal box with all the possibilities for accidental exposure to live connections. This is NOT a project for somebody unfamiliar with the hazards involved in working with high voltages. A low voltage DC pump is a far more appropriate choice here and is easier and safer to control with an Arduino.
@PeterH yeah i think im going to go for a lower voltage water pump to get a better feel for Arduino, as well as being safer.
@dave-in-nj thanks a lot for your help!
