Hardware Selection
The DHT11 is a popular digital temperature and humidity sensor, known for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness. It provides accurate measurements of temperature within the range of 0-50°C and humidity levels from 20-90% with a basic digital signal output. It also has a low power consumption of 0.5mA when measuring and <100mA in standby. Ideal for simple weather monitoring and environment sensing projects, the DHT11 is widely used in DIY electronics and educational purposes due to its ease of integration with microcontrollers like Arduino and ESP32.
The BH1750FVI is a digital ambient light sensor that measures light intensity in lux, providing precise and reliable data. It communicates via I2C interface and operates across a wide range of light conditions from 1 to 65535 lux. This sensor has a very low power consumption footprint where it consumes around 0.12mA during measurements and 0.01uA in power down mode. The sensor is highly efficient, widely used, easily available to buy, and very cost-effective.
For this purpose it is much more suitable to use a BH1750 which comes with a diffuser dome.
The capacitive soil moisture sensor is a non-corrosive, durable sensor designed to measure the moisture content in soil. Unlike resistive sensors, it uses capacitive sensing technology to detect changes in soil moisture without direct electrical contact, reducing the risk of corrosion. The sensor outputs an analog signal that varies with the moisture level. The sensor is widely used, easily available to buy, and cost-effective.
A single-cell lithium polymer (LiPo) battery is a lightweight, high-capacity rechargeable battery commonly used in portable electronics and hobbyist projects. With a nominal voltage of 3.7V and a typical capacity range of 100mAh to several thousand mAh, LiPo batteries are known for their high energy density, flexibility in shape, and relatively stable discharge rates. They require careful handling and specific charging circuits to ensure safety and longevity.
The CN3065 charging module is a compact, efficient charger designed for single-cell lithium-ion or lithium-polymer (LiPo) batteries. It features a constant-current/constant-voltage (CC/CV) charging profile with a maximum charging current of up to 1A, ensuring safe and reliable charging. The module includes protection against overcharging, overcurrent, and short circuits, making it a robust solution for battery-powered projects. Its small size and ease of integration make it suitable for use in DIY electronics, portable devices, and various battery-operated applications.
The Mini Solar Panel 6V 1W is a compact photovoltaic panel designed to convert sunlight into electrical energy. With an output voltage of 6V and a power rating of 1 watt, it is easily found in local electronics shops.
The LoRa Ra-02 is a compact, long-range wireless transceiver module based on the SX1278 chip, designed for low-power IoT applications. Operating in the 433 MHz frequency band, the Ra-02 supports LoRa (Long Range) modulation, which enables it to transmit data over several kilometers while consuming minimal power. It features robust data transmission with high interference immunity and supports various communication protocols, making it ideal for remote sensing, industrial automation, and smart agriculture. The module communicates with microcontrollers via SPI, making it easy to integrate into a wide range of projects that require long-range wireless communication.
The Arduino Pro Mini 3.3V 8MHz is a compact, low-power microcontroller board based on the ATmega328P. Designed for projects requiring a small footprint and low energy consumption, it operates at 3.3V and runs at a clock speed of 8MHz. The board features 14 digital input/output pins, 6 analog inputs, and supports serial communication via UART, SPI, and I2C. Its minimalistic design makes it ideal for embedded systems, wearable devices, and battery-powered applications, where space and power efficiency are crucial.
A USB to TTL converter is an essential tool for programming an Arduino Pro Mini, which lacks an onboard USB port. This converter bridges the gap between the computer's USB interface and the Arduino Pro Mini's serial communication pins (TX, RX). When connected, the converter allows you to upload sketches and communicate with the Arduino using the Arduino IDE. The converter typically handles the 5V or 3.3V logic levels required by the Pro Mini, and it often includes a DTR pin to enable automatic resetting of the board during the upload process, making it easier to program and debug the Pro Mini.
The ESP32 Dev Kit V1 is a powerful and versatile development board based on the ESP32 microcontroller, featuring dual-core processing, integrated Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth capabilities. Designed for IoT and embedded applications, it offers a wide range of digital and analog I/O pins, multiple communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C), and extensive support for sensors and peripherals. These development boards come with an inbuilt SPI flash chip. For this project, it is most suitable to use a development board with a higher-capacity flash chip. The board operates at 3.3V and is equipped with a USB interface for easy programming and debugging. Its robust features and connectivity options make it ideal for a variety of projects, including home automation, wireless data transmission, and smart devices.
The DS1307 is a real-time clock (RTC) chip that provides accurate timekeeping for microcontroller-based projects. It tracks seconds, minutes, hours, days, dates, months, and years, with built-in support for leap years. The DS1307 communicates via the I2C interface and can operate on a backup battery to maintain timekeeping even when the main power is off. The chip also features 56 bytes of non-volatile RAM for storing small amounts of data.
The MCP1700T-3302E/TT is a low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator designed to provide a stable 3.3V output from a higher input voltage, with an extremely low dropout voltage of just 178mV at 250mA. This makes it highly efficient for powering low-power electronics, especially in battery-operated devices. The regulator's quiescent current is minimal, making it ideal for applications where power conservation is critical.
Perforated board, also known as a perfboard, is a type of circuit board used for prototyping electronic circuits. It is a flat board with a grid of holes, typically spaced 0.1 inches apart, where components can be mounted and soldered. Each hole is surrounded by a copper pad to which electronic components can be soldered, allowing for custom circuit layouts without the need for a printed circuit board (PCB). Perfboards are ideal for creating and testing circuit designs, as they provide flexibility in component placement and connections, making them a popular choice for DIY electronics projects and prototyping.
