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fruxefarms / FruxePi

Indoor farming software using the Raspberry Pi
https://docs.fruxe.co
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Feature request: Customizable Scheduler for Pump #41

Open dcaud opened 5 years ago

dcaud commented 5 years ago

I hope you don't mind me layering on several feature requests!!

I'm trying to figure out the best way to automate watering with FruxePi. I've not had much luck with getting soil moisture meters to work reliably (they corrode/fail and aren't very accurate). Plus, sometimes plants need to be dry for a period before being re-watered (obviously, this could be programmed in concert with a reliable, accurate moisture meter). In my experience, moisture probes are great to monitor general trends, alert possible problems, and play with, but not great for keeping plants alive! I like the idea that FruxePi supports moisture meters, but I think there are other ways to program watering.

I like the idea of watering based on a schedule. FruxePi's Pump settings currently gets close (i.e, it allows once per day at a specified time with a duration in minutes). The duration setting is perfect, but I need more options for scheduling. Depending on conditions and plants, the water schedule varies significantly. Here's some examples:

-- 2 times/day -- 5 times/day -- Once per day -- On Mondays and Thursdays

Would it be possible to add a more fully featured scheduler for the pump?

I have four other, related requests, if the above is possible:

  1. Add support for additional pumps (I sometimes have up 10 zones, with different watering needs).
  2. I like the idea of controlling low-voltage, battery-powered solenoids (that would switch on/off pressured water). This is how my current system works -- a standalone controller sets a schedule/duration and then switches solenoids on and off. The relay hardware setup that the Pump feature currently supports could work for solenoids -- but a kit of solenoids and battery power supply would be ideal. I'd buy this for the right price!
  3. Finally, I like my current hardware controller for a couple of reasons, which I dream that far-off future versions of FruxePi will support -- hardware on/off buttons for "manual" watering.
  4. A "rain delay" feature, which cancels the next set of scheduled waterings with a single button press (or in Version 19, it could be based on an API query of tomorrow's local weather forecast...for example, IF chance of rain > 90%, NO water tomorrow). Obviously this is for growing outside on the "farm."

That's my two cents!

fruxefarms commented 5 years ago

This is all really great and I much clearer way forward in my view. Will try and think of how to incorporate these suggestions.

dcaud commented 5 years ago

For some odd reason, I just "closed" this issue...but I think this comment reopens it.