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pesor / TTGO-T-HIGrow

The extremely good plant sensor named LILYGO TTGO-T-HIGrow, is here integrated into Home Assistant, via MQTT messages, that can be Autodiscovered, via the belonging Python program. The program supports both DHT sensors, the new BME280 sensor and the external soil temperature sensor.
https://github.com/pesor/TTGO-T-HIGrow
MIT License
70 stars 35 forks source link

Reliability of this TTGO version the original HiGrow #25

Open garudaonekh opened 2 years ago

garudaonekh commented 2 years ago

Hi, I heard a lot of complain about the original HiGrow. Do you have any feedback on this TTGO version in term of its result and battery usage?

I have used several soil moisture sensors(analog capacitive) ranging from the 1$ low cost to 15$ from DF-Robot. I found DF-Robot to be more stable in its result and I need to ADS1115 with my esp32(ADC of Esp32 is bad, as far as I know) or it may be due to my limited knowledge on how to use it properly.

I plan to use it to manage small plot of land per sensor(1 sensor for 4x20meter row) with a few relay to manage the water.

Thanks;

pesor commented 2 years ago

As I am out today, I will give a full answer tomorrow.

Concerning irrigation, I have made a system using mqtt and an ESP32 to control it All. This solution could be fine for your need.

It is in Alpha/Beta but I have been using it the whole summer in my Greenhouse controlling 2 separate water relays, based on the soil percentage. The ESP32 can control at least 10 relays, maybe more, as you only need 1 IO port per relay.

In it is also measurement of water delivered, so the amount of liters can be controlled.

I will give you access to the repo tomorrow when I an Home.

pesor commented 2 years ago

@garudaonekh

You now have access to my private GreenHouse irrigation repository.

To answer your question about reliability of the TTGO modules.

My answer relates to the software in this REPO, as I have never user the original software, as it in my opinion is "useless".

I would always prefer to have the modules on constant power and not on batteries.

On batteries, I see a lot of variation for how long the batteries last, it is from 14 days up to 60 days for a Chinese 800mAh. I think that the quality of the batteries varies a lot.

The soil, and temperatures, I have found to be really reliable, when the soil calibration have been done according to the WIKI.

The fertilizer measurement sucks, I cannot get a figure I can use for ANYTHING, but I have just given up, and fertilize when I find it necessary.

When the module is protected for moist with the Teslanol spray I use, I find them very durable in outdoor usage, as they do not corode.

I use my 3D printed cases, which is an improvement of the original case from LILYGO.

I seal the case with Silicone used for aquariums, where the module sticks out, and where the case is assembled over the plug.

For the rest, if the case is tightened with the 3 screws, it is sufficient waterproof, even if the case is submerged in water.

You find the link to my cases in the previous thread concerning CASING.

I have 30+ modules, and use them in my outdoor plant, and my greenhouse, the first are on batteries, and the last is powered continuously by 5 volts.

All connect to my WIFI via WIFI extenters placed at stragetic points. I have 4 in all.

garudaonekh commented 2 years ago

Thanks for your elaborated answer. My main expectation for this module is its soil moisture sensor. I have used several other sensors but most of them degraded very fast may be due to long stay i the soil.

As for its EC sensor, there is no proper benchmark so it is useless as we do not know what to compared to. I think Mi Flora is better in this respect as they have a database of plant profiles to compared to.