water valve... which one?

[manjh]

I am currently using a standalone watering computer to keep my garden alive. Works OK, but the downside is the fact that it is standalone, and I cannot control it from Domoticz.
So I am thinking of building something based on an ESP, with a water valve attached. Measuring is the easy part.
Where I run into a problem, is the valve... I would like to use a low voltage type, but cannot find it at the usual Chinese sellers.

Is there anyone who can give me a hint?

[HomeJCL]

All depends what you want todo.

I use this type https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/BSP-NPT- ... 4c4dr9BXlz also available in brass.

Low voltage, with a capacitor for auto close in case of power shutdown. Possibility to have positioning feedback.
And ball valve for full passage, due that I work without a pump in a gravitational fed system.
Autoclose in case of power failure is obvious.

[manjh]

All depends what you want todo.

I use this type https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/BSP-NPT- ... 4c4dr9BXlz also available in brass.

Low voltage, with a capacitor for auto close in case of power shutdown. Possibility to have positioning feedback.
And ball valve for full passage, due that I work without a pump in a gravitational fed system.
Autoclose in case of power failure is obvious.

That could work, but for that price I think I could buy another watering computer and open it to see if I can somehow interface it to the ESP.
I bought this one at Lidl for about 25 or 30 Euro...
Perhaps I will start to see if I can open it without doing any damage. A good look at the inside might tell me more...

[HomeJCL]

If you have a pressure line, then you can look for solenoid valves (magnetic)
Same as in those std watering “computers”

Start at a couple of quid.

[Shardan]

Search for "solenoid valve 12V" gives a lot of results, starting around 3€.

One exampe:
https://de.aliexpress.com/store/product ... autifyAB=0

If you use ESPEasy to drive the valve you may use a MOSFET or a relay to switch the valve.
Remember valve and relay are using coils so a freewheeling diode is mandatory to avoid damage.

As ESPEasy can do a lot more: Add a flow sensor (Starts around 3€ too) like
https://de.aliexpress.com/store/product ... autifyAB=0

So flow monitoring and water consumption is possible on top.

[manjh]

Good idea...

I notice you go for the 1/2" versions, there is also 3/4. Which of the two is the best for linking to Gardena click couplers?

[Shardan]

Uhhhhm.....

As i'm living 2nd floor and my 3 m² balcony is my garden I don't have any watering devices.

As far as I can see from the GARDENA website they sell tap connectors for both sizes 1/2 and 3/4 inch.

So I'd say it depends a bit on the water flow. Most 1/2 inch flow sensors go up to 30 l/min.
There are 3/4 inch flow sensors up to 60 l/min.

So i think the size depends on the water flow you need. For less water flow 1/2 inch,
for more flow it's 3/4 inch.

BTW, just an idea: Even using a soil moisture sensor is possible with ESPeasy.....
https://www.letscontrolit.com/wiki/inde ... ure_sensor"

PS:
A cheaper capacitive moisture sensor with analog output:
https://de.aliexpress.com/store/product ... autifyAB=0

[manjh]

Uhhhhm.....

As i'm living 2nd floor and my 3 m² balcony is my garden I don't have any watering devices.

As far as I can see from the GARDENA website they sell tap connectors for both sizes 1/2 and 3/4 inch.

So I'd say it depends a bit on the water flow. Most 1/2 inch flow sensors go up to 30 l/min.
There are 3/4 inch flow sensors up to 60 l/min.

So i think the size depends on the water flow you need. For less water flow 1/2 inch,
for more flow it's 3/4 inch.

BTW, just an idea: Even using a soil moisture sensor is possible with ESPeasy.....
https://www.letscontrolit.com/wiki/inde ... ure_sensor"

PS:
A cheaper capacitive moisture sensor with analog output:
https://de.aliexpress.com/store/product ... autifyAB=0

My target is to water my garden, using a swivel watering device. Garden is about 10*10 meters, so I think I can use all the pressure I can get.. Will try to get a set on 3/4 inch.
As for the moisture detection: I have a Xiaomi Flower on order, a small standalone unit that runs on a single cell battery for a year. No wires, since it uses BlueTooth.
If I can link that to Domoticz, I should have the decision parameters there.
Then a separate ESP unit with flow sensor and valve to control the water. Can't wait to put it all together.

[Shardan]

Have fun
Looking forward to see the result.

[manjh]

If you use ESPEasy to drive the valve you may use a MOSFET or a relay to switch the valve.
Remember valve and relay are using coils so a freewheeling diode is mandatory to avoid damage.

Forgot to mention, I have long ago left the path of using seperate relays and diodes. It is much easier (and sometimes cheaper!) to use the ready-made relay boards....

[manjh]

Have fun
Looking forward to see the result.

OK, got the Xiaomi sensor and hooked it up to my Android phone, works good.
Next step was to install the plugin into Domoticz. During the pre-req phase I needed to install Bluez-5.44, everything seemed to run OK, but the commands to check connection fail with an error code 0x11. No further explanaition... so I am stuck, waiting for some kind soul to give me the solution.
I'm not even sure if this problem is Bluez related.....
R-Pi is great, but sometimes it gives me headaches.

[Shardan]

Maybe this might help:

http://www.btnode.ethz.ch/static_docs/d ... Codes.html

Due to that list: 0x11 = Unsupported Feature or Parameter Value

I don't use the RasPi nowadays so i can't say much.

[manjh]

I think the problem is getting the basic BlueTooth controller to work. When I use btmgmt and try a scan, it complains that there is no default controller available. Does this mean hardware?

[werner_g]

I have a solution running since weeks and it works fine for me. I used this:
https://www.pearl.de/a-NX7367-3506.shtml
Since this are solenoid valves they need +power to open and -power to close, you need a H-brigde to drive the valve. Sounds difficult, but when using i.e. a TB6612NL motor driver you can use modules from WEMOS, Adafruit or Sparkfun and you are ready. Just pulsing two GPIO's for 50msec:

Code: Select all

on System#Boot do
   GPIO,12,2	// at first set both to input 
   GPIO,13,2	// to stay save - later it is an output
   GPIO,16,0	// STBY on, do nothing 
endon

on Bodenfeuchte#Pflanz1>575 do
if [Wasser#FreigabeHahn1]=1 and [Regensensor#Regen]=0
   Pulse,16,1,100
   Pulse,12,1,50
   Pulse,13,0,50    //start watering (open valve)
   Publish aussen/state/WM/Garten01/Wasser/Hahn1,1
   timerSet,1,300   //timer 1 set for 5 minutes

else
Pulse,16,1,100
   Pulse,12,0,50
   Pulse,13,1,50  //stop watering (close valve)
   Publish aussen/state/WM/Garten01/Wasser/Hahn1,0
endif
endon

on Rules#Timer=1 do
   Pulse,16,1,100
   Pulse,12,0,50
   Pulse,13,1,50  //stop watering (close valve)
   Publish aussen/state/WM/Garten01/Wasser/Hahn1,0
endon

Pflanz1 is a cheap Capacitive Soil Moisture sensor, FreigabeHahn1 is a MQTT-input and Regen is a simple water sensor. I also attached a simple water flowmeter YF-S201 to detect flow even when there should be no flow. Gives me the possibility to react when receiving an alert on my phone.

The solenoid valve is working with 3Volts. To achieve reliable results, you better use a 5V/3A Charger Power supply and have a additional 100µF Capacitor at the driver module.

[manjh]

I realize this is not really ESP related at all. But...

For information, just in case someone else runs into the same situation: my Raspberry had a config.txt file in the boot directory, with a line that specifically disables Bluetooth.... I don't remember how it got there, may have been a parameter that was set long ago during initial installation of the OS when I had no intention to use BT.
Anyway, commenting-out that line and rebooting the R-Pi brought me an operational Bluetooth.....