Davis has very nice humidity sensor and temperature-sensor, but cost is reason to look for alternatives.
In my setups I apply SHT1x to measure Temperature &Humidity in/on the top-soil, and DS18B20s for measuring Temperature from top-soil to deeper levels.
SHT1x in 'protective' capsule, and DS18B20 is version in stainless steel holder.
Earlier experience with SHT11 already showed that humidity sensor of that device fails after prolonged exposure to water, even if housed in a 'protective' capsule.
Measurement by SHT11 of temperature continues undisturbed.
For segmented measurement in the garden have an array of 1*SHT15 + 4*DS18B20: measurement was no problem until last winter.
Problems then starting as description ending here.
Experience with SHT15 in the garden not different than with SHT11: end-of-life-signal is that humidity drops & stays at -2%.
Slower demise of the array of DS18B20s: first 3 from same supplier, then slightly slower 1 from other supplier.
Not expecting that the DS18B20s have suffered from testing experiments (because according to spec they can deal with PS in range 2.4VDC~5.5VDC), fearing that WEMOS_GPIO got 'fried' during testing, or for other reasons.
However, when connecting the array to VCC+GND+pinD5 of 'fresh' WEMOC_PCB, during setup for DS18B20s get response DeviceAdress - None -
![Bedroeft :(](./images/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif)
Subsequently doubting power supply and wiring, but after comparative testing another fresh WEMOS_PCB with unused DS18B20 (which run without problem), the conclusion might be that the application in continously very moist environment has affected and ultimately 'killed' the DS18B20s, while WEMOS remained unaffected.
Replacement of SHT1x + DS18B20 is not difficult, because just purchase & labour, but would prefer to prevent future breakdown, or at least to extend the life-cycle.
Questions now:
a) how to better protect the next SHT1x-in-capsule against intrusion of moist, while keeping the functionality for humidity?
b) how to better protect the next DS18B20-in-steel-holder against intrusion of moist?
Any best practises?