Smart IoT automatisation of greenhouse windows & monitoring

Greenhouse windows control

Open and close windows of greenhouse automatically by user defined temperature, humidity or rain to achieve a stable climate. Windows are used to vent the greenhouse.

Settings can be done remote via mobile phone. Also manual open with your smart phone is possible.

For monitoring temperature, humidity, rain and light are logged on SD card and can be shown remote via mobile phone.

Description

The main control part is done by Arduino Nano Every (ATMEGA4809): when temperature is too low, then window will be closed, when temperature is too high, window will be opened. When it starts raining then also windows will be closed.

Arudino Nano Every communicates via serial with NodeMCU (ESP8266). With your notebook or mobile phone you have access via WiFi to NodeMCU and can check current sensor data and also monitoring curves of temperature, humidity and light. Settings can be done via web interface.

Settings can be done for each window individually. For example window 1 shall open at 18°C and window 2 shall open at 20°C. There is also a night mode: during night window will be closed and kept closed.

Beside WiFi access values are also shown on LCD. The example from this hackster.io-project is used to create an menu on LCD.

Windows can be opened manually via smartphone:

Housing

All electronic components for controlling are inside this box. Via connectors six windows can be connected and controlled.

PCB

Self-made PCB with Arduino Nano Every and NodeMCU. Layout designed with Autodesk Eagle.

Another self-made PCB is the power plane with three L298N dual full bridge driver for the linear motors. Therefore 6 windows can be controlled.

Safety

Several safety aspects are considered:

• Store settings on EEPROM. After blackout the system will restart and went into a stable state and continues controlling the greenhouse.
• watchdog is used. Reboot system when unexpected behaviour occurs. How it works see here in this hackster.io-project
• error memory: log all errors and write them to SD card
• over-temperature control of housing: when temperature in housing is too high then an alert (beep) is activated

Outlook

Due of WiFi access a SmartHome integration can be possible.