last modified: October 23, 2025
Posted on 2017-08-23— Common, Projects
I finally published all design files and documentation for my plant watering sensor project. The package includes PCB layouts and firmware, but this is an advanced build: it needs SMD reflow, Atmel Studio and an Atmel-ICE programmer. If you're interested, please read the full post and the GitHub repo for details.
Posted on 2017-04-29— Projects
I describe making a small alpha batch of my low-cost plant-watering sensor: ordering parts, prepping and soldering wires, testing PCB assembly with stencils, and solving sealing with epoxy. If you’re interested in practical prototyping tips and lessons learned, please read the full post for photos and detailed steps.
Posted on 2017-04-22— Projects
I describe how the new measurement method let me collect reliable, long-term soil sensor data after a single watering. I discuss a brief power-loss artifact, weather effects on drying, and testing epoxy seals for the sensor. Read the full post to see the measurements, results, and my next steps.
Posted on 2017-04-12— Projects
I began a second long-term test of my plant watering sensor to confirm it tracks moisture cycles after watering and drying. I'm focusing on logging and sealing the sensor's foot for repeatable readings. If you're curious about methods and results, please read the full post and share feedback.
Posted on 2017-03-28— Projects
I received the foot parts for my plant watering sensor from Eurocircuits and I’m pleased with their consistent quality. They removed the PCB bridges cleanly so the boards match my design, saving finishing work and improving the look. Read on to see photos and my impressions.
Posted on 2017-03-26— Projects
I ran a five-day long test of my plant watering sensor and the results were confusing, so I started a new, more insulated setup using an Adafruit Feather M0, an optocoupler, and pulse-length encoded signals with interrupts. If you’re interested in the hardware and code details, read the full write-up.
Posted on 2017-03-20— Common
I ordered a single test panel for my plant-watering sensor and was pleasantly surprised to receive three gold, perfectly made panels from Eurocircuits. Their registration holes make stencil alignment easy. I share photos and brief notes here—please read the full post to see the details and next parts of the series.
Posted on 2017-03-14— Projects
I built a compact logger to collect long-term capacitive readings from my plant watering sensor. Using a Feather M0, RTC/SD FeatherWing and a tiny OLED, it logs averaged frequency to CSV every minute so I can study watering-to-dry cycles. Read on for parts and details.
Posted on 2017-03-09— How and Why
I walk you through designing the final PCB for a low-cost plant watering sensor: choosing tools, shaping the board, iterative layouts, BOM decisions, assembly planning and unit-cost calculations. If you want practical steps and cost details, please read the full post to follow the next parts.
Posted on 2017-03-03— How and Why
In part three I assemble and test the prototype PCB, set ATtiny13A fuses, and refine user interaction and firmware plans. I cover LED display choices, power measurements and a modular firmware approach. If you’re building a low-cost plant sensor, read the full post for practical steps and diagrams.
Posted on 2017-02-23— Projects
I struggled to measure microamp currents for my plant watering sensor until I tried the µCurrent Gold. In this post I show oscilloscope traces, energy estimates with and without LED flashes, and explain how the µCurrent converts current to voltage. Read on for measurements and upcoming PCB prototype details.
Posted on 2017-02-14— How and Why
I take you through part two of my cheap plant-watering sensor project, testing a prototype: power draw, LED impact, oscillator and MCU startup timing, voltage-divider checks, firmware inputs, and PCB preparation. If you want to see the detailed measurements and next steps, I invite you to read the full post.