• 1
    DESIGN

    We first start by making the Cad design of the whole model in Fusion360.

    We modeled the Soil Moisture Sensor after modeling the XIAO Expansion board first. Modeling every component before creating the design is a smart idea because it makes the process more accurate and efficient.

    We created a holder that will incorporate the soil sensor and XIAO expansion board. Four M2 screws are used to secure the XIAO expansion board in its holder. Since the soil sensor did not have the mounting holes, we made three holes close to the module's edge instead. We will insert M2 screws into these holes to secure the sensor in its initial position.

    After finalizing the model, we exported the holder and 3D printed it on my Ender 3 printer with white PLA using a 0.6mm nozzle.

  • 2
    HARDWARE

    We're using the XIAO SAMD21 M0 Development Board, which, paired with the XIAO extension board manufactured by Seeed Studio, is the heart of this project.

    It comes with rich peripherals that include an OLED, RTC, SD Card Sot, passive buzzer, reset/user button, 5V servo connector, and Grove connector for pairing multiple Grove devices with XIAO.

    We can power the entire setup using any Li-ion or LiPo cell thanks to its integrated Li-ion charging circuit; later in the project, we will be using a small Li-Po cell to power the whole setup.

    If you would like to get one for yourself, here is the link to its page.

    https://www.seeedstudio.com/Seeeduino-XIAO-Expansion-board-p-4746.html

    Seeed FUSION

    This project is sponsored by Seeed Fusion. Seeed Fusion offers one-stop services catering to your needs, from design & customization to production and promotion. Focus on your strengths, co-create and co-grow with Seeed Fusion! Explore more here: https://www.seeedstudio.com/fusion.html

    One of the reasons for using the expansion board was its intergraded OLED display, which we will be using for displaying sensor values.

    As for measuring the soil humidity and moisture, we're using a gravity moisture sensor that uses the two probes to pass current through the soil, and then it reads that resistance to get the relative moisture level. More water makes the soil conduct electricity more easily (less resistance), while dry soil conducts electricity poorly (more resistance).

    Here are a few of its specs.

    • Power supply: 3.3v or 5v
    • Output voltage signal: 0~4.2v
    • Current: 35mA
    • Pin definition:
    • Analog output (blue wire)
    • GND(Black wire)
    • Power(Red wire)
    • Value range:
    • 0 ~300 : dry soil
    • 300~700 : humid soil
    • 700~950 : in water
  • 3
    CONSTRUCTION
    • Using a soldering iron and jumper wires, we first connect the XIAO Expansion board to the soil sensor's VCC GND and sensor pin by following the wiring diagram that is included.
    • The JST connector from the Li-Po cell is then plugged into the battery JST connector present on the XIAO Expansion board.

    We're using a 3.7V, 100mAh Li-Po Cell here.

    • Subsequently, the LiPo is inserted into the 3D Printed Holder, and the expansion board and soil sensor are mounted.
    • Next, we install the expansion board using four M2 screws and the soil sensor in its proper position using three M2 screws.

    Assembly is complete.