Hardware · 96 pages
Every hardware page.
Microcontrollers 6
Arduino: The Classic On-Ramp to Electronics
Beyond the ESP32: STM32, Teensy, Nordic & Feather Boards
Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W: A Microcontroller With Precise Timing
The ESP32 Family: A Field Guide for Growers & Makers
The ESP8266: The Original Cheap Wi-Fi Chip
Which Microcontroller Should I Buy? A Grower’s Buying Guide
Computers 3
Sensors 36
AS7341: An 11-Channel Spectral Light Sensor
Anemometer & Wind Vane: Measure Wind Speed and Direction
BH1750: A Cheap Digital Light (Lux) Sensor
BME280: Temperature, Humidity & Pressure in One Sensor
BME680: Temperature, Humidity, Pressure & Gas (VOC)
CO2 & Air Sensors: True NDIR vs Fake "eCO2"
Cameras & Imaging: ESP32-CAM, Pi Camera, Webcams & IP Cameras
Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor: The Cheap Probe That Lasts
DHT22 (AM2302): The Classic Cheap Temp & Humidity Sensor
DS18B20: The Waterproof Digital Temperature Probe
Dissolved Oxygen Sensors: Oxygen in the Water
EC & TDS Sensors: Measuring Nutrient Strength
ESP32-CAM: The Few-Dollar Networked Camera
Hall-Effect Flow Sensor: Count the Water Through a Pipe
Leaf Wetness Sensors: The Key to Disease Forecasting
Light & PAR Sensors: Lux, PPFD, DLI, and Spectrum
MH-Z19: A Cheap True (NDIR) CO2 Sensor
ORP Sensors: Oxidation-Reduction for Water Sanitation
PAR / Quantum Sensor: Measure the Light a Plant Uses
PMS5003: A Particulate (PM2.5) Air-Quality Sensor
Professional Soil Probe: Calibrated VWC, EC & Temperature
Rain Gauge: Count Rainfall the Tipping-Bucket Way
Raspberry Pi Camera Module: The Quality Vision Path
Resistive Soil Moisture Sensor: Cheap, But It Corrodes
SCD40: A True CO2 Sensor (Not eCO2)
SHT31: The Accurate Temperature & Humidity Sensor
Soil Moisture Sensors: Capacitive, Resistive & Tensiometer
TSL2591: High-Range Light Sensor for Sun to Shade
Temperature & Humidity Sensors: DHT22, SHT31, BME280, DS18B20
Ultrasonic Water-Level Sensor: Read a Tank From Above
Water & Chemistry Sensors: pH, EC/TDS, Dissolved Oxygen, ORP
Water Flow Sensors: Hall-Effect, Ultrasonic & Pulse Meters
Water Level Sensors: Float, Ultrasonic, Pressure & eTape
Weather Stations: Rain, Wind & Outdoor Conditions
eTape Level Sensor: A Continuous Strip Gauge
pH Sensors: Reading Acidity in a Nutrient Solution
Smart Sensors & Smart Devices 10
Aqara Sensors: Cheap Zigbee Door, Motion & Climate
Athom Smart Plug: Pre-Flashed with Tasmota or ESPHome
Bluetooth (BLE) Sensors: Govee, Xiaomi, SwitchBot for Growers
Shelly Plus 1: A Local-Control Wi-Fi Relay
Sonoff Zigbee Dongle: A Cheap Zigbee Coordinator
SwitchBot Meter: A Cheap Bluetooth Thermometer You Can Own
TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug: Local-Friendly Wi-Fi Switching
TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug: Cheap, Popular, Cloud-Leaning
Wi-Fi Smart Plugs & Relays: Shelly, Sonoff, Tasmota
Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter & Thread: Low-Power Mesh Devices
Actuators & Control 22
A4988: The Classic Stepper Driver Carrier
CO2 Controller: Hold a Grow Space at Target CO2
Contactor: The Heavy-Duty Switch for Big Loads
DRV8825: The Stepper Driver Step-Up from the A4988
Dosing & Fertigation: Pumps and pH/EC Control
Humidistat: Hold a Space at Target Humidity
Irrigation Controller: Schedule, Zones, and Fertigation
Lighting Controller: Photoperiod, Dimming, and DLI
Master Grow-Room Controller: One Brain for the Room
Motor Drivers & H-Bridges: Run a DC Motor or Pump
PCA9685: 16-Channel PWM & Servo Driver
Peristaltic Dosing Pump: Meter Liquids by the Milliliter
Pololu Maestro: The Standalone, Scriptable Servo Controller
Relay Module: The Board You Wire to a Microcontroller
Relays & Contactors: Switch a Load On or Off
Servos & PWM Control: Aim, Position & Drive Many at Once
Solid-State Relay (SSR): Silent Switching for Heaters & Lights
Stepper Drivers: A4988, DRV8825 & TMC2209 Compared
TB6612FNG: The Efficient Dual Motor Driver
Thermostat: Hold a Temperature with a Heater or Cooler
VPD Controller: One Target for the Whole Climate
pH/EC Controller: Hold a Nutrient Solution Automatically
Communications 11
Cellular Modem (LTE-M & NB-IoT): Report From Anywhere
Cellular for Remote Sensors: LTE-M, NB-IoT & 4G
Gateways & Coordinators: The Bridges Between Networks
LoRa & LoRaWAN: Long-Range, Low-Power Radio for the Farm
LoRaWAN Gateway: The Box That Hears Your Field Nodes
Meshtastic: A Private LoRa Mesh for the Farm
PoE Splitter: Power & Data Down One Cable
Point-to-Point Wi-Fi Bridge: Link Two Buildings
RFM95W: The LoRa Radio for a DIY Field Node
Wi-Fi for the Farm: Reaching the Greenhouse & Far Buildings
Wired Networking: Ethernet, PoE & Fiber for the Farm
Power 8
Battery Backup & UPS: Ride Through a Power Cut
DC-DC Regulators: Buck, Boost & Linear, Explained
Lithium Batteries for Field Nodes: LiPo, 18650 & LiFePO4
Pololu Step-Down Regulators (D24V): The Reliable Buck Module
Power Supplies & UPS: Clean Power and Surviving Outages
Power Supply: The Clean 5V Rail That Stops Brownouts
Powering a Field Node: Solar, Batteries & Deep Sleep
Solar Charge Controller: Keep a Field Node Alive