Hello nodemcu12ecanada (cannot reply directly to your comment),

yes I use MQTT (in other projects) and I am familiar with it. Very convenient indeed. 

But given the current project status I will now stick to python and shell scripts because that works just well.

Furthermore, I may implement an ML algorithm of sorts in later project stages (and/or control loops). Being already accustomed to programming with python should put me in a position where I can somewhat easier pull that off (or at least I hope).

I have a similar project! I can help with your project if you like.

  https://jasondale.me/posts/garden-automation/

Hi there,

I would be interested in your technical concept switching on/off the water pump. You want to use a rather small pump (according to your project description) that could be supplied by one Raspberry Pi 5V Pin. 

For my 12V pump I need additional DIY electronics (op amp plus one transistor).

The mentioned web frontend I find interesting since I am pondering about a more user-friendly interface for quite a while (right now I am using just the SSH-Shell what works fine but is unsexy; I want to use solely my smartphone for controlling/monitoring the system). 

I am not really an experienced coder btw.

Cheers

I am an "upper-junior dev", but I've been working on this since early last year. I also am very new to electronics. 

I was powering the pumps with a separate power supply and using the Pi to activate a relay. Power is an issue I am running into - I am going to buy a terminal block for +5v and ground, since each sensor needs a power source and I don't want to risk frying the Pi by running a pump through it :)

Something like this, I think:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y217129/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_10?smid=A3KY66I36TSYAT&psc=1

I also want this to be solar-powered, I got a couple of cheap solar panels that are meant to charge a 5v battery. This way I can put it far from a power source if needed, as long as wifi reaches. 

The web front end will just be a display at first - the Pi will be running the code that reads sensors, uploads the data to the API, and then turns the pump on if the moisture is too low. I have a basic API running now: https://plant-waterify.com/api/plantData This is all my data from last year, but some values are either randomly generated or simply inaccurate 

This is the relay I used:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32997387727.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dGkDNSS

I have other side projects taking priority but I really want to finish this up before this growing season starts.

Have you considered MQTT? Adafruit.io is one way. Very easy to create a HMI to contol and monitor from anywhere. 

https://sites.google.com/site/nodemcu12e/home#h.bagvjtiwx7l3

Also

https://hackaday.io/project/181370-nodemcu-plant-watering-with-web-page-hmi