Controlling a soil moisture sensor on CircuitPython

In this session, we’re diving into the world of soil moisture sensors and how to control them using CircuitPython.
We’ll be connecting to the analog A3 pin, which should feel familiar if you’ve joined us for previous sessions.
Plus, we’ll be getting into the nitty-gritty details about the specific connections you’ll need to make for your sensor to work smoothly..

Let’s kick things off with the Y12 pin ; it’s super important for getting everything connected right.
First things first, make sure you secure that 3-pin cable connection.
You really want to double-check that it’s tight to avoid any issues down the line and keep your system running smoothly.
Next, don’t forget to hook up the OLED display; it’s essential for showing important info, so make sure those connections are on point for the best performance.
Oh, and don’t skip connecting the module—it’s another key player in your setup.
Once you’ve got everything connected the way we talked about, you’re all set to move on to the next steps!.

Hey there! Let’s kick things off by clearing out any old code and replacing it with our fresh script that’s set to operate in mode 60 with the address 864 i-scan c.
First up, we’re going to clean the screen and pop up the word ‘soil’ for a nice visual cue.
After that, we’ll dive into the analog input mode A3 so we can start gathering those moisture readings.
This whole process is tagged as ‘morning classification,’ sticking to the same method we used in earlier sessions.
And don’t worry, we’ve got detailed instructions lined up to make sure everything goes off without a hitch, so just take it step by step and you’ll be golden!.

To kick things off, we start by checking out the analog input from pin A3 on the microcontroller, which is basically the sound signal we want to keep an eye on.
Now, here’s where the Analog-to-Digital Converter, or ADC, comes into play.
It takes that analog signal from A3 and flips it into a digital value that we can actually work with.
If the ADC value stays consistent, it tells us that the input signal is stable, which usually means the environment is chill or the sound source isn’t changing much.
During the demo, we’re converting the ADC value to a voltage of 3.5 volts, making sure we get it down to the second decimal for precise analysis.
This precise conversion and clear voltage readings are super important for keeping our measurements accurate, which is key for reliable data processing down the line..

If you come across a value that’s below a certain threshold, it means your environment is pretty dry.
Values like 60, 40, and 50 hint at different moisture levels, and hitting 51 suggests there’s some moisture around.
Consistency in these readings is a good thing, as it shows that your measurements are stable and reliable.
Using an Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) is super helpful because it lets you save your current data, making it easier to monitor and analyze down the line.
The ADC presents values as converted voltage, so if you see dry readings, they might change when submerged, showing normal moisture instead.
To get the most accurate readings, it’s a great idea to adjust the moisture range based on your specific environment..

In this session, we played around with CircuitPython to control a soil moisture sensor, which really helped us see how it works in real-time.
Pretty cool, right? We wrapped things up by hinting at more exciting topics to dive into in future sessions, so stay tuned for those learning opportunities!.