Principia Discordia

Principia Discordia => Techmology and Scientism => Topic started by: Cramulus on June 07, 2016, 04:39:01 PM

Title: Plant Watering Reminder Gadget
Post by: Cramulus on June 07, 2016, 04:39:01 PM
(http://67.media.tumblr.com/fdb9e031cd60b82a66cf3338ab3aa6ae/tumblr_o8equpOXvU1roo64to1_500.jpg)(http://65.media.tumblr.com/85c5befedc95afdbc67921b887192c37/tumblr_o8equpOXvU1roo64to3_1280.jpg)

The plants in my apartment kept dying, mainly because my girlfriend and I kept assuming the other one had watered them. So I invented a little gadget that tells us when the plants need to be watered. It's super simple.

The gadget has 3 buttons and 3 LEDs. Each pair is linked to one of the plants in my apartment.

It's only a timer, it doesn't detect soil moisture or anything crazy like that. When a light turns on, it signifies that one of the plants needs to be watered. When somebody waters it, we'll press the button, and it'll reset the counter.

This fun little gadget only cost about $20 to make. It was a lot of fun to build!
Title: Re: Plant Watering Reminder Gadget
Post by: Q. G. Pennyworth on June 07, 2016, 07:23:49 PM
Raspberry Pi?
Title: Re: Plant Watering Reminder Gadget
Post by: Cramulus on June 07, 2016, 08:12:09 PM
Arduino Uno + 3 LEDs + 3 buttons + 6 resistors
Title: Re: Plant Watering Reminder Gadget
Post by: The Wizard Joseph on June 08, 2016, 02:22:05 AM
That's neat! I used to work in electronic hand assembly and repair, years back. I never understood the science of design or the finer points of electronic theory. I just performed minor miracles of construction and repair. The craft of it is great fun if you have some patience and a steady hand. I used to think of it as "Zen gardening with hot lead."

I like your device idea. I'm uncertain that it's accurate, but I heard that if you flip the polarity on certain types of LED you can improvise a photo sensor. If the device won't sound without a certain light threshold it could help to prevent the thing from waking folks if the plant happens to get dry overnight. Then the plants become a sort of alarm clock and they get the water right when they need it to make food.
Title: Re: Plant Watering Reminder Gadget
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on June 08, 2016, 07:16:33 PM
You know what we do to people who build clocks at home, right?  This was widely broadcast in every media.
Title: Re: Plant Watering Reminder Gadget
Post by: LMNO on June 08, 2016, 07:19:58 PM
Yeah, but Cram's white.
Title: Re: Plant Watering Reminder Gadget
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on June 08, 2016, 07:55:30 PM
Quote from: LMNO on June 08, 2016, 07:19:58 PM
Yeah, but Cram's white.

How long do you suppose that will matter?
Title: Re: Plant Watering Reminder Gadget
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on June 08, 2016, 07:55:44 PM
*looks at news*

Never mind.
Title: Re: Plant Watering Reminder Gadget
Post by: LMNO on June 08, 2016, 08:37:04 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 08, 2016, 07:55:44 PM
*looks at news*

Never mind.

:horrormirth:
Title: Re: Plant Watering Reminder Gadget
Post by: Bwana Honolulu on June 08, 2016, 10:02:58 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 08, 2016, 07:16:33 PM
You know what we do to people who build clocks at home, right?  This was widely broadcast in every media.
That's why there is a sticker inside the lid of my PirateBox labeled "NOT A BOMB" (http://bwansen.tumblr.com/post/131580631052). :roll:
Title: Re: Plant Watering Reminder Gadget
Post by: Cramulus on June 09, 2016, 03:09:55 PM
I built this thing at my desk at work. No less than four people asked me if what I was building was "dangerous".

-Two of them were asking tongue-in-cheek
-The other two seemed weirdly hopeful that it was
Title: Re: Plant Watering Reminder Gadget
Post by: Junkenstein on June 09, 2016, 04:15:28 PM
The only correct answer is "no" followed by maniacal laughter.
Title: Re: Plant Watering Reminder Gadget
Post by: Faust on June 09, 2016, 05:17:33 PM
Quote from: Cramulus on June 09, 2016, 03:09:55 PM
I built this thing at my desk at work. No less than four people asked me if what I was building was "dangerous".

-Two of them were asking tongue-in-cheek
-The other two seemed weirdly hopeful that it was

Tell them if someone doesn't press the button once a day it will result in botanical desiccation with a scared look on your face.