InqWeather - Forecasting Weather Station

@huckohio As far as sending data from one MCU to another MCU, I am confident the answer is yes, I just don't know speed or bandwidth or technical details. Since there are several hybrid boards on the market like the recent Arduino with an ESP?? on it (Bill did 2 videos on 2 new hybrid boards IIRC)

Posted by: @huckohio

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@zander

I believe the forecast data will be a must-have.  I like the project you recommended and think I'll start there.  Thank you!

As for feeling a difference with the pace make, the answer is absolutely.  We have several family members that have had pacemakers installed and the difference in their health, energy, focus was significant.    I hope you hear something soon.

 

Mike

I had a little trouble with the 3D print, it needed some TLC with a knife and other misc tools but it eventually fitted. Hopefully, I will feel well enough to finish soldering the wires, my first wire broke off so I am ruminating over how to fix that. I am currently trying to use solid 30AWG, but may switch to stranded 30AWG.

WOW, that is great news regarding the pacemaker, I need help with energy and focus. Thank you so much!!!

Posted by: @huckohio

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@zander

I googled the question I asked you and I see the answer is yes.  Hope you didn't waste any time.

I did not, but now I am curious, exactly what did you google?

@huckohio I see 2 major approaches. For wireless, esp-now is the favoured approach, and for wired SPI is favoured.

@zander

Wow...didn't see your responses (even after pressing F5) until I closed the browser and saw my email.

I used this query string "ESP8266 sending data to ESP32" but I only looked at one stack overflow post to see it was possible using ESP NOW ( https://stackoverflow.com/questions/60359581/send-data-from-nodemcuesp266-to-esp32-using-esp-now ).

I used ESP NOW in my wife's Chicken Coop/Bunny Shed project and it worked well.  I was thinking of combining the garden watering project to the Chicken Coop/Bunny Shed project by using the ESP32 unit in the house and display the weather data/sprinkler controls on a new page in the NEXTION display (project link).

If I remember correctly, there was an issue using ESP NOW and WIFI.  When WIFI is used ESP NOW won't work - don't remember why right now.  I'll need to research that.

Thanks again.

Posted by: @zander

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@huckohio As far as sending data from one MCU to another MCU, I am confident the answer is yes, I just don't know speed or bandwidth or technical details. Since there are several hybrid boards on the market like the recent Arduino with an ESP?? on it (Bill did 2 videos on 2 new hybrid boards IIRC)

@zander

I recently purchased the UNO R4 WiFi that has an ESP32S3 (I think it's the S3) on board.  I need to check and see of you can use ESP NOW with the UNO R4.

@huckohio Here is the Espressif docs on esp now. I think it is built on WiFi

https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-faq/en/latest/application-solution/esp-now.html#:~:text=ESP-NOW%20is%20a%20connectionless,to%20another%20without%20a%20connection.

Hi Mike @huckohio,

   Just a throwaway suggestion ... I can see weather forecasts/records could be very helpful, especially as there would be little point in supplying a lot of water, just before a heavy rainstorm is expected. But living in a country that can have very different weather in places just a mile or so apart, I wonder if it is also a good idea to have some local data.

Looking at the 'moisture sensors' sold for a couple of dollars or so, I see most have bare metal, and will obviously corrode in a short time, making them useless as a practical tool.

I also saw PiHut had a similar shaped device, but the metal 'sensing' surfaces were insulated, and the circuit at the top was different ... these using a change of capacitance. However, they also had chips, etc. at the top of the device completely exposed, which precluded its use outside. (I suspect they were only recommending it for an indoor pot plant.)

I then did a bit more Googling, and found a blog that started with probes similar to the PiHut one, that were being modified by encapsulating the chips with epoxy, etc. as well as discussing the circuit, optimising for low current consumption, etc..

https://thecavepearlproject.org/2020/10/27/hacking-a-capacitive-soil-moisture-sensor-for-frequency-output/

I am not suggesting this article contains all the answers, but merely suggesting you could do some research into making some sensors that actually work?

Of course, this may not be of interest to you, in which case, I apologise for the intrusion.

Best wishes and good luck with whatever you decide, Dave

@davee Of course using a local sensor is a good idea to go along with forecast data.

I also decided to use the capacitance probes as the old style resistive versions do not last long. The probes I bought are already encapsulated but I will still put a rain cover over them

@davee 

Thank you for the suggestion.  Agree that local/current weather would be important.  I have a BME280 that I was going to use for temp/humidity.  I purchased two Plantmate Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensors that are compatible with Arduino and ESP32 (3.3V).  These sensors claim to be waterproof, but I have been reading about issues with sensor depth vs plant type and was shying away from them.  Might be valuable to place one sensor in a raised garden bed (looser soil) and the second into the ground (more clay) and used the readings as "nominal" for the entire garden.  Combine the soil data with current weather conditions, previous 2-3 days weather, and the forecast and decide if to water and then how long.

Posted by: @zander

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@huckohio Here is the Espressif docs on esp now. I think it is built on WiFi

https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esp-faq/en/latest/application-solution/esp-now.html#:~:text=ESP-NOW%20is%20a%20connectionless,to%20another%20without%20a%20connection.

@zander

That would explain it.  When using ESP NOW I sent up the wifi as WIFI_STA in setup.  Would it be possible to create a wifi connection and get the forecast data and then close down the wifi link and open the wifi station?  I would only need the forecast data once a day and if the House ESP32's ESP NOW link is down for a few minutes it will not impact the ESP32s in the rabbit shed or the chicken coop.  

@huckohio Yes, either that or use the combined mode of STA and AP, but I think if you only plan on getting forecast daily then just pick a time of day to do that and once done go back.

@huckohio Don't you think it would be better to get the forecast at least twice a day, maybe 6 or 7 AM and noonish? I don't know about where you live, but where I used to live the weather changed every few minutes, where I am now is more stable, but one or two major changes a day are possible. If as your handle suggests you are in Ohio then I think you have fairly stable daily weather.

NOTE: Inq also has a weather predictor called the Zambretti algorithm. See the include file in the InqWeather project for some details.

@zander 

Good point.  The weather (and the forecast) does change rapidly in SW Ohio.  We were forecasted for rain starting yesterday at 0400.  It started raining finally at 2300.  

I am also thinking of saving/tracking the actual weather for the previous day and save that data so I can assess the temp/rain actuals/averages.  I am guessing, but I think that data may be relevant when determining if & for how long I should water.

Thanks again Ron.  

Hi Mike @huckohio,

    I am pleased to see you found a sensor that looks like it is designed to be outside. I found it incredible that the sensors Google came up with on my 10-second search, all had exposed electronics, and most had exposed electrodes made of materials that will corrode. What happened to the principle that merchantable goods were supposed to be 'fit for purpose'?

I hope your project works out well for you ... I confess gardening is not among my personal interests, but from the moderately recent forum comments, I am sure there are others who will be interested to know how you get on.

Best wishes, Dave