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Grove Capacitive Moisture Sensor

SeeedGrove Capacitive Moisture Sensor

MPN: 101020614
Seeed Technology Co., Ltd
LMV358, NE555 Moisture Sensor Grove Platform Evaluation Expansion Board
Active276 in stock
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Overview

The Seeed Technology 101020614 is a capacitive soil moisture sensor designed for the Grove ecosystem. Unlike resistive sensors, it uses a capacitive measurement technique based on an NE555 timer and LMV358 amplifier to detect moisture levels without exposing metal electrodes to the soil.

Why Choose This Part

The capacitive design prevents probe corrosion over time, significantly extending the sensor's lifespan compared to resistive alternatives. It operates across a 3.3V to 5V range and provides an analog output compatible with standard microcontroller ADCs.

Applications

Soil Moisture Monitoring
Continuous tracking of hydration levels in agricultural or potted plant environments.
Automatic Irrigation Systems
Integrating with a water pump controller to automate watering cycles based on real-time soil data.
Environmental Data Logging
Collecting long-term moisture trends in outdoor garden beds or greenhouses.

Key Specifications

Type Sensor
Contents Board(s)
Function Moisture
Platform Grove
Utilized IC / Part LMV358, NE555

Getting Started

Connect the sensor to a Grove-compatible base shield or a microcontroller with an analog input pin using the provided 4-pin Grove cable. Since the output is analog, use a standard ADC read function to obtain values and calibrate the software thresholds based on completely dry and saturated soil conditions.

Also Consider

Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor v1.2 DFRobot - A widely used alternative capacitive sensor that provides similar corrosion resistance for 3.3V and 5V systems.