KnowFlow Basic Water Monitoring Kit

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

ADC

An analogue-to-digital converter reads a changing voltage and turns it into a number the microcontroller can use. It matters when connecting analogue sensors such as light, sound, or variable-resistor sensors.

Analog signal isolator

A circuit module that passes an analog reading while electrically separating the sensor side from the microcontroller side. This can matter in water monitoring because probes in the same liquid can interfere with each other or create ground-loop errors.

ATmega328P

An 8-bit microcontroller chip used on many Arduino Uno-compatible boards. Knowing the controller uses an ATmega328P helps you understand its memory, speed, pin compatibility, and the Arduino sketches it can run.

BLE

BLE stands for Bluetooth Low Energy, a Bluetooth mode designed for low power use and broad compatibility with modern phones and computers. It connects well to battery-powered and mobile devices, including Apple hardware, though it behaves differently from Bluetooth Classic and its serial-style profiles.

BNC connector

A twist-lock connector commonly used for probes, test equipment, and shielded signal cables. For pH and conductivity sensors, a BNC connector makes it easier to attach or replace electrodes without soldering.

Bootloader

Small starter software on a microcontroller that lets new code be uploaded before the main program runs. Knowing how to enter bootloader mode matters when you need to program the board or recover it after a faulty sketch.

DC

DC means direct current, where electricity flows in one constant direction, as supplied by batteries, USB ports and many plug-pack power supplies. When a product specifies DC, it runs from a DC supply rather than mains AC, so you need to provide the correct voltage and polarity.

DS18B20

The DS18B20 is a common digital temperature sensor, often supplied in a waterproof stainless-steel probe, that sends its readings to a microcontroller over a 1-Wire connection. It is a typical choice for adding temperature data to environmental or water-monitoring projects.

Electrical conductivity (EC)

A measure of how easily water conducts electricity, usually related to the amount of dissolved salts or minerals in it. EC matters for water quality projects because it helps indicate contamination, salinity, or nutrient levels, but it does not identify the specific substances present.

Gravity

Gravity is DFRobot’s plug-in connector system for sensors, motors and modules, using standard cables to reduce loose jumper wiring. It matters because Gravity-compatible parts can connect directly to these ports, while non-Gravity parts may need adapters or manual wiring.

I2C

I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.

LED

A light-emitting diode (LED) is a small electronic component that emits light when current flows through it in the correct direction. Because it only conducts one way, its polarity matters, and a through-hole LED must be soldered the correct way around to light up.

microcontroller

A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.

microSD card

A microSD card is a small removable flash memory card used to store data such as audio, images, logs or program files. Its capacity and formatting (often FAT32 or exFAT) affect how much can be stored and whether the card needs preparing before use.

PCB

A printed circuit board (PCB) is a board, usually rigid, with etched copper tracks that connect electronic components together without loose wiring. Components are mounted on the board and signals route between them through the copper layout.

pH

A measure of how acidic or alkaline a liquid is, on a scale where 7 is neutral. For a water monitoring kit, pH tells you about water chemistry and whether the included probe matches the range and accuracy your project needs.

potentiometer

A variable resistor usually turned with a knob or shaft to create an adjustable electrical signal. It is often used for inputs such as volume, brightness or position, so it helps beginners learn how a microcontroller reads changing values.

RTC

A Real-Time Clock keeps track of time even when the main processor is asleep or powered down, usually with a small backup battery. It matters for data logging and tracking projects that need accurate timestamps.

SD2405

A real-time clock chip used to keep track of date and time even when the main controller is not actively running. In a data-logging kit, it helps timestamp measurements so readings on the memory card can be matched to when they were taken.

Shield

An add-on board that plugs into a main controller board to give it extra features such as sensing, motor control or communication. Knowing a product supports shields helps you judge whether it can connect neatly into an existing maker-board setup.

SMD

SMD means surface-mount device, a component style designed to be soldered directly onto the surface of a circuit board rather than through holes. SMD parts are compact and mounted flat on the board, which suits smaller and mass-produced designs.

TI CC2540

The TI CC2540 is a Texas Instruments system-on-chip that combines an 8051 microcontroller core with a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio, used to add short-range wireless communication to embedded projects. It lets a device connect to a phone or another BLE device to exchange data or be configured wirelessly.