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 lower power use and modern phone compatibility. It matters because BLE support can make the module easier to use with Apple devices and battery-powered projects, though it may behave differently from classic serial Bluetooth.

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.

DS18B20

A common digital temperature sensor often sold in waterproof probe form. It matters here because the kit does not include temperature measurement, and a DS18B20 is the suggested add-on if your water readings need temperature context.

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 is a small electronic component that lights up when current flows through it in the correct direction. In this kit, LEDs create the flashing effect, so polarity and correct soldering matter for the project to work.

microcontroller

A microcontroller is a small computer on a chip that runs your program and controls connected inputs and outputs. For this product, it is the part that reads buttons and sensors, drives the display and speaker, and communicates over Bluetooth.

microSD card

A microSD card is a small removable memory card used to store files such as audio tracks. For this product, the card is where the sound files live, so its capacity and formatting can affect how many sounds you can use.

PCB

A printed circuit board is a rigid board with copper tracks that connect electronic parts without loose wires. For this kit, the PCBs also form the airplane shape, so they are both the circuit base and part of the finished model.

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.

TI CC2540

A Texas Instruments Bluetooth Low Energy chip used to add wireless communication to embedded projects. In this kit it provides the BLE connection, so it affects how the controller can send readings to a phone or be configured wirelessly.