Little Bird
Grow Base Kit by Pimoroni
A Raspberry Pi-powered plant monitoring system that tracks moisture levels across up to three pots, alerts you when plants need water, and can even automate ...
A Raspberry Pi-powered plant monitoring system that tracks moisture levels across up to three pots, alerts you when plants need water, and can even automate watering with optional pumps. The kit centres around the Grow HAT Mini, a compact add-on board with a built-in LCD, buttons, buzzer, and light sensor.
Three capacitive moisture sensors connect via JST cables — capacitive design resists corrosion far better than resistive sensors. On the back of the HAT, three MOSFET-switched outputs let you control low-current 5 V devices such as pumps, valves, or lights. A breakout-compatible header allows additional I2C sensors to be added.
Key Features
- Grow HAT Mini – 0.96″ IPS LCD (160 × 80), four buttons, piezo buzzer, and LTR-559 light sensor
- 3 Capacitive Moisture Sensors – Corrosion-resistant PFM output sensors with labelling area
- 3 Switched Outputs – MOSFET-controlled 5 V outputs for pumps, valves, or lights
- I2C Breakout Header – Add additional sensors and peripherals
- Night Mode – Light sensor suppresses buzzer alerts at night
- Python Library – Full plant monitor application with on-HAT UI
Grow HAT Mini Specifications
- Display – 0.96″ IPS LCD, 160 × 80 pixels
- Buttons – 4 tactile buttons
- Audio – Piezo buzzer
- Light Sensor – LTR-559 light and proximity sensor
- Moisture Connectors – 3× JST SH 3-pin
- Switched Outputs – 3× Picoblade 2-pin with MOSFETs (5 V, low current)
- Format – Mini HAT, fully assembled
- Compatibility – All 40-pin header Raspberry Pi models
- Dimensions – 66 × 31 × 10 mm (including header)
Moisture Sensor Specifications
- Type – Capacitive with Pulse-Frequency Modulation output
- Frequency Range – ~2 Hz to ~30 Hz
- Dimensions – 99 × 10 × 5 mm (including connector)
Ideal For
- Automated plant care and smart greenhouse projects
- Environmental monitoring with Raspberry Pi
- STEM and classroom projects
- Desktop garden monitoring systems
Package Contents
- 1× Grow HAT Mini
- 3× Capacitive Moisture Sensors
- 3× Moisture Sensor Cables (35 cm)
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine contacts.
- 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.
- IPS
- IPS is a type of LCD panel that keeps colours and contrast more consistent when viewed from an angle. This matters for small displays that may be mounted in a dashboard, handheld project, or enclosure where the viewer is not always looking straight on.
- LCD
- LCD stands for liquid crystal display, a screen technology that uses a backlight and liquid crystals to show images or text. It matters because LCD modules usually need a display driver and enough controller pins or a bus interface to send image data.
- Proximity sensor
- A sensor that detects when an object is nearby without needing physical contact. For this product it matters because the useful detection range is short, up to about 200 mm, so it suits touch-free triggers and close object detection rather than long-distance measuring.
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