Handy little moisture sensors!
Used these for an environmental data science project. Useful and does the intended job nicely!
Ross Heron
ElecFreaks
Octopus Analog Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor
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$5.00
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The Octopus Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor uses capacitive sensing to detect soil moisture levels, avoiding the corrosion problems common with resistive sen...
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The Octopus Capacitive Soil Moisture Sensor uses capacitive sensing to detect soil moisture levels, avoiding the corrosion problems common with resistive sensors for a much longer service life. It outputs an analogue signal proportional to moisture content and is compatible with micro:bit (3 V) and other 3–5.5 V microcontroller boards.
Part of the ElecFreaks Octopus series, the sensor uses standard Octopus brick connectors for easy plug-and-play use with the Octopus:bit breakout board.
Key Features
- Capacitive Sensing – Corrosion-resistant design for long service life
- Analogue Output – Signal proportional to soil moisture level
- 3–5.5 V Operating Voltage – Compatible with micro:bit and Arduino
- Octopus Brick Connector – G (GND), V (VCC), S (signal)
Specifications
- SKU – EF04097
- Operating Voltage – 3–5.5 V DC
- Output – Analogue
- Dimensions – 19 × 76 mm
- Weight – 5.5 g
Ideal For
- Automated plant watering systems
- micro:bit and Arduino soil monitoring projects
- STEM education and garden science experiments
Package Contents
- 1× Octopus capacitive soil moisture sensor
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- breakout
- A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
- capacitive sensing
- Capacitive sensing detects changes in electrical capacitance caused by a nearby object or material, such as a finger, water, or moisture in soil. It is used for touch buttons, proximity detection, and liquid or moisture-level sensing, and it matters because it can work without exposed metal contacts, avoiding the corrosion that bare probes suffer in damp conditions.
- 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.
- GND
- GND is the ground or reference connection (0 V) for a circuit. When connecting two devices together, their grounds must be joined so both agree on what counts as a low or high signal.
- 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.
- VCC
- VCC is the positive power-supply connection on a chip or module. Connecting it to the correct supply voltage is needed for the part to power on and helps avoid damaging the electronics.
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