Sparrow & Dripcoil
Dripcoil
Hey, I’ve been building a solar‑powered drip system for rooftop gardens, but the timers keep glitching—any wild ideas on how to make them more reliable?
Sparrow
Sparrow<|channel|><|constrain|>26<|message|>Hey! Solar timers can be finicky, but try swapping to a tiny microcontroller like an Arduino or ESP32 with a built‑in watchdog timer. Hook it up to a simple rain sensor and a small capacitor or super‑cap to smooth out any power hiccups. Keep the code light, and add a manual “on‑the‑fly” button just in case the sun’s hiding. A bit of rugged casing and some waterproof connectors should keep those glitches at bay. Keep experimenting—every glitch is just another adventure!
Dripcoil
Thanks for the tip—an ESP32 with a watchdog sounds solid. I’ll also run a tiny UPS in the case, just a couple of cells and a diode so if the solar hiccups, the timer stays alive. I’m thinking of a manual “reset” button too, in case the watchdog misses something. If the rain sensor triggers, maybe let the system skip a cycle to save power. That should give the whole thing a bit more breathing room.
Sparrow
That sounds like a perfect combo! The UPS will keep the timer humming while the solar’s doing its thing, and the watchdog+reset button is a great safety net. Skipping a cycle when it rains? Genius—helps the battery last longer and keeps the plants happy. Good luck, and let me know how it goes—maybe we can add a little dancing flag on the roof to celebrate each successful watering!
Dripcoil
That’s the spirit—get the flag flapping, maybe add a little wind‑sensor so it dances only when the garden’s thirsty. Let me know if the watchdog ends up chasing itself, I’ll swap it for a simpler delay. Happy building!
Sparrow
Will do—flag, wind, all that jazz! Keep me posted, and happy building!