Kitronik Smart Greenhouse Kit / Greenhouse for BBC micro:bit

Discover the secrets of nature with code, technology and the Kitronik Smart Greenhouse Kit for BBC micro:bit!

The Kitronik Smart Greenhouse Kit for the BBC micro:bit offers an exciting way to learn about the relationship between plants and their environment. The user learns how to monitor environmental conditions and then build automated systems.

The kit consists of a two-part plastic greenhouse, a Kitronik environmental control board, a water pump, a Kitronik ZIP stick and a Mini-Prong soil moisture sensor. Also included are 5 alligator clips, a ZIP extension cable and a small screwdriver. Just add a micro:bit, seeds and some water and you have everything you need!

The kit also includes detailed instructions to get you started in no time. In addition, there are 7 online MakeCode tutorials. They cover everything from capturing sensor data and the system's automatic response to it, to the visual user interface.

At the heart of the micro:bit controlled Kitronik Smart Greenhouse Kit is the Kitronik environmental control board. This board provides a variety of sensor inputs and connection points for the BBC micro:bit (V1 and V2) and enables the control of outputs for devices such as a water pump, a fan, a servo or a heating element.

The environmental control board can be coded using the MakeCode editor and Kitronik has created a number of user-defined blocks to make the job as easy as possible. The blocks can be added via the "Add extensions" function in the editor by searching for "Kitronik" or directly via the link https://github.com/KitronikLtd/pxt-kitronik-smart-greenhouse.

The standard plant for such experiments is often cress, as it grows quickly, requires little care and can be harvested when it is about 5 cm high (within a few days). There are other germinating plants, such as germinating white mustard, which also grows quickly and can be harvested when it is 5 cm high. You can also grow micro herbs/micro greens. Once you have chosen your preferred plant species, you will need to select a suitable soil.

Notice:

• This kit does not include a BBC micro:bit (microcontroller).
• This kit is not waterproof. If the board gets wet, please turn it off and allow it to dry completely. The risk of electric shock is very low, but be careful.
• Due to electrolysis and the humid environment, the electrodes of the mini humidity sensor will slowly degrade over time. For more information, please refer to the general safety instructions.

Features:

• Build automated growing systems that respond to changing environmental conditions.
• This kit is compatiblewith both micro:bit V1 and V2.
• The kit comes with detailed assembly and coding instructions.
• The heart of the kit is the Kitronik environmental control board, which serves as the control center for this kit.
• The main features of the main board are:
• It has a number of sensor inputs that can be coded to control the outputs of the board.
• There is an integrated BME 280 ambient temperature, barometric pressure and humidity sensor and a separate real time clock (RTC).
• The board also has an integrated piezo buzzer, two 1A outputs (ideal for a water pump, heater or fan), three status ZIP LEDs, a ZIP LED expansion connector and a servo output. Furthermore, 3 BBC micro:bit pins are brought out as further inputs and outputs to crocodile clip connections, together with pads for 3V and GND.
• Power is supplied via the integrated 3xAA battery holder or the 2.1 mm DC socket. The power supply is controlled via the on/off switch with adjacent LED indicator.
• There are also seven online MakeCode tutorials that introduce you to all the functions of the circuit board.
• Crops such as cress, white mustard sprouts and micro herbs/micro greens are ideal for use with this set.
• Code it with the MakeCode editor using custom code blocks.

Scope of delivery:

• 2 x greenhouse housing parts made of molded plastic
  
• 1 xKitronik environmental control board for Micro:bit
• 1 xwater pump
  
• 1 x KitronikZIP stick
  
• 1 xmini humidity sensor
  
• 5 x crocodile clips
  
• 1 x ZIP extension cable
• 1 x screwdriver
  
• 1x user manual