Parts list is now included below. This is a quick peek at the hardware portion of the DIY garden automation system I’ve been slowly building over the past year or so. Currently, the system is managing climate control, doing pH and nutrient dosing, fertigation schedule, light cycle, and has flood detection capability. It’s a work in progress and I’ll be sharing more about it as I go.
I’d be happy to hear any comments, questions, or suggestions you might have, and would like to know what you’ve got going on if you’re doing something similar.

Part 2 here: https://youtu.be/XjcLWVci6_I
Here are my home assistant .yaml files (bear with me – I’m new to GitHub): https://github.com/ledgardener/gardenAutomation
PARTS LIST: (I’m currently unemployed so you bet your sweet ass these are Affiliate links):
***CONTROL BOX***
BUD Industries NBF-32026 Plastic ABS NEMA Economy Box with Solid Door, 15-47/64″ Length x 11-51/64″ Width x 6-9/32″ Height, Light Gray Finish:
https://amzn.to/2XnDMgD
Plastic Internal Panel to Mount Gear:
https://amzn.to/2VbwtG4
Panel-Mount AC Connector for Box:
https://amzn.to/3c75OB9
Nylon Standoffs:
https://amzn.to/3b3fDA4
Cable Glands for Passing Cable In and Out of Control box:
https://amzn.to/2VotryG
*** CONTROL BOX MISC ELECTRONICS ***
Amazon Fire Touch Panel Tablet:
https://amzn.to/2JWE2eN
Right-angle Micro USB Cable for Tablet:
https://amzn.to/3efeTdk
Mean Well 12VDC Power Supply:
https://amzn.to/2JUHd6B
Drok Voltage Stepdown Converter with Readout:
https://amzn.to/2RqgP91
Dupont Cables:
https://amzn.to/2yQio9M
Breadboards:
https://amzn.to/3e4jM8K
Screw Terminal Blocks:
https://amzn.to/2x9F2tl
8 Channel Relay Board:
https://amzn.to/2JR01DX
*** DEVELOPMENT BOARDS (CONTROLLERS) ***
Raspberry Pi kit for Home Assistant that I started with:
https://amzn.to/3a0cIXo
You can also use other hardware, check out this page for a good writeup:
https://smarthome.university/home-assistant/best-hardware-for-home-assistant/
Arduino Mega:
https://amzn.to/3eaeNDr
ESP32S WiFi Development Board (Handles WiFi communication between control box and Home Assistant server as well as from inside tent to Home Assistant server):
https://amzn.to/2JSNdgb
Whitebox Labs Tentacle Shield to Add Atlas Scientific Gear to an Arduino and provide electrical isolation of probes (pH probe needs to be isolated from EC probe):
https://amzn.to/3aYVzPl
*** SENSORS ***
BME280 Temperature/Humidity/Pressure Sensors for Tent and Control Box:
https://amzn.to/3ed8hMb
Waterproof Temperature Sensor for Nute Reservoir:
https://amzn.to/2yQ8cy2
Atlas Scientific Conductivity Kit K 1.0 5-200,000 μS/cm:
https://amzn.to/39RFSIo
Atlas Scientific pH Kit 0-14 pH:
https://amzn.to/2JQVKQV
Moisture Sensors:
https://amzn.to/34BumA1
Catch Basin Float Sensor:
https://amzn.to/2XotuNj
*** PUMPS AND SOLENOIDS ***
Peristaltic Pumps:
https://amzn.to/3a1UWDg
Motor Drivers to Control Peristaltic Pump Speed:
https://amzn.to/2yR2MCX
Tubing for Peristaltic Pumps:
https://amzn.to/2UYHDzc
Nutrient Res Stirring Pump:
https://amzn.to/2UYGQhI
Nutrient Fertigation Pump:
https://amzn.to/34qHrM7
Normally-Open 12V Solenoid (Allows water to flow into system until solenoid is activated, which closes it – used for flood protection. Requires 12VDC power supply and 1/4″ spade connectors):
https://amzn.to/3el7qJI
1/4″ Spade Connectors:
https://amzn.to/3efd3Js
Normally-Closed 12V Solenoid (Restricts water between RO res and Nute Res, requires pump in RO res to push water through it):
https://amzn.to/3aUnyzA
Pump to push water through solenoid:
https://amzn.to/2UYGQhI
*** NUTRIENT JAR STIRRING SYSTEM ***
Nutrient Jar Stirring Fans:
https://amzn.to/2JT0PYR
Nutrient Jar Magnetic Stir Bars:
https://amzn.to/3aUleZo
Nutrient Jar Magnets:
https://amzn.to/3aZl4jp
Nutrient Jar Superglue (I used LePage but I don’t think it’s available in the States so this should work):
https://amzn.to/3ebdHYb
*** RESERVOIRS ***
Reservoir Totes:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-27-Gal-Tough-Storage-Bin-in-Black-HDX27GONLINE-5/205978361
1/2″ Double-Threaded Bulkhead for Connections to Reservoirs:
https://amzn.to/2yHAcnh
1/2″ Tubing to go between reservoirs and out to plants:
https://amzn.to/3a0epEp
Sharkbite swivel to attach tubing between 12V solenoid on RO res and 1/2″ float valve on nute mix res (requires wormdrive clamp to secure hose to fitting):
https://amzn.to/2JVwR6s
Wormdrive Clamp:
https://amzn.to/2Xq5bif
Nut Res Fill Float Valve:
https://amzn.to/2yIs7yG
1/4″ Float valve for DIY Humidifier and RO Res:
https://amzn.to/2xmtBOX
DIY Weigh Scale Kit for Reservoir:
https://amzn.to/2RI1BfN
*** MISC ***
WiFi-Controlled AC Plugs:
https://amzn.to/3csgVVs
DIY Humidifier Ultrasonic Discs:
https://amzn.to/39TySKV
Reverse Osmosis System:
https://amzn.to/2x9MRze
LED Gardener
