Kitronik Smart Greenhouse Kit - greenhouse for micro:bit

Discover the secrets of nature with code, engineering, and the Kitronik Smart Greenhouse Kit for the 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. Users learn 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. It also includes 5 crocodile clips, a ZIP extension cable, and a small screwdriver. Just add a micro:bit, seeds, and some water, and you’ll have everything you need!

The kit also includes detailed instructions to help you get started in no time. There are also 7 online MakeCode tutorials. They cover everything from collecting sensor data and having the system respond to it automatically, 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 offers a range of sensor inputs and connection points for the BBC micro:bit (V1 and V2), and lets you control outputs for devices such as a water pump, fan, servo, or heating element.

The environmental control board can be programmed with the MakeCode editor, and Kitronik has created a range of custom blocks to make things as easy as possible. Add the blocks using the “Add Extension” feature in the editor by searching for “Kitronik” or directly via the link https://github.com/KitronikLtd/pxt-kitronik-smart-greenhouse.

The standard plant for experiments like these is often cress, as it grows quickly, requires little care, and can be harvested when it is about 5 cm tall (within a few days). Other plants can also be grown from seed, such as white mustard, which also grows quickly and can be harvested when it is 5 cm tall. You can also grow microherbs/microgreens. After choosing your preferred plant, you need to select a suitable growing medium. 

Note:

• 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 let it dry completely. The risk of electric shock is very low, but take care.
• Due to electrolysis and the humid environment, the electrodes of the Mini Moisture Sensor slowly degrade over time. For more information, see the general safety instructions.

Features:

• Build automated growing systems that respond to changing environmental conditions.
• This kit is compatible with both micro:bit V1 and V2 compatible.
• Detailed assembly and coding instructions are included with the kit.
• 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 range of sensor inputs that can be coded to control the board's outputs.
• It has an integrated BME 280 ambient temperature, air pressure, and humidity sensor, and a separate real-time clock (RTC).
• The board also features an integrated piezo buzzer, two 1A outputs (ideal for a water pump, heating element, or fan), three status ZIP LEDs, a ZIP LED expansion connector, and a servo output. In addition, 3 BBC micro:bit pins are brought out to alligator clip connectors as additional inputs and outputs, together with 3 V and GND pads.
• Power is supplied by the integrated 3xAA battery holder or the 2.1 mm DC socket. Power is controlled by the on/off switch with an adjacent LED indicator.
• There are also seven online MakeCode tutorials that introduce you to all the board's features.
• Edible plants such as cress, sprouting white mustard, and micro herbs/microgreens are ideal for use with this set.
• Code it with the MakeCode editor using custom code blocks.

Contents:

• 2 x Molded Plastic Greenhouse Enclosure Parts
  
• 1 x Kitronik Environmental Control Board for micro:bit
• 1 x Water Pump
  
• 1 x Kitronik ZIP Stick
  
• 1 x Mini Moisture Sensor
  
• 5 x Alligator Clips
  
• 1 x ZIP Extension Cable
• 1 x Screwdriver
  
• 1x User Manual