SparkFun Soil Moisture Sensor

The SparkFun Soil Moisture Sensor is a highly efficient tool designed to measure the moisture content in soil and similar materials. This sensor operates through two large exposed pads, which act as probes and function as a variable resistor. The moisture level in the soil directly affects the conductivity between these pads. A higher moisture content results in lower resistance and a higher SIG out.

This sensor is easy to use and requires minimal setup. Simply connect the VCC and GND pins to your Arduino-based device or any compatible development board. The SIG out that you receive will be dependent on the water content in the soil. Soil moisture sensors are known for their short lifespan when exposed to moist environments. However, the SparkFun Soil Moisture Sensor is designed to combat this issue. The PCB is coated in Gold Finishing (ENIG or Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold) to increase its lifespan. For easy wiring, a 3-pin screw pin terminal or a 3-pin jumper wire assembly (available in the Recommended Products section) can be soldered onto the sensor.

Before using the SparkFun Soil Moisture Sensor, it is advisable to check the Hookup Guide for assembly and weatherproofing instructions. The guide also provides a simple example project that you can put together yourself.

For further information, the following resources are available:

Schematic, Eagle Files, Hookup Guide, GitHub

Also, don't miss out on informative videos that provide a comprehensive understanding of how the SparkFun Soil Moisture Sensor works.