Water Circulation Pump¶
Purpose¶
The submersible water pump is the heart of the system. It continuously circulates nutrient solution from the reservoir to the grow channels (NFT) or periodically floods a grow bed (Ebb & Flow). Pump failure — even briefly — directly threatens plant health.
Hardware¶
- Component: TBD (e.g. submersible pond/aquarium pump with flow-rate knob)
- Interface: GPIO relay (on/off)
- Location: bottom of the main reservoir
Control Logic¶
- NFT: pump runs continuously during grow hours; may be halted only for maintenance
- Ebb & Flow: pump runs on a timed schedule (flood / drain cycles)
- Schedule and mode: TBD — dependent on technique selection
Monitoring¶
- Water Flow sensor verifies the pump is moving water
- Water Level sensor prevents the pump from running dry
- Electrical Current sensor detects motor fault (stall or failure)
Safety Guards¶
- Emergency off if water level falls below minimum (dry-run protection)
- Alert if flow rate drops below threshold while relay is on (blocked line or failed pump)