Web-Based Remote Control

The control system works reliably offline, but in my opinion, remote web-app-based access (Figure 5) is a great idea because it avoids the need to check everything manually onsite. Also, it means you do not have to make the control panel on the greenhouse too fancy. In support, the Pico can run a web server, which then gives you a user interface (Figure 5). If so desired, you can additionally share the interface on the Internet, but in this case, it can only be accessed on the local network.

Figure 5: Thanks to a user interface provided by the web server, it's fine for the control panel to be a bit spartan.

The app's functions are:

• Immediate display of the current values
• Minimum/maximum temperatures and assessment of the operating status
• Manual switching of windows, fan, and heater
• Resetting variables to automatic control
• Displaying and deleting messages and error logs
• Daily and monthly charts of indoor/outdoor temperatures
• Reading and writing control parameters from and to memory

Because the Pico is always within range of my home WiFi network, I have the situation in the greenhouse constantly under control and can intervene by smartphone, tablet, or PC from the garden or apartment.

Conclusions

The greenhouse is in constant use from April to October. Accordingly, I want the electronic control system to be not only functional, but above all reliable in terms of operation. To protect the crops, it is advisable in a project like this to test everything thoroughly, module by module, up front before putting anything into operation. Once you have installed the system outside, it can be difficult to access the individual components.

The new controller has been running for some time now and has demonstrably been a valuable asset in the greenhouse thus far (Figure 6). It is reassuring to know that everything is well taken care of in my absence. Sometimes it's the little things that matter, like the LED lights that let you know whether everything is OK as you walk past the greenhouse. In the next stage of expansion, I want to add moisture sensors so that I can also monitor the soil. You will find the software and full details of the project online [1], as well as on my GitHub site [2].

Figure 6: The fully stocked greenhouse from the inside.