Servo Water Valve

I have another project, the plant moisture sensor, that can detect the water level in soil. This is a follow-up to that, so you can use what data the sensor provides to do something useful (like water a plant). This is made completely out of household supplies, with the exception of a servo motor, so anyone can easily make it.

Step 1: Tools and Materials

Tools

• Glue gun
• Scissors
• Drill or something to make a hole

Materials

• Craft sticks
• Drinking straw
• Clothespins
• Small servo motor
• Plastic cup

Step 2: Insert Straw

1. Punch a hole slightly larger than the straw close to the edge of the cup (you can use anything, but I chose a drill because it made a clean hole).
2. Slide the straw through the hole about half an inch.
3. Glue around the straw and cut it to about 3 inches.
4. Put a clothespin around the straw and glue it to the cup.

Step 3: Attach Servo

1. Glue a craft stick to the clothespin along the side of the cup.
2. Add another craft stick at an angle to the first.
3. Glue the servo motor so it is facing the straw.

Step 4: Add the "Valve"

1. Glue a piece of a craft stick to the end of a clothespin (you can just cut it with scissors).
2. Glue around the clothespin so it can't wiggle around.
3. Slide it over the straw so it is even with the top part of the servo motor.
4. Glue it to the servo (you will need to be careful to make sure the end piece won't get caught on anything when the servo turns).

Step 5: Add Legs

1. Glue a craft stick every few inches around the edge of the cup to provide a base so the cup can rest above whatever it has to water.

Now you can use this with an Arduino (or other board):

• When the servo is down (180 degrees), water will flow from the cup through the straw.
• When the servo is at a 90 degree angle, the water will be trapped inside.