Waterproof holder for I2C Soil Moisture Sensor

thingiverse

A Protective Waterproof Housing for the I2C Soil Moisture Sensor Made by Catnip Electronics. This Allows the Sensor to be Completely Buried in the Soil for Long-Term Measurements Required for Garden, Farm, and Lawn Irrigation Control or Citizen Science. The Housing Contains Internal Structure to Control the Position of the Sensor and Reduce the Amount of Epoxy Needed to Fill the Cavity. See Post-Printing Instructions for Assembly. Print Settings Printer Brand: LulzBot Printer: TAZ 2 Rafts: No Supports: No Resolution: 0.22 Infill: 40 Notes: Printed in ABS, 0.35 mm nozzle, 0.22 layer height, 30-40% infill, 1.05 shell thickness, with brim. Post-Printing 1) Solder 4 Conductor, 22 or 24 Gauge Solid Core Wire to Sensor. Examples - Lowes.com/RCA-100-39-4-Wire-Round-Line-Cord-White and Mouser.com/ProductDetail/Belden-Wire-Cable/1242A-008U1000. 2) May Need to Open Small Slot in 3D Printed Part with a Small Screwdriver Before Inserting Sensor. Don't Force the Sensor Through Slot or It Will Scratch Off Sensor Coating. However, Keep the Sensor Snug/Tight in Slot. Insert So the Top of the Sensor is Flush with Housing. 3) Note, If You See an Air Gap Where the Sensor Exits the Lower Housing Slot, Fill in Gaps with a Small Amount of RTV Silicon or Rope Chalk - Do This to Keep Epoxy from Leaking Out (See Next Step). You Can Remove This Later After the Potting Epoxy Cures. 4) Tape Assembly to Edge of Work Bench and Fill Housing Cavity with Potting Compound or Thin Epoxy. I Suggest Loctite E-30CL Hysol for Very Durable but Relatively Cheap Solution. This Product Has Been Field Tested as Part of the Cave Pearl Project by Ed Mallon. One Cartridge of E-30CL Will Make About 8 Soil Sensor Probes. Links to Epoxy - Ellsworth.com/Products/Adhesives/Epoxy/Henkel-Loctite-Hysol-E-30CL-Epoxy-Adhesive-Clear-50-ML-Cartridge. Made Sure to Buy Some Mixing Nozzles. If You Don't Want to Buy the Injector "Gun" You Can Use a 3D Printed Plunger - Thingiverse.com/Thing:1131989. 5) Consider Coating Entire Sensor Assembly with Spray Coating Such as Clear Krylon Fusion - Krylon.com/Products/Fusion-for-Plastic-Clear.