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Ingredient

EC / TDS sensor

Also known as: electrical conductivity probe, total dissolved solids meter

Two-electrode probe that measures the electrical conductivity of nutrient solution — the proxy for total dissolved solids (TDS), expressed in µS/cm or PPM. The foundational sensor for hydroponic nutrient management; combined with a pH probe and a peristaltic-pump array, it closes the nutrient-dosing loop. Outputs an analog voltage proportional to conductivity (typically via a wave-driven AC excitation circuit to prevent electrode polarization). ~$15–40 for hobbyist probes (Atlas Scientific, DFRobot); commercial probes $100–500. Calibration against known-EC reference solution is mandatory and drifts with electrode aging.

Inputs / outputs

  • Power: 5V (most breakouts), ~10 mA
  • Output: analog voltage 0–3V proportional to conductivity (calibrate)
  • Range: typically 0–20 mS/cm (covers fresh-water through high-salinity hydroponic)
  • Accuracy: ±2% with proper calibration; ±5% over months without recalibration

Solves / unlocks

  • Closed-loop hydroponic nutrient dosing (EC setpoint + auto-dose)
  • Salinity stress detection in soil-grown crops (probe in irrigation line)
  • Greywater reclamation (verify safe-to-irrigate dilution)
  • Aquaponic system monitoring (EC drift indicates nitrification/denitrification balance)

Constraints

  • Calibrate before each crop cycle — electrode aging and biofilm shift readings.
  • Temperature compensation required — conductivity varies ~2% per °C; pair with a temperature probe and apply correction.
  • Cleaning — biofilm and mineral scale degrade accuracy; rinse with distilled water and clean monthly.
  • Cheap probes drift fast — replace electrodes every 6–12 months in continuous deployment.

Source

See also

Auto-generated from this entry’s typed relations: frontmatter, grouped by relation type so the editorial signal isn’t flattened.

  • Member of: [[ingredient]]
  • Combines with: [[ph-sensor]] · [[peristaltic-pump]] · [[arduino-uno]] · [[esp32]]

What links here, and how

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Practical

combines with

  • Aeroponics aeroponic nutrient solutions need EC monitoring, with the additional constraint that high-pressure atomization makes nutrients more bioavailable so concentrations must be kept lower
  • Controlled-environment agriculture every CEA nutrient-loop relies on EC/TDS probes to monitor the nutrient solution
  • Hydroponics EC/TDS probes are the foundational sensor for hydroponic nutrient management — without them you're guessing
  • Peristaltic pump the canonical closed-loop: read EC → run pump N revolutions → wait → measure
  • pH sensor EC + pH together = the minimum sensor pair for hydroponic nutrient management

contains

combines

shares substrate with

  • Vertical farming every vertical-farming layer needs nutrient-solution monitoring — EC/TDS probes are foundational

8 inbound links · 5 outbound