This is a call for suggestions and more in this new winter project.
The objective is to build sensors that will be installed in and around our farm allowing to measure the environmental conditions (temperature; humidity; CO; CO2; VOC; light intensity; etc... ) and that have an 'output' capability in the form of a buzzer and some LEDs and maybe also a solid state relay.
CAT5 cable is present in the middle of the ceiling in all the rooms. It can be used for both centralized power provisioning (PoE or Custom) and data transfer.
- What platform would you choose for the sensors and why? (ESP32; arduino; something else?)
- What communication protocol would you implement between the sensor and the collecting server (Ethernet/IP; RS485; Modbus; Canbus; something else)
- How would the data from the sensors be collected? (what database on what server? )
Constraints:
- This system must be capable of interaction with a Node Red automation system. This system might be expanded with Home Assistant in the future.
- Sizing is +/-25 sensors with all functions and 120+ one wire temperature only sensors (don't ask, it became an addiction
![Face Palm :palm:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/facepalm.gif)
).
- Money is of importance.
- I know how to write code but I'm certainly not an advanced programmer.
- I know how to design a PCB but I'm not an expert and would certainly fail at designing HF stuff for example.