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3.6 Controlling a Water Pump

In this lesson, we’ll learn how to control a small water pump using the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W and an TA6586 motor driver. A small centrifugal pump can be used for projects like automatic plant watering systems or creating miniature water features. Controlling the pump is similar to controlling a DC motor, as it uses the same principles.

• DC Water Pump

• DC Motor

• TA6586 - Motor Driver Chip

• Power Supply Module

Required Components

In this project, we need the following components.

It’s definitely convenient to buy a whole kit, here’s the link:

Name	ITEMS IN THIS KIT	PURCHASE LINK
Pico 2 W Starter Kit	450+	Pico 2 W Kit

You can also buy them separately from the links below.

SN	COMPONENT INTRODUCTION	QUANTITY	PURCHASE LINK
1	Getting to Know Pico 2 W	1
2	Micro USB Cable	1
3	Breadboard	1	BUY
4	Jumper Wires	Several	BUY
5	TA6586 - Motor Driver Chip	1
6	Li-po Charger Module	1
7	18650 Battery	1
8	DC Water Pump	1

Schematic

Wiring

Note

• Since pump require a high current, we use a Li-po Charger module to power the motor here for safety reasons.

• Make sure your Li-po Charger Module is connected as shown in the diagram. Otherwise, a short circuit will likely damage your battery and circuitry.

Code

Note

• You can open the file 3.6_pumping.ino under the path of pico-2w-kit-main/arduino/3.6_pumping.

• Or copy this code into Arduino IDE.

• Don’t forget to select the board(Raspberry Pi Pico) and the correct port before clicking the Upload button.

const int motor1A = 14; // Motor control pin 1
const int motor2A = 15; // Motor control pin 2

void setup() {
  // Set motor control pins as OUTPUT
  pinMode(motor1A, OUTPUT); // Configure motor1A as an output pin
  pinMode(motor2A, OUTPUT); // Configure motor2A as an output pin
}

void loop() {
  // Rotate the motor in a clockwise direction
  digitalWrite(motor1A, HIGH); // Set motor1A to HIGH (activates one side of the motor)
  digitalWrite(motor2A, LOW);  // Set motor2A to LOW (deactivates the opposite side of the motor)
}

After the code is run, the pump starts working and you will see water flowing out of the tube at the same time. * This cycle repeats indefinitely. * If water doesn’t flow initially, make sure the pump is submerged, and there are no air bubbles in the tubing.

Safety Precautions

• Water and Electricity:

  • Be extremely careful to keep water away from the Pico and other electronic components.

  • Ensure all connections are secure and insulated if necessary.

• Power Supply:

  • Use a power supply that matches the pump’s voltage requirements (typically 3V-6V).

  • Do not power the pump directly from the Pico’s 3.3V pin.

• Current Draw:

  • Pumps can draw significant current.

  • Ensure your power source can handle the pump’s current requirements.

• Resetting the Pico:

  If you encounter issues uploading code after running the pump, you can manually reset the Pico by connecting the RUN pin to GND momentarily.

  

Further Exploration

• Automated Plant Watering:

  Incorporate soil moisture sensors to automate the watering process based on soil dryness.

• PWM Speed Control:

  Use Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to control the pump’s speed by varying the voltage.

• Timing and Scheduling:

  Implement more complex timing using real-time clocks or schedulers.

Conclusion

In this lesson, you’ve learned how to control a small water pump using the Raspberry Pi Pico and the TA6586 motor driver. This technique can be used in various projects like automated plant watering systems, fountains, or hydroponic setups.