Help with prototype, hooking up sensors and a pump to a circuit?

[Calvin55]

Hello,

I'm working on an invention in which I'm trying to build a prototype for. I have very little physics background and nothing in computers which is why I've sought help here. The project seems very basic, but I have no idea where to start.

I need help hooking up two hygrometers (digital humidity sensors) and an air pump together to some sort of simple computer. The goal is to get the air pump turned on for five minutes when the there is a discrepancy of 5% or more humidity from one sensor to the other. That's it. So say the inside is at 45% relative humidity and the outside is is at 30%. I would want the pump to turn on for the allotted amount of time and then off again for a while until there is another humidity discrepency. So I guess I need some sort of board or computer type thing to hook all these things to.

I'm building this prototype by buying $15 hygrometers and a $30 dollar air pump. I'm also thinking maybe I need a timer which plugs into the wall and to the air pump. Maybe the timer will be easier to hook up to the central board? I'd like it to be as cost effective and simple to put together as possible. I have no idea where to begin. I hope this post was clear and any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Calvin

 

[huskerwr38]

I think the best way to implement this in an easy and cost effective way is to go with an Arduino board ($30) for your microcontroller. http://www.arduino.cc/

It's very easy to use, programming it is a snap and the community is very large if you need some help.

 

[Calvin55]

wow, looks like what I needed. I'm going to dive right in and see how this works. Thanks!

 

[huskerwr38]

Here's even a link for some sample code for some humidity sensors to get you started.

http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Main/InterfacingWithHardware#envhum

 

[Calvin55]

Man, you are like GOLD! Thanks a lot man! Really appreciate the help.