Design and construction of a brooder temperature monitor with a digital display

Abstract

This project focuses on the design and construction of a brooder temperature monitor with a digital display for poultry farming. The temperature monitor circuit utilizes a Dallas Semiconductor (DS18B20) temperature sensor for precise temperature measurement. An Arduino Uno board serves as the microcontroller, responsible for reading the sensor data and controlling the system. The temperature readings are displayed on an LCD display with I2C communication, providing clear and easily readable temperature values in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. An active buzzer and LEDs are incorporated to alert the user when the temperature falls outside the desired set range. Through the evaluation of the system, it was found that the temperature monitor successfully achieved its objectives. The sensor was tested with a standard thermometer and the correlation coefficient was found to be 0.9998 indicating a strong positive correlation hence accurate temperature readings, and the microcontroller effectively processed the data for display. The system’s responsiveness and user-friendly interface enable farmers to promptly respond to temperature fluctuations, minimizing stress, illness, and potential losses among the chicks. The brooder temperature monitor offers several advantages, including its affordability, simplicity, and integration of a digital display. These features make the prototype accessible to small-scale poultry farmers, providing them with a valuable tool to ensure optimal temperature conditions and promote successful poultry farming practices. Future developments could explore enhancements such as wireless connectivity for remote monitoring and data logging, further improving the system’s capabilities.