You could use devices that turn power on/off at various times of the day. Here's an example, not a recommendation. Of course, the timer is on all the time. You write your cide to uodate the screen on powerup.
Or you could look into putting the arduino into sleep mode and waking up now and then to update. Don't know what's possible that way as I've never used it, so you'll have to research it.
If it's going to be on a schedule, can't you just hook up a outlet timer that is programmable down to the second? I use this one for that exact purpose. 15 seconds every hour for 10 hours. I found a non-Kasa brand that went down to the second, but figured going smart wasn't needed.
My favorite timer. It has two independently programmable outlets that can be programmed down to the second. I use them for lighting and for managing my irrigation and stirring pumps in my reservoirs.
> The only thing I don't like is they will purge almost all of the air out of the compressor(s) over a long weekend when the compressors are turned off. If we could remember to unplug the valves, that would solve that issue.
Shove that infront of it and set it to shut off during the weekend.
Right now I'm still getting them dialed in, so I start with once a day and then increase. I'm going 3 times a day right now, and probably end up at six (number I water when using the hydro halos). A couple other floraflex users I've spoke with grow nice plants with once a day during veg and two times during flower.
This is my timer.
If you haven't already, I recommend checking out cocoforcannabis.com, great for first time coco grow.
We have a light on our dresser plugged into an outlet timer that has a battery back up. It can be programmed for about 20 different settings, we use one for weekday mornings, one for evenings, and another for weekday mornings.
It's something like this. Apparently, they don't make the one we have anymore.
One of these depending on what I need it for. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H1D267F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_0APW2VTVK8FSQC4ZA1DA?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 this a a great interval timer as well as standard timer. The 2 outlets can be controlled independently.
For a standard 2 outlet timer, I have about 8 of these. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073DGGHD7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_dl_NX4MB0KQEPQT7BAFPV1R?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
You could basically do a Dr. Coco automated system without hydro rings just to keep things wet till you get home.
All you would need is a couple feet of 1/2 vinyl tubing, a bucket, a pond pump and a timer. I used this one when I ran coco.
I picked up a digital timer that has 2 independently controlled outlets. Lots of programming options and the "programming" was really easy. Have them for quite a while now and no issues at all.
Bucket. Timer. Pump. Vinyl tubes. Hydro rings. Done.
For automatic fertigation of coco I used this one. Worked great.
Any old fountain pump, vinyl tubing and hydro rings will work and this is the timer I like the best for this sort of ting.
I used this one for automating a coco grow. Dr. Coco recommended it and it was perfect. You can turn on and off the pump in one second increments.
Not exactly. I used this one.
Update: I now have been using this timer instead: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07H1D267F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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I have it set to 8am for 5 mins, 8pm for 3 mins