4 layers113 × 25.1 mm
Ssense lte
fredriknk/ssense-lte
This is the kicad template i use for my projects. The latest addition is a buildoutputs.py automating picture generation, 3d models and sch/prints, Gerbers ETC! Pretty sweet!
123 partsMIT
4 layers90 × 21 mm
Soilsense
fredriknk/ssenseOpen hardware for a Zigbee nrf52833 soil moisture probe, It is designed for using M3 stainless steel rods as probes screwed into the headers H1,H2,H3.
- Size
- 90 × 21 mm
- Copper layers
- 4
- Thickness
- 1.59 mm
- Parts
- 74
- Nets
- 45
- Pads
- 262
- Tracks, vias
- 612, 262
- Pours
- 28
- Routed
- Yes
- KiCad
- KiCad 8.0 (file 20240108)
- Created
- 12 Aug 2024
- Updated
- 15 Aug 2025
Overview
Soilsense is an open-source printed circuit board by fredriknk, from the fredriknk/ssense repository on GitHub, published under the MIT licence. It is a 4-layer board of 90 × 21 mm with 74 parts on 45 nets, routed with 612 tracks and 262 vias.
It is built around the NRF52833-QDAA-R, SHTC3 and ALS-PT19-315C/L177/TR8, with the CDSU101A, B3U-1000P-B and EDZVT2R5.1B among its other parts. Its parts include 22 capacitors, 12 resistors, 7 inductors, 6 diodes and 3 transistors. It belongs with the nRF52 and nRF5x boards of this library.
Main components
12
NRF52833-QDAA-R
QFN-40-EP(5x5)QFN-40-EP(5x5) Microcontrollers (MCU/MPU/SOC) ROHSNordic SemiconMicrocontrollers (MCU/MPU/SOC)
SHTC3
Digital I²C temperature / humidity sensor. Input voltage: 1.62 - 3.6 V Typical accuracy: ±2 %RH and ±0.2 °C Datasheet: https://www.sensirion.com/shtc3/SensirionUncategorised
ALS-PT19-315C/L177/TR8
0603-40℃~+85℃ 0.6mm 0.8mm 1.7mm 2.5V~5.5V Light Intensity Spectral correction/filtering 0603 Ambient Light Sensors ROHSEverlight ElectronicsAmbient Light SensorsCDSU101A
0603/SOD-523FSMD-2P New Arrivals ROHSComchipUncategorised
B3U-1000P-B
SMD,3x2.5mm-25℃~+70℃ 1.53N 1.6mm 12V 2.5mm 3mm 50mA Round Button SMD(SMT) Tab SPST Surface Mount,Vertical SMD,3x2.5mm Tactile Switches ROHSOmronTactile Switches
EDZVT2R5.1B
SOD-5231 Independent 150mW 2uA@1.5V 4.98V~5.2V 5.1V 500Ω 80Ω SOD-523 Zener Diodes ROHSROHM SemiconductorZener Diodes
MLG1005S15NHT000
040215nH 2.2GHz 350mΩ 400mA 8@100MHz Multilayer inductor ±3% 0402 Inductors (SMD) ROHSTDKInductors (SMD)
CM8V-T1A-32.768KHZ-9PF-20PPM-TA-QC
SMD2012-2P-40℃~+85℃ 32.768kHz 70kΩ 9pF Crystal Oscillator ±20ppm SMD2012-2P Crystals ROHSMicro CrystalCrystals
XRCGB32M000F2P01R0
SMD2016-4P-30℃~+85℃ 100Ω 32MHz 8pF ±20ppm ±20ppm SMD2016-4P Crystals ROHSMurataCrystalsLQW15AN4N7C80D
04021.2A 4.7nH 71mΩ 0402 Power Inductors ROHSMurataPower Inductors
SDR0604-4R7ML
SMD,5.8x5.8mm1.8A 3A 4.7uH 80mΩ ±20% SMD,5.8x5.8mm Power Inductors ROHSBournsPower Inductors
IRLML6401
SOT-23-55℃~+150℃ 1 P-Channel 1.3W 125pF 12V 15nC@5V 180pF 4.3A 830pF 85mΩ@1.8V 950mV P-Channel SOT-23 MOSFETs ROHSKEXINMOSFETs
README
README.mdMina Soilsense
Open hardware for a Zigbee nrf52833 soil moisture probe, It is designed for using M3 stainless steel rods as probes screwed into the headers H1,H2,H3. It is designed to run on a 3.6v AA SAFT battery, average current is in the sub uA range when sampling 5 times per hour. So battery life should be in the range of 5-10 years. It has one 75mhz probe, one 1mhz probe (Variable frequency, so the plan is to do a frequency sweep with this to determine electrical conductivity in the medium) and a ground probe. It allso features a NFC coil, to pair the sensor with a gateway. And a temp sensor.
Check out the ibom tool for component placement and hand soldering Assembly IBOM
RF Testing
The antenna is simulated and optimized in matlab with optimization script a theoretical -44dB S11, Actual measured S11 on the RF blanks is -26dB with a 0.5pF shunt capacotor soldered to L7 and a 0R resistor at C23. I left the antenna 1mm too long for tuning, but -26db is good enough for me.
Production run 1
Prototype produced at Eurocircuits
Front
Back
Parts
74| Qty | Value | Footprint | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 10k | Resistor_SMD:R_0402_1005Metric | R1, R5, R6, R8, R11, R12 |
| 5 | 100nF | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C2, C3, C9, C13, C16 |
| 4 | 12pF | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C5, C6, C19, C20 |
| 3 | 1nF | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C1, C4, C10 |
| 3 | 9774025360R | Mounting_Wuerth:Mounting_Wuerth_WA-SMSI-M3_H2.5mm_9774025360 | H1, H2, H3 |
| 3 | CDSU101A | Diode_SMD:D_SOD-523 | D1, D2, D4 |
| 2 | 10k | Resistor_SMD:R_0603_1608Metric | R2, R9 |
| 2 | 1M | Resistor_SMD:R_0402_1005Metric | R3, R10 |
| 2 | 1uF | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C8, C12 |
| 2 | B3U-1000P | Button_Switch_SMD:SW_SPST_B3U-1000P-B | RST1, SW1 |
| 2 | NC | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C17, C18 |
| 2 | NC | Inductor_SMD:L_0603_1608Metric | L6, L7 |
| 2 | NFC | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.0mm | TP1, TP11 |
| 2 | Zener Prot 5V | Diode_SMD:D_SOD-523 | D5, D6 |
| 1 | 0R placeholder | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C23 |
| 1 | 1.0pF | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C22 |
| 1 | 1.2pF | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C21 |
| 1 | 100pF | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C15 |
| 1 | 10uH | Inductor_SMD:L_0603_1608Metric | L1 |
| 1 | 15nH | Inductor_SMD:L_0402_1005Metric | L2 |
| 1 | 1k | Resistor_SMD:R_0402_1005Metric | R4 |
| 1 | 2.2nH | Inductor_SMD:L_0402_1005Metric | L4 |
| 1 | 32.768kHz | Crystal:Crystal_SMD_2012-2Pin_2.0x1.2mm | Y2 |
| 1 | 32MHz | Crystal:Crystal_SMD_2016-4Pin_2.0x1.6mm | Y1 |
| 1 | 4.7nH | Inductor_SMD:L_0402_1005Metric | L5 |
| 1 | 4.7uF | Capacitor_SMD:C_0603_1608Metric | C11 |
| 1 | 4.7uH | inductor:L_Bourns_SDSS604A | L3 |
| 1 | 470R | Resistor_SMD:R_0402_1005Metric | R7 |
| 1 | 47nF | Capacitor_SMD:C_0402_1005Metric | C7 |
| 1 | CLK | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.0mm | TP4 |
| 1 | CPARA | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.0mm | TP7 |
| 1 | GND | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.0mm | TP5 |
| 1 | IFA Antenna | Soilsense:IFA-0.12mm | AE2 |
| 1 | IO | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.0mm | TP3 |
| 1 | IRLML6401 | Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-23 | Q3 |
| 1 | JLINK | esprelay:SEXY_pinpogo | J1 |
| 1 | KC3225K75.0000C1GE00 | Oscillator:Oscillator_SMD_SeikoEpson_SG8002CE-4Pin_3.2x2.5mm | X1 |
| 1 | Keystone 2460 | Battery:BatteryHolder_Keystone_2460_1xAA | BT1 |
| 1 | LED | LED_SMD:LED_0603_1608Metric | D3 |
| 1 | MMBT3906 | Package_TO_SOT_SMD:SOT-23 | Q1 |
| 1 | PWM | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.0mm | TP8 |
| 1 | Q_Photo_NPN | Soilsense:PHOTOTRANS_1708Metric | Q2 |
| 1 | RST | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.0mm | TP6 |
| 1 | RX | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.0mm | TP9 |
| 1 | SHTC3 | Sensor_Humidity:Sensirion_DFN-4-1EP_2x2mm_P1mm_EP0.7x1.6mm | U1 |
| 1 | TX | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.0mm | TP10 |
| 1 | VCC | TestPoint:TestPoint_Pad_D1.0mm | TP2 |
| 1 | nRF52833_QDxx | Soilsense:QFN-40-1EP_5x5mm_P0.4mm_EP3.6x3.6mm_ThermalVias | U2 |
Questions
How big is the Soilsense PCB?
It measures 90 × 21 mm and has 4 copper layers, 1.59 mm thick.
What parts does the Soilsense use?
74 parts, built around the NRF52833-QDAA-R, SHTC3, ALS-PT19-315C/L177/TR8 and CDSU101A. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.
Where can I download the Soilsense KiCad files?
From the fredriknk/ssense repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is CAD/Soilsense/Soilsense.kicad_pcb and its schematic CAD/Soilsense/ADC.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.
Can I use the Soilsense design in my own project?
Its repository publishes it under the MIT licence: you may reuse it on that licence's terms (keep the author's notice, and for a copyleft licence share your changes alike).
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