Patent ID: 7363112

Claim:
A digital moisture controlling system comprising: a medium chamber for containing at least a hydroponics porous medium; a moisture chamber containing a liquid; a pumping apparatus and conduit for conducting liquid from the moisture chamber to the medium chamber; a first moisture sensor placed within the medium; and a second moisture sensor positioned outside of and beneath the chambers for detecting a flood state; wherein the first moisture sensor measures the level of moisture in the porous medium by providing two electrodes with a porous element positioned between the electrodes transferring energy between the electrodes and through the porous element at a rate determined by the moisture content of the medium and the controller maintains the moisture content of the medium by comparing a sensor input from the first sensor with a preset moisture level and if the moisture level is below the preset amount the controller signals the pumping apparatus to pump liquid from the liquid chamber to the medium chamber until the preset moisture level is reached and the second moisture sensor overrides the first sensor when a flood condition is detected.