The dropController is a DIY Arduino based solenoid valve controller used in water drop photography. It can create or control up to 9 drops and use up to 6 valves.

 
The dropController features:
– Connections for 6 solenoid valves
– Connection for camera focus and shutter trigger
– Connection for 3 flash triggers

– Up to 9 drops. Each drop separately controlled
– Mirror lock up option
– Bulb mode or shutter trigger only
– Camera shutter and focus control (auto focus only)
– Flash trigger control
– Loop mode (Keep looping until you stop it)
– Increase or decrease times while looping
– Auto save drop data
– Auto save main settings

The dropController is controlled by an Android app over Bluetooth or from a Windows program using a usb connection. Sorry no IOS version.

All files and diagrams can be downloaded and if you know which end of a soldering iron to hold you should be able to build your own dropController. If you don’t fancy building one from scratch then kits and fully assembled devices are available to buy.

 
 
The below video introduces the dropController and explains Loop Mode and delta values. In the video I am using a 3 valve version of dropControllerV2 with a single valve. The dropController is controlled from the old Android app (the app has been updated since the video. The new app has the same functions).

This is a very simple dining room table setup using a retort stand, a single valve and milk as the liquid. Using a lab/retort stand is an easy and fairly cheap way to get started with drop photography.

Please note that the apps have been updated since the video was made.

 
The dropController is a DIY project and I encourage everyone interested to try building their own. However, over the years I have been asked for PCBs and kits many many times (and many people designed their own PCBs) and I finally gave in and decided to make them. And it was time I learnt how to design PCBs.

I am very aware of the costs of water drop machines, afterall the reason I started to built my own was in apart due to the cost of commercially available systems. Having put together kits and building devices for sale I now know where the money goes and over the years I have spent far more than I would have done if I simply bought an existing system.

The dropController V3, dropController V3 kits, dropController V3 PCBs, and accessories are now available. No shop yet but if you are interested see the price list at the right and send me a mail or leave a message in the forum.

 
 
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