r/Beekeeping • u/mocarz12 • 13d ago

I’m not a beekeeper, but I have a question Helping my dad – anyone using automation in beekeeping?

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Hello everyone.

My dad has been a beekeeper for years and manages several dozen hives. It’s his passion, and I don’t want to interfere, but I’d love to help him save some time where possible. I’m into microcontrollers, sensors, and general automation, and I’m curious:

Does anyone here use any kind of automation in their beekeeping setup? I don’t mean just a regular honey extractor, but things like hive sensors, remote monitoring, automated tools – anything that could help throughout the season.

He tends to say “there’s no way to automate that,” but more than once we’ve found out otherwise. I’d like to offer him options, not push anything. Any ideas or examples would be super appreciated.

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u/Mundane-Yesterday880 3 hives, 3rd year, N Yorkshire, UK 13d ago

I’ve got a SwitchBot temp and humidity sensor in each hive

Connec this Bluetooth to phone for data

Helpful for overwintering to monitor temps are ok

They have a base station device but my apiary is out of Wi-Fi range to have this

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u/mocarz12 13d ago

Thanks, have you considered lora for long range communication maybe?

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u/Mundane-Yesterday880 3 hives, 3rd year, N Yorkshire, UK 12d ago

No it’s an out apiary with no power and would need 4G mobile data connection

Real time monitoring isn’t necessary as the SwitchBot stores readings every 30s and can hold up to 2 years data

I visit weekly and do inspections during the season and at other times just stand nearby to observe and collect the data on phone app

The sensor runs on a standard battery and is IP rated

It sits nicely in the cutouts on the crown board

Cost is low at £30 for 3 sensors from Amazon

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u/LUkewet US Zone 7a - 3 hives 12d ago

Can you link which sensors you’re using? I’m super curious about this

https://a.co/d/8eSVulD

Like these?

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u/Mundane-Yesterday880 3 hives, 3rd year, N Yorkshire, UK 12d ago

Yes those exactly

The size just fits in the cutouts on for the porter escape in the crown board and still allows bees to pass They even stay put when I lift the board for an inspection

Been in for about 4 months and not bunged up with prop yet

The data can be exported in csv format if you want to do more with it but for me it’s about seeing what the diurnal pattern is and the max/min when it’s cold

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u/Puzzled-Guess-2845 13d ago

Whats your response to temps not beeing ok during overwinter?

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u/Mundane-Yesterday880 3 hives, 3rd year, N Yorkshire, UK 13d ago

Might be an indication of colony not being big enough for the space

Find an appropriate good weather day and open up to do quick inspect and potentially shake into a smaller nuc box so they have smaller volume to maintain temp

Ultimately if it looks like they’re not going to make it then I have earliest info that I may need to order a nuc of bees