my computer controlled grow room - GrowControl 1.1

lol sounds like too much messing about to me, ill stick to using my hands

ishy3 said:

lol sounds like too much messing about to me, ill stick to using my hands

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Some of us aren't home. I'm away for 2 weeks at a clip at times. On a 6-8 week job now. Home every other weekend. Automation helps.

But when home, I do it manually, other then the lighting.

don't really need a computer operated system for this though
I make these leave and let grow boxes, use laser pointers and diodes to raise the lights. But a simple timer setup works well.

MisterNiceGuy said:

don't really need a computer operated system for this though
I make these leave and let grow boxes, use laser pointers and diodes to raise the lights. But a simple timer setup works well.

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True, but a central controler keeps things in sync. Some timers, when the power goes out, their internal cock stops. And if using CO2, you want that on at the right times. With a central 'brain', you know if the lights and vent fans are on or not.

I don't use a PC, but a PLC (industrial controller for machinery. Less power, proven, and can withstand the harsh environments of factories, dust, vibration, electrical noise, etc and they are UL/CE listed.)

well instead of the use of a brain that could also malfunction. you can can use a simple switch condition setup using project boards. For example, when conditions of an electric ph tester are met it activates a motor to administer ph up or down. this could be done with each individual function, and cost under 50 dollors

MisterNiceGuy said:

well instead of the use of a brain that could also malfunction. you can can use a simple switch condition setup using project boards. For example, when conditions of an electric ph tester are met it activates a motor to administer ph up or down. this could be done with each individual function, and cost under 50 dollors

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I'm fine with an O'scope/Spec Analyzer to basic relay logic. A turn key PLC is more reliable in IMOHO. A PLC has a proven track record and used in various industries. And when you add in error correction (CRC and the like) on communication protocols, its safer to go with standards.

But I certainly dig the whole DIY stuff!!! Been there, done that. Found my time was worth more. For $125-$150 and hour, I can buy a lot more stuff then build/save. I have a few glue logic items that I will have to 'roll my own'

A pH sensor is $65 itself. Now add in a pre-amp and control circuitry....
On that, have a thought on a dosing pump? I have a machine shop in my garage and getting close to making my own. (made them way back when I was a machinist) Ones I've seen are like $200.

Ah better make a journal dedicated to this cause I wanna watch. I am all about cheap DIY stuff cause then when i perfect something I can easily build another at cost for friends and the like ya know.
Any ideas on outdoor grows automation, I have used and will continue to use a solar panel pump to water outdoor grows from a stream so to use reusable water not municipal/

MisterNiceGuy said:

Ah better make a journal dedicated to this cause I wanna watch. I am all about cheap DIY stuff cause then when i perfect something I can easily build another at cost for friends and the like ya know.
Any ideas on outdoor grows automation, I have used and will continue to use a solar panel pump to water outdoor grows from a stream so to use reusable water not municipal/

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What do/can one automate for outdoor, outside of watering? Mother nature can kinda negate a lot of what we do indoors

I dig the solar pump. But since its a stream already, why not micro-hydro? (solar is probably a better/easier idea. Just was thinking of micro-hydro today)

micro-hydro? explain please
not sure what else you can do that's why i was askin your suggestions
Last few grows outdoors we used flat surface but now was thinkin about planting in trees to hid eit more ya know.

lorenzo08 - i've recently been getting into the automation thing, but i'm not using a PC... I am using some industrial automation equipment... programmable logic controllers (PLC)... they basically have built in relays and can interact with lots of stuff.

there is a thread about it here: https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/137251-anyone-here-controlling-your-grow.html

its like a computer, but it cant crash, and it only uses 7 watts to run and monitor everything... it can replace thousands of timers, and it has a timer resolution of 1/10th of a second. its crazy what it can do... although it might be more expensive than the old pc setup. (unless you dont have an old plc)

the one i use also has an RS-485 port that you can hook up touch screens and other devices too... you can get some kind of adapter for a computer to get the computer on the rs-485 network to log data and do other things with it also.

how did you go about getting the computer to turn on relays and stuff? what is the interface to the computer? serial port? usb?

i'm totally interested in the automation stuff... i dont think its "boring" or takes the fun out of growing. I think it makes it so you can just sit back and literally just watch the grass grow, i check on them every day, i spend time with them making sure they get what they want, and i use a screen so i'm always arranging the buds so they can get the best light, a better use of time than manually turning on water pumps or lights... it also gives you the ability to go do whatever you want without tying you to your grow room...

and my idea, is to not put all of my proverbial eggs into one basket... doing a 10KW grow can get you in some serious shit in my red state, but if you spread it out and have a 2K here and a 2K somewhere else - in a separate house, you can basically operate all of them as one large garden if they are automated

BloodShot420 said:

the one i use also has an RS-485 port that you can hook up touch screens and other devices too... you can get some kind of adapter for a computer to get the computer on the rs-485 network to log data and do other things with it also.

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AB's DH485 has its own protocol. The psychical layer is still the same but all the data is wrapped up and not that 'open' DeviceNET is more open, but rather preicey to get into.. I also believe its a 4-wire RS-485.

[qoute]
and my idea, is to not put all of my proverbial eggs into one basket... doing a 10KW grow can get you in some serious shit in my red state, but if you spread it out and have a 2K here and a 2K somewhere else - in a separate house, you can basically operate all of them as one large garden if they are automated [/quote]

You _could_ with RIO, or devicenet have a single PLC and just use remote I/O in the separate locations. (AutomationDirect has a Ethernet version of remote I/O which would be easier to do and probably 1/2 the price)

I use an rs-232 serial interface card with special firmware for a "networked" support. I use an rs-485 adapter with that so I can daisy-chain them together. from there into a darlington array for protection, then reed relays for higher current switching, then I use rca cables to connect that box up to outlets and light fixtures with relays built into them. I had 2 working prototypes of the software, and I'm working on version 1.2 making it perfect before I release it as open source.

BigBud - thats a pretty good idea... the PLC controller i use also has the option for ethernet, its an add-on, but its twice as much as the controller! lol... i would probably just put seperate controllers at each place, they are less than $200 and each one should have its own backup power supply... it would get a little crazy if i had 5 other grows tied into my PLC, i would mess something up.

lorenzo - sounds like a pretty kick ass project. it seems like it does about the same thing as a PLC, but it has the advantage of being able to build a custom GUI for it...the PLC monitoring software is not very pretty, and looks completely confusing if you didnt write the ladder logic yourself. (because inputs are labeled x1, x2, x3 - and outputs are y1, y2.. no real labels unless you dig deeper)

what kind of current can you switch with a reed relay? I had some problems getting the 1Ks to turn on with the PLC using solid state relays...

BloodShot420 said:

BigBud - thats a pretty good idea... the PLC controller i use also has the option for ethernet, its an add-on, but its twice as much as the controller! lol... i would probably just put seperate controllers at each place, they are less than $200 and each one should have its own backup power supply... it would get a little crazy if i had 5 other grows tied into my PLC, i would mess something up.

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Yup! I just did a job for a customer that had a SLC 5/05 in it and they only needed a SLC 5/03 (not to mention I could have taken home 3 I and 3 O modules. Oh, well next trip) I like the 5/05's with the Ethernet built in. (but the RS-View to use it is just WAY to much of an entrance fee)

Even on the Direct Automation stuff, its cheaper to pop in a new/extra DL-06 and a Ethernet module then do the Ethernet remote I/O. (not to mention have the 'smart' I/O that can talk ModBUS, and all the other happy protocols and 'home base' controller. Also makes it more module in design. AB is sketchy on missing hardware in the program; typically fault out.)

Haha that's so awesome. It'd be cool if the software could have a list of alerts that, when they occur, it sends you an email or text message...

hey Lorenzo, anyway to get ya too list the actual parts that will work for the software? i really like the sounds of this and wanna get things research'd so when you done the proggy i can use it to it's fullest... i build PC'z and know most everything bout them but am no programer, whats the programs name you using?

epixbud said:

hey Lorenzo, anyway to get ya too list the actual parts that will work for the software? i really like the sounds of this and wanna get things research'd so when you done the proggy i can use it to it's fullest... i build PC'z and know most everything bout them but am no programer, whats the programs name you using?

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he isnt using a computer per say

hes using logic controllers

industrial automation equipment

nah - i'm the one using the logic controllers...

lorenzo is using the computer with some custom software.

using a hydroponics system i can leave my grow alone for 2 weeks until i have to change the water and nutes in the res but i would totally dig a fully automated set up