Cool, can't wait! Thanks for stopping by!
-
Happy Birthday ICMag! Been 20 years since Gypsy Nirvana created the forum! We are celebrating with a 4/20 Giveaway and by launching a new Patreon tier called "420club". You can read more here.
-
Important notice: ICMag's T.O.U. has been updated. Please review it here. For your convenience, it is also available in the main forum menu, under 'Quick Links"!
best/complete environmental/atmospheric controls
- Thread starter babelfish
- Start date
Cool, can't wait! Thanks for stopping by!
The Growtronix does seem to be rather popular.
I have always found the GrowBot interesting, since it has the capability to actually store and then properly combine the nutrients for a complete res change.
Still, with the exception of the GrowBot and it's slightly more involved/complicated construction of micro dosing pumps and associated plumbing, all of the items in systems like the Growtronix are modular in the most elemental sense.
For example, the Growtronix pH sensor alone is $239. For that price you could assemble a pH+temp+TDS monitor/pH controller and web integrated data logger with an Arduino board, pH/TDS sensor and a few relays/diodes/boards bought on Amazon/Ebay/Newegg, etc; and you would likely be including the exact same sensors in the Growtronix boxes, only you would pay pennies for them.
Sorry I haven't been able to contribute, I've had two other projects that have become very pressing to complete.
I am planning on working on elemental parts of the system before combining them, with a fan control circuit being first.
I ordered an Arduino board for the fan control, as they seem to be best at handling 120v+ relayed connections. There is also quite a bit of code already out there for fan controls, most of which need to be scaled up as they are primarily for computer fans.
Next step will be pH control/monitoring. Once I get the main architecture down for the fan control, I am hoping the other elements will be similar in the sense that I need to control a relay, and track the operations (data log).
It may be a few weeks but I will keep you posted.
I have always found the GrowBot interesting, since it has the capability to actually store and then properly combine the nutrients for a complete res change.
Still, with the exception of the GrowBot and it's slightly more involved/complicated construction of micro dosing pumps and associated plumbing, all of the items in systems like the Growtronix are modular in the most elemental sense.
For example, the Growtronix pH sensor alone is $239. For that price you could assemble a pH+temp+TDS monitor/pH controller and web integrated data logger with an Arduino board, pH/TDS sensor and a few relays/diodes/boards bought on Amazon/Ebay/Newegg, etc; and you would likely be including the exact same sensors in the Growtronix boxes, only you would pay pennies for them.
Sorry I haven't been able to contribute, I've had two other projects that have become very pressing to complete.
I am planning on working on elemental parts of the system before combining them, with a fan control circuit being first.
I ordered an Arduino board for the fan control, as they seem to be best at handling 120v+ relayed connections. There is also quite a bit of code already out there for fan controls, most of which need to be scaled up as they are primarily for computer fans.
Next step will be pH control/monitoring. Once I get the main architecture down for the fan control, I am hoping the other elements will be similar in the sense that I need to control a relay, and track the operations (data log).
It may be a few weeks but I will keep you posted.
couchlockd
Active member
there are plenty.
sentinel chhc7
blueprint bdac with or without co2
autopilot unit by sunlight supply
titan controlls makes a all in one also
every manufacturer pretty much has one, green air products takes 2 or 3 units
but the all in ones are temp, humidity, day and night setpoints for each and user settable deadbands. they also have temp/humidity interlocks if using vent fans for both temp and humidity.
and then they have on board co2 fuzzy logic monitoring and enrichment
sentinel chhc7
blueprint bdac with or without co2
autopilot unit by sunlight supply
titan controlls makes a all in one also
every manufacturer pretty much has one, green air products takes 2 or 3 units
but the all in ones are temp, humidity, day and night setpoints for each and user settable deadbands. they also have temp/humidity interlocks if using vent fans for both temp and humidity.
and then they have on board co2 fuzzy logic monitoring and enrichment
couchlockd
Active member
i use the sunleaves blueprint bdac2
I've been tossing around the idea of building a LabView based executable and using a leftover computer to control everything. I know the proprietary interfacing options are expensive to start (1000$ for a board) but they are rock solid and should last an eternity if spec'd right the first time.
It would be incredibly easy to program a flexible controller - I just need to find a cheaper way to interface digital and analog sensors via usb/serial port to my computer.
If I end up developing the program I'd definitely keep it open source for the 'mag I just may need some help finding affordable options for interfacing with the DIY sensors out there. I'm new to scripting but not new to what plants need to stay happy.
It would be incredibly easy to program a flexible controller - I just need to find a cheaper way to interface digital and analog sensors via usb/serial port to my computer.
If I end up developing the program I'd definitely keep it open source for the 'mag I just may need some help finding affordable options for interfacing with the DIY sensors out there. I'm new to scripting but not new to what plants need to stay happy.
For $1000 you could build an extremely competent, programmable, modular aruduino/pi based system with not only opensource SW, but HW too!
Biggest problem with the "all in one" systems?
One element goes down, the whole thing is useless.
Warranty replacement? Good luck shipping it if it smells like herb.
You have to have a spare or be prepared to do with out some potentially critical aspect of your controls for several weeks.
Overspecialization breeds weakness.
In my opinion, any solution that isn't modular or readily available OTS is a huge, expensive gamble.
