Computer controlled Cab/Tent

I would like to first say hi y'all. Long time lurker... I've been inspired of late to try and gather (snails pacing it for now) all the matterials needed to get a personal harvest going.

I've researched a great deal and the other day I was reading about automization options, and came across a fascinating article on the potential applications of an arduino usb micro controller for use in cab automization. (relevant article: http://www.cheapvegetablegardener.com/2009/09/how-to-make-grow-box-controller.html )

I am very curious about this technology. I'm curious if anyone on here has had any luck implementing something like this in their boxes. I realize that one could just as easily buy one for some absurd amount (at least for me just getting set up again) But i'm looking for those hardcore DIYers to enlighten me as to the pros/cons of such a system.

I've searched as much as i can bare today (been at this research for weeeeks now) I feel asking is at least somewhat more proactive, as they say two heads are better than one.

I'm slowly accumulating the needed gadgets to get something FUNCTIONAL eventually striving towards achieving high rate of automization.

Initially i'm going to set up a real basic tent/cheapo bubblebucket, but nevermind all that; this is about theory and automization.

Now with relatively little investment an arduino controlled system has MAJOR potential. I will guess it is far from a foolproof system but that's where tinkering and time play their part.

http://www.cheapvegetablegardener.com/2009/09/how-to-make-grow-box-controller.html references the ability to add other sensors and whatnot, the main limitation being carbon level monitoring as the sensors are tricky to come by outside a full instrument.

Before i get too wrapped up in this I will pass the mic to you all, I'd prefer to investigate this matter before looking up the alternatives (i will hate myself if i buy an atmosphere controller only to discover I could have done it myself and had simillar results) That being said i'm assuming someone has been in similar mindset and perhaps via the wealth of knowledge here one of you has investigated this matter with greater success than I.

PS I forgot to mention one of my biggest questions; given proper equipment would a system like this be able to handle higher cfm fans/whatnot?

I've been researching this a bit myself lately.

I have a job that requires me to travel a quite a bit. I can be gone for as much as 9 days at a time which obviously isn't good for growing anything. As a result, I've been looking at connecting an Arduino to a motor (to lift and lower lights) as well as control watering.

Should I decide to go this route, I'll certainly report back to the forums.

here's a couple things that may help:

CaptainPointless said:

Y'all are gonna like this one:

I found a indoor air quality monitor, that happens to have both an RS232 and relay output. Paired with a PLC or a computer, this could potentially be a fantastic automation tool for CO2 injection, light timing, fan timing, pump schedules...the list goes on as far as your brain can think of. People who are clever with electronics can make limitless arrangements with this.

$169

Click to expand...

it can be connected to a pc, and monitored like that, which means you could monitor it via remote desktop, or something like logmein... also:

http://www.surpluscomputers.com/347749/dli-ethernet-power-controller-epcr.html

that's an ethernet power controller, very handy if you want to turn things on or off if something gets out of whack... not too sure if there is a better deal out there on that as i'm just offering the link for the idea behind it... there are also many options for cameras infrared and such that can aid with visualization of your grow which can be monitored remotely via internet... still trying to figure something out for sending a command to a motor to either raise or lower the lights... im sure the motor's controller could be rewired to accommodate a solution... you could always do like me and get a girlfriend with a green thumb though, i travel a lot for work as well, about 2 weeks out of the month... i'm still totally interested in automation of things and controlling things remotely... i'm a network/telecomm field technician so if there's any help or questions or ideas, feel free to PM me...


apparently instructables.com has quite a bit on the arduino and automation with it:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Garduino-Upgrade-Now-with-more-Twitter/

The Agrowtek controller seems to be a decent automation and remote desktop options with monitoring and logging. Might be pricey to some, but maybe worth it to others.

Not only can you control the stuff, but the historical logging lets you "see" what happened for the couple days you couldn't log in.

defcomexperiment said:

here's a couple things that may help:



it can be connected to a pc, and monitored like that, which means you could monitor it via remote desktop, or something like logmein... also:

http://www.surpluscomputers.com/347749/dli-ethernet-power-controller-epcr.html

that's an ethernet power controller, very handy if you want to turn things on or off if something gets out of whack... not too sure if there is a better deal out there on that as i'm just offering the link for the idea behind it... there are also many options for cameras infrared and such that can aid with visualization of your grow which can be monitored remotely via internet... still trying to figure something out for sending a command to a motor to either raise or lower the lights... im sure the motor's controller could be rewired to accommodate a solution... you could always do like me and get a girlfriend with a green thumb though, i travel a lot for work as well, about 2 weeks out of the month... i'm still totally interested in automation of things and controlling things remotely... i'm a network/telecomm field technician so if there's any help or questions or ideas, feel free to PM me...


apparently instructables.com has quite a bit on the arduino and automation with it:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Garduino-Upgrade-Now-with-more-Twitter/

Click to expand...

The Arduino would definitely be suitable for lowering and raising the lights.

For instance: http://robot-overlord.blogspot.com/2009/06/controlling-dc-motor-using-arduino-usb.html

I had thought about using a sensor for distance, but the ones i found are all sonar based and I don't think the sonar would work against a plant. Would have been awesome to program it to maintain proper hight.

Seems like something that could provide a cool and inexpensive way to 'automate' your grow. Should be cool

The Harvest Master says it can "learn" your environment and speed up crop cycles because it can control EVERYTHING. It will even beeper you if someone is eye-fucking your girls. http://www.harvest-master.com/pro.html

Let's make one (or a million) better, but cheaper ... and better ... and all connected to a computer. I can provide the product design engineering AND production capablities. Better looking than the Harvest Master, that's for sure. Anyone here know how to program it and make it all work?

The Harvest Master would probably still be cheaper though.

watercooled@ said:

The Agrowtek controller seems to be a decent automation and remote desktop options with monitoring and logging. Might be pricey to some, but maybe worth it to others.

Not only can you control the stuff, but the historical logging lets you "see" what happened for the couple days you couldn't log in.

Click to expand...

earlier i was checking out this system from growtronix:

http://www.growtronix.com/store/

it is a bit pricey, but the scalability and flexibility could make it worthwhile for some...

Someone beat me to it!

The arduino definitely has the capabilities required to control a grow area. I'm working on a project right now based around the arduino. Everything from toggling pumps, lights, and fans to monitoring and maintaining air temps, water temp, RH and CO2 levels all tied together and displayed on nice little LCD screen. It's not cheap, that's for sure, but it's way cheaper than buying somebody else's control unit. Are you really starting a project with one? I'd love to collaborate, I'm working on the code for mine right now, I have a feeling it will be handy for anybody who wants to build their own. I'm still in the early stages of my project, my unit only controls pumps (currently set to 45 seconds on and 10 minutes off) and lights (18/6) and has no inputs. Still a work in progress, though, she's growing.

Here is where I'm putting my code/thoughts for my project : http://code.google.com/p/atmega328growcontroller/

Use caution when using any code from there, it's all a work in progress. You can just leave comments on that site if you have any questions. I've picked a bunch of parts I'm going to use you might be interested in. The CO2, for instance, is definitely a tricky one. What is your electronics experience/knowledge level? My plan for CO2 is to use http://www.futurlec.com/Gas_Sensors.shtml coupled with a couple OP-AMPs to bring the current to a level that works for ADC (0 to +5V). pH ~ http://blea.ch/wiki/index.php/PH_Meter <~~Also has a PPM meter.

That's just some stuff to get you thinking, I'm not following it verbatim, everything needs tweaking to meet your exact specs. I've been looking towards coral reef guys for inspiration, they have both pH and EC monitoring in their operations, too, along with temp and light control.