Mycodo
- Thread starter klx
- Start date
klx
Well-Known Member
haha took me a while made a few mistakes, learnt as I went. Hoping some other users can chime in as I am sure I have my timers and shit set up in a clunky way, but its all working so it will do for now.
Jesusgrowsmygrass
Well-Known Member
I have setup mycodo and used it, been too lazy to do the "final" wiring. While trying it out, I had a problem with a mechanical relay like yours, and it stopped functioning. I think those things are cheap POS. Before I do my final wiring I am going to be running all solid state relays rated at 50 or 60 amps. I will only be only drawing ~5amps so they should not need heatsinks or run warm.
Good job on finding myCodo, when I was looking that was the most polished grow software I could find. It is always being updated too.
Good job on finding myCodo, when I was looking that was the most polished grow software I could find. It is always being updated too.
klx
Well-Known Member
Yeah its true these relays are cheap. I will see how it goes. Wouldnt be a big job to swap it out so will see how it goes.
What function do you use to turn your relays on and off? I am currently using Trigger: Daily Time point and then the Action is On > Duration. Do you know if there is a simpler way to just turn the relay on then off at a set point?
Renfro
Well-Known Member
Not a big fan of wood being used to build electrical boards. In the event of an arc you really want to eliminate the presence of flammable materials. This is why breaker boxes, outlet boxes and the like are made of non combustible materials. Not trying to give you a hard time, your build shows a great amount of skill and I think you are doing great things, I just want to point out the safety issues present. You might consider buying a polymer project box, easy to machine, much safer and would look slick.
Have you looked at the TimeAlarms library? That might be a slick way to setup your triggers using RTC.
Here is a little project example: https://randomnerdtutorials.com/how-to-do-daily-tasks-with-arduino/
Keep up the good work!
Have you looked at the TimeAlarms library? That might be a slick way to setup your triggers using RTC.
Here is a little project example: https://randomnerdtutorials.com/how-to-do-daily-tasks-with-arduino/
Keep up the good work!
klx
Well-Known Member
Cool man thanks for the tips!
shimbob
Well-Known Member
I'm going down the rabbit hole of using mycodo for our new grow, really excited about it!
Went with a Pi3B, an AM2315 sensor for the grow room, two 4-relay modules, and another temp/humid sensor for outside the grow room. I see myself getting capacitance soil moisture sensors, more relays, and a CO2 sensor down the road. I'm building a sealed loop/lung room design and trying to go all out.
Trigger: Daily Point for lights on & lights off events, then I can turn on the EOD far red, and adjust heat & humi PID controllers from the triggers
Went with a Pi3B, an AM2315 sensor for the grow room, two 4-relay modules, and another temp/humid sensor for outside the grow room. I see myself getting capacitance soil moisture sensors, more relays, and a CO2 sensor down the road. I'm building a sealed loop/lung room design and trying to go all out.
Trigger: Daily Point for lights on & lights off events, then I can turn on the EOD far red, and adjust heat & humi PID controllers from the triggers
Jesusgrowsmygrass
Well-Known Member
Be careful with those relays, I'm assuming these are the very cheap mechanical relays that fail often and are rated for 10amps.
Point and case, the very first one I used failed with in three days and it just controlled a water pump (~40 watts) that would turn on for 1 minute every 5 minutes. Your lights are going to be a much larger load more prone for failure.
Checkout solid state relays and buy way over on your amperage so they run cooler and last longer. See the attached pic, I bought a six pack of these on Amazon, use they cost significantly more but are worth it.
Bonus points because they are shiny!
Point and case, the very first one I used failed with in three days and it just controlled a water pump (~40 watts) that would turn on for 1 minute every 5 minutes. Your lights are going to be a much larger load more prone for failure.
Checkout solid state relays and buy way over on your amperage so they run cooler and last longer. See the attached pic, I bought a six pack of these on Amazon, use they cost significantly more but are worth it.
Bonus points because they are shiny!
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klx
Well-Known Member
+1 for the relays. One of the realys I am using has failed. Luckily it was the exhaust so it is just on 24/7 which is fine as its summer here. I have ordered some solid state relays and will swap it out at the end of the run.
Other than that very happy with Mycodo, works flawlessly.
Other than that very happy with Mycodo, works flawlessly.
shimbob
Well-Known Member
I was planning to control my hlg-600h driver with the RC+/- lines but I just remembered we're downsizing and no other driver has those convenient wires. Further complicating things is I'm US-based but I want to power the driver with 220V, which means having two hot lines to turn on/off at the same time.
Definitely changing to better relays, searching for a 2-pole SSR...
[edit]
I can't find any good 2-pole SSR, plus I've discovered that SSR don't control the voltage, only current, meaning even if the SSR is off you'd find voltage is passing. I'd rather go with a beefy mechanical relay for 240v light mains
Definitely changing to better relays, searching for a 2-pole SSR...
[edit]
I can't find any good 2-pole SSR, plus I've discovered that SSR don't control the voltage, only current, meaning even if the SSR is off you'd find voltage is passing. I'd rather go with a beefy mechanical relay for 240v light mains
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I was just searching for some info on this Mycodo software and this was the only thread I could find.
Very cool @klx. What kind of experience with code or anything like that coming into this? Is there much coding to be done, or is it more figuring out some sort of minor 'language' or 'commands' for "policies" that will set rules or something like that? I haven't found any video or good pictures of the software yet.
Thanks for sharing.
Very cool @klx. What kind of experience with code or anything like that coming into this? Is there much coding to be done, or is it more figuring out some sort of minor 'language' or 'commands' for "policies" that will set rules or something like that? I haven't found any video or good pictures of the software yet.
Thanks for sharing.
klx
Well-Known Member
I have a tech support background with only the bare minimum coding skills. As shimbob said, if you use supported inputs then you can just use the GUI for basic functions. You will probably want to do some conditionals such as "if humidity > 60% then turn on dehuey" etc which is where you will need some python.
There is a Mycodo forum now and the developer is very active so you could potentially describe what you want to do and people will help you out with example code.
Ok, cool. Thanks guys.
shimbob
Well-Known Member
Yup. Nevermind.