Winch + Lights Talk

Hello,

I've built nearly fully automated aeroponic grow in the past. Wireless security system to monitor it, ph, etc. Electronic valves wired into wifi power outlets to control nuts flow to water ratio/flush for each strain etc.

What I didn't have was the ability to remotely adjust the height of my lights. So there was a bit of stretching as I had WAY to many lights to adjust them.

This run, I'm going to incorporate a 5 callon bucket of super concentrated nutrient solution with a drill and auger attachment. I can remotely mix the nutes and water on a timer.

But, I need a way to raise these darn lights. I'm thinking about simply buying a winch, mounting all the lights to a large 2x4 reinforced box system. 4 point cables, to a single pully, across the ceiling, to a winch mounted on a wall.

First, I'm certain this will work but looking for pointers. This is quite a few lights, so the light rail threads I see will not work.

Second, I need someone decent with electronics to walk me thru wiring into the remote control so I can remotely trigger, up and down, the lights.

Very simple.

I'm proficient with wiring and soldering but not determining what electronics qill be needed to actually wire the remote setup. I'm thinking wiring the remote into a wifi trigger of sorts with cellular backup for the entire system.

Let me know fam

How tall are your ceilings and are your lights in a straight row or how is that setup?

I would build a frame for the lights to hang from using 12 gauge superstrut or unistrut something similar then use a simple cheap garage door opener that can raise/lower your light hanging frame(s) using pulleys. Another pro to this is you can set minimum and maximum lift heights to prevent fuckery.

There are many cheap garage door openers that have wifi already available, you'd just need to attach your light lift/raise pulley system to the bracketing that normally would lift and lower a garage door, I'll leave that part up to your imagination though.

calvin.m16 said:

How tall are your ceilings and are your lights in a straight row or how is that setup?

I would build a frame for the lights to hang from using 12 gauge superstrut or unistrut something similar then use a simple cheap garage door opener that can raise/lower your light hanging frame(s) using pulleys. Another pro to this is you can set minimum and maximum lift heights to prevent fuckery.

There are many cheap garage door openers that have wifi already available, you'd just need to attach your light lift/raise pulley system to the bracketing that normally would lift and lower a garage door, I'll leave that part up to your imagination though.

Click to expand...

Thank you for your reply,

Ceilings are 10ft. For the grow I'm planning to build a 2x4 or 2x6 superstructure around the grow to support the winch and pully system.

As for the lights, I'm going to do a U-shape pattern as that gives me the best access to the plants.

4 l1k hps on left side, 2 in the back, 4 on the right, with the cool tube venting in and out of the room through a door made from triple black trach bags and magnetic straps to seal it (light proof)

As for garage door, I'll see what I can do, but it's not easy for me to order things as I am preforming now in the most friendly weed location in the world.

Thailand.

Asian ecommerce is a but screw but it's manageable. I have to special import almost everything from China. Thailand only sells led lights and I don't like led lights. Never have.

I hope this helps us continue to brain storm. I'm not quite sure how I would hook this up to a garage door opener and have it only open a few inches at a time (as lights only need to be adjusted a little at a time.

Double clicking the garage button is scary as we have all seen the garage door accidently go back down after we clicked it only twice

But I think it's a great idea and we're on the right track.

I'm considering running liquid cooled co2 generators but I'm not sure if uts even worth it? Co2 injection I mean. The cost of propane plus the cost of the generators shoots my cost per Oz higher and the market is a bit competitive.

Right now they're getting 20 to 30 a g right now in thailand all day

Greetings from makati Philippines, pattaya thailand, and everywhere usa

~Pres

You could just set lights at a happy medium setpoint where the plants never grow into them if you have 10 ft ceilings, especially if you're not running LED. I have similar feelings to LED/HPS I prefer HPS but with utility costs here in USA it's insane to run HPS. Ounces here are $80-120 in the caregiver market if you know what I mean.

Co2 injection is absolutely worth it, just get a propane burner with a co2 controller to turn it on/off based on your set point. I will not grow without co2 but considering your setup sounds ventilated you shouldn't use co2 because it will all just get sucked out into the atmosphere as quick as you can pump it into the rooms.

If I was getting 20-30G I would be filthy stinking rich, here our dispensaries sell ounces of decent weed for as low as $60 out the door in Michigan.

calvin.m16 said:

You could just set lights at a happy medium setpoint where the plants never grow into them if you have 10 ft ceilings, especially if you're not running LED. I have similar feelings to LED/HPS I prefer HPS but with utility costs here in USA it's insane to run HPS. Ounces here are $80-120 in the caregiver market if you know what I mean.

Co2 injection is absolutely worth it, just get a propane burner with a co2 controller to turn it on/off based on your set point. I will not grow without co2 but considering your setup sounds ventilated you shouldn't use co2 because it will all just get sucked out into the atmosphere as quick as you can pump it into the rooms.

If I was getting 20-30G I would be filthy stinking rich, here our dispensaries sell ounces of decent weed for as low as $60 out the door in Michigan.

Click to expand...

I'm debating to seal the 2x4 structure with drywall and rubber Culk and a 2nd door to seal it off. But it adds A LOT of cost and I do over 20 for 1k each

I've never understood how they get prices so low? 60/Oz? Wtf. Is it outdoor? That barely covers electricity.

What are you yielding per sqm under a 1k with co2?

PresObama said:

I'm debating to seal the 2x4 structure with drywall and rubber Culk and a 2nd door to seal it off. But it adds A LOT of cost and I do over 20 for 1k each

I've never understood how they get prices so low? 60/Oz? Wtf. Is it outdoor? That barely covers electricity.

What are you yielding per sqm under a 1k with co2?

Click to expand...

Based on the math I did, I harvest around 1 pound sq/m with 645 watt LEDs. It's indoor pricing, it's absolutely ruined because of the legal market, a bunch of fuckers bought grow licenses and dispensary buildings and took HUGE debt to compete. The current weed market here is basically dispensaries competing with dispensaries and they're almost all drowning in millions of dollars of debt. It's so bad that our new legislation is going to prohibit licensees from renewing if they have unpaid debts, also it will prevent them from transferring their license to someone else aka "receivership" like alcohol stores do here to prevent needing a new liquor license.

The new legislation will push all the lowballer dispensaries out of the game and allow successful growers and companies to thrive, which prices inevitably will go up when that occurs. As of now your competing with people that have anywhere from $250,000-$127,000,000 in debt while still operating. Basically bailing a sinking ship.

They don't care though because their salaries are paid even if they're in debt and they can keep "working" even though they're working themselves into a debt grave. Once they finally can't get more money or loans they will try to transfer their license, that will no longer be a thing and they will be forced to close completely and declare bankruptcy completely destroying their credit.