1-Wire Network A.K.A. GrowTronix

[raeky]

The GrowTronix line is a "1-Wire Network" by Maxim / Dallas Semiconductor. It's a fairly standard kind of network used for this kind of thing, and has many many options, including "I-Buttons" which are kinda like a digital key...

I'm a big DIY kind of guy and although I don't mind paying a bit more for someone else's assembled product and software I do find GrowTronix's prices significantly higher then they should be for the raw costs of the equipment.

I'm wondering if anyone else out there has experimented with creating their own 1-Wire network and software, where you wouldn't be limited by your wallet and GrowTronix's preexisting modules...

Specifically I'd like to see a wiring diagram for a switchable ~10 amp outlet controlled by the network.. I'm fairly sure that such a device can be built for substantially lower cost then $60/outlet.

 

[The Dopest]

tag...

 

[DeadlyFoez]

I looked into it. There were many people on OG trying to do the same thing but when it came down to costs and once they discovered growtronix they realized that growtronix was the cheapest most effective way of computer controlled growing.

Go view OG's cached threads through google. I'm sure you'll find all the info you want.

I personally went with growtronix and I couldn't be any happier, especially with all the possible functionality that you can make growtronix do.

View the link in my sig and see what I got going on.

Also, do a search for growtronix in the forums here and you'll find more info

 

[raeky]

I've done quite a bit of research on the subject, and I'm SURE that it can be done quite a bit cheaper ;-) specifically if you build your own modules.

http://www.aagelectronica.com/aag/en-us/dept_2.html

as evidenced by another retailer of 1-wire network modules their prices are quite a bit lower then GT's. And although GT's prices are lower then other hydroponic automation systems they're still inflated (As is everything tailored to growing.)

If you look at the raw component costs from Maxim/Dallas a temperature module is only like $2 (of course this is minus the case and plugs, but still).

You're paying several HUNDRED dollars for just his software, plus nearly 300-500% or maybe 1000% over raw material costs of the components.

Do to my DIY attitude, I'm ore inclined to at least experiment with making my own modules and buying much cheaper ones and writing my own software.. ;-)

 

[DeadlyFoez]

well, good luck. I think what the GT software can do now and what it will be able to do is well worth the extra cost. Nothing I could do myself would be anywhere near as good as GT, and I'm not a complete amature when it comes to computers and the such.

 

[BCboy]

Building your own modules would be the easy part wouldn't it? I would think that replicating the GT software would be extremely time consuming.. thus costly. Be sure to post your progress should you proceed. I love DIY projects.

 

[raeky]

Building your own modules would be the easy part wouldn't it? I would think that replicating the GT software would be extremely time consuming.. thus costly. Be sure to post your progress should you proceed. I love DIY projects.

Well .. In theory yes if you programmed from scratch the kind of "user friendly" windows application that GT has, it would be time consuming...

But that isn't the only way to do this... Unix shell scripting and cron jobs with a bunch of basic C programs that query and output the module data would easily suffice... Plus with the added benefit of being rock solid and stable as unix is known for.

Plus pretty much every module that you'd want to make has example C/Java code already in the Maxim/Dallas downloads...

I'm not saying this is easy, or something that anyone will be able to do. But I'm *DEFINITELY* interested in trying.

Theres much more that can be done that GT doesn't offer. They only have one thermocouple temperature device, whereas theres literally hundreds of kinds..

http://www.omega.com/techref/themointro.html

You could easily build ones that are in-line your supply lines or air ducts or that are surface mounted on say your cooltube glass or whatever you'd want to measure... why be limited?

Lots of fun options, and I'm definitely interested in playing with them. ;-)

As I progress further in my growroom plans I'll be sure to post diagrams and part lists and software downloads or whatever I come up with for this. I'm pretty sure making the modules is easy, getting them on the network is easy, writing simple programs to query a module is easy, etc.. Just tying it all together to a useful tool may not be as easy. We'll see. ;-)

 

[The Dopest]

http://www.automatedaquariums.com/aaslit.htm#SOF

this site has aquarium control software. they have 1wire modules to go with it.

looks like total control stuff too, like dosing, temps, ph, ppm/ec, lights, fans, endless possibilities