Automated PH Control

[Uncle Bob]

I posted this in another thread that died. I wanted to share with anyone interested.

I’ve used this unit for a few months and it works flawlessly. It doses either up or down via a selectable switch. It uses a perestalltec pump (spelling?) and doses VERY very slowly so there is no need to dilute the Ph solution, and it never overshoots the set-point. Another good thing is that since it uses a self-checking pump rather than funky solenoid valves you can place the Ph bottle anywhere in the room. No gravity feed involved, no valve boards mounted to the wall. Very clean. Best $400 ever spent. I left my grow for over a week and came back to perfect 5.5

http://www.all4hydroponics.com/

 

[420guy]

nice investment bro...gotta link as to where to find...

 

[Breezy420]

Thats pretty cool. I can see a use if you've got to step out for awhile.

 

[minds_I]

Hello all,

Nice, Does the probe have a maintainence schedule?

minds_I

 

[BlindDate]

That's the first controler I've seen that is complete. I mean usually they just sell the controller itself and its up to you to figure out the dosing method. This one has its own built in pump. Is that a Hanna probe? It looks like the ones they give you with the growcheck meters.

 

[Uncle Bob]

420guy
I don't have a link. Bought it at my local hydro shop. PM me if your interested.

minds_I & BD
It uses a standard Hanna probe which is included. Been running for 2 months and I haven't calibrated yet.

This thing is LIVE. It almost takes the fun out of Hydro. My PH has been at a rock solid 5.5 for 2 months now. One tube goes in the bottle and the other goes in the reservoir. Thats it! I'm starting to forget about PH altogether.

 

[Truth]

I'm interested in obtaining one.

 

[een]

Hi, Thats very impressive, I would have thought it would run out of ph down (I assume it's ph down) pretty quickly. Do you use tap water or distilled/RO filtered water? What medium do you use? (p.s. spelling is 'peristaltic')

 

[Uncle Bob]

Hi, Thats very impressive, I would have thought it would run out of ph down (I assume it's ph down) pretty quickly.

een
Not sure what you mean by that. Here is a scan from the manual. It shows the setup.

 

[een]

Ah I see. What I meant about running out is that I used to try to keep my ph at 5.5 by dosing manually, but it always goes back up to 6 by the next day. I heard this was because if you use tap water, it has calcium carbonate in it which acts as a ph 6 buffer. Thats why I am wondering if you use reverse osmosis water or tap water? Aso apparently the medium can affect it too.

 

[CLONER]

I looked around for that model of controller but no luck.Do you have a link to a web site by chance
Cloner

 

[Guest]

This thing is LIVE. It almost takes the fun out of Hydro. My PH has been at a rock solid 5.5 for 2 months now. One tube goes in the bottle and the other goes in the reservoir. Thats it! I'm starting to forget about PH altogether.
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if you can take the fun(labor) out of hydro i would be very interested. heheh. good post man.

 

[Guest]

Hey Bob...there's gotta be some detailed manufacturer info on the unit somewhere. I could not make out the model number from the pic. Is that a phone number on the lower right of the unit's face? Like others a little Google was unsuccessful.

 

[Guest]

Oh Tay...as Buckwheat say...I found the BL 981411 is a pH controller core from Hanna. If you want the core and are a DIY'er I guess you can make your own unit. The company on this link used the same core as the pH Nanny did and made their own unit for $385. The core is only $120.

The link for the complete controller.

The link for the core.

Hanna's 981411 is +/- .1 pH accurate while their 931700 is +/-.02. I never noticed Hanna's full line of controllers like TDS units too. The 931700 also has an output for data recording.

Here's a thread by Nut Job which contains similar info...the one Uncle Bob talked about dying.

 

[Guest]

Geez...here's a dosing pump for $95.99 that seems pretty decent. Probably close enough to count. I just joined and already am a post whore...lol. Anyway...hope the info helps someone.

 

[Haggis123]

Nice piece of equipment...

 

[Guest]

Ha...here I am again...

Hanna BL 981411 $120
SP-3000 dosing pump $75
Hanna pH probe $65 but still looking
A few odds and ends for a few $
Hanna BL 931700 for $125 more

The Hanna mini controller basically works like an electronic thermostat with a built in relay. pH setpoint is the trigger to power the pump. Unit has adjustable overflow (based on run time) protection. Calibration is manual. Pick the probe you want. No solenoid needed. There's always a few bugs to work out and I'm sure I'm missing something but looks like a no brainer.

 

[Guest]

For someone wanting to DIY get the Hanna 2114P/2 pH probe for $45. The SP-3000 pump runs off line voltage so just wire through the dosing contacts on the controller.

Check out the specs and download the manual for the 981411 from Hanna.
Seems like a piece of cake to put together.

Anyway...I'll build my own as I like projects.

 

[mysticls]

http://www.espchemicals.com/product...=4867&Category_ID2=1207&CategoryDescription=0

 

[WhoDAT]

So the pump for 75, the probe 45 and the controller for 125 for a total of 245. thats not bad at all. They also have TDS controllers, its a 160 for the controller, 45 for the probe and the same pump for 75 equals a total of 280. So you could have a complete automated system, at least for pH and nutes for 525. If you add a float valve and pump for topping off the res you could have a completely automated hydro system which would be freaking awesome.