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computer to run big grow
- Thread starter Maina
- Start date
Yes.
Whats your budget?
You could have a plc professionally installed.
Iponic 600
Harvest Master
You could have a plc professionally installed.
Iponic 600
Harvest Master
I've been kind of intrigued by the Growtronix gear. I've done a lot of PLC work in the past, primarily with Allen-Bradley, Honeywell, and GE controllers. They are great for flexibility and reliability, but you need to understand that you are buying industrial quality gear and it comes with an industrial level price. I currently use an A-B MicroLogix microcontroller to run my stuff, but it is purely a localized digital controller with fixed I/O. I've been toying with the idea of integrating it with the Growtronix for SMS messaging, web interface, report functions, etc. Doing this kind of work on a PLC platform would be prohibitively expensive for what I do, but the Growtronix gear could be added for about the cost of a single interface board for most PLCs.
Growtronix can run almost everything for you light\pump\fan\dehu\etc.some years ago
I would really like your input . I know it will cost.but being able to have a life is price less
Dr. Buddington
Member
Honestly I have always been against putting all of my "eggs into one basket". I prefer a reliable control unit for each device. I have a dozen Ranco digital controllers that I've been running for quite some time and haven't had any issues with them (water chillers, AC's, fans, etc)
As for nutrient/ph control I would recommend Bluelab Dosetronic with peristaltic pumps. I have 4 units (retails around 2500 CAD each) and they are wonderful. Running large high flow DWRC systems with them is a snap. They could be used anywhere where you have a tank of nutes that needs to be maintained at a certain state.
Otherwise than some useful equipment the best computer is the one that nature put inside your skull...
Good luck man
As for nutrient/ph control I would recommend Bluelab Dosetronic with peristaltic pumps. I have 4 units (retails around 2500 CAD each) and they are wonderful. Running large high flow DWRC systems with them is a snap. They could be used anywhere where you have a tank of nutes that needs to be maintained at a certain state.
Otherwise than some useful equipment the best computer is the one that nature put inside your skull...
Good luck man
Go to www.controlanything.com, I've used some of their relay boards and wireless controllers, pretty sophisticated, everything was linked and could communicate with any other piece of equipment. With 240 lights, when the c02 burners turned on, 10% of the lights would turn off to keep temp from rising, when the co2 level was reached, the lights turned back on, 2 at a time, with 10 second intervals. Forget growtronix, his programming is riddled with error messages and quite often doesn't work. I've had to growers I've worked with toss the growtronix in the garbage because they didn't work properly, and switched everything over to PLC control.
Hvacguy - your link doesn't work for me.
I've spent enough time doing systems automation that I would never want critical processes being run on a PC, and particularly not on anything Windows based. The little micro plcs are a great choice for that, using a distributed control approach with dedicated controllers for the CO2, pH control, etc. The Growtronix gear has a very appealing price for the web/smart phone interface - this type of thing is really beyond a microcontroller, and the full-on PLCs that can handle it will run serious coin. This architecture gives you dead-reliable control of the life-critical side of things, and if the damn PC locks up, all that you've lost is the gingerbread.
I've spent enough time doing systems automation that I would never want critical processes being run on a PC, and particularly not on anything Windows based. The little micro plcs are a great choice for that, using a distributed control approach with dedicated controllers for the CO2, pH control, etc. The Growtronix gear has a very appealing price for the web/smart phone interface - this type of thing is really beyond a microcontroller, and the full-on PLCs that can handle it will run serious coin. This architecture gives you dead-reliable control of the life-critical side of things, and if the damn PC locks up, all that you've lost is the gingerbread.
http://www.controlanything.com/
I have never had any issues with the PLCs, installed 100s, you've probably done the same, great for controlling ac units, dampers, and intake/outake, temp controllers, etc. If you're on a tight budget, just use the Siemes LOGO series of PLCs, they're pretty versatile and stand alone after program is uploaded.
I have never had any issues with the PLCs, installed 100s, you've probably done the same, great for controlling ac units, dampers, and intake/outake, temp controllers, etc. If you're on a tight budget, just use the Siemes LOGO series of PLCs, they're pretty versatile and stand alone after program is uploaded.
PrivateAero
Member
Interesting thread. I have an iponic 600 and like it but I haven't used it from my phone or on my computer yet.
Privateaero
Privateaero
You can't compare Growtronix with iponic 600,Grotronix is a computer software much more powerfull than ioponic 600,also much more money is involve.for a system like mine,16 output and 10 sensors(2 flower and veg) you have to expect between 2~3 thousand easily.
