Grow automation

[stoned78]

There are some great but expensive solutions to automate your grow but for my little room I think its overkill.

Been playing around with the Broadlink rm2 and broadlink a1 sensors for a while... its not perfect but fun..... kinda if this then that IFTTT style.
gives option to control any 315/433mhz or IR device IFTTT style.(broadlinks own ifttt and there is supposed to be a new rm3 comming able to control all frequencies between I belive 147 and 1000 somthing mhz.)
my giblighting lxg timer ballasts are remotecontrolled and so are all fans... anything not IR can for cheap be 433mhz controlled with cheap 433sockets.

If anyone wants to know more about this system?

the rm2 cost 40bucks on ali and so does the a1 sensors (sensors control humidity, temp, light, airquality, and noise) all sensors are build in to the a1

Oh....and it controlls most airconditions also.... it has a frequency or ir remote ....you can control it.

ex. You can set anything to shut off or on or what ever ...when someone push your 433mhz/315 mhz doorbell.
my giblighting ballasts can be adjusted pr watt with min. of 250watts so if heat gets to much for room to handle you can set autolight lowering to ex250watts untill heat gets under control.

you can even get broadlink speakers and wifi cams that also works with system....iftttt style

Xiaomi does similar but less amount of sensors in their sensors.

my entire growroom is controlled from my phone via broadlink app. with customized button layout and so on.

it cost less than 100$ to allmost completely control you growroom (with one sensor) and setup so easy that allmost anyone that knows how to operate a smartphone or ir remote can do it.

Anyone that use remote IR circulation fan know that timing them with ordinary timers sucks and usually timer as standard go to 7 1/2 hours. on those fans.... not a problem anymore.... you can even add. oscilation, speed, and the modes into your controll system.

 

[stoned78]

these are just quick pic examples setup of this system does not take long but you keep changing setup because you keep discovering new ways and combinations.

if you want your stereo to play rise of the valkyrie when lamps turn on you can... add. a simple 2dollar china ir eye and remote to your pc and allmost anything on the pc can be involved aswell.

The Xiaomi system is not as advanced (rules out frequenzy control) but a company just came out with plantsensors I think works with this system that looks nice cost about 12$ a piece ( should give option to control soil humimdity aswell)

 

[stoned78]

the system also gives any 433/315mhz powersocket plug timer options down to 0,5 second.....all controlled and edited from your phone the other side of the world.

Anyone know of any cheap remotecontrolled (mhz or ir) duct fan dimmers? they are out there.

The RM2 also contains a temperature sensor that you can use to adjust your aircondition... you can set you aircon to a temp but that does not mean that the temp. is the same below lamps... the rm2 works as remote temp. sensor for your aircon.

if you are into smartgrow, smarthome, own alot of remotes, aircon, heaters stereo, computers etc. the Broadlink rm2 Is a steal.
Seen it a few times in my home country and price varies alot....from 150$ in electronics store to 400$ in aircon store.....it costs 39$ from china.

 

[tleaf jr.]

any pics of the sensors and system housing ?

 

[AvidLerner]

nice. I have built a LED light controller that puts out six PWM signals for use to control lights or other devices needing on/off dimming capability with automation. check out my thread on 3-in-1 dimming. peace
Avid

 

[stoned78]

any pics of the sensors and system housing ?

I have not taken any of the devices apart. the housing of the sensors is the white green triangle shaped thing in pics above... all sensors are build in to that from factory.

the rm2 pro looks like this inside:

 

[amanda88]

If anyone wants to know more about this system? ?

links please

 

[stoned78]

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Broa..._7&btsid=f221a3ae-74c9-4908-95a9-84642a00b277

a1 sensors:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Wifi..._7&btsid=4746f60e-bbcd-4826-964f-8ee5a2718f3e

you can ofcourse google the broadlink brand.... also any 433mhz/315mhz device will also work with the system.

spend the 40$ on the rm2 pro device... from then your hooked... if not for the growsystem then just for the home stereo, pc, aircon, garage opener etc.

aliexpress is a great site chineese ala amazon.

just spend 10$ total on 3 new bubblebags

 

[exploziv]

All those functions of the 2 devices can be made much cheaper if you go DIY. With a lot of extra sensors and functions that can be added if needed.

aliexpress is a great site chineese ala amazon.

just spend 10$ total on 3 new bubblebags

Bubblebags that will put plastic shavings into the hash you will smoke from them..

 

[ICRSN]

I looked at this but feel that this is a gadget item.

First, the example of controlling LED light because a temperature issue in a grow room is a poor example. Anything could cause the temperature problem of heat from dead fan, outside temperature, a fire, or LED lights.

Second. it looks like their is no interlock capabilities between devices.

Yes, the thoughts for alarms are/is relevant but one should not run a mfg plant on alarms. If system requires operator intervention then one should be onsite, or on call otherwise

I use a simple cheap ACE plc (50US) plus about (60US) for IO to control. my lights, pumps, and valves. It runs all devices in my ppk system.
This system is then tie (USB) to 7 year old net book (got at yard sale) and then (VPN/wified) to my home network then to the ether (if I want). Bought cheap UPS for it.
Yes its have an Operator Interface but ain't shit to do as for day to day control. I set a few control point about 1 year ago and just mix nute/watch/support my ladies bud sites.

As for the statement "Allmost complete automation for 100$", i feel is misleading. See complete automation is the whole enchilada. There are so many holes in this concept.

Yes, I agree, that my approach is not complete but it works for me.

Stoned78 - don't take it negative but my 11/2 cent worth.

-
ICRSN

 

[stoned78]

I have been running with this system for a while now... 6 months no real problems. runs perfect for me. been toying with many different systems the past 14 years and this is the best I can find that is under 100$
the broadlink rm2 pro is not a toy....far from it. gadgets maybe ...but not toys.

apart from nutrient and ph control, lamp raise. the rest runs automatic here... so yes for 100$... not all the wires... no laptop running...all controlled from phone.
the ifttt options gives you so many variations.
you answer like I used complete automation word... but state that i did not.




simple "If this then that"

just my 11 1/2 cent. the rm2 pro is worth it alone for the 40$ ...try it out

I use the lxg timer digital ballasts from gib lighting ... they are IR controlled so you got the different ballast control options added aswell.

 

[fonzee]

Just got the RM Pro and set it with the Air Conditioning. I could time different commands to the AC, but could make it depend on the temperature the AC measured.
Is there a way to put the temp. sensor reading as an IF command to give a certain command to the AC?

 

[exploziv]

Ofc you can do it. It's same as you would turn on a heater/cooler, but you replace the code to turn that on with the respective A/C command you need to be executed in each case.

 

[fonzee]

Ofc you can do it. It's same as you would turn on a heater/cooler, but you replace the code to turn that on with the respective A/C command you need to be executed in each case.

How?...

 

[exploziv]

At first I thought it's an ir controller for arduino. But there is no problem. You need to get an ir emitter and an ir receiver for arduino, do the code to read the A/C remote codes with the ir receiver and arduino, then use arduino with the emitter pointed to the A/C to control it.
This one might help you: https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/riyazdeen/arduino-universal-ir-remote-5352ea
PS.. you RM master will not be used in this project. Because it would be harder to learn to talk via internet to RM master than to use ir to yhe a/c, and also more expensive in parts.

 

[AvidLerner]

You could also use an Itead or an ESP8266 with wifi connected and smarttphone access for your relay.

I have completed the ini9tial programming phase for the grow room automation system. I am looking at a modular approach and plug and play.

I have completed re-programming of the ERSP8266 module to control 6 relays, current 10A 120v, 3.3v - 5v control. I am using mqtt as the message transport system and they are all talking. Te ESP logs onto the router and logs into mqtt and node-red logs into mqtt and gets messages and provides control over the relays on/off. I am working on dimming next, as well as the temperature and humidity data to control the whole system.

The final product will run on rpi3+ with openHAB, mqtt with 250m gb HDD, single zone 6 relays for lights, fans, water pumps, heating/cooling, relative humidity, and CO2.

peace

 

[bikhomes]

My local shop just started carrying Hydropods products and sold me a pretty complete set up at near cost to get some into the wild.

I've spent a few hours with it so far, as well as talked to their support a couple times, and I'm impressed. I was recently going to upgrade to an Intellidose + 4 pumps (for auto dosing reservoirs) which ran me around $2300 IIRC. The Hydropods nutrient controller/monitor was far cheaper and I bought 6 pumps, and can use an unlimited number of pumps/additives.

I've got the environmental side up and running with temp/humidity monitoring and co2 monitoring+control. So far so good.

Cool thing is, it's all set up via Android or IOS device. Pretty slick. All remote controllable and interfaces with Nest Cameras, although those cameras are way too expensive.

I'll have a full system of the hydropods up and running in the next week or so, I'll report back.

http://hydropods.com/