Using computer to control temps fans & more

[Guest]

I have been thinking about using my computer to control things in my grow room.

First using Webcamsto look into the room; the benifits of this would be:
-Survalliance, have it recording to check back later what happened in your room
-Checking temperature or other gaugesby having a webcam pointed at the gauges (by recording this you can check temperture drops at certain times of the day and other useful information in your room)
-Making sure no electrical or other technical issue is taking place
-I am sure everyone will think of some more....

Below is a cam with night vision, mic, and 1.3 mega pixel camera. $4.99
There are also webcams with built in wireless but I just bought a long usb female/male wire 50 ft long 5$

Secondaly using a computer to control fan speeds and turning them on/off. Using an external power supply (1000w for $60) you can run up 600 watts of fans considerign the computer needs some to operate as well. Of course you can connect the computer to a switch that connects all the fans to one power source then you can Control alot more fans. With some more tweaks I guess you guys can figure some cool ways.

Below is a link to program FREEWARE that can control computer fan speeds.
http://www.download.com/SpeedFan/3000-2094_4-10067444.html?tag=lst-1

Please add any ideas You might have!!
I am implementing the wecam idea in my grow dairy the link is below in my signature

 

[Kizzattack]

Is there any more information about controlling fans from the program?

I have an empty mini-fridge next to my computer that would be perfect for this. The only problem is that I can't use in incase anybody else uses my computer and hears the fans. It would be useful if I could monitor the temperature and control the fan speed on my computer.

 

[yamaha_1fan]

www.growtronix.com.

Maybe a little pricey for the micro grower but it will do alot more then point a camera at a gauge

 

[Pistil Whipped]

Definitely check out growtronix. The power outlets can be controlled by the computer and with a good variety of sensors you can keep as tight of control on your environment as you see fit. Your can even use their software to create a time lapse video of your grow if you have a webcam.

Pistil Whipped

 

[hurricane]

That growtronix is very interesting, if a little pricy. Something more do it yourself i saw another user post is phidgets. Growtronix seems like the same idea as phidgets, just all put together in the right parts, and with the software aleady written(important for most ppl Nice find.

Hurricane

 

[phr3d0m2gr0]

Very interesting topic. I'm currently in an electonics class and we are building circuits with temp sensors and light sensors. I think it would be great if we had some people here on ICMAG that could get together and create a DIY to create all the hardware and write some software.

-Phr3

 

[green_tea]

That was me! I plan on using phidgets in my big setup once I start it. The programming is going to be intense as I want it to collect and store data; I should probably work on that software now, the API calls are extremely confusing for the hardware when I glanced over the manual.

 

[TheGhost]

I can just see LEO sitting around drinking coffee checking out the camera feeds because someone hacked your network.
If you go wireless you better know how to protect your network.

Great idea though, I have always wanted to have some software that could control everything.

 

[phr3d0m2gr0]

That was me! I plan on using phidgets in my big setup once I start it. The programming is going to be intense as I want it to collect and store data; I should probably work on that software now, the API calls are extremely confusing for the hardware when I glanced over the manual.

Have you already bought the phidgets? or are you planning on buying them? I would really be interested in what you do if you can document it.

-Phr3

 

[krustytheclown]

If you don't mind me saying so, I STRONGLY recommend staying with your original plan of using a hard line to connect your computer to the sensors and camera. If your local police department can't hack a grower's wireless network, the Sheriff's office can. If the Sheriff can't, then the state police can. If the state or local police can't, they will hire out to IT departments at colleges or businesses to hack your network for them. If they can't, then the DEA, Secret Service and/or FBI can.

Good luck and be careful!

 

[green_tea]

I havent bought one yet, but I plan to when my bank account becomes positive with the money ill be making at my new job

(mainly so I can mess around with it long before I use it)

not sure what API I'm going to use though... Java would probably be better for the GUI aspect... but I know C++ much better and GUI is probably hard in C++

 

[Stay Puft]

Have you seen this thread?:
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=54894
The thread got a little out of hand, but it has some good ideas in it.
That thread got me playing with the one-wire devices. (Hobby-boards.com)
For software-I tried using Mr. House with my One-wire devices but never got far with it. (actually MH crashes my WIN98 machine)

I am fine with the Hardware-- It is the software where I struggle.
I would love to see an open source, Java based application similar to the Growtronix software. (Too bad GT doesn't sell the Software standalone without the need to "authenticate" each hardware device. I would buy it....hint,hint,---nudge,nudge)
Good luck with your project. (and new job)
Regards,
Stay_Puft

 

[Stay Puft]

I noticed you said you purchased a 50ft USB cable.
hmmm...I was under the impression the the maximum length for a passive USB 2.0 cable is 5 meters. That is not to say you can't find a 50 ft cable, but will it work reliably with cam/pc? (might not -IMO)

I know you can extend the specified 15m distance with an active device like a hub or extender/driver of some sort. But 50ft passive????
Regards,
Stay_Puft

 

[RED145]

Joe Grow is a pretty interesting cheaper angle on things,worth a look anyway.
Now hook me up with a link for that cheap ass 1.3 mp cam,shit,at that price I want 10 of em,looks cool!!
http://www.joegrow.com

LOL,I was just over a growtronix,joe's a little cheaper but hell ya really cant call any of these things cheap!!I love the idea tho,a pc would grow some fool-proof Dank!!

 

[Stay Puft]

My over-priced 2 cents:
Please don't take offense RED145 but
I took a quick look at Joegrow..and man.
Growtronix spanks these people. In more ways than one. Look at the price tags for starters!
(For the record- I am not a GT fan/customer. But i think the Co. has made a nice "off the shelf"product. And have shown that they actually do support their stuff.)

The "Computer System Requirements" at JoeGrow states:
* PC Running Windows XP Operating System
* Pentium 90

Pentium90???...That seems odd, I thought the evil empire (MS) says the minimum system requirements for XP (home) is a233-MHz required;* Think they really tried it?

That site looks kinda thin...if you know what i mean.
But that is just my 2 pennies worth.
Regards,
Stay_Puft

 

[RED145]

I see what ya mean Puft,no offense,I caught the thread and did a little diggin.I've been to both and growtronix is a lot more polished.maybe joes a smoker and cant spell good!!!

 

[green_tea]

time to get reading on that thread!

and then to work on some flowcharts for it and see how complicated the coding really would be.

man I cannot wait to graduate (3 months). so many hobbies to pursue!
(could get a much better job and maybe a move to California)

 

[IGrowWithLEDs]

Growtronix itself is great, but DJ, the person who runs it, has been known to screw over MANY people. I would not consider growtronix unless you live close enough to him (california) to be able to take what you pay for manually from him. Look at DeadlyFoez experience with growtronix and how he is still today waiting for his $300 meter 2 years later.

But if you dont mind being dicked around and losing out on a few hundred dollars, then go ahead and buy into growtronix.

The speedfan program is not %100 and does not work properly with all chipsets. I am a computer tech and I've been a tech as an occupation for 4+ years and I have a lot of experience with speedfan and I strongly know of it's shortcomings. It is not something you should rely on. I'd put more faith into growtronix than I would speedfan.

 

[Guest]

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