potsmoker

I am employed in the robotics and automation field and have built a unit along with software to allow computer controlled growing.

So far, it uses temperature sensors, humidity sensors, soil moisture sensors and PH sensors.

Using the software and input from these sensors, the device controls inlet fans, output fans, growlights, heatlamps, small water pumps, steam makers and pumps to pump dissolved calcium.

Basically, I don't need to do anything to plants. I mix fertilizer into the water in 40 litre drums. I make sure the PH of this water is 6.9 - 7.1 and leave it there.

When the soil becomes dry, the pumps come on and water the plants with fertilized water for 5 minutes and then waits 12 hours before checking the moisture again.

All I do manually, is once every day or two, make sure the waterlevel in the drum is good and take measurements of plant heights.

I am interested to know if anyone else has Ideas for this device in terms of sensors, etc as I am keen to add more sensors. Currently with my circuit, I am able to control 8 inputs and 8 outputs.

Maybe, if I get enough interest, I can make them for people. Oh yeah, so far, I have spent less than US$800 to get a fully automated system. with computer logging, etc

I have 750 units in circulation in New Zealand and Australia, but mainly in large greenhouses.

Any ideas, post to this topic.

Cheers
-PS

[This message has been edited by HydroGrower (edited April 10, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by HydroGrower (edited April 13, 2000).]

squanto

Wow, that is amazing. Please tell me more, and give me a pic. I am very interestedand I would be interested in purchasing one of those "kits" from you or at least have instructions for obttaining parts and all that and putting the thing together.

peace,
Squanto

lilbuddie

SPAM!!!

potsmoker

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, helvetica, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by squanto:
Wow, that is amazing. Please tell me more, and give me a pic. I am very interestedand I would be interested in purchasing one of those "kits" from you or at least have instructions for obttaining parts and all that and putting the thing together.

peace,
Squanto<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

There is a slight problem here, I have had my E-Mail address removed from this thread by Hydro Grower to stop this looking like spam (I am looking for more Ideas for my next version).

But If you don't mind putting your E-Mail address on this thread, I can send you some info. I am not too keen to sell any current models as I am putting all of my effort into MkIII but noene the less I would be keen to tell you more about it.

Cheers

-PoTsMoKeR

HydroGrower

Hey potsmoker,

I have decided that as long as we keep e-mail addresses off this thread completely it won't pass as spam. Let's keep all the conversation on the board so everyone can read it all and learn from it. It's what we are all here for

HG

potsmoker

Okay, for all the people who know a little about computers (And I imagine most internet users will).

The current unit uses a parallel port (printer port) interface and software running on windows 95 (or higher) or dos.

Basically, this interface has 8 measurable inputs and 8 switchable outputs. These 8 inputs can measure voltages or resistance. The 8 outputs switch mains power on and off as controlled by the computer.

My personal unit currently has the following switchable outputs:
1. Intake fan
2. Output fan
3. 400w Son T Agro lamp & Ballast
4. 150w heat lamp
5. Calcium pump
6. Waterpump
7. Electric start gas burner

Inputs are:
1. Temperature probe
2. Soil moisture probe
3. Ph meter
4. CO2 sensor

It works like this:

When the temperature is too high, both fans come on.
When the temperature is too low, the heatlamp comes on.
When the Soil is too dry, the low speed waterpump comes on (pumping pre fertilized neutral PH water)
When the soil PH is acidic, calcium is added via the calcium pump.

(currently, if the soil is too alkaline, I have to fix this manually)

The CO2 sensor controls wether the gas burner comes on or not.

I made everything in terms of software and interface by hand, and it works a treat.

Does anyone have any ideas as to how else I can make this better?

Any ideas would be appreciated!

Enjoy the weekend and keep smokin the lords tobacco!

-PoTsMoKeR

squanto

Hmm that sounds interesting, where did you purchase the device and software that lets you control up to 9 power supplies through your parallel port? Also where did you get a digital pH meter, and the CO2 meter, and the water sensor and all that equipment and how much did they cost?

peace,
Squanto

Epicurus

heh, I was actually about to start looking things up to see what it'd take to do something similar myself...my idea is for hydroponics though. what language did you write the interface(s) in? are the pumps and such just controlled by a binary switch, or? any info/links/resources you could point me to would be great.
E

Epicurus

oh, I almost forgot...aren't you a little scared using a gas burning co2 generator that's automated? I mean, if the thing doesn't light, fills the room up w/ gas, and there's a spark (say, from a light going on, or some such), you could blow up your entire room/house...

Guyute

I've done some work in the microcontroller industry, more specifically using small micro controllers to check a network of temp sensors. With a little shopping you could make it PC independent and probably not that much more expensive. 800$ US isn't that much if you break down what you've listed, but initial outlay is larger and expandability with the current parallel port system is a little limited. Writing the communication routines might suck though. Just a bunch of thoughts...

-Guyute