UFO LED or HPS 250w

[Loki7]

hey man that a great electric calculator.

i've been thinking of a plc controlled grow. ever look into what it would take to automate the watering? i checked it out a bout 3 years ago and it wasn't that expensive to diy.

You mean my relay controller software...

Yeah, its nice because it uses a set starting point to determine where in the on/off cycle each relay is at... So, if I lose power, it goes right back to where its supposed to be... which is nice because timing the lights with regular timers would be a nightmare to keep in sync...

-Loki

 

[FLOWER PIMP]

That's my idea. The reasoning behind it has to do with Pr and Pfr. The red at the end maximizes the Pfr and the UV/Blue start of the cycle preserves the Pr for as long as possible. I've got another tote that's going UV/blue 24/7 and red 12/12 with 5 second bursts of far red every 10 minutes the red LEDs are off. So far, its looking good, but these plants I did sort of a micro super cropping, so they look stranger than the Jack Herer grow log plant. And I've taken no end of shit over that friggin plant, fuck if I'm showing the odd ball stuff...

-Loki

hats off to he who cracks the code!

since you are into experimenting like that, you should do a grow where the leds are on small movable platforms, maybe groups of 10. grow out a plant and then put the platforms directly above each bud site. you could change the light patterns on different bud sites and show the end results. then we know what works best.

i bet if you got those led's even closer to the plant leaves, the results would be better.

i'm lazy and don't want to read backwards. do you have a part number or model number for those LEDS?

instead of betting 1K against led grows, i should throw to an R&D lab...

 

[FLOWER PIMP]

You mean my relay controller software...

Yeah, its nice because it uses a set starting point to determine where in the on/off cycle each relay is at... So, if I lose power, it goes right back to where its supposed to be... which is nice because timing the lights with regular timers would be a nightmare to keep in sync...

-Loki

i actually ment bigbudballs sig.

but thats wild too. so are you contolling the lights with your PC?

 

[BigBudBalls]

i actually ment bigbudballs sig.

but thats wild too. so are you contolling the lights with your PC?

????

I do have a fully automated system myself. PLC controlled (with a little Mac/Insteon influence.)

What do you want to know?

I can water either room, lights, fan CO2, webcam all from the road.

 

[BigBudBalls]

You mean my relay controller software...

Yeah, its nice because it uses a set starting point to determine where in the on/off cycle each relay is at... So, if I lose power, it goes right back to where its supposed to be... which is nice because timing the lights with regular timers would be a nightmare to keep in sync...

-Loki

That and a single controller is SO nice. Everything is running on the same clock and knows about the other systems. And RS485 can run some killer distances. (gotta love differential comms protocols)

 

[FLOWER PIMP]

wtf is going on here....

now i''m confused and don't know if i can get my words to the right people tonight...


lets try..


so, I was saying, mr. bigballs, i checked out your sig and i like the elecusagecostscalc. its very nice. i just ran a quick count on my setup. i have wanted to but never actually sit donw and penciled it out.

i then saw your setup with the plc. and how you take off from time to time, i then wondered if you ever tried automating your water system, i see that it is gravitiy controlled, but did a few quick designs and came up with some cheap diy autowatering systems a few years ago and never emplimented it. i would have posted in your thread but it didn't look active. good grow by the way.


then ....

LOKI posted his auto timer program for the lights. i had never seen of this before, quickly browsing your thread, i wondered if you were controlling your setup with your PC?




hope that helps.

 

[Loki7]

i actually ment bigbudballs sig.

but thats wild too. so are you contolling the lights with your PC?

Lights, fans and aerator pumps...

-Loki

 

[FLOWER PIMP]

and now you say something about rs485, and i'm wondering did i miss some system specs? whose using communication in there grow?

 

[Loki7]

instead of betting 1K against led grows, i should throw to an R&D lab...

Shit yeah, do both... I could use a grand and a lab...

-Loki

 

[FLOWER PIMP]

Lights, fans and aerator pumps...

-Loki

sheewwww... what a day to type my thoughts. perhaps i got to many today...

so your using your pc to control your lights, fans and pumps? did you write a program to control your serial port or are you using I/O cards?

i have been thinking about this for years...

 

[Loki7]

and now you say something about rs485, and i'm wondering did i miss some system specs? whose using communication in there grow?

I'm not using rs485... That software controls these relay boards...

That's the 25 amp power supply under them. You can just barely see where the rj45 cable plugs into the relay board on the right... The one on the left is for an older style tote...

Here a shot of the base lifted out of the tote...

A peek inside the tote with all the lights on...

Here'sthe CO2 tent... and Q1 on a monitor arm...

Tote w/o the base in it...

-Loki

 

[BigBudBalls]

and now you say something about rs485, and i'm wondering did i miss some system specs? whose using communication in there grow?

Ok, yes I have a fully automated watering system. well semi. With the webcam I can peek in and see if it needs watering. Don't wanna drown the gals.
Its no longer gravity. Its a bucket with a float valve to maintain a level. Then a pump is switched on for however long I feel it needs. Fed through irrigation lines and adjustable drippers, so I can tailor the feeding per plant.(sucks setting that up) I can adjust it to water the flower room every 4 days and the veg room every 6 days, or any number, if I like.

I can turn on the webcams only when I wanna look then off (better security then on full time)

CO2 level can be maintained and/or adjusted, system turned on/off with a click of the mouse from the road or the touchscreen interface at home. (along with all systems)

Venting fans controlled by temps which tied to the CO2, so CO2 is off during venting. and CO2 an only be on when lights are on.

And now multiply that by two rooms. The PLC is Ethernet/ModBUS enabled, and can talk to a slew of other devices in the house.


But for a quick DIY watering, a bucket, airstone/pump, and a timer.

(job I'm on now is a 4-5 weeker 1000 miles from home. And plants look just wonderful)

 

[BigBudBalls]

Here a shot of the base lifted out of the tote...

the

-Loki

Can you pull a loose tooth with that too??

(sorry, I thought it was funny, the string on the door knob.)

And talk about one hijacked thread! LOL

 

[Loki7]

Can you pull a loose tooth with that too??

(sorry, I thought it was funny, the string on the door knob.)

And talk about one hijacked thread! LOL

You know when I took that pic, I thought some dumbass (no offense) is going to lol the white ribbon that pulls base out... figgers it'd be you...

When I hyjack a thread, I fucking hyjack a thread... I don't plan on hanging around though, so I thought I'd show a bit of the grow setup for those who don't want to register at CC *nudge* *nudge*

I'm done now... I'm returning the thread to its previously scheduled topic...

-Loki

 

[FLOWER PIMP]

I'm not using rs485... That software controls these relay boards...

That's the 25 amp power supply under them. You can just barely see where the rj45 cable plugs into the relay board on the right... The one on the left is for an older style tote...


Here a shot of the base lifted out of the tote...


A peek inside the tote with all the lights on...


Here'sthe CO2 tent... and Q1 on a monitor arm...


Tote w/o the base in it...


-Loki

Ok, yes I have a fully automated watering system. well semi. With the webcam I can peek in and see if it needs watering. Don't wanna drown the gals.
Its no longer gravity. Its a bucket with a float valve to maintain a level. Then a pump is switched on for however long I feel it needs. Fed through irrigation lines and adjustable drippers, so I can tailor the feeding per plant.(sucks setting that up) I can adjust it to water the flower room every 4 days and the veg room every 6 days, or any number, if I like.

I can turn on the webcams only when I wanna look then off (better security then on full time)

CO2 level can be maintained and/or adjusted, system turned on/off with a click of the mouse from the road or the touchscreen interface at home. (along with all systems)

Venting fans controlled by temps which tied to the CO2, so CO2 is off during venting. and CO2 an only be on when lights are on.

And now multiply that by two rooms. The PLC is Ethernet/ModBUS enabled, and can talk to a slew of other devices in the house.


But for a quick DIY watering, a bucket, airstone/pump, and a timer.

(job I'm on now is a 4-5 weeker 1000 miles from home. And plants look just wonderful)

so, i see. i must get busy. this is my first ganja grow. i operated a cactus farm for 5 years (only like 2x3). nothing really exceptional, all during this i said i will grow ganja one day when i get a house.

one day, i too will share pics with these kinda technological controls.



both of those systems are bad ass. bottom line.

Loki- did your purchase the relay boards as a whole or build them.

bigballs- what else (around ur house) is tied to your plc?


if i ever had a place to use this. it would be now. i doubt much else could get a rise outa me like an automated grower.

kiss-asshahahaha, if any thing thanks for the insperation

 

[BigBudBalls]

You know when I took that pic, I thought some dumbass (no offense) is going to lol the white ribbon that pulls base out... figgers it'd be you...

When I hyjack a thread, I fucking hyjack a thread... I don't plan on hanging around though, so I thought I'd show a bit of the grow setup for those who don't want to register at CC *nudge* *nudge*

I'm done now... I'm returning the thread to its previously scheduled topic...

-Loki

I tend to notice them little things. Especially if I can find some humor in it.

 

[Loki7]

sheewwww... what a day to type my thoughts. perhaps i got to many today...

so your using your pc to control your lights, fans and pumps? did you write a program to control your serial port or are you using I/O cards?

i have been thinking about this for years...

This thread has been returned to the topic of UFO vs 250w HPS... Smart money is on the HPS...

-Loki

ps... psst... yes, lights, pump and fans... yes again, my program, it controls 2 USB relay boards...

 

[BigBudBalls]

bigballs- what else (around ur house) is tied to your plc?


if i ever had a place to use this. it would be now. i doubt much else could get a rise outa me like an automated grower.

PLC wise nothing really (gotta crack the ModBUS to Mac first). Was going to hook the alarm system into it. Most of the home automation is Insteon/X10 based.
I have a couple Ethernet serial & DIO 'boxes' that I haven't tossed into the works yet. (could work PLC and/or Insteon wise)

Home automation wise, pretty much all is controlled. When I am flying home I'll adjust the temp so its nice when I get home. When waiting for my bags, I'll turn on the lights (with a 20 minute delay - drive home)
Also been sampling wind speeds (an temp , humidity, etc) every 1/2 hour. Wanna see if a wind turbine will work by me. Doesn't look like it.

Plan on using some motion detectors to tell if I'm home or not and what room I'm in and adjust the house accordingly.
Its all scriptable and quick (but not instantly).

The veggy Hydroponic (real vegetables, I swear) pump is on that system too.

 

[FLOWER PIMP]

What do you guys think is better... a UFO 90w LED light or HPS 250w light?

2 plants, small growing enclosure

so what do you think now? have anybody answered your question to a satisfiable degree? I hope you have enjoyed the extras as have i.

 

[FLOWER PIMP]

PLC wise nothing really (gotta crack the ModBUS to Mac first). Was going to hook the alarm system into it. Most of the home automation is Insteon/X10 based.
I have a couple Ethernet serial & DIO 'boxes' that I haven't tossed into the works yet. (could work PLC and/or Insteon wise)

Home automation wise, pretty much all is controlled. When I am flying home I'll adjust the temp so its nice when I get home. When waiting for my bags, I'll turn on the lights (with a 20 minute delay - drive home)
Also been sampling wind speeds (an temp , humidity, etc) every 1/2 hour. Wanna see if a wind turbine will work by me. Doesn't look like it.

Plan on using some motion detectors to tell if I'm home or not and what room I'm in and adjust the house accordingly.
Its all scriptable and quick (but not instantly).

The veggy Hydroponic (real vegetables, I swear) pump is on that system too.

my girlfriend was just reading this and figured you are further along than i. she wants to do you now. not really it was a joke between us.

i would like to know more about your hydroponic veggies. my next event is indoor spinach. i'm going to bed now though, i gotta work off my girl friends edge...