Testing the Aerolife True HPA AA (Air Atomized) System -First run

[Trichy Bastard]

Thanks for those comparisons and the time you took for that... It would seem the Bambi in the youtube video is louder than I expected, so I assume the microphone was quite close? I like it better when they have a common comparison sound along with it as a benchmark. I remember you sent me a while back a sample of your compressor, and it was fairly quiet until you tripped over the dog lol... Are you using a standard compressor in an enclosure, or a silent type compressor additionally quieted by the enclosure? Do you recall the rated decibels of that particular Bambi model?

 

[Atomizer]

The 35/20 is 40db according to the spec. Its all relative to distance and there`s bound to be at least one door in the way. Mine isnt much louder without the enclosure but it keeps the dust off.
The compressor is a reconditioned 3/4hp commercial refrigeration unit (weighing 14kg) grafted onto a shop compressor tank (6,6gal) and hardware. I replaced the pressure switch with a wider range job and added/modded other bits and pieces.
It does 61lpm (2.15cfm) open flow and 47lpm (1.65cfm) at 7bar.


Here`s a link to all the bambi specs: http://www.bambi-air.co.uk/downloads.html
The atomix used the BB24 (budget range), mine is pretty close to the 75/250 (md range)

 

[Trichy Bastard]

The 35/20 is 40db according to the spec. Its all relative to distance and there`s bound to be at least one door in the way. Mine isnt much louder without the enclosure but it keeps the dust off.
The compressor is a reconditioned 3/4hp commercial refrigeration unit (weighing 14kg) grafted onto a shop compressor tank (6,6gal) and hardware. I replaced the pressure switch with a wider range job and added/modded other bits and pieces.
It does 61lpm (2.15cfm) open flow and 47lpm (1.65cfm) at 7bar.
View attachment 2113724 View attachment 2113726

Here`s a link to all the bambi specs: http://www.bambi-air.co.uk/downloads.html
The atomix used the BB24 (budget range), mine is pretty close to the 75/250 (md range)

Again, thanks for the info and links. That's a pretty nice homebrew compressor you've made there... I have an older working spare fridge I am going to look at the specs on and see if it'd be worthwhile using for this. Does the oil pose any longterm issues for the AA nozzles?

 

[Atomizer]

I use a 10 micron trap/filter between the compressor output and the check valve on the tank. In 40 hours of runtime (>5,000 cubic ft of air) i havent seen any evidence of oil in the receiver, root chamber or run off container. If you choose the wrong compressor they can spit out a lot of oil, i have a few in the shed that did just that so they didnt make the grade You`ll need to find the spec to the compressor as it`ll tell you how much oil it takes, adding too much is as bad as not adding enough. To make things more interesting, the type of oil is important and you have to figure when the compressor needs some as they dont have a sight glass like the bambi.
Here`s the latest test, a 2hp shop compressor at 1ft compared to the silent at 1ft with the enclosure door open, i dont think a box will tame it

 

[DIYer]

That root chamber is laughably small for the $1000 you paid. You say going AA will blow mist further, who cares, you got no where to go with it, lol.. Those nozzle$, mounted in that small cube, remind me of folks who drop a 350 into a Chevette, lol
All that to grow one plant

 

[PetFlora]

Apparently you are incapable of thinking outside the box

Seems incongruous to your UN

According to their www, parts are available separately

 

[Trichy Bastard]

I use a 10 micron trap/filter between the compressor output and the check valve on the tank. In 40 hours of runtime (>5,000 cubic ft of air) i havent seen any evidence of oil in the receiver, root chamber or run off container. If you choose the wrong compressor they can spit out a lot of oil, i have a few in the shed that did just that so they didnt make the grade You`ll need to find the spec to the compressor as it`ll tell you how much oil it takes, adding too much is as bad as not adding enough. To make things more interesting, the type of oil is important and you have to figure when the compressor needs some as they dont have a sight glass like the bambi.
Here`s the latest test, a 2hp shop compressor at 1ft compared to the silent at 1ft with the enclosure door open, i dont think a box will tame it
View attachment 2113875

Wow- that's a bit of a difference- guess my neighbors are just gonna have to hate me for a couple weeks... LOL

 

[Trichy Bastard]

That root chamber is laughably small for the $1000 you paid. You say going AA will blow mist further, who cares, you got no where to go with it, lol.. Those nozzle$, mounted in that small cube, remind me of folks who drop a 350 into a Chevette, lol
All that to grow one plant

The point was I was interested in testing the entire product as is... As Petflora mentions, the nozzles are also available seperately for DIYer's such as yourself, and even myself eventually. To be honest, one good run of this kit with a high dollar crop could easily have it pay for itself. We are different people with different motivations, however you don't see me taking pot shots at your idea to use high pressure mist to cool your house. I'm the kind of guy who would drop the cash for a central AC installation and move on the the next issue, while you'll still be stuck trying to get over your huge medical bills for Legionairre's Disease...

 

[Mike Young]

Boom! I'd drop a 350 in a corvair, rear swing axle & all. So trichy dropped some change on an aero rig... What's the problem? If it turns out a bust, guess what? You and everybody who reads this will know not to copy it's design. It's not my money, so I appreciate the time spent documenting the thing. I'm pretty sure that you'll learn something here. Shit, I had to look up Legionairre's disease. I thought it interesting that they use UV light to combat it, but UV + ultrasonics work better. There ya go. Fit a black light to a fogger & turn it loose!

Behold! The immense cooling effects of fog! Oh. Turns out it can't cool your house or finish out plants.

 

[Trichy Bastard]

LOL Mike... hehe... Well thanks for the acknowledgement, the big picture is I want to know and always have wanted to know if there can be a decent viable commerical answer to HPA (that also isn't $5k). This was the only time I saw any promise whatsoever, and we're all on this ride together now... I understand alot of you are saying "I wouldn't do that without knowing" but the fact is someone has got to do it, and I had enough interest to go for it. How much have people dropped in Vegas for no apparent reason? -This surely is a better prospect than that. Also, if you notice- the pics on the Aerolife site of the roots aren't too bad. At least there's a fair chance this thing works. Those Tree-frog roots didn't look anything like the Aerolife ones.

 

[Atomizer]

What's the problem? If it turns out a bust, guess what? You and everybody who reads this will know not to copy it's design. It's not my money, so I appreciate the time spent documenting the thing. I'm pretty sure that you'll learn something here.

I agree, in a few years time when AA is more common, people will be thinking..thank god someone was willing to put their cash on the line and do the legwork so we can just go out and buy all the right stuff risk free. HP was exactly the same in that respect. My motto is, if you can`t afford to buy it..then find a way to homebrew it instead

 

[DIYer]

The point was I was interested in testing the entire product as is... As Petflora mentions, the nozzles are also available seperately for DIYer's such as yourself, and even myself eventually. To be honest, one good run of this kit with a high dollar crop could easily have it pay for itself. We are different people with different motivations, however you don't see me taking pot shots at your idea to use high pressure mist to cool your house. I'm the kind of guy who would drop the cash for a central AC installation and move on the the next issue, while you'll still be stuck trying to get over your huge medical bills for Legionairre's Disease...

When it comes to my not all that uncommon idea in the SW, to use mist to aid in cooling, you couldn't take accurate pot shots anyway, because you have no idea the conditions in which it will be taking place ocean boy. I on the other hand, see exactly the conditions you're roots will be in. I think it pretty obvious it'd be ideal to use such a high priced system on a flowering plant, to see what it can really do, and my better then most soakponics would fill that 17" cube full of roots. Make all the cute thinking outside the box jokes you want, doesn't change the fact you're the one stuck in one, and will be tossing it before you flip to 12/12 if you're smart. Two huge white garbage cans stacked with insulating foam in between would be a better home for your $160 nozzles. I don't know who the hell else here was lining up to buy that over priced POS, so i don't know who you think your blazing a trail for in that respect, but ummm, thanks i guess? lol

 

[Trichy Bastard]

When it comes to my not all that uncommon idea in the SW, to use mist to aid in cooling, you couldn't take accurate pot shots anyway, because you have no idea the conditions in which it will be taking place ocean boy. I on the other hand, see exactly the conditions you're roots will be in. I think it pretty obvious it'd be ideal to use such a high priced system on a flowering plant, to see what it can really do, and my better then most soakponics would fill that 17" cube full of roots. Make all the cute thinking outside the box jokes you want, doesn't change the fact you're the one stuck in one, and will be tossing it before you flip to 12/12 if you're smart. Two huge white garbage cans stacked with insulating foam in between would be a better home for your $160 nozzles. I don't know who the hell else here was lining up to buy that over priced POS, so i don't know who you think your blazing a trail for in that respect, but ummm, thanks i guess? lol

Ahhh DIYer... I thought after all the PM help I gave you you might be a little more respectful- c'mon man... We all have this love for aero thing in common, lets just work with that and agree to disagree on some other points. My testing this thing out isn't hurting you in any way is it? So why be so gruff... If I were you I'd keep my thoughts to myself and sit back and watch me and see if there isn't at least something to be learned... Surely something will come out of this- don't you think? Worst case scenario I can definitively tell people this thing aint worth it- but I am not qualified to make that call until I've seen it for myself is my logic.

 

[PetFlora]

Here's what I have seen in my own rig. I was using a single 4 head mister (configured like 2 doubles), but running off one manifold supply line. Each mister is on the end of an arm, each arm ~ 4" from the SINGLE main incoming supply line. Each arm articulates. Even though I was aiming them in 4 different directions, I was not getting the coverage, as the roots closest to the manifold blocked the mist from reaching those farther away. Replacing it with separate dual heads (2 separate supply lines) solved the problem, and I'm thinking 4 singles spread farther apart would be even better once the 5 root masses each reaches volleyball size.

With that as perspective, I would be mindful of where to aim the AA nozzle. It could be down is the best bet

 

[DIYer]

I don't find it dis-"respectful", when anyone drops there 2 cents in my bank. You're bias cuz you paid for it, I'm not. I'd see that as a good thing personally. You say you wanna test the whole system he sells as is,.. umm why? That's going backwards, specifically with what we now know about more ideal root zone sizes. It doesn't take a test run over old footprints to be "qualified" to say it's not worth spending a grand for an undersized one plant pod. The nozzles seem worth there weight in gold, at least since you paid that much for them, so why not give them the best home to work there AA magic, if any over your current awesome solenoid at every mister deck box setup. Actually, putting them in any root chamber very different from the deck box you worked with is going to add a lot of distance between the comparability, and in turn, cloud sight of the advantages of what you just bought. If you just want to play for the sake of playing,.... ok i guess, and it's your stuff now do what you want, i just think, if we're not trying to advance this field using everything we've learned, we're wasting time.

 

[Atomizer]

The thread title is "testing the aerolife AA", i take that to mean "as is", small chamber, warts and all. The only real difference will be the solenoid to get short mist pulses, so its more in line with the atomix.
If the roots push the lid off the small chamber inside a week thats great, it means it works and he has a baseline to work from. Testing isnt a waste of time if you learn something from it.

PF: you have to fire AA`s into open space as they have a helluva throwing distance. The plume is no more forceful than a hydraulic with 100psi on it, it just travels a lot further.

 

[DIYer]

The thread title is "testing the aerolife AA", i take that to mean "as is", small chamber, warts and all. The only real difference will be the solenoid to get short mist pulses, so its more in line with the atomix.
If the roots push the lid off the small chamber inside a week thats great, it means it works and he has a baseline to work from. Testing isnt a waste of time if you learn something from it.

PF: you have to fire AA`s into open space as they have a helluva throwing distance. The plume is no more forceful than a hydraulic with 100psi on it, it just travels a lot further.

Hey man, i don't care what the title of the thread was misnamed, lol.. "testing" isn't testing at all, and is very much a waste of time, if you only learn what you already knew, or don't learn nearly all you could because you chopped yourself off at the knees to start right? If all you're able to do is veg for a few weeks in that cube it's woefully not worth the cost, if you get longer in it then the nozzles didn't do enough to justify there cost. Yippie you can blow mist a mile at 100 PSI,.. oh i mean 17", and at less PSI to get the right droplet size. I got misters that cost $2.50 that can do that, with the right size droplets, at a higher PSI to boot. That's a pretty nasty wart you got there, lol.. If you really knew adding air into the mix produced more fruit to justify the mod, you'd think there'd be a much cheaper way, to just add an air compressor line down toward all your misters, and get the same propelling effect. Even a quick google product search yielded me AA nozzles cheaper then $160. Get ready to make another root zone is all i guess im saying.

 

[Atomizer]

The air propelled mist is just a byproduct of the shearing process, the droplets are formed and propelled at the same time. Your idea of putting air into the mist wouldnt work, you`ll just blow the mist out of the way

 

[DIYer]

Ok,.. so if in a true AA nozzle the droplets are being 'sheared', well that would explain there being undersized. But if the goal is to move 50 micron droplets further, with more force, so as to penetrate the pom poms you're growing, why not just crank up the PSI on your existing HPA systems, and maybe also get nozzles with less of a mist angle? Seems like you might be able to get the same effect, while working with the right size droplets.

 

[Atomizer]

Ok,.. so if in a true AA nozzle the droplets are being 'sheared', well that would explain there being undersized. But if the goal is to move 50 micron droplets further, with more force, so as to penetrate the pom poms you're growing, why not just crank up the PSI on your existing HPA systems, and maybe also get nozzles with less of a mist angle? Seems like you might be able to get the same effect, while working with the right size droplets.

because cranking up the psi increases the flowrate.. AA`s can vary the droplet size independantly to the flowrate by the ratio of air pressure to water pressure (pressure fed) or air pressure and syphon height (syphon fed). Hydraulics can only be varied by the pressure, affecting both the droplet size and flowrate.