DIY Grow Control: Fans, Lights, Hydro Pumps, Temp and Humidity

The mg-811 is a chemical sensor. We should be looking for a cost effective NDIR sensor. The only one I have spent time on really looking into is from a company called DCS , the AirSense Model 300 - http://www.dcs-inc.net/m300.htm . But like you said, they can be quite pricey, so I understand why my GreenAir set point controller was like $400..

What are you doing with your sensor data once samples are taken? I can't wait to get my ethernet shield... then I am going to change some of the logic around internally, so that - arduino takes samples of temp and humidity every so often and stores the result in a file (only one line and the most recent sample) on the sdcard, then the server on arduino listens for formatted commands to respond with the data. The control software is located on a linux machine and is on the same network, it sends commands(interupt) to the arduino to turn on or off relays, and send latest sensor data (each has unique command and response). This way the linux machine is doing all the logging, decision making, and timing (as well as security system and secure web server with TLS (and if I am away from home, to even get to that webpage i have to ssh tunnel, so by the time I see any critical data, it is encrypted via ssh and ssl... and I might even point the ssh to a tor hidden service..)). Also to note, I plan to put arduino on separate network from normal home network, no 802.11, and the linux machine that is on both networks has iptables... so packets can't get across.

OMG.... This is amazing stuff! I have been tossing this around in my head for a while and looking at different options here and there. This is fantastic!!! Haven't read this whole thread yet but am going to for sure!!!

Just found an awesome prices c02 NDIR sensor today..... The MH-Z14 available from Futurlec fro $109.. I will be ordering one soon. Communicates via UART, has unique address (can have multiple sensors, and log the data of each separately. even if you unplug and reconfigure, the module has the same address). http://www.futurlec.com/Gas_Sensors.shtml down the page, not the one up top.

When I start traveling again, this is definately on the list of projects. Thanks for the info.

2nd time, I like this thread !

With electronics and micro-controllers as hobby I'm also automating my tiny garden on the attic. Emphasis on slowly, since the ladies dislike hard-/soft-ware mistakes of artificial intelligent "nature" very much.

An 2009-version arduino has been logging Air-humidity, temperature and soil-wetness to SD for the past 3 months continually without failing. I've been writing a routine to include switching lights, but want to test it thoroughly on another arduino before actually let it play for god for real. Growing on soil I still water manually and use a cheap COTS timer to switch the lights on/off for now.
I'm busy setting up an multi-controller environment, mostly for the fun of creating the project, but will probably use RS-485 to communicate in stead, much cheaper as Wireless.

It's nice to just search the forum for "arduino" or "micro controller" and get so many results, still need to check loads of the results though.

Of course I'm also interested in every component, code, schematic and PCB related.

Best wishes,

Bart.

Definatly subbed I saw sometthing like these on youtube.

CO2 meter at co2meter.com has some good choices. I have used these before with an arduino. Good price for an IR reader.
great thread.
Peace

Hey all, just an update to this thread... I finally have some extra money and caught up on bills... so my beaglebone is in the mail to start building it out on that platform. I found the arduino very restricting as its datalogging is restricted to csv files and the sql sync functions get to be a pain... I recently finalized the code for openGreenhouse v 0.1 which is based upon arduino control over serial. V0.1 was based around always having a server being able to communicate with the arduino via USB (Serial). I had it running for over 3 months with no fails to lights or anything.... until I wake up one morning, go to check it (first thing I do in morning and last thing I do before I go to bed), and the computer is totally dead, wont POST... which of coarse means my lights are off, so I had to scramble to setup crappy plastic timers again...

so the USB and two system interface is very restrictive in its nature. By utilizing a beaglebone inside a load center, The beagle itself runs linux and program logic to control on/off relays, and read sensors itself. it does all logging, sensor checking, and control itself. A cost effective open source SCADA/PLC system focused on greenhouse control.

I would like to focus on environmental automation and logging rather than nutrient dosers and such as I have seen other people build. The ability to check PH and PPM is nice and I want that data logged, however, I do not want this to be the focus of the openGreenhouse project at this time. Also I rarely get on these forums, if you want to stay up to date with the progress, watch the openGreenhouse code repository at github.

@ommpCaregiver: I also thought about that problems associated with serial comm, etc... The beaglebone sounds like a really good idea. I'm going to setup my Arduino with a SD card, that can save data and settings, etc... But I was just wondering if you ever attempted to setup your arduino to control itself, rather than be controlled by another computer that always has to be running? I really want to avoid having Windoze mess itself up and take it out on my plants. I'm currently building a VB.NET interface, and would appreciate the input. I think I'll use the SD card to store things like on/off times, and acceptable ranges for the sensors to be in (or else issue and alert - right now through the windows program)...

Damn... Now you got me thinking about a Netduino Plus... Hmm...

been on these forums for a while now but this caught my attention. One question i had was are you an electrical engineer? if not where did you learn to do this? I am currently applying to colleges for electrical engineering and planing to build a controller for a hydroponic system i built, its not for ganj at the moment but maybe later on down the road. I have read through this entire thread and one thing i am not shure on is do the sensors connect to the micro controller via wire or wireless. Thanks i am sure i will have future questions but keep this thread going, very cool.

Noooo, I can't believe this thread died already!! I honestly just bought a controller (hydrofarms autopilot greenhouse master controller) for super cheap from my local store and after reading this its really sparked an interest. I've been reading up about building my own relay timers for a while now and still haven't found a solid DIY instructions thread. But anyway, hope you guys come back sooner than later and keep this thing alive! Too good to let go!

i hope someone carries this on or can give further insight, would've been nifty.

It's not dead, just inactive.
I have two arduino controllers and a host of sensors I'm experimenting with.
My focus at the moment is determining water/nutrient levels digitally. No luck with sonic transducers or infrared units. The short distances and a tight enclosure (5 gal. bucket) have defeated those avenues. Looking for something else. Now I know how Edison felt.

Sonic is definatily the way to go... You might need a small pipe close and around the sensor, or a pipe around the sensor, and dipping into the water a bit with holes drilled on the side (to make sure the level in the pipe and the level in the reservoir are the same)

EDIT: Or else you use a float ball with a flat board attached to it via a rod. The ball floats up and down, moving the rod up and down and the plate on top. The plate is what then gets read by the sensor. You just need a guide for the rod, to keep it square.

AdvancedNewbie, looks like you know what the eff you're doing with the links to the code in your sig, I'm just curious if you know of a good DIY for building one of these for yourself? Some people had posted some websites with good cheap sensors (even co2) some where, amy have even been back in this thread some where. Anyway, I'm looking to do something like this in the future if and when my hydrofarm autopilot shits the bed. Why? you might ask? Cause I'm a hands on kinda guy and have a genuine interest in learning this shit. So, if you ever read this, lemme know what you think bro. Thanks!

I'm glad to see there's still some interest of a DIY nature. I've got some stuff to do this week, but when the weekend rolls around I should find myself with some time to post my updated code.. It's been updated awhile now, just never posted due to problems with my SD card for my Raspberry Pi. This leads me to think all of the read/writes my program has are causing my cards to fail (replaced one already). Luckly I have the images backed-up, and can just dump my custom image back on to the new SD card(s). I'm thinking of programming some SQL in, and maybe having it run on a remote server, and then having the arduino --> pi --> remote sql there by eleminating any read/write issues with the SD card, arranging the data in an organized manner, freeing up space on the SD, and hopefully speeding up the performance of the script on the Pi. I'm hoping to fixup this little unit I have on the go now, and maybe post a DIY tutorial or something. But it's pretty simple, I think a couple pics and a schematic might do all the talking. I was thinking of posting the image for the SD card somewhere too - but it's pretty big (any suggestions?). But this would allow you to dump the image on the SD and with no modifications, the Pi would be up and running listening for the Arduino. But that would be after I make the swap to SQL.

I have been using an Agrowtek growcontrol for about 3 years on and off, I wanted a system that could be controlled by a PC. The only other one I have seen is the growtronix, but I have no experience with that one. The agrowtek system did alot, but its a flimsy build, I have already gone through 3 temp/humidity sensors and 1 C02, and now its acting up again. Anyone know of any other systems that interface through the computer.

tooooo complicated for me haha

I fount the perfect thread I'm new to indoor growing sense it's illegal in my state Ill just play around wid veggies and fruit but still contribute to indoor growing who wouldn't want fresh fruit or veggies