View Full Version : Automation
oldsanclem
05-01-2007, 08:49 PM
Does anybody still use old fashion timers, with old computer around. Why would anybody us a a timer , when you can set up to 8 channels with a printer port relay $36 to $120 and a controler program likd relayrunner.With over 15 plus years of using a computer with one failure,(dam compute battery went bad the same day as the power went out) It has a restart thats part of the program. Do a search for relayrunner, it has a free test , so you can start it up , under emulation mode , make all your programs , save them , and your set.
Note you can have up to 256 different relay with 5 control times.
8 channels work great mod 74 printer relay.
Do to time problems with Windows you may be off a few seconds so remember to allow a late crop of 10 seconds. Unless you have the computer call the time thing , then your crop will not be 10 seconds late. For a fail safe thing change computer battery at Christmas, blow 3 buck on your crop.
oldsanclem
06-18-2007, 04:02 PM
Just picked up a 8 channel recorder for the system.
This saves lots of problems
What is the co2 average, and what happen if I go in the room to work
What is the water temp and times , that way you will know if everything is working
What is the room temp, are fans working, are lights working at max output, did the tank refill ,and is full.
Having grown next to narks and cops , you can not run to the grow space.
You want things to happen when noise will not be a problem, refilling tanks at 3:00 am. Venting room max to reduce total room temp. Mine is done at 3:00 to 5:30 to make max effect of cooler air.
rhizome
06-18-2007, 07:13 PM
Sanclem- what are you using for hardware?
Interface/relay board, x10?
Recorder?
I wanna clone your rig ;)
Al B. Fuct
06-19-2007, 09:34 PM
I've entertained the idea of using a PC to control a grow op- I have several relay cards for a PCI bus laying around due to my line o' work.
However, I decided use timers, both mechanical and digital for one reason- their operating systems don't crash! :D
Al B. Fuct
06-19-2007, 10:06 PM
BTW, I've seen folks use the X-10 stuff quite successfully as the X-10 control unit responsible for doing the tasks is only accessed by a PC to program it. The X-10 control module deals with the instructions on its own- and is much more stable than a PC.
oldsanclem
06-20-2007, 11:24 PM
I use 2 types
1 a printer port 74- relay box
1 pci relay card
Using relayrunner, Now the systems have been groiwing for over 12 years now and only had one failure. The computer backup battery went out the same day a power outage.
I just figure when Christmas comes I install a new computer battery.
With 3 know systems, 16 events per day That 36 years of 16 controls per day and one failure.
Note relayrunner has a restart at current time if the power failures. The only failure is the computer battery.
If your real paronoide about system crashing use a battery backup on the computer.
note the mean time between failures was 17520 to 1. About 0.000057 % failure rate.
If only windows is running with only Relayrunner , on a junk computer not much can happen.
note x-10 uses a control that florsents and mag ballast will cause a glich that will turn things on and off. As hard wired control is as safe as it gets.
oldsanclem
07-06-2007, 05:01 AM
Most of my systems are resivore is in the ground , the best system because it keeps the water cooler. ;););)
Do to problem of not being able to do that and put the holding tank 100 gallon feed troug (cattel tank):thumbsup:
You need to add one more step in the filling , empting. The in the ground way just uses gravity,(that never failed)
All is need is one more step in the filling process and one more pump, and controler. I have used it in a real small system and it worked with out a problem.
If anybody would like the plans just ask:thumbsup:
Automation makes so much easer , you can grow and leave the grow on its own for a month at a time.
Data taken , tanks filled , fill times, ph and pm , water temp,light working, sun circles working,pumps working and the best part it all simple wiring.
It makes a great system , as long as you use duck tape to keep you mouth shut. NEVER TELLING ANY BODY.
Even the narks say I have the best system and the judge commented on it.
with a med permit, takes away some of the excitment .
I even have a system to tell if cops are in the neighborhod
rhizome
07-08-2007, 01:12 AM
If anybody would like the plans just ask:thumbsup:
.
I'd love to see them, man.
with a med permit, takes away some of the excitment .
Yeah, it's just not the same if you're not being naughty...
oldsanclem
07-09-2007, 01:59 PM
I had so wired that I could tell when the cops were in the neighborhood.
Which was rough sometimes as a nark lived next door.
You gota love the technology (sp) of todays toys.
note the x10 2.4 gig camera recievers would go bonkers when cops keyed there body senders. Download relayrunner and see how easy it is, its has a fail safe feature's so a moron can set it up.
oldsanclem
07-30-2007, 05:33 PM
Relay control has worked from the Old days of DOS and batch files.
You would think people would like to up date from the 1970's to future of pot automation.
Chicken shit worked back in the 1800's should work in 2000's and with old or new free range chicken shit, both have weeds.
Pinching you plants to get more nodes worked the same way back in the 1970's
Hydro buckets are still the same size, ppm and ph have not changed.
Just a relay to put this back to the top, and open up some ones thinking.
stinkyattic
07-30-2007, 06:02 PM
Yeah, it's just not the same if you're not being naughty...
I now understand why you have not redirected your enthusiasm for growing indoors into a psychotic impulse to collect rare orchids.
oldsanclem
08-23-2007, 03:39 AM
I forgot to note that solid state relays can be big enough to drive 50 amps or more or 5 1000 watters. Remember that larger < 20 amps require a heat sink. A larger metal box with tem grease works great.
Just did some regular house work with x-10 but the hid lights and florsent light cause the x-10 to go on or off. NFG if you depend on them for the growing of the happy weed.
Grow for piece and be happy , Peace is just a way for a hippy to get layed. Ass for grass , be happy
turtle420
08-23-2007, 11:43 AM
Wow... OldSanClem, hello there! :)
Hello Stinky. Hello rhizome.
SanClem, just saw this for the first time.
Very interested in this.
When I used the X10 system, it definitely wasn't running "perfect".
Sometimes it would skip a beat.
It would fail to turn ON something... or fail to turn OFF another thing.
That could/would turn out into disaster.
I'm looking at this site for the RelayRunner (http://www.emcarthur.com/relayrun/relayrun.htm).
And I see they have a hardware section (http://www.emcarthur.com/relayrun/automatf.htm).
Would you mind if we run over a basic setup here?
Say we already have the computer and the software installed.
What would be needed?
I see a PC Printer Port Relay Board CK1601, which I believe is the one you use... yes? No?
Do you have an old PC lying around the house which absolutely no one wants? Then you can convert it into a dedicated controller. Communicate with the real world via the parallel printer port on your PC. Simply connect printer cable from your computer to the connector on relay board. There are 8 relays each capable of switching 12VDC/10A or 240VAC/5A. Each relay has an LED to indicate when it is operated.
So,... sorry, but I'm lost.
How do you connect, say a 1,000W ballast to the board?
Is there an additional relay box? Or do the 110volts go 'into' that card inside the computer?
I see the card is 'capable of switching' 240VAC/5A.
Still I'm lost.
OldSanClem, thanks man. Much appreciated.
Much interested in taking a deeper look at this.
One final question:::
What board do you use for 'feedback'?
You say you record pH, ppm, etc. ...
With what? How do you connect the pH meter (which one?) to the computer?
Well, there... a barage of questions. :)
Thanks again.
Best to all,
-turtle420 :cool:
.
oldsanclem
08-24-2007, 03:33 AM
I use both types of output printer and pci
input is a DATAQ 4 channel and a 16 channel
Output from co2 are Millivolts per PPm
Output from ph and ppm same
Output from a voltage divider and wall powersupply plugin DC
Lamp check from a car solar cell
Relay radio shack 12 volt 15 amp
Solid stare relays used from Ebay 3-12 volt
Its all basic electric stuff , real basic
The printer port works great remember to change the computer battery out every year Xmas to new years is when I do it so I do not forget.
Zcomp
08-24-2007, 04:06 AM
I had so wired that I could tell when the cops were in the neighborhood.
Which was rough sometimes as a nark lived next door.
You gota love the technology (sp) of todays toys.
note the x10 2.4 gig camera recievers would go bonkers when cops keyed there body senders. Download relayrunner and see how easy it is, its has a fail safe feature's so a moron can set it up.
I am that "moron" but I do understand this whole post. Except this... How can I rig a cop detector?? I have a few spare Pentiums and I'm really interested in that security. If I'm reading you right then your picking up the signal from there body senders?? I gotta have that tech. I've been slacking on my tech updates for a few years now.
oldsanclem
08-28-2007, 09:24 PM
The cops have a system where the cop, is called on his personal body reciever. All they do is press the button to send a signal back to the station they are ok.
Now the x-10 camerss send at 2.4 g hz , here how it works.
The police body reciever when it send the signal back it causes interferance to the camers. The screen has a bunch of static on it, because the cops are close, when they tranmitt. I used a normal tv with , tv, 2 input visual and sound. (most new tv have this feature)
Now heres how you can tell they are close the screen has lots and lots of static.
I had narks living right next to a large grow room. YOU NEVER put a 2.4 gh camera in a room , you hard wire a camera.
The program relayrunner has a way to kill the program, with either a signal from a switch or when you take your computer and hit a sign on the screen. I have a switch between computers so the grow system is never on the screen. Except when I'm programing it or looking at data from Dataq .
Zcomp
09-01-2007, 06:25 PM
brilliant.. Why didn't I know that trick already?? so 2.4 Ghz is there signal range, then that means that there's a whole host of ways to detect these guys first. but what about other 2.4GHz interference like certain phones and I think some wireless networks??
oldsanclem
09-01-2007, 06:44 PM
To find out the total interferance you would need a high freq scope. I think there about $10,000 Buy one and let us know. I just know about the cops interferance , just by the screw up tv screen ,when recieving stuff from the x-10 camera.
The interferance can be caused by a reflection from anything , by harmonice etc. Even a solder joint or wire in alignment. High freq is a art of all the parts.
I guess you can build a antenna to pick up the freq of the cops. But then new systems are digital and scrambled. The personal rec/trans are not as high tec as the ground base units.
Note I found out by the cops living next door, so it was easy, I would know they were home by the monitor disturbances.
Zcomp
09-02-2007, 04:37 PM
Sure man :) I just ordered my high freq. scope on ebay(only $9,999 after shiping lol). :S2:
I do have a couple cop friends so I'll do some testing on some diff. equipment until I can get hold of the x-10.
Thanks man, I love the internet.
turtle420
09-05-2007, 12:07 AM
Hey oldSanClem,
Thanks for all the help! :)
I think I have a better understanding of the setup now.
So, this is the card (http://www.electronickits.com/kit/complete/elec/ck1601.htm) I need to buy to hard-wire the stuff.
Question, if I'm using this card (http://www.measurementcomputing.com/cbicatalog/cbiproduct_new.asp?dept_id=510&pf_id=534&mscssid=GTAAD76VLR5G8J2PJSLBUDMQ1NPQ3GUC), the PCI-PDISO16... ok, I'm going to use that for inputs.
Fine.
But, the sensors... do I use the ones I've got now?
I've got a Hanna in-line monitor... ppm, pH, temp, etc.
It has two probes.
Can I just splice the probes' cables into the PCI-PDISO16?
Or do I have to buy one probe for each input into the PCI-PDISO16?
Thanks for answering the n00b questions!
Much, much appreciated!
Best Regards,
-turtle420 :cool:
.
rhizome
09-05-2007, 04:29 PM
I'd grab seperate sensors- Grainger or Aquatic Ecosystems will have them raw. Yer gonna need the meters you have to calibrate the sensors you're installing.
oldsanclem
09-05-2007, 08:22 PM
In the world of telemetry its always better to have each input on own lines.
Lm32 works great for temp inputs, wall tranformers for the voltage inputs
I use 3 v for resivore full, 6 v for pump on , 9 v for buckets full. If you keep the negitive common to all works fine. Temps grow room, grow room exust, outside temp, clone room temp.
The ph and co2 ppm are millivolt output , its always best to use twisted pair. I use a 39 wire cable as it allows lots of outputs for relays and inputs for temps/ppm/ph/co2 ppm. The one thing I do not like is automatic ph and ppm , any small screw up and dead plants. Unless you spend $$$$ on a dosing systems. Note lm32 is set for a 74 deg of +- .1 % so it will not be off far at 95 d.f.
Have fun OHMS OHMS I feel the power
canuck grower
09-05-2007, 09:37 PM
You could always just use a stable system. BSD, *some* Linux distros, even $random_kernel and ulibc + busybox or some such. I've wanted to do something like this, but I need a bigger setup first. :)
Opie Yutts
09-07-2007, 12:04 AM
survalence on the cops. I love it.
oldsanclem
09-09-2007, 05:39 PM
I would like to note that the relayrunner system has been in use in lots of systems. Even non growing systems. 1 failure in 57,000 control sequences, and that would not have happened, computer battery died at the same time a power went out. Now you can controo up to 256 relays witn 6 on/off a day. I have only been able to use 8 controls a day. This system works and if fail safe, user friendly, and cheap, and old window system are real cheap, bought one for 10 buck. I blew 3 bucks for a new computer battery. Its been a little over a year now , it keep on growing.
oldsanclem
11-25-2007, 01:19 PM
Ladder logic is one way to automate and they come up on ebay. Must admit ladder logic is a hell of a lot harder than relayrunner program. But you can use as a stand alone controler near the growing room/s
I must admit I wish there was a just a advanced sectioin. Except for dna things not much has changed in pot growing in the last 10 years. THAT iffen people read, personaly I would love to read stuff newer than 1965
ferts same
pph same
ph same
lighting 50 year old ballast same , didigital no worth the money.
bulbs just change them often
Cows, horses, chicken still shit/dook
H20 no change, if you can drink it use it
Global warming was predicted 80,000 years ago
Yes the law has changed , even cops smoke, and a few judges smoke
Waiting for the new ice age, sell airconditioners before the cool off.
Rusty Trichome
11-25-2007, 05:21 PM
Many different types of controllers for many different systems. I imagine you could also use some of the ones listed at the link below. Designed for aquariums, but can monitor temp, ph, pumps...
Aquarium Controllers & Monitors for pH, mV (ORP) and Temperature (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~controllers__index.html)
Personally, I still use regular, cheap timers. They work, (usually) -plus- my grow and my computer are barely at the same address, lol.
edit: oldsanclem...is this still your same mood as in the 60's?, lol
oldsanclem
12-21-2007, 07:07 PM
Was looking for relay cards on Ebay for automation
Well this one starts at 99 cents. It does all kinds of things , but you only need one for relay runner the relay part. I have seen just relay cards go for around 10 bucks.
Note there is many system out there , but simple work best. IMM in my mind (small) Container large but it holds up my ears.
Changing sequences is just clicks away, at least on earth.
zero0ne
12-22-2007, 11:35 PM
oldsanclem,
I remember reading a post where you had a link to your website? (ducky something?)
I was wondering if I could get that link again, you had an awesome section for resources etc.
Thanks!
I'd also like to pick your brain in the future about automation (but right now I just dont have the questions ha, still reading up)
fireburner23
02-20-2011, 01:05 AM
I was browsing looking for cheaper alternatives to the Intellidose and Bluelab systems and I am glad I came across your post.
Although, I have a question, can you still use this software (is it windows only, linux?)? Does RelayRunner work with PH/EC Bnc sensors that I would hook up? I couldn't really find the answer to my questions.
canniwhatsis
02-20-2011, 03:54 AM
Last post in this thread was 2007 ;)
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