Hi all,
A computer controlled grow-room has been on my mind for a while, and last week i found a donor for an old PC (it's a fanless pentium that needed a PSU replacing, perfect)
installed linux on it, and wrote some software to controll a relay board.
So it cost me thirty quid for the pcb, but you don't need a transformer (you can take a 12v line off the computers PSU), which is expensive for a timer I grant you, but every other timer I've bought has died or failed. Using a computer as a timer I hope will be more reliable, but also I get much more resolution, plus I'm not bound to a 24 hour cycle either.
At the moment, I can present `programs` to the computer that look like
Full Version: D.i.y. Computer Growroom Controller
| QUOTE |
VEG 33:30 Lights on 2800 off Pump off 1415 on 1515 off Extraction off REPEAT 0000 3330 15 0000 off 0010 on END UVB off REPEAT 0000 2800 30 0000 off 0020 on 0025 off END CO2 off REPEAT 0000 3300 15 0000 on 0005 off END Air ON Circulation ON |
Which will all gets unrolled into one giant list of on/offs.
At the moment, I have working software and believe that it would (in theory) work on any windows/linux computer, and would be happy to share it with anyone who wants it.
From here, i'd like to attach sensors to some of the serial ports, so that I could regulate nutrient levels, pH, temperature and the like.. if anyone can help me here, any advice taken
check this site http://80.176.142.116/
yeah, similar sort of thing that I'm trying to work toward, thanks for that link sir!!
| QUOTE |
| so that I could regulate nutrient levels, pH, temperature and the like |
i rember reading a thread somewere discussing computer monitoring but im buggered if i can find it
ive been thinking about something like thisbut with 1001 other projects on the go it'll have waitedit to add
found the missing link didnt notice the more than 30 days button on the search page
very interesting psycho 
I too am designing a automated system , but I decided not to use a computer.
Too expensive in electricity costs , a basic pc will use about 200W x 24hr = too much money waste for me.
I will be using a dedicated mcu and designing specific hardware to drive the pumps fans lights heaters etc.
The unit will have a serial port to allow set-up etc using a PC , but will run by itself the rest of the time.
To date I think the unit will only use about 20Watt to operate
Too expensive in electricity costs , a basic pc will use about 200W x 24hr = too much money waste for me.
I will be using a dedicated mcu and designing specific hardware to drive the pumps fans lights heaters etc.
The unit will have a serial port to allow set-up etc using a PC , but will run by itself the rest of the time.
To date I think the unit will only use about 20Watt to operate
i thought a basic PC would only use about 200W at 12v
surely the 240V PSU isnt going to drain 200W to make 200W of 12V is it?
or am i reading it wrong?
good luck with all your projects
surely the 240V PSU isnt going to drain 200W to make 200W of 12V is it?
or am i reading it wrong?
good luck with all your projects
Wow got lost looking at all the links and stuff i would love to be able to control enviroment with my pc but all that went over my head 
Anyway good luck with the designs
SNIPES
Anyway good luck with the designs
SNIPES
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