DIY CHEAP DIY microcontroller (arduino) grow room environment controller

[KsjAuto]

Hey Ksj, How's the testing going? I took a Kureg K-Cup coffee maker apart this weekend. That's a complicated little machine. A friend gave it to me because it was broken. I scavenged the pumps and transformer for my Arduino project. Keep up the good work you're inspiring me!

Free parts is always a nice thing,,Congrats !!...
The soil project is all done.. Need to add some comments to the sketch tho(I´ll upload it when all is done)..

The ph projected is comming along nicely..Way easier than the soil project :thumbs:..
The dormant labs ph module v2 (shield) is stable as a rock..Highly recommend that piece.
Need to program a 2 point calibration and the programming for the dosing pump... then it´s all done..

i need to wrap my head around this first... tho
Dormant labs ph shield sample code

Anyways,,im setting up a new tent ( new leds to make "3 x 27w" ),, so don`t have much time for the arduino... But it aint gonna be that long before i have it working..

:Sharing One:

 

[jackmc]

Did you say 3x27W LED? I didn't know they made anything over 10W. Do you have any idea why LEDs output in odd numbers?

 

[pop22]

Did you say 3x27W LED? I didn't know they made anything over 10W. Do you have any idea why LEDs output in odd numbers?

I think he's using LED spotlights. You can get them in 5-54 watt, red/blue/ warm white, and cool white. My DIY growlight is 8- 15watt LED spotlights. It works very well too! I use it in one of my cabs.

 

[KsjAuto]

Did you say 3x27W LED? I didn't know they made anything over 10W. Do you have any idea why LEDs output in odd numbers?

I think he's using LED spotlights. You can get them in 5-54 watt, red/blue/ warm white, and cool white. My DIY growlight is 8- 15watt LED spotlights. It works very well too! I use it in one of my cabs.

:tiphat:

OHH maybe i need to clarify

The odd number is just a messurement,i have the power supply
to run leds from 100ma to 3000ma 0 - 50v
I can increase ore decrease the light intensity,,,More ore less amps :thumbs:
In the end it´s a matter of finding the sweetspot "fan noise" and heat
more amps = more cooling = more noise :smoke: e.t.c.


(1 heatsinks with 10 x 5w cree bins running on 2,7w / 860ma) X 3

Its the same i have used for veg the past 5 month.. refitted on new heatsinks. :smoke:
:Sharing One:

 

[jackmc]

Ahhh! I thought you'd invented something new. Have been thinking of putting my light on a rheostat. I've been keeping it max distance from the plants all grow. Ksj do you know if a fan controller can be used with LEDs? I know some dimmers reduce the amount of light by switching the light on and off very quickly. Peace

 

[KsjAuto]

Ahhh! I thought you'd invented something new. Have been thinking of putting my light on a rheostat. I've been keeping it max distance from the plants all grow. Ksj do you know if a fan controller can be used with LEDs? I know some dimmers reduce the amount of light by switching the light on and off very quickly. Peace

I think a upgrade is the right word :thumbs:
Found some cheap heatsink.. So why not get the led´s to run alot cooler and brighter
I newer used a rheostat so don`t know what it is ore what it can do..

There a 3 ways of reducing fan speed (that i know) Newer modded a ac fans
1: reducing the voltage
2: reducing the amp`s (it´s not recommended)
3: pvm (pulse with modulation) That`s what you are thinking about..(switching the light on and off very quickly)

The only way to dim a led is reducing the amp`s.. Leds run on a constant current..
And led light is dimmed with less current...

The simplest thing todo, is replacing the led driver with a dimmable led driver
They aint cheap and can easely cost 50-100$ a piece..

EDIT:
ore if your current led driver is running example 50-60v 700ma
find a 50-60v 350ma that fits in the enclosure hook it up to a switch and you can run your led on 1/2 juice :thumbs:

i Whould not recommend trying to dim your led with a fan speed controller

Some one correct me if im wrong :smoke:

 

[fatcalvin]

Well I got all my stuff in and everything looks pretty good. I forgot to get some resistors so i ll have to pick some up at radio shack. Hoping to get some stuff going by this weekend.

 

[fatcalvin]

Ill i couldnt help myself and have been coming home from work and looking at and modifying code to fit my needs. Here is waht i currently have set up. Nothing fancy but @ X C* it turns power onto the relay which powers the 120mm fan. I basically am just using the fan for testing purposes because i can turn it on with 5V from the actual board itself. The only problem I have is that the temp sensor doesnt have decimal places and its really sensitive so im going to try to use my 1 wire temp sensor today and see if i can get the coding a little better. This has been REALLY fun for me as I enjoy this type of thing! HAHA. Thanks for turning me onto this stuff guys Disregard the clutter

 

[KsjAuto]

#fatcalvin

I use this library for the dht11 / dht22 / sensors,, It´s working great.. :thumbs:
:Sharing One:

 

[fatcalvin]

Thanks KSJ! I've already got everything all set up. I actually got a script/code written up for my temp and humidity levels. Also i actually got my soil moisture reading set up too. i just have to hook up the other sensors and then get some 12V water solenoids.