DIY Guide: Grow Cam for Remote Monitoring! - Page 3

GrowTech · #21 09-09-2008, 10:33 PM

Feel free to stop by with any questions you have. I would love to help ya out.

lorenzo08 · #22 09-11-2008, 11:29 AM

should there be a separate forum section for computer related things like this, or aren't there enough people interested in it? for the most part, it's almost completely a reliability issue that turns people away from using computers to control their grow room. second on the list would be the price of the hardware and software to do it.

I would love to use x10 for projects. it seems so easy to set the knobs and plug the thing in, done. but, when you add a computer to x10, the reliability drops very sharply down to maybe 10%. CM11A sucks, and it's not only me. many people have trouble with it. if I mess with it long enough, I can get it to work for a little while. have a power outage or a weird, not even noticeable, discrepancy in your power lines, and the device locks up. there are also many other limitations, hard wiring with good hardware is the way to go.

I get the hint that no one is interested in my project. if no one else uses it, no matter. I love putting it together, and I'll still use it for myself. my project is called GrowControl. it has web cam software in it, and controls the grow room, and can be controlled with vnc or remotely via a password protected web page. the program will be open source and free. the hardware is cheap and easy to use. it's an rs485 serial network. reliable and expandable. just one control box can be hooked up to 4 separate grow rooms, with separate lights, fans, and pumps, all separately controlled by the computer.

I've had a working prototype working well for the last 2 or so months. the final version of my program is being finished up and almost ready for testing.

ToastedFox · #23 09-11-2008, 12:26 PM

I'm happy with my webcam setup running Yawcam - Yet Another Webcam Software

lorenzo08 · #24 09-11-2008, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ToastedFox

I'm happy with my webcam setup running Yawcam - Yet Another Webcam Software

I made my own. built in web server and all

BigBudBalls · #25 09-11-2008, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenzo08

should there be a separate forum section for computer related things like this, or aren't there enough people interested in it? for the most part, it's almost completely a reliability issue that turns people away from using computers to control their grow room. second on the list would be the price of the hardware and software to do it.

I would love to use x10 for projects. it seems so easy to set the knobs and plug the thing in, done. but, when you add a computer to x10, the reliability drops very sharply down to maybe 10%. CM11A sucks, and it's not only me. many people have trouble with it. if I mess with it long enough, I can get it to work for a little while. have a power outage or a weird, not even noticeable, discrepancy in your power lines, and the device locks up. there are also many other limitations, hard wiring with good hardware is the way to go.

I get the hint that no one is interested in my project. if no one else uses it, no matter. I love putting it together, and I'll still use it for myself. my project is called GrowControl. it has web cam software in it, and controls the grow room, and can be controlled with vnc or remotely via a password protected web page. the program will be open source and free. the hardware is cheap and easy to use. it's an rs485 serial network. reliable and expandable. just one control box can be hooked up to 4 separate grow rooms, with separate lights, fans, and pumps, all separately controlled by the computer.

I've had a working prototype working well for the last 2 or so months. the final version of my program is being finished up and almost ready for testing.

actually x10 can be flaky overall. Its not just the CMA11. Other things on the line can wreck havoc on the x10 signal without filters. Insteon is a LOT more reliable and each item is a repeater.

RS485 is killer. I have NO idea why rs232 became the defacto standard.

Keep us posted!

lorenzo08 · #26 09-12-2008, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBudBalls

RS485 is killer. I have NO idea why rs232 became the defacto standard.

it's kinda similar to usb, but better in a few ways. it works well over long distances, no need for hubs, just plug devices in, no drivers to worry about, works with only a single pair of wires. only down side I can think of is there's no protocol for it. the software has to handle what device gets what commands and whatnot.

I made a thread for my project, so I can post updates and maybe get some feedback
my computer controlled grow room - GrowControl 1.1

GrowTech · #27 09-16-2008, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenzo08

it's kinda similar to usb, but better in a few ways. it works well over long distances, no need for hubs, just plug devices in, no drivers to worry about, works with only a single pair of wires. only down side I can think of is there's no protocol for it. the software has to handle what device gets what commands and whatnot.

I made a thread for my project, so I can post updates and maybe get some feedback
my computer controlled grow room - GrowControl 1.1

Is it going to be anything like the Growtronix, Greenhouse Controller and Grow Room Computer Automation System shit?

lorenzo08 · #28 09-17-2008, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrowTech

Is it going to be anything like the Growtronix, Greenhouse Controller and Grow Room Computer Automation System shit?

it's kinda similar, but it's all of my own design. it will be much better.

genfranco · #29 10-14-2008, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lorenzo08

should there be a separate forum section for computer related things like this, or aren't there enough people interested in it? for the most part, it's almost completely a reliability issue that turns people away from using computers to control their grow room. second on the list would be the price of the hardware and software to do it.

I would love to use x10 for projects. it seems so easy to set the knobs and plug the thing in, done. but, when you add a computer to x10, the reliability drops very sharply down to maybe 10%. CM11A sucks, and it's not only me. many people have trouble with it. if I mess with it long enough, I can get it to work for a little while. have a power outage or a weird, not even noticeable, discrepancy in your power lines, and the device locks up. there are also many other limitations, hard wiring with good hardware is the way to go.

I get the hint that no one is interested in my project. if no one else uses it, no matter. I love putting it together, and I'll still use it for myself. my project is called GrowControl. it has web cam software in it, and controls the grow room, and can be controlled with vnc or remotely via a password protected web page. the program will be open source and free. the hardware is cheap and easy to use. it's an rs485 serial network. reliable and expandable. just one control box can be hooked up to 4 separate grow rooms, with separate lights, fans, and pumps, all separately controlled by the computer.

I've had a working prototype working well for the last 2 or so months. the final version of my program is being finished up and almost ready for testing.

thats awesome.. pm me more info please...

lorenzo08 · #30 10-14-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genfranco

thats awesome.. pm me more info please...

thanks. I've been kinda busy with some other work lately, but my system will be finished. I'm about a week into flowering right now. I'll be starting my next grow as soon as this batch is finished, and the whole computer automated hydroponics thing will be finished by that time. the main hardware is finished. just need ph and temperature sensors and finish the final version of the program. open source as promised.

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