computer/plc automated grow room

danksmoker77 said:

Im almost ready to start growin!!!! Just figured Id post some pics and see if I can't get a little feed back on my design.

Its A 3x3x8 room divided into an upper and lower section. The upper section is the grow area and is almost 5’. The lower section is the reservoir area and where all plumbing resides. The only thing in the grow room is the plants. Everything else is below.

I got a 600w hortilux eye super bulb and ballast that I made from a kit. Also a 230 inline fan hooked up to a homemade cool tube. It is a 9 bucket flood and drain bucket system based on the 2-litre pop bottle flood and drain design. There are actually 18 buckets. One acts as a reservoir and the other holds the medium and has holes which allow the water to fill. Also the plants can easily be moved around the grow room. There is pvc pipe running to each bucket. An overflow pipe regulates the height the water can reach. I use ½ mylar coated Styrofoam from home depot. For the walls. Then tape all joints with duct tape to seal the room

To the right of the room on the wall is my Allen Bradley SLC 5/04 plc. With some simple programming and electronics. I have completely automated most aspects of the growroom. Lights, fans, temp, humidity, pumps, co2, ph, tds. I monitor everything and set high and low set points to turn on a/c, ph dosing pump, ec levels, co2 solenoid, everything is automated. The lights and pumps are set to the clock of the plc.

Temps were getting to high, like 105 degrees even with the cool tube. I dont want to exaust any of my co2 out of my room so I installed an electrical enclosure closed loop air conditioner. These are designed to keep electrical circuits cool in their cabinets. Got it used for like $125. I saw one on ebay pretty cheap. Its 2000 btu. It works great. Optimum temperature and humidity levels.

Now I just gotta wait till I get back from VACAtion and see what this baby can do. I believe this thing is a marijuana growing machine!!! It is completely expandable and can be modified at any time. I got me some Super lemon Haze and some utopia haze. Should be delicious

Got some advanced nutrients sensi grow A/B for veggin, and some Advanced nutrients Conisseur A/B for bloom. Also some sweet leaf. And mollasses.
This shit should be awesome!!!!! I just wanted to get my journal thoughts a little organized so I posted these pics of where Im at so far. If you are interested in seein my journal lemme know ill keep you posted. It should be a good one. Computer controlled optimum level automated grow room, jesus are you kiddin me. It started out small lemme tell you now theres no turnin back im goin all out. If this baby cant grow some dank ass nugs nobody can. I am pumped baby!!! Wahooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
Well thats all for now lemme know what ya think!!

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danksmoker77 said:

monitoring is the tricky part. you have to use transmitters or controllers that out put a voltage or current that is proportional to what your measuring. for example my co2 transmitter puts out 0-10 volts that is proportional to 0-2000ppm. the plc through some simple programming converts to the proper scale. I use transmitters to measure temp, co2, humidity, ph, tds. I use co2 tank, regulator and solenoid to release gas when level drops below 1200ppm then release gas untill room reaches 1500ppm. Simple as that. For liquids I use dosing pumps. They come in many different sizes but they disperse liquids in ml per minute. So if ph goees high, my program. Doses the res with a couple millilitres, and then waits a little for the readings to steady up. then repeat the process untill im in my desired range. I have been collecting data to try to pinpoint how long to dose. So i dont get a continuous up and down dosing. its a lil tricky but i got it. It is all relativly simple programming. Most components were purchased from ebay or craigslist.

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danksmoker77 said:

Yes the precision of control IS unbelieveable. If at any time you are interested in using the plc let me know I will help as much as possible. I believe the plc is the way to go because its possibilities are endless. It is all up to your imagination. Growing pot is great but the set up is where the real fun lies. The only way to grow the best weed is to have optimum conditions. This can only be done with some seriously expensive controls like the growlogix system. With some tough mental work i have created the same type of control as growlogix for half the price. Another beautiful perk to this system is the ability to remotely monitor my room from any computer with an internet connection. The idea is to be able to be away from the growroom for a week at a time but still monitor the room.

Since your interested ill explain Exactly how the monitoring works.

The co2 sensor outputs a voltage proportional to the ppm. This is fed to the plc analog input card. The plc converts the voltage to a number. 0-10volts = 0-32767. Then I scale the number to PPM. 0-32767 = 0 - 2000ppm.

So, 5 volts = 16,383 = 1000ppm

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danksmoker77 said:

well I been busy making some changes. After looking at the spare space next to the grow cab I decided it would be a perfect place for a clone cab and a veg/mother area. Also had to move the air conditioner to the back wall of the cab to make some room. Also decided to scrap my diy cool tube and bought on off e bay. I didnt feel the diameter of the diy tube was efficient enough. Also bought a hortilux 400w mh conversion bulb. I had a spare 400w hps ballast so well use the conversion bulb for veggin and my mommas. also built a little cab for clones. theyll get 2 2' t5's. Also got a propagation heat mat for the clones. I figure the ambient co2 that leaks from the flower room will feed the veg sufficiently. I cut the bottom off a 25 gallon container to use as a flood tray for veggin. Heres some pics of the chaos!!

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