Autopilot greenhouse master controller. Any opinions?

rickymac21

rickymac21

Well-Known Member
Hi RIU, I've been looking into co2 controllers for future purchases and decided a complete enviroment controller would be best. That way I could hook up a heater and air conditioner to the controller along with co2.

I found the autopilot gmc which seems to be reasonably priced, but I can't find much information on them as far as reliability and accuracy. Anybody have experience with these?

http://www.hydroponics.net/i/137878
 
On the other hand the Sentinel chh-4 isn't that much more expensive and it seems everyone is using them.
http://www.plantlightinghydroponics...ating-humidity-and-co2-controller-p-2778.html

but what I concerns me with these controllers is that they have a max amp rating of 15 amps. So probably 11-12 amps safely. Considering I would only be running a 9000 btu AC unit and co2, would the controller handle that? Most 9000 btu units I've seen draw roughly 9-11 amps. And a bottles co2 tank and regulator probably won't even draw 1 amp. So I should be good right?
 
Well after some reading the autopilot still looks like its coming out on top of the sentinel regardless of popular opinion.
http://www.hydrofarm.com/product.php?itemid=14152

the link above shows an attachment for the autopilot that allows you to monitor and control the controller unit from anywhere using a laptop. It also can create graphs of your enviroment including temp, co2, humidity. This would be very helpful for someone trying to really master a specific strain.
 
Although I have the chhc4 that u hate. The auto pilot looks cool. What I do is hook my exhaust to the cooling port on my controller. Just in case my room gets a little to warm for my liking. This shuts the co2 down and then in minutes cools the room. My a/c is hooked up to a day and night cheap thermostat. Works great this way. U will find that the dehumidifier and heat ports u will maybe never use. But either way those controllers r awesome and I don't think one is better then the other.
 
a mongo frog said:
Although I have the chhc4 that u hate. The auto pilot looks cool. What I do is hook my exhaust to the cooling port on my controller. Just in case my room gets a little to warm for my liking. This shuts the co2 down and then in minutes cools the room. My a/c is hooked up to a day and night cheap thermostat. Works great this way. U will find that the dehumidifier and heat ports u will maybe never use. But either way those controllers r awesome and I don't think one is better then the other.
Click to expand...

I don't hate the chhc-4, never even used one or seen it. I'm just making a comparison from what I can read on the good ol Internet. But either way I'm sure your right in the sense that both would do what I want. I just wanted to make sure I was t buying some cheap crap that will break within a year.
 
Aeroknow said:
Autopilot is legit! If your maxing out the amp rating of the controller, hook up the ac through a contact relay switch. Eazy peazy
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reassurance. But what exactly is a contact relay switch. Sorry, I'm not too knowledgeable when it comes to home electrical.
 
I've looked at the auto pilot, and I'm sure there great. I'll bet there the exact same thing inside just different face plate. I got the chhc4 about 4 years ago when they first came out. Think it was over 600 bucks. I'm pretty sure the auto pilot is cheaper then that.
 
The master controller will most likely handle your 9000 btu ac + co2 solenoid + a fan or two. Add a dehu and you mite need to hook up that ac through a contactor. If you do, i can walk you through it. It's not to difficult.

As to wtf mongo frog just posted....uhhhhhhhh..,,wow! You all rite?
 
I'm pretty much anti-CAP products these days but, you can buy something like this if you cant DIY.
C.A.P. UNIVERSAL POWER MODULE UPM-1
 
Quality of there products went down hill fast, a few years back. Not just one of there products, a bunch. Not just with me, but with a bunch of growers i know. From co2 generators not shutting down( straight fire hazard), to problems with every single piece of electronics they sell. To be fair, there ppm-2a is good, not heard of/had one single problem with that item.
 
Aeroknow said:
Quality of there products went down hill fast, a few years back. Not just one of there products, a bunch. Not just with me, but with a bunch of growers i know. From co2 generators not shutting down( straight fire hazard), to problems with every single piece of electronics they sell. To be fair, there ppm-2a is good, not heard of/had one single problem with that item.
Click to expand...
Not sure if this is true.
 
Aeroknow said:
The master controller will most likely handle your 9000 btu ac + co2 solenoid + a fan or two. Add a dehu and you mite need to hook up that ac through a contactor. If you do, i can walk you through it. It's not to difficult.

As to wtf mongo frog just posted....uhhhhhhhh..,,wow! You all rite?
Click to expand...

Yea i figured I wouldn't overload it. I'll honestly only have the co2, a/c and a heater on it. And obviously the a/c and heater would t ever run at the same time so that wouldn't cause issues.

The autopilot doesn't seem to have an outlet for fans/exhaust though. I'd like to have so every 30-45 minutes I exhaust my room air for 10 minutes or so. But during that time I don't want the co2 to kick on obviously.
 
Lots of people on here will tell you that you don't need to, but i've seen lots of problems with 100% sealed rooms. I've found that dumping your room a few times while lights are on, and right when lights go out works best. So maybe put your intake/exhaust fans on a timer? You'll lose a little co2 though naturally. Personally, i've given up on sealed rooms. I grew for 15 years without. 5 with sealed and I've given up.
 
Btw, you probably won't need a heater in a sealed room, but you'll almost definitely need a dehumidifier for when the lights are off. It makes heat in the process.
 
What hes talking about is a high voltage relay wired into the controller so when it comes on it activates the a/c through the relay. If you needed higher amperage to work the a./c through the controller .
Why would you do that is the big question if you were going to go through the trouble of doing that why not just run the power to the a/c to begin with with a proper programmable T stat.
 
Because he could be talking about a window unit, or a portable, that has no programable thermostat ;-). The controller that he's thinking of getting, has a separate day/night switch within.
 
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