Since I promised lazy that I would eventually post this here. If I have spelled any of the names wrong, please let me know.
Pepper Grow 2011
I obtained a Arduino for the purpose of experimentation with grow setups and automation through the use of microcontrollers.
Bill of materials - so far
2/16/2011
Assembled temp probe from my spare parts bin & wrote a simple averaging sketch to test for rapid changes in ambient temperature.
.. Upon finishing and testing sketch discovered I'm completely out of relays. Will order later on today. Maybe I calculate the temp function for some standard unit (currently only have resistance on a scale of 0-1024) -should be linear. Well I was wrong about that one, temperature readings shift too much with this thermistor to be of any use. Hopefully the digital sensors will work out better.
11:30am - Ordered relays and a few other components to make the job easier
2/17/2011
Constructed the "Ghetto seed incubator" started trying to get the seeds from Lazienfat to germinate
Brownie pan + reptile mat + paper towel + saran wrap = Ghetto fabulous
Running without interruption, the mat gets the incubation area up to 78-82 degrees F. - not sure if it is too much..
2/20/2011
Received parts yesterday. I should now be able to switch trivial AC loads on and off using the microcontroller..
--6:45am - discovered I forgot to order the appropriate transistors to trigger the relay coil.. (a problem if i intend to drive more than one of the relays at any point in time...-additionally a good idea to protect the microcontroller)
--12:16pm - since I'll be needing those transistors anyway started a new shopping list.
Transistor 2N3904 * 20
Photocell CDS001-8001 * 1
EPIC RELAY!! T9AS1D12-5 * 2 (in case I need to switch something upto 6000W)
Digital Thermometer DS18S20 * 2 (Factory calibrated digital glory!) - these can be hooked up in a long series chain as each unit has a unique serial number you can call from a single wire!!!
---------------------
Looking at $23.97 with shipping ( amusingly enough the temp probes are more expensive than the relay monsters....)
2/21/11
Spent the last night looking for a simple web based solution for the controls & readout.. Found/discovered a few problems.
Given I don't want my server to crash, or my precious data to be lost during a reset - The simplest solution is to buffer commands in a mysql database. And have a server side app read them individually, and in the order they were received. The same follows with the output - the server app adds the records to the database. For the display, a simple php page to display the last reading & a chart of each value over time would work well. Additionally the command insert code would be located in php as well.
8:55 PM
Noticing some crazy germination action on the fataliis, and some on the bonnie thai !
Hoping the 7 pods germ soon!
2/22
5:30AM - Photos!
7 pod brain strain
Fatalii
bonnie thai
2/25
Ordered the next batch of components, hopefully they will show up sometime next week.
Some transistors, heavy duty relays (6000 watts!), and digital temperature sensors.
2/27
Two of the bonnie thais have cast off their helmets. One of the fataliis have as well, I got caught up in the moment and in attempting to loosen the helmets from two others I ended up decapitating them.......
3/1
Some decapitation occurred as a result of my attempt to free some of the Fatalii from their +1 Helms.
3/5
Abandoned web interfacing for the time being, the server seems to scream 'Attack Me' to the internet.
3/11
Upside down plastic tub + small grow light + microcontroller + heating element + fan = win, or at minimum fun.
Pepper Grow 2011
I obtained a Arduino for the purpose of experimentation with grow setups and automation through the use of microcontrollers.
Bill of materials - so far
2/16/2011
Assembled temp probe from my spare parts bin & wrote a simple averaging sketch to test for rapid changes in ambient temperature.
.. Upon finishing and testing sketch discovered I'm completely out of relays. Will order later on today. Maybe I calculate the temp function for some standard unit (currently only have resistance on a scale of 0-1024) -
11:30am - Ordered relays and a few other components to make the job easier
2/17/2011
Constructed the "Ghetto seed incubator" started trying to get the seeds from Lazienfat to germinate
Brownie pan + reptile mat + paper towel + saran wrap = Ghetto fabulous
Running without interruption, the mat gets the incubation area up to 78-82 degrees F. - not sure if it is too much..
2/20/2011
Received parts yesterday. I should now be able to switch trivial AC loads on and off using the microcontroller..
--6:45am - discovered I forgot to order the appropriate transistors to trigger the relay coil.. (a problem if i intend to drive more than one of the relays at any point in time...-additionally a good idea to protect the microcontroller)
--12:16pm - since I'll be needing those transistors anyway started a new shopping list.
Transistor 2N3904 * 20
Photocell CDS001-8001 * 1
EPIC RELAY!! T9AS1D12-5 * 2 (in case I need to switch something upto 6000W)
Digital Thermometer DS18S20 * 2 (Factory calibrated digital glory!) - these can be hooked up in a long series chain as each unit has a unique serial number you can call from a single wire!!!
---------------------
Looking at $23.97 with shipping ( amusingly enough the temp probes are more expensive than the relay monsters....)
2/21/11
Spent the last night looking for a simple web based solution for the controls & readout.. Found/discovered a few problems.
- PHP - doesn't support serial read & resets the Arduino each time it connects - trashing any data I may want.
- PHP - can support serial write - though then there is still the possibility of multiple users sending commands near the same time (resulting in the com line dropping)
- ASP.net - can do basic write- but is very very finicky about writing back the results (even more so when trying to send commands successively .
Given I don't want my server to crash, or my precious data to be lost during a reset - The simplest solution is to buffer commands in a mysql database. And have a server side app read them individually, and in the order they were received. The same follows with the output - the server app adds the records to the database. For the display, a simple php page to display the last reading & a chart of each value over time would work well. Additionally the command insert code would be located in php as well.
8:55 PM
Noticing some crazy germination action on the fataliis, and some on the bonnie thai !
Hoping the 7 pods germ soon!
2/22
5:30AM - Photos!
7 pod brain strain
Fatalii
bonnie thai
2/25
Ordered the next batch of components, hopefully they will show up sometime next week.
Some transistors, heavy duty relays (6000 watts!), and digital temperature sensors.
2/27
Two of the bonnie thais have cast off their helmets. One of the fataliis have as well, I got caught up in the moment and in attempting to loosen the helmets from two others I ended up decapitating them.......
3/1
Some decapitation occurred as a result of my attempt to free some of the Fatalii from their +1 Helms.
3/5
Abandoned web interfacing for the time being, the server seems to scream 'Attack Me' to the internet.
3/11
Upside down plastic tub + small grow light + microcontroller + heating element + fan = win, or at minimum fun.
