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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: BC-Shroom]
    #1253709 -

For my engineering robotics class, we used a microcontroller, it did everything for you, without a computer.

It had a 4 channel A/D converter for voltage to digital value converting, an H-bridge for driving 1A loads, and 12 digital inputs/outputs.

so, if you wanted, you could get a humidity sensor, a temp probe, and connect them to the A/D convertor. Possibly interface an LCD to tell temp and humidity. Then write a small program in assembly to run.

I could actually make some of these, but i don't know what the interest in this might be.

Are we just wanting to control humidity and temperature?

Here's My idea:

PIC processor, with built in A/D converter
Clock circuit for timing the night system, interfaced to the PIC
Temp control circuit
Temp detection circuit
Peltier junction (heats AND cools, depending on polarity)
Humidity control circuit
Humidity detection circuit.
Air circuilation circuit

the lights/air circuilation would be controlled depending on the value of the clock going to the pic. It would be set to certain times to provide light and air flow on intermittent schedules, and also allow for adjusting.

The temp/humidity control would be interfaced to the pic and be called upon when temp or humidity goes out of the set range. If triggered, they would turn on the humidifier, or the heating/cooling system.

I've wanted to do this, but no one seemed interested. If someone is interested in helping, i could do the circuit design, assembly, and programming. I might need some help with the specifics, but it shouldn't be too hard.

I just don't see the need in the interface to the computer when you can do it with one chip basically.

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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: shroomologist]
    #1253886 -

Shroomologist I have some experince with microcontrollers and many other digital and analog circuits. Sounds like you have the right idea a PIC microcontroller would be perfect for this application. The device that you are talking about building would cost a decient amount of $Money$ if you buy everything and build it from scratch. If you decide to build one I can help you out with some of the design stuff if you need it.

BTW poke smot! your invention is pretty neat. Nice Job!


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_____________________________________________________________________________________
"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." -Stephen Hawking

Edited by Humidity (01/27/03 02:44 PM)

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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: Humidity]
    #1254096 -

If you don't include the peltier junction it shouldn't cost much.

Microcontroller, crystal, caps and resistors shouldn't cost much, no more than 20

relay to trigger aquarium heater, relay to trigger humidifier, no more than 10

humidity sensor, temp sensor, not too expensive, maybe $10

i'll build the circuits myself on the etching machine.

so, for under $50 (high estimate), its a fully standalone unit, and it could be interfaced easily to a computer if needed through its own serial port.


On second thought, the light would be better off using a programmable timer that u can get for around $15.

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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: shroomologist]
    #1254123 -

maybe we can get a start here:

http://www.circuitcellar.com/library/print/1101/Wasinger136/index.asp

and have it control outputs instead of outputting serially

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Re: Terrarium control system *DELETED* [Re: shroomologist]
    #1254293 -

Post deleted by poke smot!

Reason for deletion: x


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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: poke smot!]
    #1254360 -

You know alot of time/trouble could be saved by just using existing technologies like using a humidistat ( http://www.buenisima.com/itm00036.htm) $99.99 and hooking it to your cool mist humidifier. This would save you the $60 for the system and whatever the input devices are going to cost and the price of a junk comp to run it all. As for the tempurature most people's houses are at 70-75 degrees so it doesn't make alot of sense to pay the extra for a heater/cooler for your terrarium.


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Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: GratefulDread]
    #1254496 -

GD, you could, but that's not really what this thread is about. Infact, some top of the line humi's even have built in humidistats. This thread is about a pc acting as a central controller. PC's are very flexible and would even allow a person with slight competency on their puter to monitor and adjust settings while 1000 miles away on vacation. Not to mention allow standardized record keeping.

Actually, now that I mention it, poke, could you incorporate some type of integrated graphing system to take daily high low stats for temp and humidity? Either built into the software or plugged into excel or something? In fact, a customizable record keeping system for each of the 8 inputs would be great, as well as things like time each appliance is on daily etc. This info would be a boon, not just for the individual, but even for others without the system. For example, say your software records that the humidifier comes on for 5 minutes every 27 minutes at 75 deg, but every 22 minutes at 70 degrees. If this info is shared with others without the system, they can fine tune similar setups without having to go through as much trial and error. Dig? If it's incorporated in the software, make it exportable so that it can be incorporated into a spreadsheet for further analysis. That shouldn't be too hard, is it?

BTW, I helped a buddy set up an X-10 system a couple years ago. It worked well, but when he showed it off to his wife, she stole it for home automation! Anyway, all the sensors we could find to work with his X-10 controller were either worthlessly inaccurate, or massively expensive. Granted neither of us are techies, so there may have been a cheaper way, but we researched all the available products made for x-10 systems.

The idea of a standalone system is good, even though I can't really comment on the technical aspects of them. All you smart engineers get cracking on this. I think given all the money and time people spend maintaining their system, lots of people would pay $100 to automate it. Even if the system didn't require a pc, pc connectivity would be great considering the record keeping and remote monitoring capabilities inherrent in a pc.

I love technical advances in our hobby. I mean, such a refined art as ours should not be limited to storage bins, fish aquariums or overpriced space pods. Not to dis those things, they certainly work, but we should have more sophisticated options for those inclined. And if we draw on members of the community, maybe we can avoid the price gauge which similar systems for pot growers get nailed with. Example: http://www.77hydrostore.com/greenairghc4.html


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"From a certain point of view"
-Jedi Master Obi Wan Kenobi

PM me with any cultivation questions.

I just looked at my profile and realized I had a website at one point in time on geocities, it's not there anymore and I have no idea what I had on it. Anybody remember my website from several years aga? PM if so please.

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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: mycofile]
    #1254657 -

well, i have a few sources for the bigger parts like an LCD or keypad and pic and sensors. If you wrote the program right, you could have a self sufficient unit where you can adjust setpoints.

And Poke Smot:
I wouldn't be running the peltier off the pic, lol
thats what FET's are for. It wouldn't take much to drive it. Its either on or off, logic 1 or 0. I work at GE in virginia, and have access to engineers and equipment. I also go to school at an engineering school, and have access to labs and teachers for help. So it wouldn't be too hard for the design part. temp and humidity and keypad input, and temp and humidity and LCD and serial output.

basically, it wouldn't take much. Even without a peltier (mainly needed for cooling, and replacing it with a heating unit, it would be really useful.

Plus, it wouldn't be hard to add to the PIC routines that spit the data back to the PC Via serial port for data logging or to control the unit remotely. Just a few extra subroutines.

I just need a few people that know assembly to help.

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Re: Terrarium control system *DELETED* [Re: mycofile]
    #1255290 -

Post deleted by poke smot!

Reason for deletion: x


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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: mycofile]
    #1255328 -

Hey you check out websites for companies that make programs and hardware for soil science, plant pathology, and horticultural research. Their they have programs and hard material that does exatcly that (temp logging and so on). It is an expensive option, tho,....but if you are not too technically inclined then...



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Listen! Do you smell something?

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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: poke smot!]
    #1255491 -

Quote:
Shroomologist - You will probably need multiple FETs to drive such a load. Plus, you need to have it reversible so you can change the direction of the current.




to drive the load to what? the peltier? thats what an H-bridge is for :smile:

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Re: Terrarium control system *DELETED* [Re: shroomologist]
    #1256084 -

Post deleted by poke smot!

Reason for deletion: x


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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: poke smot!]
    #1256735 -

I want one!

Joshua


--------------------
The Shroomery Bookstore

Great books for inquiring minds!

"Life After Death is Saprophytic!"

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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: Joshua]
    #1259226 -

I went to Digi-Key today and checked out some stuff. The rH sensors arn't cheap click here to check out the sensors that they carry. The rH sensor would probibly be on the the more important sensors and you would want one that is accurate form 0 to 95% rh. These range from $18 to $50. Which I think is pretty expensive. Besides that temperature sensors were cheap $.48 to $6.93 a peace. So, I guess it would be completly possible to build a complete unit that would control rH and temperature as well as possibly sending readings to a computer for recording. I don't know exactly how this would be done, probibly through the PC's parallel port.


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_____________________________________________________________________________________
"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." -Stephen Hawking

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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: Humidity]
    #1259251 -

they are spendy for some models

I have a few bookmarked sites i'll look at, some are surplus places.

and one place had a unit that was temp and humidity for around $10 or so.

pic processors aren't more than 10, sensors no more than 20, passive components aren't expensive, a/d convertor is cheap, serial connector is all you need for a base model.

eh, fuck it

i don't wanna get stuck programming this thing.... lol

i'll keep looking for something that someone's already built i can use

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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: Humidity]
    #1259258 -

It would also be nice to have a CO2 sensor on it. I wonder were you can get one of those?


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_____________________________________________________________________________________
"The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge." -Stephen Hawking

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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: Humidity]
    #1259278 -

shit, if u guys really want, we can try and develop something.

I just want to know, who would be interested?

we could have several models:

temp only sense and control

temp and humidity sense and control

temp, humidity, C02 and 02 sense and control

addons:
peltier module
LCD
serial communication

etc

like, lets brain storm some things, maybe improve upon the original idea posted in this thread, add to is, modify it.

basically, i just got done with a PIC processor class, and i'm eager to use it for something :smile:

and i can etch boards for free too.

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Re: Terrarium control system *DELETED* [Re: shroomologist]
    #1259331 -

Post deleted by poke smot!

Reason for deletion: x


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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: poke smot!]
    #1259411 -

the pic is pretty nifty, it sends serial bit streams

it wouldn't take much to format the data string, and send it 8bits at a time, serially.

Lets (you and me) do this:

get a temp sensor first
get a relay to drive a aquarium heater

and i'll use my development board to rig it up.
I'll write some sample code to test the temp sensor, and depending on HARDCODED values, i could either turn the relay on or off for the heater.

Then, if you could write software to detect the serial output of the pic, and record it (we'll talk about a standard) and log the temperature data.

its a base, but once we get this part setup, the humidity, C02 and 02 sensor/control would be CAKE.

private message me plz, i'll send u some links

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Re: Terrarium control system [Re: shroomologist]
    #1261134 -

could you please keep correspondence in this thread? I am an associate electronics engineer (old-skool grad of 1997) and have been following this thread closely. i don't have time to truly contribute to this project but am extremely interested in it's progress. if it comes down to a finshed product I will be happy to do a ton of soldering work for a free unit. (or some other such labor for trade). i have no software skills wort fspeaking of. my circuit design is a bit rusty (have never gotten a job that utilizes my degree). i do have a test/repair bench (scope, multimeter, freq gen) and am a soldering pro.


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To be honest, I fear the OTD. ---TheMadConductor

Now I'm gonna have to start getting down on my knees and blowing mushrooms... ---RogerRabbit

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