|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Gr0wers Automated Greenhouse Build 7
#21708608 - 05/21/15 11:39 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Ill be documenting the build of my 24"x 36" HDX fruiting chamber. My goal is to produce enough mushrooms for my family to eat 2-3 times weekly and make some local sales to cover build cost. My substrates will be locally procured for free consisting of sawdust, cardboard, newspaper and coffee grounds mostly. I will be purchasing WBS for spawn and supplementing with brewers grain when i brew. The only supplement i will be using initially on the bulk substrate is gypsum at 5%.
The fruiting chamber will consist of a $50 home depot 24"x 36" five shelf HDX plastic shelf system. It will have the following features
- bucket humidifier running 24/7 - Self filling float valve from swamp cooler - Purge pump to freshen humidifier water - Overflow port and drain hose in the event of a reservoir overflow - Ultrasonic foggers controlled by a digital humidistat for humidity boosting - 1.5" pvc air ducting/balancer - Digital temperature controller - Ceramic heater - 4 13w Daylight CFL bulbs ( soon to be 4' daylight floros for even light) - 3.5MM Poly
I will include a list of all parts needed to build this system once complete. Total cost is looking somewhere around $300, should pay for itself in 2 grows...?? hopefully!
Bounty from my Home Depot run

HUMIDIFIER AND FRESH AIR *******UPDATED******
After my kal cool mist started to fill with gunk and make funny noises i decided to go a cleaner route. A 5 gal pail or tote can be cleaned and sanitized much easier than a cool mist and should last years with proper maintenance. I'm running a push me pull you set up with fans, with a slightly faster exhaust fan than intake. This causes a slight vacuum on the chamber pulling any spores and CO2 laden air outside the garage under the door gap. I use two pails because the swamp cooler mesh is treated with a surfactant that kills the ultrasonic mist. There is a small hose that gravity feeds the swamp cooler from the ultrasonic bucket and the purge pump is located in the swamp cooler pail.
$1 5 gal pail, used $8 Dial #4154 - Brass float valve w 1/4 comp fitting - Home Depot $4 DIAL #4296 - 1/4" x 50' drip hose $4 - Home Depot $2 DIG #C37B - 1/4 Female hose thread to 1/4 drip adapter - Home Depot $5 DIG #D46 - Garden hose thread drip adapter - Home Depot (or copper pipe piercing valve) $24 Two AGPtek - Minti mist ultrasonic fogger - Amazon $36 1.5" 36' pool hose- lowes $10 Western Humidor Hygrometer - Amazon (wet towel calibrated) $3 50ft 5/8" drip hose for overflow( thrift store steal) $3 DIAL #92395 - Evaporative cooler overflow drain kit (Home Depot) $8 80 GPH 120v aquarium pump for purge (amazon) $4 GE #15119 - Basic timer (for purge pump)- Home depot $0 two small used PC computers with 6V power supplies $3 1.5"x2" PVC adapter for exhaust fan to exhaust tube fitting $4 two 2" pvc couplings, one for each computer fan.
FAE/Humidifier TOTAL $105
Swamp cooler pail with constantly recirculating water dripping onto the sponge material

Ulstrasonic pail with float valve

both pails, you can see i have the ulstrasonic pail on wood to raise the water level in the swamp cooler pail while allowing the ultrasonics to run with minimal water for better effectiveness.

Exhaust hose fan intake goes at bottom of grow chamber through a tape reinforced hole. All hot glued together.

AUTOMATION
$12 Carlon #E987RR - Junction Box - Home Depot $16 Inkbird digital temp controller - Amazon $28 Image digital humidity controller - Amazon $10 #60025WF - 25 ft 16/3 extension cord - Home Depot ( cut off a few feet or get a 50' cord for wiring inside the box if you don't have spare wire like i did) $2 Two Leviton #R52-05320-00W- 15A duplex outlet - Home Depot $4 GE #15119 - Basic timer - Home depot $3 Two Pass & Seymour Model # SL8CC20 - 1 gang duplex stainless outlet wall plate - Home Depot $5 10 pack power socket plug 125V 15A - Amazon (hong kong 3-4 weeks mail time) $3 Amico M20x1.5 6-11mm cable gland (or 3/8 cable clamp from home depot) - Amazon (hong kong 3-4 weeks mail time)
Automation TOTAL $78
The socket plugs or the wall sockets can be used exclusively, when mounting to the top and bottom of the box the wall plates will not sit flush due to box design so i purchased a set of the socket plugs for a cleaner look. The socket plugs are the cheaper route but the outlets give you screw terminals you can stack 2-3 electrical connections to for splitting power. The socket plugs are a PITA to drill the holes compared to the wall sockets, I needed to trim the locking wings down since the boxes plastic is so thick.
Settings for the controller should be as follows,
HC = H D = 1 this is the one that matters for accuracy of RH% LS = 75 HS = 99 CA = whatever your wet towel calibration calls for, mine was 7 PT = 0



FRUITING CHAMBER
$50 HDX #128974 - 24x36x72" 5 shelf ventilated storage plastic shelving - Home Depot $11 HDX #RSHD3510-25C - 10X25 ft clear 3.5 mil plastic sheeting - Home Depot $9 Gorilla #60035 - Heavy duty duct tape - Home Depot $1 #44241- SS positive lock hook and eye - Home Depot $8 six 1"x2"x8' furring strips - Home Depot $2 1x 1.5" hinge 2 pack - Home depot $7 1 1/2" x 10ft PVC pipe - Home Depot $1 1 1/2" PVC 90* elbow - Home Depot $3 1 1/2" PVC Tee - Home Depot $1 three large zip ties for securing ducting to structure - Home Depot $1 1 1/2" PVC end socket cap - Home Depot
Chamber TOTAL $102
Vent pipes roughed in (horizontal pipes were later removed due to condensation) I use loosely tightened large zip ties to hold the pipes in place, nothing is glued so i can disassemble and sanitize as needed.

some tetris to make the most of my poly

cutting the poly to size

taking down the door to wrap

wrapping the door

laid down the bottom barrier

LIGHTING
----------------------UNDER CONSTRUCTION------------------
$9 4 pack 13W daylight CFL light bulbs - Home Depot
Currently using daylights CFL's plans to install 4' vertical mounted fluorescent daylight tubes for more even light distribution.
GROW CONTAINERS
At first i dicked around with 5 gal buckets only to find out they are hard to get pinset and a PITA to clean. I ended up using 4 XL grow bags per shelf with 10-14 lbs of pasteurized straw sub in each and had great results with side fruiting pinks like that. Im currently using this chamber for kings, nameko, maitake, shiitake in a rotation of sorts adjusting FAE and humidity for each species. They are grown on hardwood fuel pellets and bran in XL grow bags, 12-13 lbs per bag and top fruited except for the shiitake where i strip the block and just leave the bottom.

as of Jan 2016 i just got my 55 gal drum steamer operational, so this should start being ran at full capacity real soon. 8 bags per shelf for kings, nameko and other top fruiters and 6 blocks per shelf for shiitake.

MISTING
TOTAL $6
http://www.amazon.com/Melnor-Metal-7-Pattern-Trigger-Nozzle/dp/B000HHJM4G/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1434313967&sr=8-2&keywords=melnor+hose+nozzle
I have an eye hook i hang the nozzle on when not in use.

55 GALLON BULK PASTEURIZER (edit) originally was going with a digital automated controller but found no need. I just set the thermometer to alarm at 150-5F with 40-45 gals of water, add substrate in bags reaching 145F and allow the temp to drop 3-4 degrees over 90 min. I use my sink hot water running a hose off the hand sprayer hose to fill the tank so it starts at ~120F. It takes about two hours to reach operating temp.
$8 1500w hot water heater element- Amazon free 55 gal open top steel drum, no lid so i made one with scrap wood $6 1" SS locknut to hold element in place - Amazon $1 1" PVC cap- Home Depot $3 15A plug- Home Depot $7 8' 12-2 cord- Home Depot $1 Waterproof Cable Glands M20 x 1.5 $16 taylor digital timer/thermometer with temp/time alarm w/ RTV at probe/cable junction $24 six packs of 5 gal paint strainer bags for holding substrate- Home depot free Random rocks to protect element from being bent, another one as a weight to hold the substrate bags down
$82 total


DONE!!!! 
GRAND TOTAL $364 USD
Video walkthrough of finished product https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1WIWZLktcVUTkdlaWI2aUdweW8/view?usp=sharing
Edited by Gr0wer (01/13/16 07:27 PM)
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build *DELETED* [Re: Gr0wer]
#21710177 - 05/22/15 11:32 AM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Post deleted by Gr0werReason for deletion: deleted
Edited by Gr0wer (05/22/15 11:40 AM)
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build *DELETED* [Re: Gr0wer]
#21715060 - 05/23/15 06:04 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Post deleted by Gr0werReason for deletion: .
Edited by Gr0wer (05/23/15 08:01 PM)
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: Gr0wer]
#21715490 - 05/23/15 08:14 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
While i'm at it i ordered a inkbird digital temp controller, basically a stc-1000 in F not C. Eventually ill have to start heating in the fall and winter and its much easier to wire everything once. Ill hook it up to run a small space heater. I have no plans to A/C the unit as of yet but the unit has a relay for cooling.
Edited by Gr0wer (05/23/15 08:14 PM)
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: Gr0wer]
#21716147 - 05/24/15 12:28 AM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
consolidated into first post.
Edited by Gr0wer (05/29/15 08:44 PM)
|
forrest



Registered: 11/16/12
Posts: 1,011
Loc: The Netherlands
Last seen: 4 years, 6 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: Gr0wer]
#21716320 - 05/24/15 02:13 AM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Wow, that has to be the best martha-sized greenhouse-build that i've ever seen!
-------------------- My Trade List
|
poofterFroth
Feel Like A Stranger



Registered: 03/15/14
Posts: 1,012
Last seen: 24 days, 4 hours
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: forrest]
#21716723 - 05/24/15 07:23 AM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|

Yeah, thats pretty slick man. I especially like your door...
Might need some more fresh air intakes though.
--------------------
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
|
Thanks all!
I went on the small side to start with vent holes, I figured it's easier to drill bigger later than fill holes. I should point out there are holes on the opposite sides as well. I really should sit down and do some math of total inlet hose area vs total vent hole area and make sure its 1:1 or higher.
UPDATE: I just checked on the unit, looks like my super awesome vent distribution pipes are condensating on the outside and dripping, most likely due to the cooler wet air inside them. Looks like i may be removing the horizontal sections and just have the large inlets at the side. KISS takes the cake once again! Its looking like my ultrasonic needs to pump 24/7 on low to maintain 90%+ i'll probably end up running it on medium fog when using the digital controller so it cycles. I also will probably end up getting a larger size humidifier that i can hack an expansion reservoir on and return the ultrasonic to my sons room.
I was up all night last night thinking about what growing containers i will use. I was considering using square milk crates, two on each shelf. It would be nice because i could spin them in place and harvest all the sides. My concerns are milk crates are probably not food grade or BPA free, and having an open bottom they will drip liquids and possibly contams to lower levels. I really hate the idea of using bags, as they contribute to operation cost and non recyclable waste. Any ides on good large size fruiting containers that are food grade and preferably clear to see contams?
Edited by Gr0wer (05/24/15 10:02 AM)
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: Gr0wer]
#21717182 - 05/24/15 11:19 AM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Digital humidistat came in!! Hopefully i can wire it up this afternoon. The white cheapo extension cord will be replaced with a heavier gauge extension cord. This will allow me to plug it directly into the outlet 20 ft away. You gotta love minimum building code, one outlet in the garage! Best of all the mushroom chamber control box will be mounted inches away from the breaker box, with no outlet in sight. Too bad in in a rental. Man building code for garage is two gang 20A outlets on each wall and separate circuit on each outlet... IMO:)
Edited by Gr0wer (05/24/15 11:22 AM)
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: Gr0wer]
#21717767 - 05/24/15 02:49 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Doing a quick salt humidity check before doing a damp towel calibration on the analog hygrometer and digital controller. My white digital Oregon Scientific temp/humidity sending unit cuts out at 96% RH so the salt check is the only way to verify calibration. So far the digital humidistat is super slow to read. It's been 20 min and its still only reading 63%, it takes about 10 seconds per .1 interval increase. I've been keeping the Oregon Scientific sending unit outside the chamber so i can check the room temp/humidity from inside my house on a home weather unit. I have another sensor outside the house so i know when to open and close the garage door for cold air.

Vent ducts are now removed due to condensation dripping off them. I placed a drilled out cap over the lower outlet so the top elbow gets more flow.
Edited by Gr0wer (05/24/15 02:56 PM)
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: Gr0wer]
#21718854 - 05/24/15 09:00 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
RH automation complete!! Now to fine tune it. ( This shows my beta humidifier setup See OP for current configuration. )

Top hole is for the digital temp controller

How its wired up, right outlet is constant hot, left outlet has the black side jumper cut, isolating each plug. The bottom plug runs the ultrasonic, the top one will run the heater.

All cleaned up with zip ties
Edited by Gr0wer (07/30/15 12:48 AM)
|
jsncrs
DYEL

Registered: 01/16/14
Posts: 1,170
Loc: Mars
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: Gr0wer]
#21718878 - 05/24/15 09:09 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Gr0wer said: RH automation complete!! Now to fine tune it.
Are you able to explain the method you used to automate RH control? I've been looking into this for my martha build, but haven't been able to find any decent guides
I've seen those digital humidity controllers on eBay. Will they turn on the humidifier once RH drops below a certain %? Is there a wiring guide somewhere?
Edited by jsncrs (05/24/15 09:17 PM)
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: jsncrs]
#21718993 - 05/24/15 09:45 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
jsncrs said: Are you able to explain the method you used to automate RH control? I've been looking into this for my martha build, but haven't been able to find any decent guides
I've seen those digital humidity controllers on eBay. Will they turn on the humidifier once RH drops below a certain %? Is there a wiring guide somewhere?
Have your cool mist running 24/7 to maintain FAE and some humidity. Wire up the digital controller to kick an ultrasonic humidifier on and off to fine tune RH within 1% of setpoint. I purchased mine off amazon for $28. Amazon has a better return policy which can be important when i comes to cheap computer items from china, although i've never had any issues with these style controllers. I have one on my fermentation chamber for 3 years now no issues.
Real easy to wire up, give it power in from an extension cord on poles #3(black) and #4(white/neutral). Jump a black leg from #3 to #1, which will feed your switched power. The controller will turn power on and off at #2 so run a black wire to control an outlet or direct wire your humidifiers black wire to the unit, having the white wire on #4.
Dont forget to calibrate your unit once complete, mine was 6.3% low.
DISCLAIMER: I am not an electrician. If you do not understand wiring do not attempt this without a licenced professional.
Edited by Gr0wer (05/24/15 09:54 PM)
|
jsncrs
DYEL

Registered: 01/16/14
Posts: 1,170
Loc: Mars
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: Gr0wer]
#21719018 - 05/24/15 09:53 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
That's awesome, cheers! I've been looking at automated RH setups for reptile enclosures for $150.00+ because I didn't think you could wire up those cheaper controllers to turn on/off accessories. Thanks for saving me some cash!
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: jsncrs]
#21719093 - 05/24/15 10:23 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Glad to help!! Good luck and feel free to PM me with questions.
Thinking back now i could have included a digital timer to control an outlet for the lights something like this,
Inkbird Digital Twin Timer Relay Time Delay Relay Switch 110-220V Black IDT-E2RH
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008KV65MS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A197YPAPAP8V04
Edited by Gr0wer (05/24/15 10:24 PM)
|
jsncrs
DYEL

Registered: 01/16/14
Posts: 1,170
Loc: Mars
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: Gr0wer]
#21719111 - 05/24/15 10:30 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Gr0wer said: Glad to help!! Good luck and feel free to PM me with questions.
Thinking back now i could have included a digital timer to control an outlet for the lights something like this,
Inkbird Digital Twin Timer Relay Time Delay Relay Switch 110-220V Black IDT-E2RH
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008KV65MS/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A197YPAPAP8V04
Sweet man, that might be the way to go, I'll check it out. Thanks again!
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: jsncrs]
#21720446 - 05/25/15 11:03 AM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Unit is working amazingly. THis morning practically everything that wasn't fruiting is now pinning!!!
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: Gr0wer]
#21721654 - 05/25/15 04:35 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
current config with digital controller, mounted lights, and without horizontal vent pipes

Once more, another change to the setup. While researching how to auto fill my ultrasonic, i had a light bulb go on!!! Why not install a fogger unit in my cool mist reservoir! Its already blowing humid air and the level is being maintained with the float. $12 later i have a unit in route to my place by weds. Looks like ill be fine tuning this unit Weds or Thurs deleting the separate ultrasonic humidifier and installing the temp controller. I'll be moving some of the power lines around inside changing the sockets functions. The left outlet will be ultrasonic on the bottom plug and cool mist on the top plug, cleaning up the external wiring a bit. The right outlet will be cooling on the top and heating on the bottom. The light timer will be moved to a individual plug cube that will be installed on the top. The current configuration of the light timer switch places the manual switch on the unit barely accessible facing the wall.
I'm considering including an inline swamp cooler scale eliminator water filter and small aquarium pump in the tank to serve as a purge pump draining the contents once a week. I know the ultrasonic units diaphragms scale up really fast on hard tap water. El Paso water is really hard so dumping out the reservoir via a purge pump would greatly reduce mineral buildup as the water becomes more saturated with hardness with mostly just the H20 evaporating. I will probably start with the scale eliminator and see if the purge pump is even necessary.
Sorry for all the rambling, sometimes its better to write it all down to help the thinking and planning process.
Edited by Gr0wer (05/25/15 10:32 PM)
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: Gr0wer]
#21726043 - 05/26/15 06:57 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Just got the digital temp controller installed. Awaiting on a socket plug to be installed on top for the light timer. Should be here thursday. The RH sensor LED display is much brighter which kind of sucks since they don't match. So the right side sockets are for the humidifiers and left side is heat and cool.

Thinking about installing a 80x80cm water cooler over the cool mist air intake. I have a chest freezer right next to the unit for a cold glycol source. I could use a small aquarium pump in a container to circulate cold glycol water, chilling the incoming air. Ebay has em for $11 and i already have a small $7 aquarium pump.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/80MM-Aluminum-Water-Cooling-Block-Water-cooled-Row-for-CPU-heatsink-fan-/111426814091?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f18e408b
For the heating function I'm thinking about mounting a 100w ceramic heat emitter inside the cool mist? The socket would be mounted outside the unit with a rubber grommet on the hole where the shaft goes through. I will definitely need to check for melting and fire hazards and possibly downgrade to a 75w unit if its too hot, or consider other options. Good thing is i have months before i need to worry about heating.


Currently lining up a sale for 30 used 5 gal buckets for grow containers.
Edited by Gr0wer (05/26/15 09:14 PM)
|
jsncrs
DYEL

Registered: 01/16/14
Posts: 1,170
Loc: Mars
Last seen: 3 years, 7 months
|
Re: Gr0 Greenhouse Build [Re: Gr0wer]
#21726083 - 05/26/15 07:06 PM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
|
|
Looking good man!
|
|