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Festivus
Resident Lurker


Registered: 03/24/06
Posts: 142
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Automated Fruiting Chamber
#5527872 - 04/18/06 12:35 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Hey fellow mycology enthusiasts,
I was talking with my cat the other day about the prospect of creating automated fruiting chambers, and I think that we're soon going to construct a prototype -- here are the features:
1) Any size rubbermaid container as the fruiting chamber. 2) Built in RH & Temp sensors 3) External LCD readout screen to display RH & Temp 4) Built in fan for FAE and RH controls, regulated by a custom programmed & calibrated PIC 5) Built in aquarium bubbler with a water source container, also controlled by the PIC
So... it's basically just add perilite, casings, and then plug it in and wait.
We're trying to keep the cost down, but what others features would be useful/desirable?
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skeletor
the dude
Registered: 09/06/05
Posts: 1,235
Loc: heaven on earth
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: Festivus]
#5528028 - 04/18/06 01:13 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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go cart track. everone like gocarts zoooooom. i fing mono tubs to be about as automated but much less stuff. however this would be nifty shoudl you have several tubs plus it woudl look cool
-------------------- im sorry about your mother. She was a terrible attrative woman. Get back to nature; hunting burgers and gathering fries.
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ShroomInduced
I read too manymycology books


Registered: 04/19/05
Posts: 309
Loc: A giant mushroom in my he...
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: skeletor]
#5528425 - 04/18/06 07:04 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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You should also add a ph probe and co2 and 02. It would be awesome to be able to monitor your gases as well. I would also put a log in so you can keep track of a whole grow and go back and look at its specific numbers. Id also make a small relay setup that could turn the 120v line on and off so it could control a light and a humidifier. If you need some input on this pm me, I know about electronics, programing, wiring etc...
-------------------- That's a deep kiss too, like the Europeans. You know, the French, they have to unhinge their jaw to show love. Computer Fan Tek Vote for you favorite strain of cubes 97 choices!
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Edgekrusher
God
Registered: 10/10/05
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Last seen: 17 years, 1 month
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I'd skip the gocart track and just get a mini train track. They work great for hauling large flushes out of your fruiting chamber and into the dining room for preparation in the next pizza. I swear it's delivery!
Oh, and get a mini chihuahua guard dog for your closet. They work wonders at keeping contams at bay.
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FooMan



Registered: 02/02/05
Posts: 8,957
Loc: Earth
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: skeletor]
#5528513 - 04/18/06 07:42 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Festivus said: We're trying to keep the cost down
Quote:
skeletor said: i fing mono tubs to be about as automated but much less stuff.
K.I.S.S.
This reminds me of the Martha with oxygen tanks posted last night.
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Quick WBS Prep
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ShroomInduced
I read too manymycology books


Registered: 04/19/05
Posts: 309
Loc: A giant mushroom in my he...
Last seen: 12 years, 5 months
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: FooMan]
#5528579 - 04/18/06 08:20 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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You know what, you guys suck. Its awesome that hes working on this. The best way to get consistently and best possible fruits is with data and a carefully controlled environment. Just using the data collected off something like this is important. Just something off the of my head would be to see when there are spikes of c02 given off from the myc. Maybe light would effect these levels. There is a endless set of experiments you could do with this.
-------------------- That's a deep kiss too, like the Europeans. You know, the French, they have to unhinge their jaw to show love. Computer Fan Tek Vote for you favorite strain of cubes 97 choices!
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gotyerback
SpiritualAdvisor


Registered: 09/05/05
Posts: 353
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I'd like to see someone invent an automated cloaking device. You walk in and hit the button, the curtain goes up, hit it again, your grow is totally hidden.
You could look at the Rh and temp sensors with controllers they sell on eBay. search on "humidity controller" over $200 though
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musher_420
Stranger

Registered: 08/01/05
Posts: 2,691
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: Festivus]
#5528639 - 04/18/06 08:50 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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If you've got the time, know how, money and drive to do it, go for it.
I personally wouldn't be putting so much effort into a rubber maid with a bubbler.
A complex set up like that would be better for a small green house (actually not much more in cost then a LARGE rubber maid) what was humidified with a blower fan an ultrasonic fogger inside a bucket. You would have great control over your enviroment with this set up.
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Festivus
Resident Lurker


Registered: 03/24/06
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: gotyerback]
#5528687 - 04/18/06 09:21 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Right now we're shooting for $150 or less for the whole setup (retail). With a custom-programmed PIC, we can avoid the costly controllers and just use the sensors. It seems people are paying more for kits that will do less right now.
Making a separate kit for a greenhouse/martha isn't a bad idea. When my cat and I were discussing the issue, we figured that there were just too many variables, ie, differing humidifiers (brand,output,USH,wick,etc) and the size of their martha.
Thanks for those that have posted constructive feedback. I know that it's a pretty crazy idea, but my cat has some friends that are fairly interested in the end result.
Quote:
gotyerback said: You could look at the Rh and temp sensors with controllers they sell on eBay. search on "humidity controller" over $200 though
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FooMan



Registered: 02/02/05
Posts: 8,957
Loc: Earth
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Quote:
ShroomInduced said: You know what, you guys suck. Its awesome that hes working on this. The best way to get consistently and best possible fruits is with data and a carefully controlled environment. Just using the data collected off something like this is important. Just something off the of my head would be to see when there are spikes of c02 given off from the myc. Maybe light would effect these levels. There is a endless set of experiments you could do with this.
We suck....endless set of experiments? This has all been done before. My point is that you can have all the fancy gadgets in the world, but why? Unless you are planning on commercial size harvests, there's no need. He's talking about a rubbermaid bin here. IMO, hardly worth putting all that money and time into it.
Polyfil + rubbermaid = carefully (and perfectly) controlled environment. Fully automated without all the gadgets.
  
Work smarter, not harder
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Quick WBS Prep
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musher_420
Stranger

Registered: 08/01/05
Posts: 2,691
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: Festivus]
#5528776 - 04/18/06 09:58 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Agar designed this, Ultrasonice fogger in a bucket with a blower fan to force humid air into the greenhouse.
You can get those foggers off ebay way cheaper then you will find them in the pet shop. I think the fan agar used was to cool a sever or something. You can find those blower fans on ebay too. This is the best method of humification and FAE I have seen. You can control all the varialbes greatly and it has fast response time to your controling devices. It should last long and have less maitenance then cool-mists.
Someone posted this the other day. http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=...asin=B0006AZ7FW 40 bucks is pretty cheap. The really big rubbermaids usually cost about 20 bucks anyways.
I hope this is more clear then my last post.
Edited by musher_420 (04/18/06 09:59 AM)
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Babo911
Pooper Scooper


Registered: 09/05/05
Posts: 1,745
Loc: Arizona Bay
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: FooMan]
#5528781 - 04/18/06 10:00 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Double Tub Tek?
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Ronhero on the Growery is me
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thenewguy05
The Mushroom Man


Registered: 02/11/05
Posts: 2,123
Loc: My Underground Layer
Last seen: 2 years, 5 months
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: Festivus]
#5528784 - 04/18/06 10:01 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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you have too much shit you want to put in there. sounds like you want a hot tub and a flatscreen tv in there.
fully automated is simple without all that this.
POOR MAN'S POD - MOD

a simple two bin setup is easy too.
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FooMan



Registered: 02/02/05
Posts: 8,957
Loc: Earth
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: Babo911]
#5528785 - 04/18/06 10:01 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Babo911 said: Double Tub Tek?
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Quick WBS Prep
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Babo911
Pooper Scooper


Registered: 09/05/05
Posts: 1,745
Loc: Arizona Bay
Last seen: 10 years, 7 months
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: FooMan]
#5528810 - 04/18/06 10:09 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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how well will pmp work for cases though? I was under the understanding it was for cakes?
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Ronhero on the Growery is me
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hambone
nein vollständignude


Registered: 03/25/06
Posts: 27
Last seen: 16 years, 5 months
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: FooMan]
#5528950 - 04/18/06 10:57 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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similar things have been done that you would probably benefit from checking out . i've contemplated using one of these in correlation with these sensors. unfortunately i can only work with hardware and this requires writing code. the cost is:
$30 humidity/temp sensor $20 CO2 sensor $20 parts for the CUI unit ($50 if you want it prebuilt) $0 (ideally) code in C $5-$30 misc hardware plus whatever other sensors you may want to add. (plenty of room)
total comes out around $75-$150 us
though there may be problems with such a setup, i wanted something i could hook up to my computer to adjust the settings whenever, but unplug and act on it's own. i take a lot of business trips so automation is something i've been watching closely.
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OneSense
He who has read

Registered: 04/18/06
Posts: 43
Last seen: 17 years, 6 months
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: hambone]
#5529102 - 04/18/06 11:48 AM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Just my 2 cents... I agree that this is far too much for a rubbermaid tub. This would be ideal for automated greenhouse/martha setup of some sort (as posted within the last couple of days on here). For about $20 more you could change that rubbermaid for a 4 tier greenhouse or usable shelving unit.
-------------------- Stash of Myco-Photos "If I give advise or mention anything on the topic of mushroom cultivation, it was read within the archives of www.shroomery.org. would like to say that I grow active mushrooms however it is illegal to grow such natural fungi.. therefore my participiation in this hobby doesn't go past the reading of articles and viewing of photos within this website." - OneSense
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Festivus
Resident Lurker


Registered: 03/24/06
Posts: 142
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: OneSense]
#5529162 - 04/18/06 12:01 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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The only real problem I see with a Martha is the humidity issue. I haven't figured out how to make a separate reservoir for a USH -- the idea with the tub is that it can be left for 2 weeks.
With anything using a humidifier, you need to refill it every 24 hours or so.
Like one of the last posters said, some people are frequently out of town on business. As a photographer, I've found that I go where the work goes, and I think this would be a viable option.
Thanks again for the input, everyone! 
Quote:
OneSense said: Just my 2 cents... I agree that this is far too much for a rubbermaid tub. This would be ideal for automated greenhouse/martha setup of some sort (as posted within the last couple of days on here). For about $20 more you could change that rubbermaid for a 4 tier greenhouse or usable shelving unit.
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musher_420
Stranger

Registered: 08/01/05
Posts: 2,691
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: Festivus]
#5529312 - 04/18/06 12:33 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Amoung the reasons I posted agar's blower fan/ultrasonic fogger humidifier is because it doesn't need to be refilled every 24 hours. It's made out of a 5 gallon bucket. It will hold a lot of water.
I'd wager it could last at least two weeks.
Edited by musher_420 (04/18/06 12:33 PM)
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hambone
nein vollständignude


Registered: 03/25/06
Posts: 27
Last seen: 16 years, 5 months
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: Festivus]
#5529322 - 04/18/06 12:35 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
Festivus said:
With anything using a humidifier, you need to refill it every 24 hours or so.
you could always rig a switch to go off when the water gets low and refill it. i've seen similar devices in hardware stores for automated sprinkler systems.
...though the beauty of the USH is, if you have a humidistat that only activates it when needed, it will take a couple of weeks to empty that tank. even if you just use a timer it'll last quite a while. i rarely have to refill mine as it is.
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Festivus
Resident Lurker


Registered: 03/24/06
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: hambone]
#5529337 - 04/18/06 12:38 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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I hadn't thought of that, but it isn't a bad idea at all.
I foresee more tinkering in the future.
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thenewguy05
The Mushroom Man


Registered: 02/11/05
Posts: 2,123
Loc: My Underground Layer
Last seen: 2 years, 5 months
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: Babo911]
#5529444 - 04/18/06 01:00 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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my PMP never has any problem producing bumper crops




Edited by thenewguy05 (04/18/06 02:43 PM)
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FooMan



Registered: 02/02/05
Posts: 8,957
Loc: Earth
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: Babo911]
#5529793 - 04/18/06 02:35 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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--------------------
Quick WBS Prep
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FooMan



Registered: 02/02/05
Posts: 8,957
Loc: Earth
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: hambone]
#5529926 - 04/18/06 03:27 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
hambone said: similar things have been done that you would probably benefit from checking out . i've contemplated using one of these in correlation with these sensors. unfortunately i can only work with hardware and this requires writing code. the cost is:
$30 humidity/temp sensor $20 CO2 sensor $20 parts for the CUI unit ($50 if you want it prebuilt) $0 (ideally) code in C $5-$30 misc hardware plus whatever other sensors you may want to add. (plenty of room)
total comes out around $75-$150 us
though there may be problems with such a setup, i wanted something i could hook up to my computer to adjust the settings whenever, but unplug and act on it's own. i take a lot of business trips so automation is something i've been watching closely.
I'm not sure if you meant to respond to me or not, but thanks for the links! Unless you are including something to control the temperature of that setup, I still see no benefit over a mono/double tub setup. Have you read those teks?
I'm trying to figure out what the advantage of spending $100+ dollars for automation would be when I can just take a rubbermaid tub with polyfil stuffed holes to create a perfect growing environment. I don't have to worry about any type of computerized controls/timers, running out of water, electrical fires, increased electric bills and it will work just fine whether I'm home or away.
IMO, a more complicated setup is only needed if you are growing what I would consider very large quantities of mushrooms that require a greenhouse or grow room, which need some sort of external humidification/ventilation system. Even if that were the case, I'm so impressed with the simplicity and effectivness of mono/double tubs, that if I were going for large quantities, I'd just get bigger/more tubs. It's very possible to get 1lb DRY flushes from a single tub like this. That's good enough for most peoples needs.
Just =>>
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hambone
nein vollständignude


Registered: 03/25/06
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: FooMan]
#5534531 - 04/19/06 05:48 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Quote:
FooManShroom said:
Unless you are including something to control the temperature of that setup, I still see no benefit over a mono/double tub setup. Have you read those teks?
Just =>>: :
heatpad/heated blanket can be purchased at any thrift store for next to nothing.
i agree with you on the monotub set up being better (for cubes). like i said, i've just contemplated it. however, the advantage? for users the ability to grow pretty much any type of mushroom with little adjustments necessary. plus, if you could poop out controllers for around $100, you'd have the market tapped in that department and could bring in the monies.
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cappa
Nerd
Registered: 02/12/06
Posts: 854
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: hambone]
#5535162 - 04/19/06 08:00 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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Mogur and I are in the prototyping stage of building a PIC based environmental controller. It will have a relay bank consisting of 4 banks of 110v power jacks. It comes in a conveniently sized package where everything but the power jacks and the sensor leads are enclosed.
It has a humidity sensor and a temp sensor. Timers are built into the software for the PIC.
It is programmable and updatable via USB. We will eventually write an application that does graphing and logging. Just in case someone wanted to leave their computer hooked up to it and do some logging etc.
Things that will be controlled: Light timing FAE timing Programmable automatic control of humidity Programable automatic control of temperature
We are considering the possibility of manufacuring a CO2 sensor cable as well. At this time, the CO2 sensors out their aren't what we are looking for becuase they have a heating element in them. Heating element + lysol or alcohol usually doesn't mix too well. A company is currently developing an IR based CO2 sensor that doesn't use a heating element. If they aren't too expensive we will have that as an upgrade accessory.
The current circuit board design leaves some options open to us so that it can be upgraded as technology improves.
The nice thing about our unit is; say you wanted to stop growing muchrooms and wanted to grow some exotic plants?
A quick software update and a switch or two thrown and you're golden. Now you are dehumidifing, light cycle is what you want, a relay is now controlling your automatic drip watering system, etc. etc.
One day, our single device can follow you through your crazy hobbies that require specific enviromnental parameters!
We should have testing complete by the end of June. Look for a thread by Mogur or I about that time.
-------------------- Their are 10 types of people. Those that understand binary, and those who don't. ~Cappa.
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hambone
nein vollständignude


Registered: 03/25/06
Posts: 27
Last seen: 16 years, 5 months
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: cappa]
#5535617 - 04/19/06 09:37 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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see now that's what i'm talking about!
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creamcorn
mad scientist


Registered: 03/13/06
Posts: 2,962
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Re: Automated Fruiting Chamber [Re: hambone]
#5535648 - 04/19/06 09:45 PM (17 years, 9 months ago) |
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i say forget the naysayers and rig up every gadget you can... why not? if you ever move up to something bigger, all your gadgetry will still work just the same, you'll have worked the kinks out, and you'll have your larger grow area set up optimally in no time flat.
plus its fun even if its usefulness is questionable... that matters just as much! :-)
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