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Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
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violentjoe0o
eoj
Registered: 10/23/08
Posts: 336
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: goose2r]
#9534449 - 01/02/09 08:44 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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Will a heat bomb heat the whole thing I have one in a tub for incubating reasons and it barely stays at 70.
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stealthc
Stranger
Registered: 01/02/09
Posts: 14
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: goose2r]
#9534467 - 01/02/09 08:47 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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Wow I was considering setting something up simliar.
One issue though: I use a Lesko space heater model "754200" from amazon. I set it to 90 degrees F (turn the dial half way) so whenever the R-Zilla thermostat turns on the space heater the space heater will produce heat. One thing to note is I keep the space heater on the low setting but even that draws 900watts. The thermostat is only rated for 500watts so I am overloading the thermostat a little but I have not noticed any ill effects (like wire heat, etc)
Are you nuts do you want to start a fire? This is dangerous. Buy a 12v-24v transformer at a good mA and use that instead, to switch a relay rated the same as the transformer. I'm sure you can find an opto-isolated relay at an industrial electronics supply place for $15-$25, and a transformer at a regular electronics place for $10. Is $25-$35 worth spending to prevent you house from burning down?
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Damion5050
Mush Doctor
Registered: 05/01/08
Posts: 12,493
Loc: Lost In Translation !
Last seen: 3 years, 1 month
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: violentjoe0o]
#9534470 - 01/02/09 08:48 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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Not sure hard to say lol.. Just giving you ideas.. Never really used one.. My grow area is in my master bedroom, so I really don't have a temp problem..
How big is the area you are trying to heat ?? The shed or whatever it is..
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violentjoe0o
eoj
Registered: 10/23/08
Posts: 336
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: Damion5050]
#9534493 - 01/02/09 08:52 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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Like 8 by 8 and I put plastic over all the wall's and window's and I thought everything was gonna be gravy then the heater blows the circuit lol.I figured there is something I can do to up grade the circuit box so it wont blow but im not and electrician so I wouldn't even know where to start.
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Damion5050
Mush Doctor
Registered: 05/01/08
Posts: 12,493
Loc: Lost In Translation !
Last seen: 3 years, 1 month
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: violentjoe0o]
#9534501 - 01/02/09 08:54 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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Well your best bet is try to get it on it's own circuit.. Then in the summer time when the ground is thawed you can run a real circuit from the circuit breaker box out to the shed underground.. That's what I would do.. But you would have a hell of a time doing that now with the ground being frozen due to winter time..
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goose2r
Stranger
Registered: 12/19/08
Posts: 101
Last seen: 15 years, 29 days
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: stealthc]
#9534518 - 01/02/09 08:58 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
stealthc said: Wow I was considering setting something up simliar.
One issue though: I use a Lesko space heater model "754200" from amazon. I set it to 90 degrees F (turn the dial half way) so whenever the R-Zilla thermostat turns on the space heater the space heater will produce heat. One thing to note is I keep the space heater on the low setting but even that draws 900watts. The thermostat is only rated for 500watts so I am overloading the thermostat a little but I have not noticed any ill effects (like wire heat, etc)
Are you nuts do you want to start a fire? This is dangerous. Buy a 12v-24v transformer at a good mA and use that instead, to switch a relay rated the same as the transformer. I'm sure you can find an opto-isolated relay at an industrial electronics supply place for $15-$25, and a transformer at a regular electronics place for $10. Is $25-$35 worth spending to prevent you house from burning down?
Yes I realize that and it was a goof on my part. I thought the space heater was less wattage. I posted to RogerRabbit about what I may do. I'm not too worried though, the wires are never hot, I am not worried to wait a day.
You are talking over my head with "opto-isolated relay". I have setup new 20 amp circuits/breaker off my main breaker box before but that's about as far as my electrical skills go. Can you list a step by step method? What do I do with the transformer? Will it have a external sensor?
I think I'm just going to order the Ranco if it's rated over 900watts. I have to call to find out becuase it's not listed on the site.
Thanks
-goose2r
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violentjoe0o
eoj
Registered: 10/23/08
Posts: 336
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: Damion5050]
#9534524 - 01/02/09 08:58 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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Yea I thought of running an extension cord for the time being but I don't really want a cord from the house to the shed lol.Maybe I could use kerosene if I did that would I have to rig up a chimney type deal?
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goose2r
Stranger
Registered: 12/19/08
Posts: 101
Last seen: 15 years, 29 days
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: violentjoe0o]
#9534533 - 01/02/09 09:00 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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Hey violentjoeDo and Damion5050,
Could you please continue your discussion in another thread or via PM? I don't mean to be rude but I want to find out how to setup my thermostat correctly. Thanks.
-goose2r
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Damion5050
Mush Doctor
Registered: 05/01/08
Posts: 12,493
Loc: Lost In Translation !
Last seen: 3 years, 1 month
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: violentjoe0o]
#9534541 - 01/02/09 09:01 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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A portable kerosene heater would work I don't think you need to rig a chimney up though because people use them in houses all day long with a chimney..
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violentjoe0o
eoj
Registered: 10/23/08
Posts: 336
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: goose2r]
#9534544 - 01/02/09 09:01 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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Yea sry bout that.
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stealthc
Stranger
Registered: 01/02/09
Posts: 14
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: goose2r]
#9535018 - 01/02/09 10:16 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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Yup this one is simple. Here is a relay: http://omrwsc.am.omron.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&productId=39662&storeId=10001&langId=-1
this relay will output 120vac @ 20A no problems. Which is exactly what you need. The input is 10v-30v, which is in an ideal range. Solid state is generally better, although you could use a triac. There are two settings for such a relay called NOC and NCC (I think, been a while since I messed around with these things), setting this to one or the other determines what applying a current to the input determines, if the switch is on or off (and vice versa for when there is no input current).
So what you would like to do is ask the guy at... gerrie electric or whichever industrial electronics place to help you pick out a decent realy that is in stock. The optoisolation is just a safety precaution and is not really all that necessary until you start working with microcontrollers so it is your choice to use it or not, though the risk of not using it is that you could fry the transformer (very slight risk), so you might be better off finding one with it built in.
What you will want to do, is plug a transformer... this might do: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102494
now you have to wire in the transformer to the 120vac source you have running off your under-rated switch. this gets the transformer juiced up and has it outputting a voltage used for switching the relay on or off, depending if the transformer is on or off. It's a pretty simple circuit, and it's useful because sometimes a switch isn't always ideal. You can even use relays to switch relays, or switch banks of relays.
Just be sure that you buy the relay first and ask the guy at the counter which he thinks would be good to switch a 120v line at 20A, this way it'll be enough for your heater.
One set of lines is for (depending on the phase, the one I supplied an example of was 3 phase, just be sure to ASK the guy at the store to help you) the input, and the output is just normal 120vac 15a line. piece of cake. Be sure to use slightly higher rated wiring.
Just because the wires aren't getting hot doesn't mean that perhaps they aren't getting hot inside your switch when it is on.
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stealthc
Stranger
Registered: 01/02/09
Posts: 14
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: stealthc]
#9535284 - 01/02/09 11:00 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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BTW don't buy that particular relay (just a warning) because it is 3-phase and you're not going to be working with 3 phase -- remember ask the guy at the store for a relay that takes:
12vdc 250mA input output of 120vac 20A
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Despondent
I hate this city
Registered: 08/08/08
Posts: 384
Loc: Y-sconsin
Last seen: 9 years, 7 months
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: stealthc]
#9535376 - 01/02/09 11:16 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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That looks pretty good. Im gonna be building mine in a couple weeks. Think ill try this one.
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stealthc
Stranger
Registered: 01/02/09
Posts: 14
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: Despondent]
#9535504 - 01/02/09 11:47 PM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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hmmm careful if I recall right 240v is 2 120v phase and 3 phase is industrial scale stuff... that's not to say it won't work, I just like buying the exact same for the job u know? Like in the case of what's coming out of your ac outlet that would be 1 phase 120v with a neutral and a ground.
EDIT HERE: But it should still work. And because it's 3 phase, you could get away with hooking up 3 things to it. says contacts are rated at 20a each, so it could switch 3 things as the same time and you could hook up 3 seperate single phase lines on seperate circuit breakers to it from the breaker box. Definitely overkill. LOL
Edited by stealthc (01/03/09 12:18 AM)
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JaComet
Old Hand
Registered: 11/12/02
Posts: 347
Loc: Out Yonder
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: stealthc]
#9536166 - 01/03/09 03:50 AM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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My complements. You’ve assembled a nice group of off the shelf parts. Particularly appreciate the repeat cycle timer. Hadn’t run across that one.
On the heater, I prefer and recommend an oil filled radiator type. The heat is gentle, omni directional, won’t set the curtains or cat on fire, and the ballast of the heated oil makes for steadier regulation of area temp.
Some exampless here. www.nextag.com/oil-filled-heater/compare-html
All the best.
Edited by JaComet (01/04/09 05:25 AM)
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German Kahuna
Facepalmer of Stoopid
Registered: 10/31/08
Posts: 15,798
Loc: On a Chemical Vacation
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: goose2r]
#9536181 - 01/03/09 04:20 AM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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Looks almost exactly like my setup. Well, I got a different fogger:
It holds 5 liters.
But the greenhouse is the exact same that I have and the rest of the setup is pretty much the same as well. Needs almost no interference at all, only a refill for the fogger every 3 days.
-------------------- "Vegetarian" [ /ˌvedʒəˈteəriən/] - Ancient slang meaning "village idiot who can't hunt, fish or ride".
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stealthc
Stranger
Registered: 01/02/09
Posts: 14
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: JaComet]
#9536280 - 01/03/09 05:38 AM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
JaComet said: My complements. You’ve assembled a nice group of off the shelf parts. Particularly appreciate the repeat cycle timer. Hadn’t run across that one.
On the heater, I prefer and recommend an oil filled radiator type. The heat is gentile, omni directional, won’t set the curtains or cat on fire, and the ballast of the heated oil makes for steadier regulation of area temp.
Some exampless here. www.nextag.com/oil-filled-heater/compare-html
All the best.
That's actually a VERY good point, and I would give you a rating on that if I didn't have to make another 39 posts to be-able to do that lol
I would think an oil heater is more efficient as well, since it wouldn't be switching on and off as much as a block heater.
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German Kahuna
Facepalmer of Stoopid
Registered: 10/31/08
Posts: 15,798
Loc: On a Chemical Vacation
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: stealthc]
#9536292 - 01/03/09 05:44 AM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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I use a 7 meter 90W terrarium heating cable that I ran through and up and down the structure of the green house and which is hooked up to a thermo timer on the outside which has a sensor cable that's attached on the inside. Works quite well.
-------------------- "Vegetarian" [ /ˌvedʒəˈteəriən/] - Ancient slang meaning "village idiot who can't hunt, fish or ride".
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stealthc
Stranger
Registered: 01/02/09
Posts: 14
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: German Kahuna]
#9536473 - 01/03/09 07:05 AM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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Quote:
German Kahuna said: I use a 7 meter 90W terrarium heating cable that I ran through and up and down the structure of the green house and which is hooked up to a thermo timer on the outside which has a sensor cable that's attached on the inside. Works quite well.
wow just wondering what does something like that run for?
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German Kahuna
Facepalmer of Stoopid
Registered: 10/31/08
Posts: 15,798
Loc: On a Chemical Vacation
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Re: Easy hi-tec automated greenhouse! (fogger, thermostat, hygrometer, etc) [Re: stealthc]
#9536487 - 01/03/09 07:11 AM (15 years, 2 months ago) |
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I paid 19 Euros plus shipping.
It's very much similar to THIS 50W ONE.
-------------------- "Vegetarian" [ /ˌvedʒəˈteəriən/] - Ancient slang meaning "village idiot who can't hunt, fish or ride".
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