Smart Fan Speed Controller, a good idea or nah?

[nomofatum]

Do you mean programming like setting up a wifi router or programming like computer programming? You won't have a very big market if it's more than a basic settings menu.

 

[Budley Doright]

^^^^^ if asking me I mean programming the actual PLC's, the user interface could be as simple as a menu but that's the programming I mean this is the box I built that does all my heating, extraction, etc. I also have a box that controls Res temps (2) and pumps (4).

 

[Jack Tambo]

I would like a setup that could disable outlets when temps exceed x setting, then will continue to disable more outlets every Y minutes if temps don't drop below the X setting. Outlets should also re-enable if temps allow during the Y interval. One outlet would never disable due to temps, this is to maintain the light cycle.

Ok. that is a very specific use case.

For the fan speed use an auto transformer type controller to minimize fan motor hum

I'll look into that. So far I was planning to use phase cutting for speed control.

Some overlap/competition?

Www.growtronix.com

Yes, seems somewhat similar.

If you haven't named it yet I came up with a name thats a bit cheeky in a steam punk kinda way - queß². Pronounced Cube Squared. I suggested that for another fellow who came looking for a name for his unit. I don't think he decided to go with it. Not many google hits for queb and my thinking was that the squared part of it denotes expandability. Anyway...case you're lookin for a name I like queß².

Thanks. I like the 'cube' idea.

I am not too worried about a name just yet. Wanna first find something to build that people will find useful.

All your outlets should be 115 or 230 I would think. And really only 230 for possible lighting or the Brits . It's up to you how you energize the outlets, but probably 12vdc is where you'll find most controls you would need. I know shit about PLC's, and programming, perhaps a good winter learning thing . I love this shit lol. I'll see if I can get a few picks of the boxes I got going.

I hadn't thought about stepper motors yet. *Overwhelm*

Do you mean programming like setting up a wifi router or programming like computer programming? You won't have a very big market if it's more than a basic settings menu.

It could have a menu somewhat like when setting up a Wifi router.

Maybe a drag and drop type deal, accessed through a web browser.

Letting users chose what power outlets do. What happens when temps fall or rise, water levels fall, PH goes awry, Light durations, and so on.

I guess it should be very flexible, but still simple to program.

^^^^^ the user interface could be as simple as a menu but that's the programming I mean View attachment 3579400 this is the box I built that does all my heating, extraction, etc. I also have a box that controls Res temps (2) and pumps (4).

Yes, a menu rather than computer programming.
That touch screen is nice.

 

[Jack Tambo]

Cheers and thanks again for the good ideas and feedback!

This is very helpful. I wouldn't have thought about many of these.


Since there are different ideas and user scenarios, I feel like this thing needs to be very flexible.

I imagine a box with 5 different power outlets and the option to connect a bunch of different sensors.

Together with an online menu that would make it as easy as possible to configure that thing.


Any objections?

If not, I would make a demo version of that online menu and post a link for testing.


Any more ideas and comments please post!

Thanks heaps.

 

[Grandpapy]

Ability to adjust ph while away would be tits!

^^^^^ if asking me I mean programming the actual PLC's, the user interface could be as simple as a menu but that's the programming I mean View attachment 3579400 this is the box I built that does all my heating, extraction, etc. I also have a box that controls Res temps (2) and pumps (4).

Hey! Check your Alerts!

 

[Jack Tambo]

Ability to adjust ph while away would be tits!

Hey! Check your Alerts!

To adjust PH, would that be for example a dispenser that can add both PH up and down solutions into the reservoir?

(true with the alerts. I corrected that. )

 

[Grandpapy]

yea, one for each.

 

[Budley Doright]

Ability to adjust ph while away would be tits!



Hey! Check your Alerts!

I do lol.

 

[Budley Doright]

To adjust PH, would that be for example a dispenser that can add both PH up and down solutions into the reservoir?

(true with the alerts. I corrected that. )

If you can keep this thing under $150 I'll bow before you . With all these ideals being touted it would be a whole grow, automated control. A great thing to add to the panel of a grow box. Have a look at growtronix for some inspiration.

 

[Jack Tambo]

If you can keep this thing under $150 I'll bow before you . With all these ideals being touted it would be a whole grow, automated control. A great thing to add to the panel of a grow box. Have a look at growtronix for some inspiration.

I do my best to hit that number. Or stay below.

How important is a display on the box?

Considering that all data is visible on a smartphone?

 

[GroErr]

I'd be in on this, I think growtronix has something but they get costly and tie you into their system. Something separate just to control both my intake and exhaust fans would rock. My room is pretty easy to dial in but of course major outside changes in seasons requires adjustments to both intake/exhaust, being able to automate or remotely make changes would be awesome. I've tried timers, temp controllers etc but I prefer 24/7 exchange, just can't dial it up/down other than manual adjustments when needed.

 

[nomofatum]

How important is a display on the box?

Considering that all data is visible on a smartphone?

No need for a display, just need a LED or sound to indicate when it's powered on. If you use an LED, there should be a button to disable the LED.

 

[Chrissa]

To adjust PH, would that be for example a dispenser that can add both PH up and down solutions into the reservoir?

(true with the alerts. I corrected that. )

My controller doses pH as it is .. problem is u shouldnt be dosing both pH down and pH up .. usually the case is that it pH actually is to high to begin with a rises over time so u would only need one dosing pump as for the dosing the pump must be able to be turned down my pump is adjustable but even at its lowest setting it's dispenses to much.. what I mean by this is the probe detects the correct ph and then the controller sends a signal to the pump and turns of the relay . What happens is because of the large water volume it takes a while for the acid to disolve evenly and when the controller shuts it off, 2min later the pH is still going down because the solution has finally disolved. To counteract this I highly dilute the pH down with water and I have a pump with an injection port that the pH adjust dispense into and is constantly mixing my rez.. this is critical for this because it takes a min for the probe to get the reading and then after the pump shuts off the acids are still disolving in the water.. like if u were hand mixing and went to add adjuster u would stir real good before u tested cuz if u just test 5 min later when the acid disolve the pH is actually lower than your initial test... if u could get a dosing pump to dose a couple ml shut off for mixing and reading and then repeat if needed that would be key it would keep the pump from over dosing.. but all in all the watered down ph works really well surprisingly been on the same 1 lite canister for a few months now

 

[Chrissa]

No need for a display, just need a LED or sound to indicate when it's powered on. If you use an LED, there should be a button to disable the LED.

I agree for smartphone and tablet users but what about a Web interface that u can access with a pass code on any pc or any device that can access Web .. I personally think that u should have different models maybe one with touchscreen one without..we all know what it feels like when wireless or Bluetooth or network connections fail and there's no apparent reason it's just being a butch. . But oh no my pumps got left on and I can't reprogram it from the controller so I gotta now unplug my grow

 

[Jack Tambo]

I'd be in on this, I think growtronix has something but they get costly and tie you into their system. Something separate just to control both my intake and exhaust fans would rock. My room is pretty easy to dial in but of course major outside changes in seasons requires adjustments to both intake/exhaust, being able to automate or remotely make changes would be awesome. I've tried timers, temp controllers etc but I prefer 24/7 exchange, just can't dial it up/down other than manual adjustments when needed.

Yes, you would then probably use just 2 power outlets for the 2 fans. And they could be set to never go below 20% so you'd always keep some air exchange.

No need for a display, just need a LED or sound to indicate when it's powered on. If you use an LED, there should be a button to disable the LED.

Ok. That LED would indicate power and also Wifi connection status.

My controller doses pH as it is .. problem is u shouldnt be dosing both pH down and pH up .. usually the case is that it pH actually is to high to begin with a rises over time so u would only need one dosing pump as for the dosing the pump must be able to be turned down my pump is adjustable but even at its lowest setting it's dispenses to much.. what I mean by this is the probe detects the correct ph and then the controller sends a signal to the pump and turns of the relay . What happens is because of the large water volume it takes a while for the acid to disolve evenly and when the controller shuts it off, 2min later the pH is still going down because the solution has finally disolved. To counteract this I highly dilute the pH down with water and I have a pump with an injection port that the pH adjust dispense into and is constantly mixing my rez.. this is critical for this because it takes a min for the probe to get the reading and then after the pump shuts off the acids are still disolving in the water.. like if u were hand mixing and went to add adjuster u would stir real good before u tested cuz if u just test 5 min later when the acid disolve the pH is actually lower than your initial test... if u could get a dosing pump to dose a couple ml shut off for mixing and reading and then repeat if needed that would be key it would keep the pump from over dosing.. but all in all the watered down ph works really well surprisingly been on the same 1 lite canister for a few months now

Right, so either UP or DOWN solution will be enough. I see what you mean. the system should wait at least 5 min or so between adjustments because it takes time to mix.

Thanks, that's good to know.

I agree for smartphone and tablet users but what about a Web interface that u can access with a pass code on any pc or any device that can access Web .. I personally think that u should have different models maybe one with touchscreen one without..we all know what it feels like when wireless or Bluetooth or network connections fail and there's no apparent reason it's just being a butch. . But oh no my pumps got left on and I can't reprogram it from the controller so I gotta now unplug my grow

True, it shouldn't be too dependent on network availability.
In the event of network outage, the system would keep working because the settings are stored on the box.
It's also OK to run it without any Wifi connection. Some people may prefer that anyway for privacy reasons.

In the initial versions, a web browser will be needed to 'program' your unique settings. Just because the bigger screen from a desktop makes it easier for me to develop the interface.




Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Chrissa]

Yes, you would then probably use just 2 power outlets for the 2 fans. And they could be set to never go below 20% so you'd always keep some air exchange.



Ok. That LED would indicate power and also Wifi connection status.



Right, so either UP or DOWN solution will be enough. I see what you mean. the system should wait at least 5 min or so between adjustments because it takes time to mix.

Thanks, that's good to know.



True, it shouldn't be too dependent on network availability.
In the event of network outage, the system would keep working because the settings are stored on the box.
It's also OK to run it without any Wifi connection. Some people may prefer that anyway for privacy reasons.

In the initial versions, a web browser will be needed to 'program' your unique settings. Just because the bigger screen from a desktop makes it easier for me to develop the interface.




Thanks for the suggestions!

Please correct me if I'm wrong but isn't phase cut when the current is on and off rapidly to control speed of e.g a fan motor ...if so this is incorrect yes it works but unfortunately it is not good for your fan and it can produce a loud hum.. look into a Some sort of Variable Auto transformer

 

[nomofatum]

non-wifi version could still store data on a SD card...

 

[Jack Tambo]

Please correct me if I'm wrong but isn't phase cut when the current is on and off rapidly to control speed of e.g a fan motor ...if so this is incorrect yes it works but unfortunately it is not good for your fan and it can produce a loud hum.. look into a Some sort of Variable Auto transformer

Hi, yes it seems true.. those phase cutting dimmers are not good for some (many) motors. Now, it would be quite expensive to put an auto transformer, or even a frequency changer into the device. So I would rather offer that as an external add-on for people who'd like to treat their fans with care. It seems that phase cutting is still commonly being used. Pretty much all the cheaper fan controllers on eBay use this method. So I leave this as standard method in the box, with the option to use an auto transformer if wanted. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[Jack Tambo]

Hello everyone,

thanks again for coming up with all these ideas.

I worked on the project and came up with something that will work for the different use cases you gave here.

It is a web-app that lets you program the device and tell it what to do.

So you have total freedom to regulate your grow room however you wish.

Plus, you can see all your sensor data on a smart phone.


Check it out if you like: Click here




Please let me know your opinions whether this concept makes sense or not.

Thanks in advance, Jack

 

[Budley Doright]

Very cool!!! Have you checked into getting approvals from any of the testing agencies? I think that is where the cost really adds up .