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Post by WillyCKH on Jul 6, 2015 20:52:41 GMT -5
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Post by grackle on Jul 6, 2015 21:26:49 GMT -5
Your setups are working. You've kept space for air to flow and the plants to grow into. Your plants are healthy. I think that you have it figured out.
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Post by WillyCKH on Jul 6, 2015 21:31:51 GMT -5
Your setups are working. You've kept space for air to flow and the plants to grow into. Your plants are healthy. I think that you have it figured out. Thanks! I am happy if my plants are happy
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Post by lloyd on Jul 6, 2015 23:19:35 GMT -5
I love the high tech stuff. Any more details?
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Post by WillyCKH on Jul 6, 2015 23:53:32 GMT -5
I love the high tech stuff. Any more details? In my setup I use 10w LEDs chips, 4w LEDs chips, and smd led arrays. I find the 4w ones give out the most intensity/watt and they do not heat too much. The 10w ones are dangerous, I don't recommend them unless you have a really great cooling solutions - right now I am using ~10v to under-drive them to make sure they don't overheat and burn my home down. The smd ones work well if you have many many many of them together (take a lot of effort to put together comparing to the other two types of LEDs), it gives you a better lighting and takes away most of the shadows, best for displays. I use computer PSU to power my LEDs as for now. I'm gonna get a switching power supply (30A) to build another tower (3 levels) before winter, switching power supply has the advantage to adjust the voltage to lower or higher, making it possible to overdrive the LEDs or under-drive. Other than that it's really just monkey-works... The silver sheet is called emergency blanket, it reflects most of the light and I find it quite handy.
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Post by lloyd on Jul 7, 2015 5:25:02 GMT -5
That's a lot of work, what about the controller/LCD arduino, did you write the ccode?
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Post by WillyCKH on Jul 7, 2015 9:51:08 GMT -5
Yes, you bet. I wrote the code, designed the whole thing and built it myself The Arduino system allows me to use it as a light timer, a remote switch (turn on/off from far), and it tracks the temp & humidity. I was planning to sensor the water levels too, but since I have like more than 10 water trays, it's not realistic... haha
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Post by lloyd on Jul 7, 2015 10:41:58 GMT -5
Great idea & implementation. Excellent illustration, too.
I guess you could have multiple level sensors and multiplex them. Are you going to have it communicate with your phone with BT?
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Post by WillyCKH on Jul 7, 2015 11:37:42 GMT -5
Thanks Yes, I can have like 10 sensors for the water levels but at the moment I don't have that many sensors... Perhaps later in the future I will add that and make a auto water-filling system. As for now I think it's alright without the water levels information because my trays are transparent. The arduino system can communicate with any device with BT like my phone, tablet, via serial.
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Post by vraev on Jul 8, 2015 0:43:10 GMT -5
Nice setup Willy. Some great amount of growspace you got there. Be careful...CPs will soon take over all those shelves. lol
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Post by WillyCKH on Jul 8, 2015 1:39:42 GMT -5
Nice setup Willy. Some great amount of growspace you got there. Be careful...CPs will soon take over all those shelves. lol Thank you There's always space for more CPs!
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Post by nwflytrap on Jul 13, 2015 15:01:07 GMT -5
Great looking setup! Is that Rotala wallichi growing in the tall vase on top?
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Post by WillyCKH on Jul 13, 2015 15:40:37 GMT -5
Great looking setup! Is that Rotala wallichi growing in the tall vase on top? Yes, it's a beautiful aquatic plant which I bought recently. I have a handful of small baby fish in that case as well
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Post by WillyCKH on Nov 17, 2015 14:56:28 GMT -5
My setup has been continuously upgrading.. and this is what it looks like now:
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Post by bcmosaic on Nov 17, 2015 16:18:09 GMT -5
So I'm guessing the flood was a blessing in disguise? Looking real good - nice and tidy and bright!! Cheers
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