Wireless dimming / Arduino / Development board

[Chiefrunningphist]

I'm working on an esp32. I'm just starting to get into scheduling, sleep function, ect. I think I'm going to try to build a webpage in python then flash it to the esp32 to be used as a web interface to control the esp32 remotely. If anyone is good with python or knows about this stuff hmu, would love to collaborate.

[JayKell]

i would love to find nice solution to manage my 9 driver and 4 different spectrum

new illumi meshtek seems me a good solution no?
https://eu.mouser.com/new/ilumi/ilumi-m ... ontroller/

im pretty bad on electricity stuff ::

Hey, if you can wait for mine to get here on the slow boat from China, I'm going to be checking out a cheap 5 channel dimmer, the tc-420. Usb programming by the minute for $20+psu. It looks like you can store several programs (early veg, late veg etc) and change via buttons and screen on the controller without hooking back up. I'm willing to bet it'll run unmodified on a 10v wall wart for pwm dimming, and it should be cake to hook up an optocoupler for other voltages and 1-10v as well. There's a wifi version as well {tc-421) for about $35, but it's only programmable in half hour increments so I went for the 420 (no other childish motivating factors, I swear

Should be a few weeks out still as I just ordered it 2-3 days ago, but I'll probably post up my results here in the automation forum anyway.

[JayKell]

I wish more people would comment on this And add to the discussion.

I’m just diving into Arduino myself, and will have many questions!

Well, I'm really very far from an expert, but I am somewhat proficient and I'd be happy to help however I can if you post questions and tag me. I used to repair electronics amongst other things and I enjoy tinkering still, just started writing code <1yr ago but I have a mostly functional grow box running off a mega downstairs. Almost every pin used ; It's appalling Got lists of links I can send you when I can pm too.

So what are you trying to do with it? Everything?

[BarryOvest]

That Mi Casa Verde looks cool, anyone using it and have any reviews to add?

[NupurPandey]

That looks very like one of the sheets I bought. Despite everything I haven't got around to it yet on the grounds that for the present moment, I'm running the light at maxing out.

[BirdBare]

I thought I would help you guys out. Don't waste your time programming the arduino.

Check out Mycodo here: https://github.com/kizniche/Mycodo

Very nice software. Runs on a raspberry pi. You can get the zero or the 3B+. I have mine running on a 3B+. Controls lights, fans, extraction fan, and dims. As an added bonus, it logs my grow room conditions and has a many month history.

Hope this helps you guys. I'm going to post a separate thread soon to showcase it's capabilities. I've been very happy.

[end_of_the_tunnel]

I thought I would help you guys out. Don't waste your time programming the arduino.

Check out Mycodo here: https://github.com/kizniche/Mycodo

Very nice software. Runs on a raspberry pi. You can get the zero or the 3B+. I have mine running on a 3B+. Controls lights, fans, extraction fan, and dims. As an added bonus, it logs my grow room conditions and has a many month history.

Hope this helps you guys. I'm going to post a separate thread soon to showcase it's capabilities. I've been very happy.

That mycodo looks good. But I would not discount the humble arduino. A cheap nano is easy to connect to and program. My knowledge of mcu's is pathetic, but theres a lot of guides out there. I made a simple timer very easily using a guide found online. One of the most useful ones mentions "timer without delay". Not using the "delay" function for timing in arduino can be useful.

https://randomnerdtutorials.com/why-you ... -function/

And this series of guides from adafruit is particularly useful for me.

https://learn.adafruit.com/multi-taskin ... for-timing

I would not have a system dependant on one central controlling device. Having simple basic standalone devices controlling different parameters can provide for a system where control can be independant. I like the idea of the raspberry pi as a logging device, but the prefer the redundancy that standalone controllers can bring.

Maybe something espresso device based in the future. And stuff like node-red and mqtt. But for now I feel the need for basic and simple. Tag me if and when you start your thread.

[gvbz]

I thought I would help you guys out. Don't waste your time programming the arduino.

Check out Mycodo here: https://github.com/kizniche/Mycodo

Very nice software. Runs on a raspberry pi. You can get the zero or the 3B+. I have mine running on a 3B+. Controls lights, fans, extraction fan, and dims. As an added bonus, it logs my grow room conditions and has a many month history.

Hope this helps you guys. I'm going to post a separate thread soon to showcase it's capabilities. I've been very happy.

That mycodo looks good. But I would not discount the humble arduino. A cheap nano is easy to connect to and program. My knowledge of mcu's is pathetic, but theres a lot of guides out there. I made a simple timer very easily using a guide found online. One of the most useful ones mentions "timer without delay". Not using the "delay" function for timing in arduino can be useful.

https://randomnerdtutorials.com/why-you ... -function/

And this series of guides from adafruit is particularly useful for me.

https://learn.adafruit.com/multi-taskin ... for-timing

I would not have a system dependant on one central controlling device. Having simple basic standalone devices controlling different parameters can provide for a system where control can be independant. I like the idea of the raspberry pi as a logging device, but the prefer the redundancy that standalone controllers can bring.

Maybe something espresso device based in the future. And stuff like node-red and mqtt. But for now I feel the need for basic and simple. Tag me if and when you start your thread.

Check out the thread I just posted about Node-Red grow room automation because for me, it doesn't get any simpler. Your concern about one central device controlling your entire grow room is definitely relevant and has bit me a number of times with an Arduino, development in Node-Red alleviates that by running a central server and having any number of devices connect to it, much like industrial controls systems. There are measures that can be put in place to make Arduinos more reliable, such as automatically resetting when a problem or hang up happens. Once you have everything working and stable, Arduinos are awesome and provide a great stepping stone for further learning.

Regarding mycodo, that definitely looks interesting although a bit complex for the application. Coming from an industrial controls background, what does one need PID control for in a grow room? I'm also curious about the necessity for automatic dimming and why people are so interested in it for growing. I've never seen any significant results from sunrise/sunset simulation or complex light recipes for cannabis or even saltwater coral. The 660nm far red concept I feel definitely works for me, but just having them as part of a fixture and always on seems to be enough.

I'm not discrediting automatic dimming at all and am legitimately curious about it. I was going to spend a bunch of money on the ChilLED Gen2 lights and controllers for exactly that, but ended up getting Logic 660s instead and they have A type drivers. Then ChilLED seem to move away from any remote dimming controllers to focus on the GrowCraft lights... After getting into Node-Red a bit, I think you could easily use an ESP8266 and PC817 octo to make a stand-alone dimming controller for drivers which provide the 0-10v or 0-5v signal internally. Just a thought I had and it would cost about 15$.

Also @bvolt, that small controller is awesome for applications that require external 0-10v. I spend days looking for something exactly like that about a year ago.