Anyone use Click or industrial PLC to control their spaces?

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Smithers

Smithers

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Hi. I’m looking to invest in a general controller that I can slowly expand and improve over time. I am beginning design of a new space, probably 3-4 separate rooms. Currently I have 1 room with inkbirds and individual timers. I want to avoid shoe-stringing lots of small non-centrally controlled devices. I do want enviro data over time, a single controller, and later, maybe an HMI.

I just read Click Plus came out in March 2021. It looks affordable, and the options can do all and more of what I hope for. I need to dive deeper and research more first, but the language and architecture at a glance look open and accessible for free.

——-
Question is: Does anyone who knows what this is, want to chat about what a good option for PLC might be?
——-

I know there are other brands, I’m typically an Omron guy for work, this is my first personal purchase and Omron is $$$.

I am looking for an excuse to dive in and learn a new programming language. So I can be easily talked into researching others beyond Click Plus.
 
Moe.Red

Moe.Red

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Hey Smithers, I'll talk it out with you.

First with this device of course you know it is just the start. You will need a rail, power supply, sensors, etc.

I've done something similar with a Raspberry Pi 4 and various sensors. CO2, PH, and all the normal stuff. Had some issues with Bluetooth with all the cement and mylar in the tents, so I am re-working it now during some down time.

What are all your inputs and outputs? Trying to go wireless or wired? What are your plans for relays?
 
Smithers

Smithers

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Hey Moe. Thanks for joining 😀 👋

Im a fan of your setup.

Got some stuff already. Several past jobs have been liberal with letting employees take home things that ended up outside the erp system, and I’ve purchased many components over the years already too. I have power supplies, rail, and so far 5x Omron P7SA-14F-ND 24vdc. I have a bunch of relay banks from sparkfun way back but I think they’re all 5V... also tons of pneumatics, air relays, cylinders. Oh man, AND! We got a super second hand industrial rip-out reseller right down the street. I wish that’s what they called it. Dangerous for me for sure. It’s were I bought the black drain pan in my journal. Have 4x of those.

In the past I’ve built/wired large junction panels into machinery, and commissioned it. I can read schematics of ladder logic, but haven’t programmed ladder logic myself. The knowledge would be another benefit of splurging down this path. Work has used CX mostly, And I could always only View programs. Click Plus seems very affordable for actually being a real system, above say, Arduino. (Which I also love).

Up until now I’ve gone the cheap and cumbersome Arduino. Been doing arduino for 10+ years on/off... it’s glitchy and time consuming for me to get it right, and I doubt it’s robustness of not taking a 💩. I love it for being so lightweight, I always breadboarded the Atmega328 directly. I own 2 RaspberryPi, but never got around to digging into it. Shelved it all when I took my prior day job a few years back. I can code on Arduino sort of good, and have made many things for myself and for gigs doing special effects for tv commercials. I’m NOT a programmer, and lack the detail of skill needed to make Arduino really great...

That’s why I’m thinking Ladder Logic!

I would need to decide between TC and RTD. I think they said they have a whole module for that. Also, expandable analog IO seems a must, which they have.

I’m not sold on this brand already, but newly released is appealing. I also haven’t thought of all I need to consider. Getting long here so I’m gonna... Send it!!!
 
Smithers

Smithers

213
63
INPUTS:
Inputs for the environmental stuff in the rooms, and the ambient outside. Temp humidity and CO2. Will need software to understand trending up vs trending down. PID control of heater would be nice as an output... if my heaters ok with that of course... consent is pretty important or else the smoke comes out. Heaters are pretty chill imo.

I’d like to do some current sensing inputs to verify things like lights are actually on, and not trending in power consumption over time.

I want to graph everything.

I’d like to verify that doors are closed? It’s an OCD in my current space that I predict will get worse. Fortunately! I have a bunch of door bump switches already.

Umm Outputs... lights, A/C (got no $ for mini split), humidity. Not really sure. Lots more to plan I guess. I don’t even know the layout really, just it’ll be about 16’x9’ with tall ceiling and two small windows.


An aside. An interesting idea I had, I’m sure I’m not the first for it- some time later later when I have a blackout greenhouse, I’d like to light it and have canopy PAR measured so the lights auto-dim to provide optimal as clouds go over or whatever.... I’m sure I can hijack my two SF-1000s dim knob and take them over. I’m sure I’ll do this to ward off rainy days later in life.
 
Moe.Red

Moe.Red

5,044
313
Very cool. Are you in the US? I'm Missouri.

I'm an electrical engineer first then comp sci in terms of college. I love this stuff. I don't get to use any of that training in my 9-5 any more, so I have a shop at home where I tinker. It would be fun to work with someone else on a project like this.

I like the 328 a lot, I use it in my remotes. I use I2C between RPi4 and remotes with local processing in the Atmega. The chips are only about a buck, and making circuit boards is really easy and cheap these days with folks like Osh Park. So I tend to just do 100% my own designs. I 3D print all my boxes and fittings and such. Very satisfying. I'll share anything I have with you.
 
Moe.Red

Moe.Red

5,044
313
INPUTS:
Inputs for the environmental stuff in the rooms, and the ambient outside. Temp humidity and CO2. Will need software to understand trending up vs trending down. PID control of heater would be nice as an output... if my heaters ok with that of course... consent is pretty important or else the smoke comes out. Heaters are pretty chill imo.

I’d like to do some current sensing inputs to verify things like lights are actually on, and not trending in power consumption over time.

I want to graph everything.

I’d like to verify that doors are closed? It’s an OCD in my current space that I predict will get worse. Fortunately! I have a bunch of door bump switches already.

Umm Outputs... lights, A/C (got no $ for mini split), humidity. Not really sure. Lots more to plan I guess. I don’t even know the layout really, just it’ll be about 16’x9’ with tall ceiling and two small windows.


An aside. An interesting idea I had, I’m sure I’m not the first for it- some time later later when I have a blackout greenhouse, I’d like to light it and have canopy PAR measured so the lights auto-dim to provide optimal as clouds go over or whatever.... I’m sure I can hijack my two SF-1000s dim knob and take them over. I’m sure I’ll do this to ward off rainy days later in life.
So this is all in a greenhouse, huh? Interesting.
 
Smithers

Smithers

213
63
Very cool. Are you in the US? I'm Missouri.

I'm an electrical engineer first then comp sci in terms of college. I love this stuff. I don't get to use any of that training in my 9-5 any more, so I have a shop at home where I tinker. It would be fun to work with someone else on a project like this.

I like the 328 a lot, I use it in my remotes. I use I2C between RPi4 and remotes with local processing in the Atmega. The chips are only about a buck, and making circuit boards is really easy and cheap these days with folks like Osh Park. So I tend to just do 100% my own designs. I 3D print all my boxes and fittings and such. Very satisfying. I'll share anything I have with you.

F Yeah! I love this stuff too. I got an associate in Mech Eng at a tech school, continued for BS in ElectroMech. Glossed over the programming and electric aspects way too fast. So I’ve kept up teaching myself since. Worked doing semiconductor maintenance, burned out, got into machine building at OEMs. Got laid off. Now I’m like maybe I should just grow...

I consider myself to be in a gathering info stage in growing too, first and only seed started in December. I’m super new, about to harvest my first 2 clones of that seed.

I’m in NY.
 
Smithers

Smithers

213
63
Not greenhouse yet, my wife wants a greenhouse, which I have the frame for but it’s full of storage with nowhere to go.

I have liberty to use the back half (give or take) of an aluminum sided steel building on an un-level asphalt slab.

That’s got to get up and going, then the greenhouse. Then a few years later tearing down the steel building and doing a new slab and really blow some money. For now the garage needs insulation and will be my spot for 2-5 years.
 
Smithers

Smithers

213
63
NY goes legal for card holders to home grow apparently this fall. I hope thats correct and doesn’t change before then. 🤞
 
Smithers

Smithers

213
63
Very cool. Are you in the US? I'm Missouri.

I'm an electrical engineer first then comp sci in terms of college. I love this stuff. I don't get to use any of that training in my 9-5 any more, so I have a shop at home where I tinker. It would be fun to work with someone else on a project like this.

I like the 328 a lot, I use it in my remotes. I use I2C between RPi4 and remotes with local processing in the Atmega. The chips are only about a buck, and making circuit boards is really easy and cheap these days with folks like Osh Park. So I tend to just do 100% my own designs. I 3D print all my boxes and fittings and such. Very satisfying. I'll share anything I have with you.

I used to 3-D print. I had a RepRap pretty new into when that was a thing. Then bought a Makerbot 1. Shitty product, service, experience. It soured my view for a while. I repurposed the axis to make a tv commercial for TheraFlu PowerPods, when that water drop hits that powder and it explodes- 💰. Then I lost the parts.

Test shot


I really need to get back into 3d printing too. Glad to chat with you, I look forward to bouncing ideas.
 
Smithers

Smithers

213
63
Got laid off. Now I’m like maybe I should just grow...
This needs clarification. I am only offsetting my cost of street price right now. This isn’t to make money at all. This is all skill building. I’m tearing my current setup down soon, and then will wait for it to be 6 plant legal for each of us. Then ideally I could legally move towards some form of micro business license. They haven’t figured out and released the details on how the state wants to do that. I’m watching it
 
Moe.Red

Moe.Red

5,044
313
So you are like Jamie from myth busters.

If you do decide to jump back in you could do much worse than Prusa. I have 2 and no complaints.
 
Moe.Red

Moe.Red

5,044
313
If I can help you set up your garage let me know. I’ve recently downsized my op to 2 flower tents and have a boneyard of lights and stuff.
 
Smithers

Smithers

213
63
So you are like Jamie from myth busters.

If you do decide to jump back in you could do much worse than Prusa. I have 2 and no complaints.
I wish I had his success! But we like to do the same sorts of things based on his shows. I tinker, always have.

In reality, my Sfx work was sourced by some family members and friends who used to do cinematography work all the time in nyc, and used to call me in occasionally when they needed some effects. It was usually a miracle coming true that stuff worked out, but it somehow nearly always worked out for shoot day. The film connections dried up when my brother moved away for his next project out west.

I’ll look into Prusa. I’ve have zero budget for seems forever, but I get some spending money when the house sells... should be any time really. My wife will absolutely support us getting a 3D printer again.
 
Smithers

Smithers

213
63
I think this would make a pretty sweet Click rack, with a lot of room to expand without buying more modules than this. No sensors included yet, which I will have to spec out.

C2-02CPU - wireless CPU. $139
CO-01AC - 1.3A PS. $42.50
C2-08DR-6V - combo card(?). $95
C0-04RTD - RTD temp 4x. $165
C0-08TR - relay output 8x. $42.50
Total $484

I’d need to purchase up to 4x RTD sensors. I’d have to see if humidity sensors are current/voltage and decide which analog input card style to pick and sensor. Also, same with C02 sensors, need to research.

Seems reasonable for how much this would eventually be able to do. I can buy the sensors grouped one at a time if I’m not running full speed right away and won’t use all 4 channels. Probably should spend the extra $50 for the combo WiFi+Ethernet but the total price under $500 looks better.

🤖👾
 
Smithers

Smithers

213
63
Ooops, also in the rack goes a
C0-16ND3 - 24v input 16x. $48

Can’t do much monitoring with just the 4x in the combo card. New total $532. Shucks, over $500.

PT100 RTDs are $65 each on the site. $260 for all channels. Not sure on the cost of CO2 and humidity sensors yet, probably comparable.

Starting to look expensive, but I believe after all the up front costs... this thing will last me dozens of years and will teach me SO many skills... tempting to keep up the search.
 
MICHGANDER9

MICHGANDER9

304
63
Hi. I’m looking to invest in a general controller that I can slowly expand and improve over time. I am beginning design of a new space, probably 3-4 separate rooms. Currently I have 1 room with inkbirds and individual timers. I want to avoid shoe-stringing lots of small non-centrally controlled devices. I do want enviro data over time, a single controller, and later, maybe an HMI.

I just read Click Plus came out in March 2021. It looks affordable, and the options can do all and more of what I hope for. I need to dive deeper and research more first, but the language and architecture at a glance look open and accessible for free.

——-
Question is: Does anyone who knows what this is, want to chat about what a good option for PLC might be?
——-

I know there are other brands, I’m typically an Omron guy for work, this is my first personal purchase and Omron is $$$.

I am looking for an excuse to dive in and learn a new programming language. So I can be easily talked into researching others beyond Click Plus.
I use the sunsysyem control for my 2/630 LEC's which has some nice features and I have 2 Gavita master El1 and El2 controller for my sodiums I upgraded to the El2 it has aux capability for fans and such but I like that set up better than the sunsysyem but it's limited strictly to the Gavita line as I believe the sunsysyem is compatible with other lighting research them both the sunrise sunset and dimming features are AWSUME makes your lighting more like mother nature's and protects your investment for dying off due to heat!
 

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