My best advice for you having done this kinda thing is plan for failure. Software or something will come up mid grow and try to take a hunk out of your ass when you do a DIY from scratch.
Will you running this in parallel with standard control devices?
Yeah, some failure is expected. It’s a great teacher, and I’m going to aim for a bunch of redundancy. However, I’m interested in learning to collect and react to data as much (or more) as I am interested in using it to grow.
I see the risk of me editing software live, and changing something accidentally and not know it. That’s probably the biggest concern. I’ll be bench simulating the project using indicators before making changes for real once I start gaining control. If I make a mistake, it will teach me to be more careful.
As for my plan. Im soon taking down my 4x4 room and building a new space. I’m planning to start again in a 5x9 room, and later filling out to another 5x11 room next to it.
In the beginning I’ll run the smaller room with my existing Inkbird temp/humidity sensors. No CO2. The A/C unit will run on its regular controls. Dehu, heater, humidifier, exhaust fan all run on the Inkbirds. Lights to be on the digital timer I have been using. I don’t have enough lights even for my existing 4x4, so I’ll be getting lights over time and starting small… nothing different with controls here from my last setup.
When I get the SCD30s to work and calibrated, I’ll start data logging the room. Then I’ll buy an analog mA input and start measuring and data logging the A/C and the Inkbird controlled devices with non-contact current clamps. I should be able to tell changes in current within the AC as it cycles, and the real power use of my devices, and graph duty cycles. I could calculate and display what % my lights are dimmed as well.
Once I can verify things are on/off, I might start transitioning control of the heater, dehu, humidifier, and lights to run on the PLC via external power relays while still measuring their current. This is where I start impacting the environment and can start making mistakes.
By this point I’ll be equipped with a lot of data on my room and a better handle on the ladder logic program. Finally I’d add CO2, and then create bells and whistles. Also work on shop projects that could use it.
