New Simplified Way to Water

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Aqua Man

Aqua Man

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i have been looking for single manifold where i could control different ports but have had no luck... the best idea i have come up with is using flow regulators. What are you trying to do? are you using the same source but want different output volumes/times?
Prob the simplest would be cheap solenoids controlled off the signal of the sensor? Lemme see what I can dig up.

Running AC or DC?
 
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ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

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i have been looking for single manifold where i could control different ports but have had no luck... the best idea i have come up with is using flow regulators. What are you trying to do? are you using the same source but want different output volumes/times?
Yes. Because plants take up water at different rates and evap as well. Each plant gets watered when it asks for it.
That means the above manifold is obsolete. @Aqua Man has the idea. One main water line with individual gates for each plant. Open the gate, water is on.
That would dictate a tall/long cylinder with individually controlled feed lines coming off the sides.
 
frostyfarms213

frostyfarms213

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Prob the simplest would be cheap solenoids controlled off the signal of the sensor? Lemme see what I can dig up.

Running AC or DC?
as for for controling water flow thats easy, there are a ton of single solenoid setups, floraflex is a great example of that... this is one that i have considered using


its all DC but i could easily control AC as well, which is how my lights are controlled
 
ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

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as for for controling water flow thats easy, there are a ton of single solenoid setups, floraflex is a great example of that... this is one that i have considered using


its all DC but i could easily control AC as well, which is how my lights are controlled
Oh yeah... cookin with gas....
 
frostyfarms213

frostyfarms213

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Yes. Because plants take up water at different rates and evap as well. Each plant gets watered when it asks for it.
That means the above manifold is obsolete. @Aqua Man has the idea. One main water line with individual gates for each plant. Open the gate, water is on.
That would dictate a tall/long cylinder with individually controlled feed lines coming off the sides.
i have thought about having solenoids at the individual plant level but i think that would over complicate things... my thought is plant groups by strain and age... as they are likely to use the same or similar volume of water
 
ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

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So, all that's really needed here is a design for the probe grid. It's to be buried obviously. It could have 5 sensors, center and the 4 cardinal points.
 
ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

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i have thought about having solenoids at the individual plant level but i think that would over complicate things... my thought is plant groups by strain and age... as they are likely to use the same or similar volume of water
Ok. 2 versions then. One for the home grower that can have more variation and one for commercial that works based on the collective probe response.
 
ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

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I think you still want a sensor per plant even if it's not a grid. You need to know if the plant is being watered with the others.
If the water comes on but the sensor doesn't trigger, the grower needs to know.
 
ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

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So, yeah. A small plastic bit gets buried in the soil with one sensor in it.
A set of wires comes up to a plug into the sensor net. It could even be USB. That makes it easy to graphically assign it as well.
 
lvstealth

lvstealth

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just trying this, but so far so good...

i took a smart sensor and stuck it to the side of the bag pot. i think once i figure what reading it should be set at, i can turn on the hose that comes from my dehumidifier (just because that was a close water source and i have it on a smart valve). i will note what it reads when it needs water and set it at that. for this i dont even need ifttt. just set a limit and it activates/deactivates the valve. im just using smartthings.

i can definitely make the water come on and off with the sensor. so if i can find the right numbers i can make it work.

id have to get a more permanent water source to make it actually be beneficial for the whole grow area.

i will have to wait at least a day till it needs water, but it seems to work.
 
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ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

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just trying this, but so far so good...

i took a smart sensor and stuck it to the side of the bag pot. i think once i figure what reading it should be set at, i can turn on the hose that comes from my dehumidifier (just because that was a close water source and i have it on a smart valve). i will note what it reads when it needs water and set it at that. for this i dont even need ifttt. just set a limit and it activates/deactivates the valve. im just using smartthings.

i can definitely make the water come on and off with the sensor. so if i can find the right numbers i can make it work.

id have to get a more permanent water source to make it actually be beneficial for the whole grow area.
SmartThings? Not familliar with those... Do you have a link?
 

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