The first grow cam was created out of cardboard and microprocessors. The camera streamed via RTMP back to the computer.
The completed camera. Sorry no WIP photos but it wasn’t a complex piece.
The video streaming back to the computer.
Camera watching the grow.
Watching inside the tent.
Around this time the 4×4 tent I was vegging in had reached capacity and it was time to upgrade. I decided to purchase a second 600W light and remove the tent. This was a large upgrade as it dedicated the entire room to the cultivation.
The veg tent filled and needing more room.
Stopped by the local hydroponic store and picked up some equipment.
Mounting the light hangers.
Getting everything moved around for the grow.
The first light hung behind the time as a space to bring the plants to.
Time to break the tent down.
The veg bulb removed from the fixture.
I picked up some good eye care as well.
Plants moved to new home under bloom light.
The last man standing.
Plants under bloom light.
The second light installed and running.
Creating a venting hole for the lighting.
Attaching an in line blower to vent.
I basically put everything into the old tent to store.
Now was the time to move on and create the dosers for the nutrient solution. These were prototype only and ended up needing a bit of software control to function. In the end next time I’ll likely try a different way to dose the nutes.
Gathering the tools needed
Cutting out each doser hole from the prototype container.
Cutting the holes for the dosers.
Getting all my dosers in a row ๐
Wiring each doser up.
More wiring.
Wiring each doser to the electrical panel.
Now the electrical and framing for the case is complete we need to add the plumbing. This ended up being a bad system design as the valves I used require main line water pressure to open and the pumps I used in the system couldn’t reach it. In the end I cut the values out and just directly fed everything.
Wiring up the valves.
Laying the parts out.
All glued together to ensure it can’t be taken apart later ๐
Amazon coming through last minute.
Plumbing all wired up.
Water intake working.
Continuing on with the nutrient mixing system it was time to put the cabinet together that would house the prototype. Lumber was purchased and cut at the local mill and the assembly began. I was able to mount the mixing buckets and overflow containers into the frame at the end.
The purchased lumber
The initial framing of the back of the cabnet.
The initial framing of the back of the cabnet.
Both frames put together.
Both parts joined and the cabnet box is formed.
At this time I had mounted the electrical system from the previous project.
Tagging the clean side. Finally had a use for all those stickers.
The cabnet with the water equipment added.
The cabnet with the water equipment added.
Work began on the next version of the nutrient mixing machine. Chemical grade dosing containers were purchased and the system work began.
Initial Sketch of Mixer.
Wiring the electrical system for the pumps.
The nutrient dosers.
The electrical system being screwed into place.
On it’s side before mounting.
The interface connection to the power system.
The beginning of robotic automation design. A small scale industrial arm was purchased and the initial design began.
The arm to be used around the cultivation.
Home made nutrient mixer
This was the beginning of working to automate the feeding process. The steps I had been learning thus far were so manual. I knew there had to be an easier way. This was the first device built based on a growers recommendation. It’s a basic mixer setup that moves the fluids around the bucket allowing for even mixing.
Small pump to move things around
Later I would realize this design was not practical for small scale, hand feeding style operations. Solution doesn’t need to be constantly mixed, and constantly running the pump raised the temperature of the solution to unsafe levels. This was the beginning of researching long term solutions to the problem of automated feeding.
The enclosed bucket
Pumping the solution around
