GrowControl 1.3.224 beta 2 Released!

08/26/2010 - This release fixes a few big bugs found in the arduino interface and the licensing system. There's still room for beta testers. Read below if you'd like to help test a copy. We can use your help.

Starting a rewrite of the options window next. I found better methods to make it load much smoother and organize the code. This shouldn't take very long. I'll have a release out in a week or 2 like this one was. I'll just get the most needed option fields working first.

GrowControl 1.3.218 beta 1 Released!

08/18/2010 - Beta testing has begun. Email me if you'd like to join the testers. We are currently focusing on the Arduino hardware and simple light timers, but the printer port and other hardware is also supported. A word of warning, this may even be an alpha release. Many parts of the program are unfinished, but we're working on it one feature at a time. Testing will remain private for now, until we have a stable application, but will eventually be made public and free. Don't forget to check out the yahoo group/mailing list http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/computerhydro/

8/14/2010 - Someone come smack me upside the head or something. I should have something released by now. I've been working on this version since April 2009. Relax. A beta version should be compiled VERY soon, like a week. I'm doing some testing this weekend. If I don't find any big problems, I should have it usable for testing and setting up some hardware.

Here's an updated chart of my progress. Each commit counted on it takes hours, or often days of development before it's ready to safe permanently. There's some good progress again.

PWM Circuit

7/5/2010 - Try using this PWM Driver Circuit for speed controlling computer fans. The Arduino software I wrote supports PWM, and so does the Grow Control software. I'm building a similar circuit, but with the EMF protection diode in the right place, and using a signal to base resistor of 680 ohm in place of the 1k. By my calculations, their resistor value is wrong, putting a limit of 3.6A, collector to emitter. Their specs say each channel can handle up to 5A, and so does the tip120 Darlington Mosfet I got from Radio Shack. The resistor value should be 680ohm to allow the mosfet to pass it's max continuous current. I may be wrong, so someone please check my work.

5V - 1.4V = 3.6V
Ib = 5A / 1000 = 5mA
I = V / R
3.6V / 1K = 3.6A
3.6V / 680ohm = 5.2A

My biggest 12 volt fan is a cheap thing from walmart. All 3 fans that I have fried their own wall transformers, plus a few others I had laying around. I put together a quick 12 volt 10 amp unregulated power supply, and have been running one of the fans on it's low setting with good results. My guess is, maybe the fan motors have some kind of damaging inductive feedback going back into the small power supplies. I'll be testing the PWM circuit with this fan soon, but I have to finish testing and building it first. I'm interested to see how well the mosfet will handle such a power abusive fan. Keep in mind, I'm mounting the mosfets on good heat sinks, with the proper insulating kit and grease.

Another idea, my final design will have a DPDT relay on each channel to reverse polarity on the output when activated. It doesn't have to be used or even hooked up. It will just stay default polarity when not in use, but may be very handy for future use! Some fans can be reversed, or could be used for opening/closing automatic shutters or loovers, or for reversing the direction of a light mover. Who knows what crazy ideas might be thought up.

Arduino Code

6/29/2010 - Here is something I just finished. Compile and upload this code to your arduino to use it with Grow Control over usb. The current version can turn output pins on and off, dim (with pwm), and optional state memory in case of a power outage or reset. It also has a human interface menu (press h) for easier use troubleshooting.

Run time in seconds at the top, pin numbers below that. -- is disabled, HIGH or low is an input state (aka on or off), and a number with % after it means the pin is in pwm mode. Pwm mode is not really a percentage, it's value is 0 to 255, 255% actually being true 100%. ON or off means the pin is in output mode. In the screenshot, I have pin 5 set to pwm at 1/255 and the input of pin 3 is reading as off.

The next version will be for the ethShield. I would love to put support for everything in one firmware, but the arduino's memory is to small to fit it. So, we'll just have to load different firmware to the arduino for different feature-sets.

Download Feel free to use my code. I only ask one thing in return, please send back your changes. You can help contribute bug fixes or suggest other changes to make it better. Also, check back for updates and new versions releases. I keep the website updated often.

Grow Control, Coming Soon!

Versions 1.1 and 1.2 have been successfully beta tested, and we are currently working on a final beta test of version 1.3. More information will be posted soon on this version, as well as a release date. Beta versions have been tested over 2 growing seasons and bugs are being worked out. Over 13,000 lines of code and counting.

We'll only be testing the software at the moment, the hardware still needs work before it will be ready. You'll need a little electronics experience to put together your own hardware. the program has support for many different types of hardware interfaces, so you can use what works best for you and your skill level. if you are handy enough to know how to solder, the printer port is probably the simplest. there is also support for serial and usb interface cards, as well as the arduino (still needs code written).

Scripting engine (open source it?)

Here's an idea that just came to me. If you like it and are interested in helping work on this part of the project, please do email me!

The way I'm writing the scripting engine class in the program is first in a test project, with all the needed hooks simulated. This way, I can develop the complex program in a very controlled environment. What I'm getting at, it would be easy for me to package the scripting engine and the test project and post it on this website as open source. The problem: the scripting engine is a very complex piece of software to write and debug, but is also very important that it works right at all times, or parts of the system could fail badly. The solution: I will post the code online as open source under one condition, people need to contribute to it. It's meant to be light weight, basic language, so it's not a huge undertaking. Some features of Grow Control will be waiting for the scripting engine to be finished. Then, there will be much rejoice.

Some stats

If interested, here are some stats from the 2 repositories I use for the project. I've done some heavy work on it in the past, taken a few short breaks, now productivity is slowing as I bring the pieces together. I will soon overcome all fear and surrender my baby over to the critics.

01/18/2010 - Computer trouble has been hitting me left and right, (as well as the tv/bed) so as soon as I get things fixed and working properly again, I'll get back on track with this project.

07/05/2010 - Been hard at work developing on the Arduino hardware. Just have to finish integrating it into Grow Control, but at the moment, I'm testing a PWM fan control circuit. This will all be finished over the next few days.

Beta Testers Wanted!

Please contact us if you're interested in our beta testing group. You will get a beta testers discount on the startup kit in exchange for letting us know what bugs or problems you find in the system. We need your help for our product to reach it's great potential! Please email us at

Beta testing begins January 8th 2010. We will keep the site updated with the status of testing and a future release date.

Here's a crazy idea

Imagine having a computer controlled grow room where you have individual control over each LED light panel over each plant, with seperate dimming for red and blue colors. Sounds crazy, but picture this, an artificial sun set and sun rise. A little math added into my program and some special electronics put together. It's not all that complicated, we have the technology! People are doing it more each year with their christmas lights. You can find video's online that look amazing, with their sheets of fading light colors. I can't say that it would help the plants in any way, but it would be awesome to camp out in that indoor jungle. A wood stove and some marsh mellows, snow falling outside the green house. I have some crazy project ideas.

How It Works

One of the main goals of the Grow Control system is to keep setting up simple, while adding immensive new control over your entire growing environment. In the past, it has always been left to the experts to put together computer automation hobby projects. It takes plenty of time and hard work, but it is really a fascinating thing to see in action. The Grow Control software and kits can make it much easier for you to put together your own, without so much hard work and time, or even money.

1. Grow Control (software) - The software can run on any Windows 98 computer and newer. Nothing super fast and new is needed. An old system can be put to good use, or you can run it right on your brand new Windows 7 desktop.
2. Controller - This box is the nerve center. The computer can talk to the controller in a computer language and tell it what signals to send out to the relay boxes.
3. Relays - These are activated by the controller. When it gets the signal from the controller, it will turn the outlet on or off with a relay inside. It's like having a 10 inch green guy standing there flipping a light switch whenever the computer tells him to, except it wont fall asleep and it's not so creepy.
4. Controlled Devices - Your existing lights, fans, and pumps can be plugged into the relay boxes to be controlled by the computer.

Still for the pro's - The system is aimed at being simple to set up and use, but it is also extremely flexible! The software works with a number of different types of hardware. Custom hardware can be built and used fairly easily, and the software has a built in scripting engine that can be programmed to do more then one person could imagine.

Guess what else it can do, Christmas Lights! Unlimited timer controls can be set up to make whatever pattern is needed. The tools are here, it's up to you to decide how you'd like to use them. If that's not enough for you, the built in scripting engine has the power to do what you imagine.

Feature Scale

Here's a new idea I just had, tell me what you think.

* subject to possible change

Version Road Map

Progress:  

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