I am an automation engineer, process management is my area of experience. I am a 'maker' (prototyping and pre-production) project specialist. I am interested in building DIY, COB LED lighting with some pulse width modulation (PWM) and automatic canopy sensing distance adjustments. The electronics and control are the easy part. I am looking for someone who has success with COB LED grows; specifically what spectrum are you using and what PPFD (µmol/m²/s)
Introduction: Pete, Automation Engineer
- Thread starter PeterWeed
- Start date
Hey welcome to 
peter. 
I have not grown with those lights before, so hopefully someone will come by and give you further assistance!
peter. I have not grown with those lights before, so hopefully someone will come by and give you further assistance!
Most have moved away from cob lighting due to build costs compared to mid powered diodes used on quantum boards and strip lighting.
- Thread starter
- #4
Most common diodes used are Samsung lm561c, lm301b and the newest lm301h.
Different manufactures build slightly different pcbs for them with varying amounts of diodes although 144 and 288 are popular diode counts. Some newer boards are getting bigger than that and being sold in production light fixtures like the Mars 2+3000's and nextlight mega.
Different manufactures build slightly different pcbs for them with varying amounts of diodes although 144 and 288 are popular diode counts. Some newer boards are getting bigger than that and being sold in production light fixtures like the Mars 2+3000's and nextlight mega.
Welcome PeterWeed to 420 magazine. Automation to the max , Allen-Bradley or Siemens PLC for control ?
Below on my post is a link for new members, the helpful one.
Below on my post is a link for new members, the helpful one.
GHempster
Well-Known Member
Hi and welcome PeterWeed. You came to the right place. Stick around and you will have tons of data to crunch.
Adding canopy sensing sounds interesting. There are some COB growers here and I am sure they will be by.
Check out our sponsor page for many light manufacturers links there and most post the data that you are looking for.
There is direct reps to many of these companies that are active here.
Adding canopy sensing sounds interesting. There are some COB growers here and I am sure they will be by.
Check out our sponsor page for many light manufacturers links there and most post the data that you are looking for.
There is direct reps to many of these companies that are active here.
Ladon
Well-Known Member
Hi and welcome to the community Pete.
I've been reading a lot about automation and would love to see what you come up with, so keep us informed please.
I've been reading a lot about automation and would love to see what you come up with, so keep us informed please.
- Thread starter
- #9
On my 'day-job' i mostly use Allen-Bradley, I am in the oilfield so it is dictated there what I will use. for this project I have an Arduino mega with 12 peristaltic pumps to use to change the nutes, throughout the growing cycle, one pump for PH up, one for PH down, and real time PH and EC monitoring. The Arduino is sending 1 second data, (PH, EC, Space temp, humidity, CO2 and water temp to a Raspberry Pi. which is acting as a data collector and sending the information via MQTT to Ignition SCADA for analytical purposes.
Automation is not new to me 'growing' however is.... look forward to any help or directions you can offer.
Automation is not new to me 'growing' however is.... look forward to any help or directions you can offer.
Are you going to start a journal? I liked A-B much better than seimen to work with , it’s what we all learned on .
Is it a blue lab for ph up and down .
DrCannaCanadian
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the site, and this is a great idea you are running with!
Good luck with your research!
- Thread starter
- #12
Yes Blue lab, from Amazon. I intend to do a journal. Just working out all the mechanical/electrical b.s. first since it will be NFT system, i am building a 'water-wheel' to sense that there is continuous water flowing over the roots, if not, switch to standby pump and alarm. It uses magnets and hall-effect sensor to determine angular motion of the water wheel. It's not volumetric accurate, however it will tell you if the circulation pump is running it's for 1½" pvc pipe
Attachments
10gal
Well-Known Member
another albertan?
When you start your journal give me a @West Hippie so I can check it out .
- Thread starter
- #15
No, I'm in the state of Oklahoma, USA.
Silverfox125
Well-Known Member
Welcome to the community. I like your style. Love the diy stuff but lighting is out of my league. I debated building my own but couldn’t do it any cheaper than our sponsor BudgetLED
good luck!
good luck!
- Thread starter
- #17
Silverfox125
Well-Known Member
Elevated Lighting Company
Well-Known Member
How can we help you? If easier for you, please email us at info@budgetgrowlights.com
We are also on Instagram @budgetledgrowlights.
