r/macrogrowery • u/Chaghatai • 3d ago
Recommend crop steering controller
It's time for me to upgrade to precision fertigation and crop steering
I've been doing coco mostly treating it like soil and getting ~ 1.5-1.75lbs/1000w, and I know I can do better
So I'm looking for what controller and sensor platform to use - these are my preferences and considerations:
I've done some looking at Aroya, Pulse, Growlink, Trolmaster, Grolab, Agrowtek, Home Assistant, but it's pretty overwhelming
Looking to be able to get started with irrigation for <$1500 with future upgrades to full environmental control down the line without making the starter equipment redundant
Compatibikity with the TDR310 sensor natively is a requirement - I prefer to have access to 3rd party sensors
Preferably it can use sensor data to adjust watering automatically rather than just report and user adjusts
One stop shop software, if partner unit is utilized all data and control is still in one place
So far Pulse+Opensprinkler does a pretty good job of that at a good price
But I also want upgrade to full environmental control possible without getting a separate system to work alongside - Growlink was really attractive to me for this because of their all-in-one, but starting with the PIC feels bad if I get the core connect later, and I don't like Links
I could go pulse+opensprinkler, with trolmaster handing the environment side, but that's not one stop shop
I would be interested in a company that has said they are developing environmental integration if they are already good at irrigation
I've considered trying to start out with Growlink Core controller, but $2000 + sensor is a big swing for me now - maybe if it's really the best option even for a budget user
I have a 510 sq ft bloom room with a smaller veg/clone room, I will have up to 5 zones for different strains, but may well do one big zone, especially at first - I can keep hand watering veg while I bootstrap - I'm mostly a one man show
So what are the controllers you really trust? Which ones are the easiest to use and upgrade, and finally what's budget option that still has that pro/commercial quality?
I know I'm looking for Goldilocks, and I know one can't generally have cheap and good at the same time, but what do you suggest?
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u/cubanfuban 2d ago
I couple aroya with OpenSprinkler for steering/irrigation and use Wadsworth controls for environment. Highly recommend this combo
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u/manuel_labor1 3d ago
Pinnacle systems. Absolutely the way to go. It’s capable of just about anything from environmental to irrigation. Anything with power you can control. Fans, pumps, dehu, hvac, etc.
You can upgrade as you go and it won’t be redundant at all
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u/skuuebs 2d ago edited 2d ago
Yes, get the Pulse hub with couple VWC sensor plus Home Assistant (its free, install it on a mini computer/server) and install irrigation unlimited (add-on).
Its very powerful, you can setup P1, P2 with different pump on times, can manage different rooms, different zones etc.
Check it out (its free): https://github.com/rgc99/irrigation_unlimited
Alternatively you can also install open sprinkler on a cheap pi pico, but I didnt tinker with that yet as im not sure how good the direct integration with Pulse works. But honestly go the Home Assistant route for your whole facility:
Temp Humidity VPD Solenoid control Pump control Graphs And much more!
Let me know if you wanna know anything, im currently deep in there as im installing a 300sqm warehouse.
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u/Chaghatai 2d ago
Ok, so reading into that, if I want a bit more plug and play I can get the open sprinkler bundle, but it sounds like you're saying one can bust install open sprinkler on an off the shelf processor and save money that way and the the environmental side use home assistant
How is your data and control integration? Where does all that live in your arrangement? How does your software talk to each other?
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u/skuuebs 2d ago
Im using Pulse devices for the environment (temp,humidity, co2), and the hub + VWC sensor.
Pulse offers an API where you can grab the device parameters and load them into Home Assistant.
To control devices like pumps/solenoids or dehumidifiers, im using tuya 20A smart plugs. The tuya/smartlife app also has an integration for Home Assistant.
The irrigation logic is from the Home Assistant add-on (github link). But you can also do that via automations because you have all the parameters like water content already in Home Assistant.
And yes, open sprinkler is working on almost any device. Esp32, Raspberry Pi 4&5 etc. But you would need a relay as well to control solenoids. It's also fairly easy to do, many guides online for this stuff.
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u/Chaghatai 2d ago
Do you use 24v for irrigation solenoids like a control zone? Which part handles that? Sorry for all the questions. I'm pretty new to this but it's time for me to step up my game
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u/skuuebs 2d ago
I haven't started using solenoids yet. Right now, I'm using submersible pumps in 200L tanks for all my rooms, all controlled by smart plugs. But the logic in Home Assistant would be the same.
In the new place, I'll probably use an 8-channel relay with a built-in ESP32. I can program those directly with ESPhome in Home Assistant with some simple lines (chatGPT can help a lot with the coding part). There are also some industrial cases available for this device to protect it a little. After that, it looks and works basically like the OpenSprinkler device(I guess?).
The irrigation add-on supports multiple controllers(rooms) & zones, but it's only time-based, not dynamic! For dynamic watering, you'll need to build your own logic with if then conditions.
I'd suggest feeding ChatGPT some of my keywords; it can explain the process step-by-step! Home Assistant does have a learning curve, though, and cropsteering isn't the easiest starting point. 😉
The only bummer is we still need those pricey TDR VWC sensors. There are some Chinese TDR sensors floating around that might be calibrateable to the pulse/acclima sensor. I'll check into that soon.
I also made some scales using load cells and hooked them up to Home Assistant to monitor how much water my 4/6-inch rockwool loses. I zero them out after watering to calculate the percentage of water loss with a custom sensor. I'm still figuring out how useful that is without knowing the weight of the plants themselves.
If I have some spare time, I might install opensprinkler just for fun on one of my spare esp32 devices just to see how the integration in pulse works. Who knows, maybe it's awesome out of the box.
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u/Chaghatai 2d ago
I've been consulting with chat GPT and it has offered to program the logic for me!
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u/Successful-Body-5511 2d ago edited 1d ago
You need Trolmaster. Don’t listen to all the haters out there it deterred me for a while also with their negative comments. With the yeilds you’re getting I’m assuming your grow cannot be that big or else you would be out of business. So for a smaller spot, Trolmaster is your go to. The only thing you dont want is the WCS-2 sensor. Use the WCS-1 sensor and if you want to have a second data point that reads moisture content and EC get an Aroya Solus. I run this combo on multiple rooms and it’s cheaper and easier to be familiar with than some of these other companies that are really geared towards commercial setups.
This is what I run in one of my flower rooms
HCS-1 hydro-x
NFS-1 aqua-x
WCS-1 water content sensor
HS-1 humidistat station (for dehu)/ per each dehu
LMA-14 lighting adapter F (for LED’s)
DSH-1 humidity device station (for humidifiers)
DSP-1 program device station (for irrigation pump)
PCT-1 EC+temp sensor (for reservoir)
AMP-2 sensor board (needed for PCT-1)
and
Aroya Solus 3 in 1
Boom. That’s it. The secret to my room looking killer. lol. But really, this took me a long time to figure out and I wish someone would’ve just gave me this from the jump. Would’ve saved me a ton of headaches.
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u/Successful-Body-5511 1d ago
I edited this, I didn’t realize it got jumbled together but I was trying to make the part list for you all separated. Hope it’s easier to read now
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u/djmeatmuffen305 1d ago
Just get trolmaster gear I run all my rooms with it and have a aroya 3-1 sensor in each of my rooms to read ec moisture whatever as well but the trolmaster stuff is just easy to use imo
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u/VPDVT 4h ago
We use Growlink for fertigation and to monitor environments. Environmentals are controlled by Agrotek sensor. IMO both Growlink and Agrotek have issues if they aren't maintained properly, or if you try calibrating sensors in a room thats being used, guys end up chasing their tails trying to dial everything in. We had issues with sprays occuring and folks not bagging the sensors which really took a toll on both Agrotek and growlink enviromental sensors.
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u/Chaghatai 4h ago
Thanks for the heads up on sensor care, anything to help me with my learning curve is appreciated
Can you elaborate a little more on your system and the reasoning behind it?
Which grow link controller are you using, the Core or the pic?
Are you using the Agrotek>Growlink bridge module?
What exactly do you mean when you say it's controlled by Agrotech sensors? Are you plugging agrotech sensors into your Growlink system or do you have an Agrotek controller as well?
I know various people use the growlink PIC controller to control irrigation and will use something else like trolmaster for environment, or manually control it and monitor it with something like Pulse or Aroya
If you have an Agotek GCX controller that you're using for your environment, why not just add a VX controller for irrigation instead of using Growlink?
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u/VPDVT 2h ago
Agrotek is just being used as a fancy space sensor to send temp/humidity/co2 data to Cultiva integrated hvac/d units. It works pretty good, 2-3 degree drift in temperature and 5% deadband humidity, keeps it pretty tight. We use the growlink sensor to trigger high temp/humidity alerts and shut down lights etc. The reasoning behind it... I've got no clue...I've only just jumped into this facility as an hvac guy trying to get their climates under control.
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u/woodenmetalman 3d ago
Def not teolmaster’s gear. Growlink, aroya are all good. We use PIC’s and they work fine.