Raspberry-Pi-Grow-Tent-Controller

Note

Current Work In Progress:

• OLED display that will show current temp, humidity, and status of relays
• Installation video/walk-through

Raspberry Pi based grow controller for your grow tent/room. Utilizing temperature & humidity sensor and relays to help automate grows and save you from having to buy another expensive device.

The problem (for me) I'm solving:

All the grow tent controllers I've come across require you to use their fans, lights, etc for everything to work out of the box OR purchase an additional adapter to convert their proprietary plugs to a standard outlet so you can use your own devices.

My Solution/Features

Using components I already had laying around I created a controller that is easily configurable to your needs. Even if you have to purchase all items to build you'll still be saving money.

You'll be able to control the following

1. Lights (Based on time schedule in the 12 hour clock format)
2. Exhuast Fan (Based on Sensor readings)
3. Humidity (Based on Sensor readings)
4. Temperature (Based on Sensor readings)
5. Water Pump (Based on a set interval schedule)

For this project you will need the following

- Raspberry Pi (I'm using a Raspberry Pi Zero W) - AM2303/DHT22 Temperature/Humidity Sensor - 10k Ohm Resistor (unless your AM2302/DHT22 has one built in. Mine has it built in so research the wiring diagram if you need to wire that resistor in) - 5v relay bank (I'm using a bank of 8 but the program only uses 6 as of right now) - Jumper wires - 14/2 romex/housing wire - (3) 15amp outlets - Wires to connect the sensor to the Pi (I'm using come Cat5e cable I had laying around) - Some sort of box to house the Pi, relay(s), and outlets

You can edit the following to customize to your needs

Simply input the time you want the lights to turn on and off at.

# Define lights on and off times (in 12-hour format with AM/PM)
lights_on_time = datetime.datetime.strptime('6:00 AM', '%I:%M %p').time()  # Change to your desired on time
lights_off_time = datetime.datetime.strptime('10:00 PM', '%I:%M %p').time()  # Change to your desired off time

You can set the desired temperature and humidity thresholds which will trigger the relays based off the sensor readings.

# Define temperature and humidity thresholds
Temperature_Threshold_Fan = 80  # Change to your desired temperature threshold in Fahrenheit
Temperature_Threshold_Heat = 55  # Change to your desired temperature threshold in Fahrenheit
Humidity_Threshold_Fan = 85  # Change to your desired humidity threshold in percentage
Humidity_Threshold_Humidifier = 50  # Change to your desired humidity threshold in percentage
Humidity_Threshold_Dehumidifier = 75  # Change to your desired humidity threshold in percentage

Here you can set how often you want the pump to run and for how long.

# Define pump runtime and interval (in seconds)
pump_runtime = 90  # Change to your desired pump runtime in seconds
pump_interval = 600  # Change to your desired pump interval in seconds

If you're not using a particular appliance/relay you can simply change the value from "True" to "False". If set to False, the program will ignore that logic as well as print "Disabled" on the device status output to remind/tell you that the device is disabled.

# Define appliance control flags (True: Enabled, False: Disabled)
lights_enabled = True  # Change to True or False
fan_enabled = True  # Change to True or False
humidifier_enabled = True  # Change to True or False
heater_enabled = True  # Change to True or False
dehumidifier_enabled = True  # Change to True or False
pump_enabled = True  # Change to True or False

Notice there is no variable for an air conditioner. For me I do not need this option since my tent is in my basement which is always far cooler and don't feel its necessary to incorporate an air conditioning unit here. These relays can only handle so much power as well and don't want to push their limits. If you need an air conditioning unit then you can always get one that has it's own thermostat and set it according to your needs.

Hardware Setup

The GPIO pins used and their corresponding variables are listed below for relay use. We will be using GPIO pins 14, 15, 18, 23, 24, and 25 that need to be connected to the 5v relay's using your jumper wires. You'll then connect GPIO 17 to your DHT22 sensor DATA terminal. Once that is complete you need to connect your DHT22 to an open 5v power pin as well as Ground pin. In my case, I chose GPIO-2 for the 5v power and GPIO-6 for Ground.

# Define pin numbers
LIGHTS_PIN = 14
FAN_PIN = 15
HUMIDIFIER_PIN = 18
HEATER_PIN = 23
DEHUMIDIFIER_PIN = 24
PUMP_PIN = 25
SENSOR_PIN = 17  # DHT22 sensor

Now let's pull down code from GitHub to our Pi's by running the following:

• Run the command cd to make sure you're not in any odd directories before pulling down the code.
• git clone https://github.com/TFro3/Raspberry-Pi-Grow-Tent-Controller.git
• Then cd into the directory by using cd Raspberry-Pi-Grow-Tent-Controller
• Run the following command chmod +x StartGrowController.sh to make the shell script executable

Sensor Package Installation Options

Important

There are 2 options here, read both and make a decision on which one to do BEFORE blindly running commands

Option 1: Create an environment for the DHT22 sensor to work.

• python3 -m venv myenv
• source myenv/bin/activate
• pip install Adafruit_DHT

If you chose this route, you will need to run the source myenv/bin/activate everytime you reboot your pi in the directory which you created it.

--OR--

Option 2: You can also use the pip function "--break-system-packages" to install it without needing to setup the environment.

• pip install Adafruit_DHT --break-system-packages

This is the easier route, but could potentially cause system issues? I think? Idk, this is the way I did it and it's working just fine.

Usage

• Once in the 'Raspberry-Pi-Grow-Tent-Controller' directory you'll the the GrowController.py file.
• Open the file by running nano GrowController.py
• Edit the temperature and humidity parameters along with the light schedule times and save when complete. (shown above in the examples)
• The run python GrowController.py OR python3 GrowController.py if you have both Python2 and Python3 installed on your Pi.
• Optional: run the command sudo nano /etc/rc.local and insert the following line between the 'fi' and 'exit 0' as shown below. This will run the GrowController.py at boot so if you reboot or close power it will run automatically once the Pi is running.

fi

cd /home/pi/Raspberry-Pi-Grow-Tent-Controller
./StartGrowController.sh &

exit 0

• The save the file

Caution

Disclaimer:

• This project involves working with electrical circuits and high voltage components. Incorrect wiring or handling of high voltage lines can pose serious risks of electric shock or fire hazards. It's crucial to follow proper safety precautions and guidelines when working with high voltage.

Safety Recommendations

• Qualified Personnel: It's strongly advised to involve or consult with qualified personnel or electricians when dealing with high voltage lines.

• Disconnect Power: Always disconnect power sources before working on electrical circuits.

• Insulation: Ensure proper insulation of wires and components to prevent accidental contact with live circuits.

• Proper Wiring: Follow manufacturer instructions and local electrical codes when wiring high voltage lines.

• Use Enclosures: Enclose circuits in suitable cases to prevent accidental contact.

• Safety Gear: Wear appropriate safety gear, such as gloves and goggles, when handling electrical components.

Liability Statement

• The creators or contributors of this project do not accept any liability or responsibility for any damages, accidents, injuries, or losses resulting from the use, misuse, or inability to use the information or instructions provided in this project. Users assume all risks associated with handling high voltage circuits and should exercise caution and expertise when working on such systems.

Have fun and enjoy!