The Latest Updates in Greenhouse Environmental Controls
Constant monitoring of your greenhouse climate is critical, especially when you can’t be there in person. Check out the slideshow above for a look at what manufacturers have developed to make this process more efficient and effective.
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JDMV1 Manual, Variable Speed Control (J and D Manufacturing)
J&D’s JDMV1 is a manual speed control with one variable output rated at 12 FLA with a 15-amp overload protection fuse. This control is ideal for variable speed fans or heat lamps. It features a separate on/off toggle switch and variable output knob with an internal adjustment for the low setting. The control can be wired for 115 or 230 volts. It is also available with a three-prong grounded plug and 8-foot cord to simplify installation (115V only). A two-year limited warranty gives growers confidence that this control will be a great investment for years to come.
JDMFG.com -
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1800 Monitoring System (Sensaphone)
The Sensaphone 1800 monitoring system helps greenhouse operators, commercial growers, and retailers monitor conditions that can damage valuable plant assets. It provides cost-effective, 24/7 remote monitoring of environmental conditions at unattended greenhouse facilities. It detects problems such as temperature changes (from -109°F to 168°F), humidity fluctuations, water leaks, power failure, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide levels, and smoke. When the system identifies a potential issue, it can immediately alert up to eight people with custom phone calls, allowing personnel to quickly address the situation. An internal rechargeable battery backup provides 24 hours of continuous monitoring and alerts in the event of a power outage. Operators can obtain the status of each monitored condition at the installation site or remotely by telephone. Each unit is sealed in an enclosure to protect it from moisture, dirt, and chemicals commonly found in a greenhouse environment.
Sensaphone.com -
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Express II System (Sensaphone)
The Sensaphone Express II system remotely monitors the greenhouse environment to prevent loss of valuable plant assets. Because it is expandable to include up to 40 channels, it is ideal for larger greenhouse operations that require many monitoring points, or those considering future growth. The system monitors status conditions 24/7, including indoor and outdoor temperature, humidity, ventilation, carbon dioxide, power failure, and security. When the Express II identifies a potential problem, it can alert up to 48 people with custom phone calls. Each unit is sealed in an enclosure to protect it from moisture, dirt, and chemicals.
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Ridder MotorControl (Ridder Drive Systems)
Every drive unit requires a control system. As an option, Ridder Drive Systems can provide a complete and intelligent control system, the Ridder MotorControl400 (RMC400), with a protection rating of IP54. The intelligent RMC400 offers maximum control of Ridder motors, whether as an independent manual control unit or in combination with a climate computer. If combined with a climate computer, the RMC400 transfers the computer’s commands to the drive unit in a controlled way, ensuring a reliable and error-free system. The RMC is provided with the locally required quality marks.
Ridder.com -
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TopCrop Monitor (Priva)
Priva’s TopCrop Monitor provides direct insight into the status of your crop and visualizes crop activity based on an analysis of plant evaporation. A plant temperature sensor, in the form of an infrared camera, measures the temperature of the crop and then plots it against the temperature in the greenhouse. This produces a reliable picture of crop activity. With Priva TopCrop Monitor, it is possible to make connections between specific actions and an increase or decrease in crop activity. Based on this insight, growers can link controls to the measurements, for instance increasing ventilation a little if the monitoring shows that the crop is becoming too inactive. Priva TopCrop Monitor consists of three components: control software, an infrared camera, and a Priva Measuring box, which is already in use at many greenhouse horticulture companies.
Priva.ca -
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Seed Touch-Screen Environmental Control (Wadsworth Control Systems)
Seed, a new touch-screen environmental control from Wadsworth Control Systems, can help you better manage your growing environment. The user interface makes managing multiple zones much easier. Engineered for power and designed for ease of use, Seed is equipped to accommodate both beginners and expert growers. Seed manages all aspects of your growing environments, including CO2, vapor pressure deficit and daily light integral tracking, supplemental lighting response, sensor graphing, irrigation, and a modular design for easy expansion. The equipment screen shows current state and anticipated changes. The advanced menu allows for intricate management.
WadsworthControls.com -
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Argus Control System
The Argus Control system is a user-programmable, real-time control system with dedicated hardware and software specifically designed for automated equipment control, monitoring, and data acquisition in commercial and institutional protected horticulture production settings including greenhouses and indoor operations. The system gathers input information from sensor devices such as temperature, wind speed, tank levels, pH, vent position, humidity, light, CO2, etc. It then uses this information, in conjunction with sophisticated internal algorithms and user-defined parameters, to control target processes such as air temperatures, CO2 concentrations, humidity, soil moisture, and nutrient levels supplied by irrigation.
ArgusControls.com -
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STEP Up Controller (Wadsworth Control Systems)
STEP Up is designed to offer simple, flexible climate management. Like traditional staged controls, it is simple to use, and Wadsworth has added a brighter LCD screen and an upgraded user interface, both designed to improve the user experience. Six stages include two heating and four cooling, with easy adjustment for each stage. Three setpoint periods are available: day, night, and DIF. It also includes an alarm output to keep your crops safe. The STEP Up records temperatures in 15-minute increments and stores seven days of data.
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GHK12X2 and RWL11X2 Greenhouse Temperature Controls (Bartlett Instrument Co.)
The GHK12X2 and RWL11X2 controllers are designed for use with louver/fan and natural ventilation greenhouses, respectively. They can be used to control a variety of heating and cooling equipment. The controllers allows for three different stages throughout the day: DIF, DAY, and NITE. They can maintain greenhouse temperatures automatically to provide energy cost savings and reduce man hours spent monitoring greenhouse conditions, with the ability to switch to manual as needed. Other features include a timer output for irrigation, misting, or lights, an alarm output, 1 or 2 zone mode, seven days of statistics, and programmable dehumidification cycles.
Technical Details:
• Output Voltage: 24 VAC
• Dimensions: 7.17 inches x 7.09 inches x 3.54 inches
• Thermistor wire length: 25 feet
• Heat Outputs: Open/Closed contacts or source 24VAC
• Cool Outputs: Source 24VAC
BartInst.com -
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The Vent Boss (Bartlett Instrument Co.)
The Vent Boss is a 24VDC power supply designed to control two 5A motors for roll up/down walls. It’s a great companion for 24VDC motors, providing time and labor savings for many growers. The sealed unit offers a way to power and manually operate your motors. To enhance its capabilities, users can add the Bartlett RWL11X2 environmental controller for automation and take advantage of the DIF, DAY, & NITE features of that unit. For convenience, the Vent Boss has 5A resettable circuit breakers to protect each motor. A 3A circuit breaker protects the Vent Boss from power surges and shorts.
Technical Details:
• Dimensions: 11 inches x 7 inches x 5 inches
• Material: Polycarbonate
• Input Voltage: 120VAC
• Output Voltage: 2-24 VDC @ 5amp each
• Maximum: 225 Watt -
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HortiMaX-Go! (HortiMaX)
Winner of the Innovation Award at GreenTech 2016, the HortiMaX-Go! is a simple and inexpensive alternative to current high-tech solutions. Utilizing the latest technology, it sets itself apart from other horticultural computers by providing cost-effective integrated climate and irrigation control. A unique feature is that it includes climate, irrigation, and fertilizer dosing controls. This allows you to view all greenhouse control data together on one display.
HortiMax.com -
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Radio Link CIS (Bartlett Instrument Co.)
The Radio Link is a wireless radio system used to program and monitor Bartlett greenhouse controllers from a personal computer. Growers no longer have to pay for expensive wiring to monitor each greenhouse controller. Instead, install a Radio Link at each controller and become wire free. The Radio Link comes with Bartlett’s C.I.S. system, which allows users to wirelessly monitor and control up to 50 greenhouses and collect and store data for further evaluation. With a straightforward installation process and step-by-step instructions, getting the Radio Link up and running is made easy.
Technical Details:
• Dimensions: 4.53 inches x 2.56 inches x 2.17 inches
• Material: Polycarbonate
• Computer Connection Type: USB
• Communication Rate: 9600 Baud -
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HortiMaX CX500 (HortiMaX)
The HortiMaX CX500 is a flexible, expandable, and user-friendly process computer that is adaptable to the needs of your local environment and climate conditions. It optimizes your greenhouse climate and controls a wide range of processes and systems, such as irrigation, heat buffers, or boilers. The controller is suitable for every greenhouse or crop, anywhere in the world. It features integrated technology for water, climate, and energy-related processes.
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Vialux M-Line (Priva)
The new Priva Vialux M-Line series stands for a new generation of UV disinfection, based on a brand-new technology called mid pressure UV, which is unique in the market. The modular system can be customized to meet your company’s needs. Depending on the scale of operation, two, four, six, or eight UV disinfection chambers can be installed. It can be operated as a stand-alone system via an onboard touch screen or integrated as a sub-station of your process automation system.
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LogicLink400 (Ridder Drive Systems)
The Ridder LogicLink400 control unit is a ready-made, easy-to-use solution for installing and controlling Ridder RW motor gearboxes in both rotational directions. To integrate the control and drive components, the control unit is mounted on the motor gearbox. The control unit consists of a potted control board with solid-state relays, ensuring a high degree of protection.
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PolyDrive (Ridder Drive Systems)
The new Ridder PolyDrive drive unit is made up of two high-pressure, die-cast aluminum parts. These high-precision and dimensionally stable parts together form a fully enclosed housing with a high protection rating. Thanks to this special housing and the innovative oil expansion chamber, the lubricating oil remains in optimum condition throughout the unit’s lifespan. This expansion chamber also means that the Ridder PolyDrive is an oil-tight drive unit, which is both weatherproof and windproof and can be mounted in any position for application in both ventilation and screening systems. The worm wheel is positioned in the first of the two reduction stages, providing the drive unit with an excellent self-braking performance. As the dual-stage drive unit consists of so few parts, it is maintenance free and operates almost silently.
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JD26+ Eight Stage Ventilation Control (J&D Manufacturing)
J&D’s improved JD26+ Eight Stage Ventilation Control contains two independent variable stages (12 FLA each) and six on/off relay stages (12 FLA each). The control can configure to heating and/or cooling. It includes a 30-foot temperature control, extendable up to 500 feet. The easy-to-use navigation buttons, 2-line and 24-character screen, and eight hot keys for quick access make this control operable for anyone. The control also has password security to prevent any unauthorized changes — giving peace of mind to the grower.
Technical Details:
• Humidity sensor available
• Up to four inside temperature sensors
• 115 or 230V, 50/60Hz -
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Root Optimizer (Priva)
With the Priva Root Optimizer, watering is automatically optimized to the conditions, the state of the crop, and the type of substrate, based on the plant’s needs. The water absorption is determined based on a measuring set-up, which includes a number of representative plants. The result is an automatic start of watering at the right time, and never again having a substrate medium that is too dry or too wet. The Root Optimizer takes into account the part of the day, the correct moisture level, degree of transpiration, and an optimal air/water ratio in the substrate.
View all
JDMV1 Manual, Variable Speed Control (J and D Manufacturing)
1800 Monitoring System (Sensaphone)
Express II System (Sensaphone)
Ridder MotorControl (Ridder Drive Systems)
TopCrop Monitor (Priva)
Seed Touch-Screen Environmental Control (Wadsworth Control Systems)
Argus Control System
STEP Up Controller (Wadsworth Control Systems)
GHK12X2 and RWL11X2 Greenhouse Temperature Controls (Bartlett Instrument Co.)
The Vent Boss (Bartlett Instrument Co.)
HortiMaX-Go! (HortiMaX)
Radio Link CIS (Bartlett Instrument Co.)
HortiMaX CX500 (HortiMaX)
Vialux M-Line (Priva)
LogicLink400 (Ridder Drive Systems)
PolyDrive (Ridder Drive Systems)
JD26+ Eight Stage Ventilation Control (J&D Manufacturing)
Root Optimizer (Priva)
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Brian D. Sparks is Editor of Greenhouse Grower and GreenhouseGrower.com. See all author stories here.