Hydroponics 1.0 Build

Hydroponics 1.0 - Vending Machine "Spaceship"

Build:

Early in the build. After wild ideas about pipe runs along the walls and hung from the ceiling, the project settled here. The vending machine project had stalled, it was re-purposed for the hydroponics project.

Plan, with lighting components overlaid on the pipes. The plants are arranged with equal spacing from the walls and from each other in a radial pattern, the tubing was then aligned to match that footprint. The modular lighting panels were then designed to optimally utilize the LEDs that we had on order. It's simultaneously simple and somewhat complex.

The 90mm PVC pipes were heat formed with a heat gun and a plunger so that the hole cuts in the top don't extend down the sides. This was done to minimize the amount of light that could enter the tubes. Reducing the exposure of the water to light minimizes algae growth.

Each level has a corner piece like this. The divider in the middle is there so that the water enters from the top on one side, travels around the tube, and exits through the drain the on the other side. The drain has an adjustable collar so that the water level in the tubes can be controlled.

The vending machine was lined with reflective sarking to improve the efficiency of the lighting.

Coming together. It was designed it in such a way that the pipe trays can be easily removed for maintenance without interference by the lighting. Even during the build this proved to be an excellent feature.

One of 16 laser cut acrylic light panels. 5 meter runs of LED Red/Blue grow light strips were cut into 100mm lengths and soldered together.

One of 2 light arrays assembled. It took several hours to solder and assemble each array.

Both lighting arrays assembled and tested. The system is powered by an ATX power supply.

The first time lit up.

It all coming together well. Next up: Plants

Adding sensors for CO2 , humidity and temperature.