AC Infinity controller - is it worth it?

[MeowMeow]

I was looking at the AC Infinity "Controller AI+ Environmental Controller" on Amazon.

I was curious, is it worth it? The Programmable Dual-Zone VPD temperature and humidity automations seem pretty cool.

What are the pros of an AC Infinity controller? What are the cons, if any?


Here's more info from the Amazon listing:

• Revolutionary AI-powered controller that actively learns about its environment, automating equipment and providing insights to achieve the perfect grow.
• Let AI analyze climate patterns and anticipate spikes, to program devices to dynamically output the exact percentage needed to maintain an optimal environment.
• Control your setup from anywhere via WIFI with our app, featuring real-time AI insights, guides, alerts, charts, and the ability to chat with our AI bot about your grow.
• Mix and match up to 32 devices from the largest platform of smart fans, grow lights, humidifiers, heaters, A/Cs, and grow lights & outlet devices from other brands.
• Features precision dual-zone temperature, humidity, and VPD monitoring, with optional COâ‚‚, hydro, or soil sensor add-ons (sold separately) for advance setups.

​What exactly does the AI aspect do?

Is it worth it for a grower with one 300W LED grow light in a 2x4 grow tent?

 

[golfnrl]

I do not have any experience with that particular controller. But I do use ACI controllers and equipment and have no hesitation recommending them. I have not looked into their AI capabilities.

 

[Gator]

Buy that one if you have Wi-Fi,I have the controller 69 pro and I love it,worst with blue tooth if you don't have Internet

 

[Smallgrow]

I have that controller, and I’ve had a couple others of theirs. They are very good. I don’t use the AI part.
They allow you to automate all your climate control devices. Couldn’t imagine growing without it, although I know everyone used to and some still do.

The AI part is supposed to keep your environment perfect all the time without your input (good luck with that, lol).

 

[MeowMeow]

Smallgrow Just curious, which of your climate control devices can it control? Like your fans based on the temperature?

 

[dmpmfd]

Smallgrow Just curious, which of your climate control devices can it control? Like your fans based on the temperature?

MeowMeow each "Channel" on the controller will adjust the devices connected to the channel. I.E.: 4 fans on one channel (using a 4-way splitter), one channel for lights, one for exhaust fans, etc. so to use 32 devices you will need 8 splitters. For the model you listed (CONTROLLER AI+) there are 8 channels, but the additional external environment sensor is a definite positive. The ACI manuals really suck at describing how to program it in my opinion, but once you get the basic concept down, it makes it a lot easier to get things going.​ Each channel has its own settings, so you can put lights on a timer, fans (oscillating or exhaust) on temp & humidity variables as needed/wanted. If running on Wi-Fi it makes adjusting to daily variables easier remotely.

Edited to add: I use a Controller 69 Pro so no AI and only 4 channels but currently have it running 3 Osc. fans, Exhaust fan, light and humidifier.

 

[ductwizard2]

Hey MeowMeow i read the last line of ur top post about is it worth it to have a controller for 1 300 watt light. did you ever get an answer? Now heres another question, can you use these controllers if you dont have a cell phone?

 

[Smallgrow]

Yes MeowMeow , dmpmfd explained it pretty well.
I agree AC Infinity does a pretty poor job of explaining how to use heir equipment, which is surprising to me I can’t understand what the benefit would be to them. They make such good equipment but if you don’t teach people to use all the features it’s seems like a lost opportunity. With a bit of effort you can learn how to use all the features.
Anyway, I use it to control my exhaust fan, oscillating fan(which isn’t really a necessity), my non ACI heater thought an ACI wifi plug , my 465w top light , inter-canopy lighting, and my ACI humidifier. The only thing I don’t use it for is my dehumidifier as I don’t think it’s good for a dehumidifier to switch on and off suddenly, they need their pre-run and post-run cycles to happen or you risk damaging them over time. You can set up what they call automations for whatever you want giving you control to set lights on and lights off setting for each piece of equipment.
I’m an ACI guy but other companies now have similar controllers. I think Mars hydro, Vivosun, Spider Farmer all have competing ones and the gear to go with them.
Even a basic one is a game changer if you’re used to manually control.

 

[dmpmfd]

ductwizard2 you can run a Android emulator on your PC to use the app without a cell phone. The only downside of running the app on a PC is the loss of remote access unless you RDP into your PC that runs the emulator.

 

[Gator]

I'm also using the controller 69 pro, heater is on a schedule, inline fan and carbon filter on cycle and the humidifier on auto, target feature, and I could use it for the oscillating fan, but I don't need to,I don't know how I got this far without the automation

 

[ductwizard2]

Thanks dmpmfd, It's nothing that i wud do until at least winter but if everything goes as planned it wud make life alot easier. I dont really need remote access and have no idea what half of what you said means but my kid is a whiz and i cud get him to idiot proof the setup. I'd like to get to the point where i don't hafta do stairs as its still a bitch (wheelchair). Thanks 4 the info

 

[MeowMeow]

Yeah AC Infinity seems like they make the best equipment, and the others like Vivosun and Spider Farmer are sort of knockoff brands, but work well too.

That's good to know about the dehumidifier. I have this big one that I only use in the late flower if the humidity gets high (the dehumidifier and electricity seem like a waste of money until the first time you get bud rot!). I didn't realize it had any internal programming, but that makes sense to me it should be allowed to do its own thing. It already adjusts based on the humidity anyway.