ACI Controller Probe Location

[dmpmfd]

Question for anyone who uses the AC Infinity controllers and how do you mount/locate your probe? I watched an ACI video and the guy who set up the tent put it into one corner by the tent pole and when I asked ACI customer service they recommended to put the probe above the plant at the same height of the top of the plant. I've been following the customer service advice but am uncomfortable with it since the probe wire leans to one side off the LED light. Looking for some more experienced growers who use the same product for suggestions. Currently using a 2x2x4 tent and my next grow will be in a 2x2x6 ACI tent to fully utilize the Terraform unit. First picture is where mine sits (left side above GSCX) on the current grow (about 1 week away from harvest). The next two are a seed "pod" (from my scammers at Lush Garden of Shark tank) replacements (got one left) a HSC seed of Strawberry Cheesecake. The last two are of a Gril Scout Cookie Extreme from ILGM & so far loving the growth of the plant. I am starting to see how genetics affect growth and have a major effect on results.

 

[Smallgrow]

I hang it in the middle of my canopy just above or equal with the top of the plants moving as needed throughout the grow. Make sure it has some airflow and is not touching any plant material. I’ll try to post a pic later.
You do have to keep in mind that it will sample that exact location only and understand conditions will vary somewhat around even a small tent

 

[golfnrl]

Make a foil tent around the probe and hang it where ACI recommends. The foil tent shields the probe from the heat of the light.

 

[Smallgrow]

Here’s a picture. I have a few sensors hanging here, one is for my ACI controller.

 

[dmpmfd]

Here’s a picture. I have a few sensors hanging here, one is for my ACI controller.

Love the idea you have from below rather than above. Is the "rope" holding the sensors a hanger clip for support to the netting and twisting the sensors on? Wouldn't mind losing a hanger over burning out a sensor due to the LED board light. Guessing you have a light bar setup due to the rope being together in the picture.

 

[Bluey]

You want it to measure air temp in the room and not under the light so shield it from direct light and expose it to good airflow

 

[Smallgrow]

Ya I’ve been thinking over the shielding idea. I’ve never done that, it makes sense I suppose.
My thought is having it exposed to the light (no shield) would be a more accurate representation of what’s hitting the plant?

 

[Smallgrow]

I have previously used a long 24” clip on phone holder to hold the sensors from below. It works fine I just find the rope from above easier to manage. Yes I have a bar style light so I can drop the rope in the middle of the canopy no problem.
Personally, I don’t think there is a risk of burning out those sensors. Mine have been exposed to everything for 3-5 years without issue

 

[Bluey]

It's a measurement of probe temp under the light if that's where you put it. You want to know the actual air temp in the room. All published data & research refers to air temps in the environment and leaf temps....and putting a probe under the light at canopy height is not close to representative of either.

Ive tried it and have ditched the sensors under the lights at canopy height and gone back to using air temp in my room rather than using probes under the lights.

Your probe will read higher under the lights than what it should. Its not leaf temp representative either as leaves cool themselves under the lights via evaporative cooling, absorb radiated heat at differing rates to the probe, etc.. All your reading is probe temp under the lights

 

[golfnrl]

At the big box stores or online you can find a fairly inexpensive device to measure leaf temps if you want to accurately measure same. Thermo Works is what I have.

I’ve placed my temp/rh probe at canopy level because ACI says put it in the tent near the plants at the most humid location. For me, that’s not at canopy level. I recall Nebula Haze saying to measure RH at the canopy level, so that’s where I put mine. Maybe that’s not for everyone but it works for me. To accomplish that I shield the probe with Aluminum foil. It works well and the probe is easily moved around when necessary

Hygrometers placed at three different levels in a 2x4x8’ tent each gave a different measurement, outside of the margin of error.

To test the temp feature, I put the probe in a couple different locations. All measured the same because as I understand it temperature is a measurement of the atmosphere or air. The RH measured differently based on location.

Hope that helps.

 

[Bluey]

With great air movement, that is no dead spots, RH and temp should measure very similar throughout a room, except of course under the lights inside a canopy.

I measure RH same as temp. I have two large fans that oscillate, two air conditioners that blow hard and a dehumidifier blowing hard too. The air movement in my flower room is huge...massive..and zero wind burn.

This keeps temps down inside buds, a must for the highest quality potent healthy dense buds, as it forces air changeover in the flowers.

Anyway, how you grow and how and where you choose to measure things is really up to the individual.

 

[Smallgrow]

Excellent information as usual Bluey and golfnrl thanks!
My next run in the fall will reconsider my approach

 

[golfnrl]

Good point about the air movement. How do you define massive? And how do you avoid tearing/burning leaves? I'm curious. I have a gentle breeze blowing inside my tent and try never to have wind blowing directly on the plants.

 

[dmpmfd]

Thank you all (Smallgrow, Bluey and golfnrl) for your insights and knowledge. Time to start thinking about the new tent probe's location with the increased height. I always thought it was too humid & hot being over any of the plants and under the lights to be accurate. Anyone who has other thoughts please chime in, since more information is always better than a "guessitmate" on my part. Will be trying my first summer grow with the new tent and going to switch from cooling to dry mode on the Terraform unit since I will have the needed vent ports to really use it and it gets too humid previously for any summer grow in the old tent. Looking forward to seeing how the "Free the Seeds" package grows.

 

[Bluey]

One AC is mounted high, always on and blows at & across the top of the lights, the other AC is floor mounted and blows at the ceiling. The dehumidifier blows up and across the room. The wall high mounted industrial fan 18" with metal blades blows hard against the opposite wall barely touching the tops of the flowers but it bounces off the wall and down into the canopy and the low set pedestal fan blows hard just under the canopy. Both oscillate. That's during flower. In late veg it's a bit warmer in the room but I still have lots of airflow, but less earlier on until the canopy fills right out.

A few torn leaves, yeah, sure, but not too many. All buds are always moving around in the breeze. My room is 11' x 7' and canopy no larger than 10' x 5' so plenty of room without smashing the plants too hard, no dead spots.

 

[golfnrl]

I'd love to have more space to have a room like yours. Sounds like I'm probably being overly cautious.

 

[Bluey]

I only grow in winter as electricity costs run high running the air conditioners. Ambient range 2⁰C to about 10⁰C max over night during winter when lights are on and air cons are running a lot even then.

 

[dmpmfd]

Figured I'd share this information with everyone here in case anyone starts to lose logging information on the controller. I lost over a week's period, lost 3 days of data since it all flatlined. It is a known issue to ACI and here is their recommendation at this time...

" A few other customers have mentioned this as well so our development team is looking into the issue. Could you please try the following troubleshooting steps to see if this helps?

- uninstall the AC Infinity app
- turn phone off
- wait 30 seconds
- turn phone back on
- reinstall app​"

To update this workaround, it seems to only work for a short time. I have done this twice tonight and both times logging flatlines again. Waiting on ACI support to reply and will update once received.

Edited to update status.