Most growers do not use their climate control computers to the fullest extent. They only use a small portion of the computers’ capabilities For instance, some growers only use the computers for temperature and humidity control. Others use them for irrigation, fertilization, shading, supplementing carbon dioxide and disease identification programs.
Here are five ways to simplify your greenhouse climate control needs.
1. Change set points to accommodate climatic changes.
Growers usually program set points for temperature and humidity control and very seldom change the settings. The ideal control program is to have the set points change automatically according to varying outside weather conditions. Not all climate control program strategies can make this change automatically, so it’s important for you to know what to look for in a climate control program.
There are greenhouse operators who don’t have time to keep checking computers to make set point corrections. These growers should assign someone to check climatic conditions and make corrections to the control strategy.
2. Talk to the climate control supplier.
Too often growers are afraid to ask questions. If you don’t fully understand your climate control program, talk to your computer supplier. Don’t ask the installer, since this is the person who installed the system and not likely the one who designed the control program. Talk to the tech support personnel who designed the climate program.
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3. Plan for the long term.
Growers usually make the mistake of not planning control requirements long term. If growers need basic control to operate a heating system and vents, they will probably choose a basic climate controller, which does not take into account any long-term requirements.
When considering a control computer for your greenhouse, evaluate the computer programs’ capabilities to see what they can do for your specific applications. If the programs don’t offer what you really need then it’s likely not the computer for your operation.
It’s always good to ask the computer manufacturer for references. Talk to growers who have installed a similar system to see if they are satisfied with a manufacturer’s programs and service.
If you start with basic temperature and humidity control, determine if the system is capable of expansion to add additional programs such as irrigation, fertigation, carbon dioxide enrichment, shading, lighting, etc., without adding major costs. Most computer manufacturers provide built-in hardware and software expansion capability at reasonable costs.
If you choose a climate controller, the cost can be more expensive in the long run and less flexible than with a computer. The reason is a controller box is required for each additional greenhouse zone that is added. If you want to install a different program you’ll be required to add a new controller.
Most controllers have LCD displays with a keypad on each controller. Taking readings or making set point changes requires going to each controller in the greenhouse. This can be avoided if there is a PC with a custom program to view each controller and make set point changes. However, these programs generally are not as flexible as a fully packaged climate computer program. Fully packaged climate computers usually have well-thought-out programs that have been proven in many different environments and offer the most-requested programs.
4. Study differences in pricing.
Sometimes we make product purchases based on looks and price without giving enough consideration to what’s really required to do the job. As a general rule, if there is a large price difference between climate computer suppliers, chances are something is being left out.
Just because a climate computer has a higher price tag does not necessarily mean you are getting a better product. In many cases, climate computer suppliers base pricing not on product quality but primarily on a company’s overhead.
Several years ago I worked with a grower who was building a 20-acre greenhouse operation and his biggest concern was cost. Despite efforts to convince him otherwise, the grower chose climate controllers that were very basic and could not provide additional features that he might need in the future.
About two years later the grower replaced the 20 controllers he had originally purchased with a climate computer because he needed additional programs. He quickly discovered it was not practical to keep buying controllers for each additional zone and program he required. Rather than choose the controllers because of cost, it would have been less expensive to purchase the proper climate computer platform and start with very basic temperature and humidity programs and later add the additional programs he needed.
5. Adjust sensors.
Some growers never adjust the response time of sensors and control algorithms, resulting in erratic movement of vents. This can result in temperatures that are too low or too high and much wear and tear on the equipment. In many cases, only the technical person who installed the climate computer can make the necessary adjustments. Growers can make the adjustments themselves if they have the know how and necessary passwords to make these adjustments.
Some plants are very sensitive to temperature and humidity, and it is important that you are aware of your plants’ ideal climate requirements. You need to know a crop’s climate requirements for day and night temperature and humidity requirements and heating and cooling ramping strategies. Once you know this you can set up your programs accordingly.
- Eric Labbate
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Eric Labbate is president of Climate Control Systems Inc., (519) 322-2515; labbate@mnsi.net; www.climatecontrol.com. Where trade names are used for identification, no product endorsement is implied nor is discrimination intended.