P&L Grow systems - The Minder Unit - Thermohygrometer Logger

Know more, grow more – Data driven decisions

#theMinder is a small device designed to help you track and manage any environment remotely from anywhere in the world. #theMinder connects to the cloud-based user interface to monitor and log environmental data and can be set up to alert you if parameters are exceeded. The Interface is browser-based and accessible from anywhere in the world with an internet connection, including mobile phones, so you can check your parameters anywhere, anytime.

#theMinder unit will monitor ambient air temperature and relative humidity as well as calculating VPD values. Also included is a second waterproof temperature probe that can be used in growing media to monitor root zone temperature, placed in feeding solution tanks to monitor solution temperature, or used to monitor air temperature in another part of the growing environment.

All existing and future versions can be added to your user account as the need arises and will be compatible with future releases from P&L.

The cleverly designed user interface can be accessed from any device that has internet connectivity from any location in the world. From here you can see all your connected #theMinder units for each environment being monitored. Access all your data and display it on dynamic graphs that gives you real insight into how your environment behaves over time.

You can also export your data for offline analysis and report creation. All of the functions of each #theMinder units can be accessed and setup to suit your needs via the interface including renaming, high/low setpoints, area assignment, alert parameters and display configurations.

With #theMinder you can have peace of mind about your environment no matter where you are, no longer do you have to worry and stress if everything is ok when you are not there.

Once you harvest your crop, #theMinder can be used to monitor the equally important drying and curing stages and the final storage of the crop.

#theMinder is not just for grow environments. The technology can be applied to a whole host of areas where environmental data needs to be monitored and collected such as air quality monitoring, animal husbandry, domestic environments, commercial environments and industrial processes.

Consistent environment for more reliable results

For a large range of plant species, the environment is one of the largest factors to influence the quality and quantity of your yield; by having the ‘perfect’ environment for a given species, you allow it to reach its full genetic potential. Consistent environments also allow the grower to ‘dial in’ the crop, where you get the best out of the particular cultivar you’re working with through a process of trial and error and keeping routines that work well with particular varieitie. In a stable environment, you make sure it is the variable you’re changing that will have an effect on the outcome, so you can be much more certain of any testing you carry out.

An increasing number of professional growers are using VPD charts as guides for humidity in the grow room to push their results to the next level. The VPD calculation considers the pressure at the leaf surface as well as the pressure in the room, so the grower can maintain the perfect offset pressure between the plant and room to match the stage of growth the plant is in.

Better Yields & Returns

• Fine tune your environment to maximise output
• Avoid issues – The minder gives early alerts so there’s plenty of time to react
• Get insights into your environment like never before
• KNOW MORE, GROW MORE

Quick and Easy

• Less than 10 min to be up and running
• 3 Step process
• Browser based - No app download or installs required
• Data updated every 30 seconds
• Easy to read data display

Features

• 1 Ambient temperature and humidity sensor
• 1 Waterproof temperature sensor
• Temperature, Humidity and calculated VPD data
• Data updated every 30 seconds
• 4 weeks of rolling historical data
• Custom Alerts

WiFi Network requirements

theMinder unit is an Internet of Things (IoT) device and as such requires an always on internet enabled WiFi network to operate. A mobile hotspot access point or mobile phone running as an access point works great if no broadband router WiFi is available.

• 2.5GHz WiFi network
• Always on internet enabled network

Dashboard Config

The Dashboard displays as dials or graphs, allowing the user to quickly see if variables are within optimal limits - on the graph view, you can set the date & time range to get a better resolution and determine any events that have occurred in the space over a large time range – perfect for analyzing environment since your last visit.

There are 4 lines on each graph:

1. Dew point: This variable is automatically calculated and represents when humidity in the air will condense onto cool surfaces. If your canopy temperature goes below the dew point in bloom, problems associated with rot increase significantly.

2. Canopy Relative Humidity: Place at the canopy level to get an idea of the humidity around plant leaves. The onboard computer uses the humidity and temperature data to work out the room’s VPD.

3. Canopy Temperature: Measures temperature at the canopy to get an accurate value for VPD. Maintain a consistent temperature of around 25 degrees C during lights on. Canopy temps should never drop more than 5 degrees C than your lights on temperature for best results.

4. Floor/substrate/water Temp: With the Waterproof temperature sensor, you can place it on your floor in your pot or in your reservoir to monitor the temperature. This is particularly useful for non-insulated floors such as concrete cellars as the ambient floor temp can often be significantly lower that ambient air temperature, which can shock roots and slow down plant growth.

When the Dashboard is displayed as dials, it automatically displays the current readings. You can easily look through historical data by changing the time at the top, but most customers prefer to use the graph when analyzing larger datasets. The dials are great if you just want to check everything is within optimal levels.

P&L Grow Systems Minder kit contains:

• #theMinder device
• 2 x 2.5m sensor leads with sensors
• 1 x Waterproof temperature sensor
• 1 x Ambient temperature and humidity sensor

Power requirements - Optional if you wish to include a power supply

To encourage people to recycle their existing electronics we do not include a power supply as standard. We specifically selected Micro USB as it is the most common connector type.

5V 1.5A (2A recommended) Micro USB power supply

How to use P&L Grow Systems Minder kit

Simply plug the unit into a micro USB and place the probes in appropriate locations; the 2-in-1 humidity and temperature probe are best placed at the canopy level while the waterproof temperature probe can be placed in your substrate, medium, reservoir or on the floor.

Either sign up or log-in to the P&L portal

You can then configure the p&L app with your grow room’s variables such as volume, amount and power of light fixtures. Multiple rooms can be configured from the dashboard and you can have several P&L Minders in each environment.

Once each P&L Minder is configured to your rooms, with a simple click of a button, you can change the view from dials to a graphs and change the time range so you can best analyze the readings and make changes to your grow room equipment to better maintain optimal environmental ranges.