Actuators

Basics

Actuators is the name given to hydroponics equipment that performs a function via power. Examples include pumps, heaters, fans, and others. Actuators primarily are concerned with engaging a device at some intensity, typically managed by the feeding scheduler or one of its balancers.

Actuators come in three main flavors: relay-based on/off switch, relay-based on/off pump (both water pump and peristaltic dosing pumps), and PWM-based (pulse width modulation, aka variable intensity).

Supported Actuators

As of this writing, the following actuator types are programmed into Hydruino (specified by the ActuatorType enumeration):

• Grow Lights: Used to bathe the plants in artificial sunlight given their unique zone properties.
• Water Pump: Primary way of moving liquid around from one reservoir to another.
• Peristaltic Dosing Pump: Used for balancing alkalinity and maintaining proper nutrients level.
• Water Heater: Used to warm feed water up to an acceptable temperature for tropical zone plants.
• Water Aerator: Used to aerate the feed water before and during feedings.
• Water Sprayer/Sprinkler: Used in the mornings, before grow lights turn on, to dose the plant's leaves in water.
• Fan Exhaust/Circulation: Used for managing the CO2 and air temperature of grow tents.