Automyco 1 editing user settings
Your AutoMyco(tm) Mushroom Fruiting Chamber comes pre-programmed with grow settings that will work for many mushrooms and grow environments.
You can change the AutoMyco's grow settings by editing the user_settings.py file. This user settings file is stored on your AutoMyco. There is a micro USB port side of the black controller box on top of your AutoMyco's humidifier.
If you plug a USB cable from your PC into the micro USB connector on your AutoMyco, the AutoMyco will appear as a USB drive to your PC.
The USB Drive will have the name CircuitPython
Find the file named user_settings.py on the CircuitPython drive.
You can edit the settings in the user_settings.py file with a text editor such as Notepad.
WARNING: USE A TEXT EDITOR SUCH AS NOTEPAD. DO NOT USE A WORDPROCESSOR LIKE WORD TO EDIT THE USER_SETTINGS.PY FILE. You have to save the user_settings.py as plain text.
After you have completed editing the settings on the user_settings.py file save the file back to the CircuitPython drive and your changes will take affect immediately.
settings you can change
You have control of the following settings on your AutoMyco via the user_settings.py file:
- Lights On Time
- Lights Off Time
- Humidity
- Carbon Dioxide Level
- Forced Free Air Exchange Wait Time
- Forced Free Air Exchange On Time
- Night Light Mode Light Brightness
- Night Light Mode Warning Level
- Grow Light Color
- Set Clock Date and Time
lights on and off time
LIGHTS_ON_TIME = "8:30AM"
In this example, the lights will turn on to the GROW_COLOR at 8:30AM every day.
To select a different lights on time, replace the 8:30AM value with your desired lights on time in 12-hour format. Be sure and enclose your desired lights on time between quotation marks.
For example, to set the lights on time to 3:14PM edit the value between the quotation marks in the user_settings.py file to:
LIGHTS_ON_TIME = "3:14PM"
LIGHTS_OFF_TIME = "11:00PM"
In this example, the lights will turn off at 11:00PM every day.
To select a different lights off time, replace the 11:00PM value with your desired lights off time in 12-hour format. Be sure and enclosure your desired lights off time between quotation marks.
For example, to set the lights off time to 2AM edit the value between the quotation marks in the user_settings.py file to:
LIGHTS_OFF_TIME = "2:00AM"
In this example, the lights will turn on to the GROW_COLOR at 8:30AM every day.
To select a different lights on time, replace the 8:30AM value with your desired lights on time in 12-hour format. Be sure and enclose your desired lights on time between quotation marks.
For example, to set the lights on time to 3:14PM edit the value between the quotation marks in the user_settings.py file to:
LIGHTS_ON_TIME = "3:14PM"
LIGHTS_OFF_TIME = "11:00PM"
In this example, the lights will turn off at 11:00PM every day.
To select a different lights off time, replace the 11:00PM value with your desired lights off time in 12-hour format. Be sure and enclosure your desired lights off time between quotation marks.
For example, to set the lights off time to 2AM edit the value between the quotation marks in the user_settings.py file to:
LIGHTS_OFF_TIME = "2:00AM"
humidity
In this example, the AutoMyco will keep the Fruiting Chamber Humidity set to 90% relative humidity.
In general, 90% Relative Humidity is a good setting.
If you want a different humidity setting then edit the humidity value to your desired relative humidity target. It is strongly recommended that you keep the relative humidity below 95%. Settings above 95% can saturate the humidity sensor to the point that it will no longer give valid readings.
For example to set the humidity target to 85% relative humidity, edit the HUMIDITY variable to:
HUMIDITY = 85
Note: the humidity value is not between quotation marks and there is no percentage sign.
When the humidifier is running, the LED lights will glow blue indicating that moisture is being added to the chamber.
In general, 90% Relative Humidity is a good setting.
If you want a different humidity setting then edit the humidity value to your desired relative humidity target. It is strongly recommended that you keep the relative humidity below 95%. Settings above 95% can saturate the humidity sensor to the point that it will no longer give valid readings.
For example to set the humidity target to 85% relative humidity, edit the HUMIDITY variable to:
HUMIDITY = 85
Note: the humidity value is not between quotation marks and there is no percentage sign.
When the humidifier is running, the LED lights will glow blue indicating that moisture is being added to the chamber.
carbon dioxide level
The AutoMyco Fruiting Chamber contains a carbon dioxide (CO2) sensor that monitors the CO2 level inside the chamber. Mushrooms give off carbon dioxide. Unlike plants which take in CO2 and expel oxygen, mushrooms are more like animals in that they take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide. It is important to keep the CO2 levels low during mushroom fruiting to promote vigorous growth.
In the above example, a CO2_MAX = 800 setting tells the AutoMyco to keep the CO2 level in the chamber below 800 parts per million (PPM). An 800 ppm of CO2 setting is a good default for most indoor settings. The CO2 sensor measures CO2 levels from 400 ppm to 5000 ppm.
When the AutoMyco detects that the CO2 level is above the CO2_MAX setting, the AutoMyco will turn the Fresh Air Exchange (FAE) fan on high to force fresh air into the chamber and to force out the CO2 from the chamber. Note: when in Fresh Air Exchange mode, the LED lights on the chamber and the fan will be Green indicating that FAE is active.
You can enter a CO2_MAX value other than 800 by editing the CO2_MAX line in the user_settings.py file.
The lower you set the value of CO2_MAX the more often the fan will run in FAE mode. While a more constant air flow is good for oxygen, this constant air flow will also reduce the humidity in the chamber requiring the humidifier to run more often.
Depending on your room growing conditions, your room may have relatively high CO2 levels. A CO2 level of 400 ppm is more like the carbon dioxide level found out doors. It is difficult to get CO2 levels below about 500 in an indoor room unless you have really good ventilation or open windows. Therefore, don't set too low of a CO2 value since your room may not actually get down to low CO2 levels.
In the above example, a CO2_MAX = 800 setting tells the AutoMyco to keep the CO2 level in the chamber below 800 parts per million (PPM). An 800 ppm of CO2 setting is a good default for most indoor settings. The CO2 sensor measures CO2 levels from 400 ppm to 5000 ppm.
When the AutoMyco detects that the CO2 level is above the CO2_MAX setting, the AutoMyco will turn the Fresh Air Exchange (FAE) fan on high to force fresh air into the chamber and to force out the CO2 from the chamber. Note: when in Fresh Air Exchange mode, the LED lights on the chamber and the fan will be Green indicating that FAE is active.
You can enter a CO2_MAX value other than 800 by editing the CO2_MAX line in the user_settings.py file.
The lower you set the value of CO2_MAX the more often the fan will run in FAE mode. While a more constant air flow is good for oxygen, this constant air flow will also reduce the humidity in the chamber requiring the humidifier to run more often.
Depending on your room growing conditions, your room may have relatively high CO2 levels. A CO2 level of 400 ppm is more like the carbon dioxide level found out doors. It is difficult to get CO2 levels below about 500 in an indoor room unless you have really good ventilation or open windows. Therefore, don't set too low of a CO2 value since your room may not actually get down to low CO2 levels.
forced fresh air exchange
Feature not currently implemented as of Software Build V1 R10. Will be added in future software release.
night light brightness
During the lights off time, the NIGHT_LIGHT setting determines the brightness of the Chamber and Fan LED lights. The NIGHT_LIGHT value is expressed as a number between 0 and 100.
In the example above, NIGHT_LIGHT = 2 means, that during the lights off time, LEDs are on at 2% of their regular brightness.
Setting the NIGHT_LIGHT = 0 means that the lights should be completely off during lights off time.
This setting allows you to have the AutoMyco LED lights on very dimly during lights off time. You can tune these values to best match your night time (night-light) levels.
In the example above, NIGHT_LIGHT = 2 means, that during the lights off time, LEDs are on at 2% of their regular brightness.
Setting the NIGHT_LIGHT = 0 means that the lights should be completely off during lights off time.
This setting allows you to have the AutoMyco LED lights on very dimly during lights off time. You can tune these values to best match your night time (night-light) levels.
night water warning level
One of the nice features of the AutoMyco is that has a large water tank for the humidifier. The humidifier also has a built in water level sensor. During lights on time, if the water level starts to get too low, the LEDs will flash yellow to let you know that you should add water. This way even if you have to be away for a few days, the AutoMyco will have plenty of water to maintain the proper humidity in the chamber while you are gone. If the water level in the humidifier gets too low to safely operate the humidifier, the LEDs will flash red letting you know that you need to immediately add more water.
The flash yellow and red lights are meant to grab your attention so you may or may not want this behavior during the night time or lights off mode of operation.
The NIGHT_WATERING_WARNING setting lets you determine if the AutoMyco should 'bother' you with yellow or red flashes.
The flash yellow and red lights are meant to grab your attention so you may or may not want this behavior during the night time or lights off mode of operation.
The NIGHT_WATERING_WARNING setting lets you determine if the AutoMyco should 'bother' you with yellow or red flashes.
Grow light color
The AutoMyco Fruiting Chamber contains a number of RGB programmable LEDs. Here the RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue. The LEDs can be programmed with 1 of 16-million colors. The color is created by mixing the Red, Green, and Blue LED light together.
The colors add together.
The colors add together.
During Lights Off Time, the NIGHT_LIGHT setting scales or dims the GROW_COLOR.
Set clock date and time
Your AutoMyco contains a real time date and time clock with battery back-up. Once you set the date and time, your AutoMyco will keep the proper time even if power is removed from the unit.
To change the date and or time of your AutoMyco, change any of the CLOCK_ settings. You do not have to change them all. If any of the CLOCK_ settings are detected as having been changed, the AutoMyco will update its date and time to the date and time stored in your user_settings.py file.
CLOCK_YEAR: Year should be entered as a four digit number for the current year.
CLOCK_MONTH: Month should be entered as a number between 1-12 for the appropriate month (January = 1, December = 12)
CLOCK_DATE: Date should be entered as a number between 1 and 31 for the appropriate date of the month.
CLOCK_HOUR: Hour should be entered as a number between 1 and 23 for the appropriate hour of the day. The hour is entered in 24-hour format. The hour of 11-AM is entered as 11 while the hour of 11-PM is entered as 12+11 = 23.
CLOCK_MINUTE: Minute should be entered as a number between 0 and 59 for the appropriate minute of the hour.
To change the date and or time of your AutoMyco, change any of the CLOCK_ settings. You do not have to change them all. If any of the CLOCK_ settings are detected as having been changed, the AutoMyco will update its date and time to the date and time stored in your user_settings.py file.
CLOCK_YEAR: Year should be entered as a four digit number for the current year.
CLOCK_MONTH: Month should be entered as a number between 1-12 for the appropriate month (January = 1, December = 12)
CLOCK_DATE: Date should be entered as a number between 1 and 31 for the appropriate date of the month.
CLOCK_HOUR: Hour should be entered as a number between 1 and 23 for the appropriate hour of the day. The hour is entered in 24-hour format. The hour of 11-AM is entered as 11 while the hour of 11-PM is entered as 12+11 = 23.
CLOCK_MINUTE: Minute should be entered as a number between 0 and 59 for the appropriate minute of the hour.