Devices

In addition to containers, a system requires certain devices to provide light, distribute water and nutrients, and ensure air circulation and temperature control for the plants. Some devices need to be turned on or off regularly or as needed, for example, grow lights change their daily lighting time based on the plant's grow stage. We call these switchable appliances devices in Elfsys Grow Cloud.

There are two ways in which the Elfsys App controls these devices remotely and intelligently:

• For non-smart devices without network access, we use smart power outlets to switch them on or off.
• For smart devices with Wi-Fi functionality, such as grow lights with controllable intensity and spectrum, we can pair them with Elfsys Grow Cloud directly if supported.

In Elfsys Grow Cloud, a device belongs to one system only. It can serve multiple containers by letting their shared Cultivation Module take control of lighting, water circulation, air supply and other tasks.

Device types

Future Changes

Elfsys Grow Cloud currently only supports the most common types of devices outlined below.

Support for additional devices such as heating rods will be added in the future.

Grow lights (Light Groups)

Grow lights are essential for hydroponics. They provide or supplement light for plant growth indoors or outdoors. Smart grow lights can also adjust light intensity and spectrum for different crops. Grow lights have these types:

• LED lights, which are common, energy-efficient and long-lasting;
• Fluorescent lights, which produce low heat and are good for seedlings;
• HID lights, which are good for larger plants and fruiting and flowering plants;
• Induction lights, which are gas-discharge lamps powered by electric or magnetic fields.

Usually, several grow light tubes of the same model share one power socket. In the Elfsys App, they count as one grow light (or a grow light group). For example, a four-layer Elfsys Grow Kit has 8 LED lights on one socket, so this grow light group has 8 lights.

note

All grow lights that make up a group need to be of the same type and model.

In the Elfsys App, grow lights have the following parameters:

• Light type: Usually one of the types mentioned above;
• Power consumption: The rated power of the plant light, usually printed on the light tube's label. Used for estimating light intensity, calculating loss and diagnosing equipment problems. Always use the value of a single unit, even when multiple lights are connected to the same outlet. We will automatically calculate the group's total power consumption;
• Number of lights in the group: The amount of plant lights connected to the same socket;
• Bulb brand and model: Manufacturer name and device model. Providing this information will help you tell them apart later on.

Grow lights usually operate on a daily schedule.

Water pumps

Containers use a water pump to circulate nutrient-rich water and keep it fresh. This helps plants grow healthily. Different grow systems need different types of water pumps, such as submersible, diaphragm or centrifugal pumps. The type and speed of the pump affect how well plants get nutrients.

In the Elfsys App, water pumps have the following parameters:

• Flow rate: The amount of water that the pump can deliver per unit of time, usually labelled on the pump;
• Power consumption: The rated power of the device. It is usually printed on the pump's label and can help diagnose equipment problems;
• Brand and model: Manufacturer name and device model. Providing this information will help you tell them apart later on.

Water pumps are usually always on or operate on an interval schedule.

Air pumps

Air pumps are devices that pump air into the water, often through an air stone. The resulting bubbles provide oxygen to the plant roots and improve the air circulation in the indoor growing room.

In the Elfsys App, air pumps have the following parameters:

• Delivery rate: The volume of air that the air pump can deliver per unit of time, usually labelled on the pump.
• Power consumption: The rated power of the device. It is usually printed on the pump's label and can help diagnose equipment problems;
• Brand and model: Manufacturer name and device model. Providing this information will help you tell them apart later on.

Air pumps usually operate on an interval schedule.

Fans

Fans enhance air flow around the planting system, improving ventilation and plant health.

In the Elfsys App, fans have the following parameters:

• Power consumption: The rated power of the device. It is usually printed on the fan's label and can help diagnose equipment problems;
• Brand and model: Manufacturer name and device model. Providing this information will help you tell them apart later on.

Fans usually operate on an interval schedule.

Concept

Device control

Any non-smart device can be used with Elfsys Grow Cloud through the use of smart power outlets. Once plugged into a smart power outlet, the device can be remotely controlled on a set schedule.

Each device must have its own power socket so that it can be controlled individually. This means that you can not connect multiple devices to the same socket through the use of an extension cord or similar.

Schedules

Each device can be configured to follow a certain schedule for being switched on or off. Schedules are mainly provided by the running grow batch, usually derived from the grow template or by amending existing ongoing schedule.

These are the kind of schedules currently supported by the Elfsys App: always on, time of day, and interval.

Always on

This mode keeps devices on all the time. We will automatically restart the device shortly after we noticed it to be turned off. This mode works well for some situations where a device needs to keep running, like the water pump in an NFT system.

Time of day

In this mode, devices turn on and off at set times every day. This mode is good for grow lights that mimic sunlight.

You can turn on the device anytime. If it's night, set the Turn On time later than the Turn Off time. Here are some examples of how this works:

Turn On	Turn Off	Device behavior	Total daily operating time
06:00	20:00	On during the day from 6am to 8pm	14 hours
20:00	06:00	On during the night from 8pm to 6am the next day	10 hours

Interval

In this mode, devices turn on regularly for short periods. This mode works well for equipment like water pumps, air pumps and fans that don't need to run constantly.

You configure the device to Turn on for a set period of time in every total period of time. For example, if the schedule is set to Turn on for 10 minutes in every 1 hour, the device will repeatedly turn on for 10 minutes, and then off for 50 minutes.

Device management

View device inventory

To view all devices currently set up, access the

settings via the home page, then navigate to Manage Inventory and Devices.

Add new devices

You can add a device in step 5 of setting up a new system. You can also add a device that you don't use right away. Make sure the power outlet you want to use has an empty socket that is not occupied by another device.

note

You need a paired power outlet to create a device. See how to pair a new power outlet and return here when done.

1. Connect your device to a free socket on the power outlet you want to use.
2. Access the settings via the home page, then navigate to Manage Inventory and Devices.
3. Tap the add button and choose the type of device you want to add.
4. Choose the outlet and socket matching the socket you just plugged your device into and tap on the right of the socket. A socket without means it is being used by another device in the app.
5. To check if your device is plugged into the right socket, use the Test Device feature below the list. Switch the toggle on and off and check if your device does the same. Tap Next once confirmed that device and socket functions normally.
6. On the next screen, give your device a name that helps you identify the device later on and enter as many details as you can. For more information on each device type's parameters, see device type section.
7. Tap Next to create your new device.

Modify devices

You can only modify the name of a device that is currently assigned to a system. If you need to also edit attributes of a device in use, remove it from the system first.

1. Access the settings via the home page, then navigate to Manage Inventory and Devices.
2. Tap the three dots on the right side of a device and select Edit - Next.
3. Make your changes to the device parameters and tap Next to save.

Update devices' power sockets

1. Access the settings via the home page, then navigate to Manage Inventory and Devices.
2. Tap the three dots on the right side of a device and select Edit.
3. Change the power socket. You may refer to step 4 and 5 of adding a new device for instruction.
4. Tap Next and Next to save.

note

For connecting the device to a not-yet-paired power outlet, see how to pair a new power outlet and return here when done.

To swap multiple devices' sockets, you need an extra free socket first. See FAQ for more details.

Delete devices

You can only delete devices that are not currently assigned to a system. If you want to delete a device in use, remove it from the system first.

1. Access the settings via the home page, then navigate to Manage Inventory and Devices.
2. Tap the three dots on the right side of the device and select Delete.

Frequently asked questions

Can I create a device that is not controlled by a smart power outlet?

This is a planned feature which is not yet supported. For now you can contact support, and we can create a virtual power outlet that allows you to set up these devices as a workaround.

Can I use an extension cord to add multiple devices to a socket on a smart power outlet at the same time?

No, you cannot. When multiple devices use a smart socket at the same time, Elfsys Grow Cloud cannot accurately control devices, because turning on one device will also turn on other devices on the same socket at the same time. Therefore, you cannot assign multiple devices to a single socket via an extension cord.

What if I need to change the sockets my devices are plugged in to?

When making changes to your planting environment, you might also need to adjust the position of multiple devices and change the sockets they are connected to.

The Elfsys App does not yet support batching in-place socket changes (for example A->B, B->C, C->A), so you will need to migrate one of the devices to an unused socket first, then move the other device to the now-free socket, and so on.

If you don't have an unused socket for "parking" devices, you can contact us to add a virtual power outlet that you can then use as a buffer.