Center Zone
No crop in the center zone counts toward active control for launch.
Vanda orchids remain observed/reference material until center plumbing and zone status are reconciled.
Excluded from the active-control count because this page marks the zone OFFLINE and no active planting.
STATUS: OFFLINE — No active-control planting. Equipment transit zone. The center is the greenhouse’s airflow mixing zone. The AquaFog XE 2000 fog machine hangs overhead, blowing fog north-to-south aligned with the primary airflow path. Center drip infrastructure exists but is physically disconnected — plumbing needs to be reconnected before software control is possible.
Physical Layout
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Fog machine | AquaFog XE 2000 HumidiFan, 1,644W, <10µm droplets, overhead center |
| Hanging holes | 2 positions (CENTER-HANG-1, CENTER-HANG-2). Planned for orchids. |
| Floor space | Open area between perimeter zones. Work table. |
| Center misters | 7 heads (5 active, 2 off over work area), 25 nozzles, overhead |
Center Mister Underperformance
The center mister zone has the worst VPD effectiveness of all three zones:
| Zone | Avg VPD Drop per Pulse |
|---|---|
| South | 0.15 kPa (best) |
| West | 0.13 kPa |
| Center | 0.04 kPa (worst) |
| This needs physical investigation. Likely causes: |
- Nozzle geometry or positioning (overhead in a mixing zone vs wall-mounted for south)
- Open airflow pulls mist away before it evaporates
- Fewer active nozzles relative to open volume
This is tracked publicly in Known Limits.
Drip Infrastructure
| Relay | Pin | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Center drip (clean) | pcf_out_1 pin 7 | ❌ Physically disconnected |
| Center drip (fert) | pcf_out_1 pin 6 | ❌ Physically disconnected |
| Reconnection requires physical plumbing work. The relays and firmware are ready — just need pipes. |
Sensor Coverage
No dedicated sensor. The center zone uses the average of north, south, east, and west probe readings. In practice, center conditions are close to the greenhouse average since the fog machine blows air through this zone.
Airflow Role
The center is the critical mixing zone in the greenhouse’s north-to-south airflow:
Air enters through the north vent and house-side exchange path.
The fog machine blows north-to-south while center misters add humidity.
Two fans pull conditioned air toward the 4,900 CFM exhaust end.
Future Plans
| Plan | Status | Dependency |
|---|---|---|
| Orchid hanging baskets | Planned / observed reference | Hanging holes ready; not active control until center status changes. |
| Center drip reconnection | Pending | Physical plumbing work |
| Dedicated probe | Considered | Would improve mixing zone monitoring |
| → See Climate at 5,000 Feet for fog and mister context. | ||
| → See All Zones |