phronesis / locus / build

build

Runbooks for grow stack (P0–P3) and resonance harvester (RP0).

Prerequisites: requires read once; recommends as defaults; log format on measure; parts on sourcing.

Jump: P0 · P1 · P2 · P3 · RP0 · photos → · harvester instrument →

P0

Match frequency

Time. half day once parts are on the bench

materials

  • 10–50 W PV module + datasheet
  • MPPT controller with input V/I visibility
  • Fixed resistive load sized to panel class
  • Irradiance sensor or calibrated lux proxy
  • Logger ≥1 Hz (see /locus/measure)

steps

  1. Photograph setup; record part models and serials in the lab log.
  2. Wire panel → fixed load. Log irradiance + power for a stable window (recommend ≥10 min clear or interleaved outdoor).
  3. Without moving the panel, insert MPPT (or switch path) to the same load class. Log the same channels.
  4. Compute energy delivered (∫P dt) for equal-duration windows under comparable irradiance.
  5. Write status pass|fail and the two energy totals into the lab log.

Pass. Under comparable irradiance, MPPT arm delivers more energy than fixed-load baseline on the same panel. Both curves stored.

Fail examples. No baseline; sky changed mid-comparison without interleaving; only battery-side power reported; irradiance missing.

P1

Fibre green window

Time. one day including alignment

materials

  • Collector head + collimator
  • 5–20 m PMMA fibre (document length, core, bend radius)
  • Diffuser at exit
  • Lux meter; spectrometer or RGB proxy
  • Optional: parallel PV→LED path on same aperture budget

steps

  1. Measure input illuminance / spectrum at collector plane.
  2. Align fibre; measure exit lux and spectrum (or proxy) after thermal settle.
  3. Record end-to-end optical delivery estimate and sky/lamp condition.
  4. If running the LED comparison, log electrical input to the lamp path and delivered lux for the waste argument.
  5. Store spectra or proxy channels in the lab log attachments note.

Pass. Optical delivery in the tens of percent class when alignment and sky cooperate (order of ~50% for direct fibre daylighting). Exit spectrum relatively green-richer than a naïve white expectation for long PMMA — document the measurement method.

Fail examples. Length/bend undocumented; no input reference; claiming free energy from fibre; LED comparison without power accounting.

P2

Live layer + vapour split

Time. multi-day soak (minimum 48 h continuous log)

materials

  • Wet organism — shade moss tray + inert substrate + irrigation, and/or green algae culture vessel / shallow photobioreactor
  • P1 diffuser above wet tray or culture
  • Sealed dry bay for dummy load or P0 electronics
  • Vapour barrier between bays
  • Dual T/RH loggers

steps

  1. State dry-side envelope bounds in the lab log before start (dew point / RH).
  2. Name the organism in the lab log (organism: moss | algae | other; parts role moss or algae).
  3. If algae is present as battery: set storage.mode algae_biomass (or both); record OD start and/or dry biomass start.
  4. Establish wet-side: hydrate moss, or inoculate / settle algae culture with water-quality note.
  5. Run continuous dual climate log ≥48 h with fibre or substitute light on a day cycle; log lux_exit with OD samples when charging the algae battery.
  6. Inspect for condensation on dry-side walls and electronics surfaces.
  7. End: OD and/or dry biomass; mark pass/fail against pre-stated envelope; keep the full time series.

Pass. Wet side keeps the chosen organism active without constant manual rescue (moss hydrated / algae culture viable). Dry side stays inside pre-stated envelope for the run. No uncontrolled shared air volume. Algae-battery runs include SoC proxy + optical input context.

Fail examples. Single climate zone; envelope never stated; organism unnamed; algae battery claimed without lux_exit or SoC proxy; dry-side RH enters corrosion band while wet side is maintained; “looks fine” without data.

P3

Roof mock (one unit)

Time. one continuous daylight period after P0–P2 green

materials

  • Frame integrating panel, fibre drop, wet tray, dry bay
  • Single instrument log (irradiance, PV power, fibre lux, dual climate)
  • Outdoor-rated connectors and fusing

steps

  1. Confirm P0–P2 pass artifacts exist and are linked from this run’s notes.
  2. Assemble unit; safety check polarity, fuse, strain relief.
  3. Log one continuous daylight window; no mid-run part swaps without a new run id.
  4. Publish or archive the lab log with photos and weather note.

Pass. P0–P2 criteria hold on the integrated unit for a continuous daylight period.

Fail examples. Skipping P2; missing irradiance; silent part changes mid-run.

RP0

Resonance harvester (lab pad)

Time. half day to assemble; ≥1 h continuous log under drive

materials

  • Membrane + springs + frame (lab ~1 m² class) — see /locus/costs#costs-rp0
  • Piezo array (8–24 elements) at high-strain zones
  • Rectifier + bulk cap / supercap; optional buffer cell
  • Logger: drive proxy (force or pad load), displacement or peak amp, V/I harvest, timestamp
  • Live model for tuning intuition: /field/resonance-pump

steps

  1. Build frame and tension membrane; document k/m estimate or measured f₀.
  2. Place piezo at high-strain nodes; wire rectifier and logger.
  3. State pass goal: matched drive yields rising integrated piezo energy while drive is on.
  4. Drive on (people or shaker) near f₀; log ≥1 h. Toggle drive off for a window — harvest should collapse.
  5. Write status pass|fail with f₀, drive Hz, W_piezo, W_drive estimate if available.

Pass. At matched drive, integrated electrical energy from piezo rises only while drive is active; with drive off, harvest power → ~0. f₀ and drive Hz recorded.

Fail examples. No f₀/drive note; harvest claimed with drive off; piezo on low-strain belly only with no amplitude; missing time series.

after a run

File the JSON. If it failed, leave it. Optional public archive is a suggests item, not a requirement.

Agent writing analysis code? Attach laserbrain so the goal does not drift off the pass line you just measured.