reef-pi :: An opensource reef tank controller based on Raspberry Pi.

[Ranjib]

Been looking at a few things to get parts for my reef pi. I found these and was wondering if they would work with reef pi instead of building circuits on a bread board.
https://pi-plates.com/pi-plates-catalog/
They are stackable, modular and seem to have everything needed to build an AIO unit. Since I have limited experience with building stuff like this I was looking at this as a more plug and play option.
The DAQC and DC motor control plates look very promising. After pricing everything out from Ranjib's parts list the cost difference in negligible.
Any thoughts?

hmm.. i'll be surprised if the price difference is negligible. Each of those boards cost around 40-50$ without ancillary things. reef-pi recommended list for the same should be under 20$. For example we recommend using a simple l293d mounted on a perm proto board for controlling peristaltic pumps, which should cost under 10$, similar feature (motor controller) would cost way higher in pi plate. Albeit these have more protection circuit etc.

One of the thing I have learned from researching all these boards is that they are for generic workload, if your requirements does not exactly fit the board's offering you are likely to spend more. For example the I/O board offers 12 analog inputs. I dont know if we need all of those, and if we do end up using all of those the overall build cost will go way higher... currently reef-pi should cost under 400-500$ with all the modules (power, light, ato, temp, ph, doser etc).. and can be built in a modular fashion.

 

[Diamond1]

Thanks for the reply Ranjib.
The Reef Pi I want to build won't have light controllers (I prefer T5s to LEDs and the relays would handle that) or ph monitoring although a salinity moniter would be cool. I just want to run ATO, power supply, temp monitoring and 2 dosing pumps.
The 3 boards and the pi would cost about 150 - 160 bucks and the only other expense would be the pumps, the electrical outlets, temperature sensor, ato sensor and some jacks, connectors and power supply for the whole thing. I can't see that costing more than another 100.
So i guess my question is would I be able to set up the reef pi software with said boards and make it work?

 

[Ranjib]

Thanks for the reply Ranjib.
The Reef Pi I want to build won't have light controllers (I prefer T5s to LEDs and the relays would handle that) or ph monitoring although a salinity moniter would be cool. I just want to run ATO, power supply, temp monitoring and 2 dosing pumps.
The 3 boards and the pi would cost about 150 - 160 bucks and the only other expense would be the pumps, the electrical outlets, temperature sensor, ato sensor and some jacks, connectors and power supply for the whole thing. I can't see that costing more than another 100.
So i guess my question is would I be able to set up the reef pi software with said boards and make it work?

it should, but i cant say for sure without testing one out. Because these boards have their own processor, I worry that they need a special code (for example they mention a specific python library) to use with these boards, in such cases its unlikely reef-pi will work.

 

[Diamond1]

Ok that's what i was looking for.Thanks for the clarification.

 

[MaccaPopEye]

Thanks for the reply Ranjib.
The Reef Pi I want to build won't have light controllers (I prefer T5s to LEDs and the relays would handle that) or ph monitoring although a salinity moniter would be cool. I just want to run ATO, power supply, temp monitoring and 2 dosing pumps.
The 3 boards and the pi would cost about 150 - 160 bucks and the only other expense would be the pumps, the electrical outlets, temperature sensor, ato sensor and some jacks, connectors and power supply for the whole thing. I can't see that costing more than another 100.
So i guess my question is would I be able to set up the reef pi software with said boards and make it work?

IMO it sounds like the Pi-HAT that @wykat designed is exactly what you are after (pic below). As you aren't doing lights you wouldn't need the PWM board (and I'm not sure if he has fixed the issues with that one yet) but the HAT has been tested and is ready to go.

You can upload the files and order it from JLPCB. I can't remember off the top of my head but the PCB and the components needed should be $10-20 or there abouts. You just need to solder the components onto the PCB and you get:
- 16 relay outlets
- 2 ATO sensors
- 2 Dosing pumps
- Multiple temp sensors

;Happy

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

Thanks for the reply Ranjib.
The Reef Pi I want to build won't have light controllers (I prefer T5s to LEDs and the relays would handle that) or ph monitoring although a salinity moniter would be cool. I just want to run ATO, power supply, temp monitoring and 2 dosing pumps.
The 3 boards and the pi would cost about 150 - 160 bucks and the only other expense would be the pumps, the electrical outlets, temperature sensor, ato sensor and some jacks, connectors and power supply for the whole thing. I can't see that costing more than another 100.
So i guess my question is would I be able to set up the reef pi software with said boards and make it work?

I've had the salinity monitor discussion with Ranjib already and he made some good points. Beyond initial setup and water changes, the salinity should remain the same, given you have proper ATO functionality. Also, the cost of reliable probes is quite high, and really undermines the whole saving money thing this system provides. I have to say that after weighing what he was saying, I agree, and feel that it's not something worth pursuing as a monitor.

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

IMO it sounds like the Pi-HAT that @wykat designed is exactly what you are after (pic below). As you aren't doing lights you wouldn't need the PWM board (and I'm not sure if he has fixed the issues with that one yet) but the HAT has been tested and is ready to go.

You can upload the files and order it from JLPCB. I can't remember off the top of my head but the PCB and the components needed should be $10-20 or there abouts. You just need to solder the components onto the PCB and you get:
- 16 relay outlets
- 2 ATO sensors
- 2 Dosing pumps
- Multiple temp sensors

This is amazing! Please do tell us more about this.

 

[Ranjib]

IMO it sounds like the Pi-HAT that @wykat designed is exactly what you are after (pic below). As you aren't doing lights you wouldn't need the PWM board (and I'm not sure if he has fixed the issues with that one yet) but the HAT has been tested and is ready to go.

You can upload the files and order it from JLPCB. I can't remember off the top of my head but the PCB and the components needed should be $10-20 or there abouts. You just need to solder the components onto the PCB and you get:
- 16 relay outlets
- 2 ATO sensors
- 2 Dosing pumps
- Multiple temp sensors

This is such a good work, I think many other folks will find it useful. This deserves a dedicated thread, we can keep the relevant content to these hats together. @wykat what do you think? I love the idea that its solely focused on reef-pi, so we can target specific versions etc, instead of a generic pi hat. This is important as it reduces the testing scope and allow us to standardize, which in turn reduce build errors, and simplifies documentation. I would love to order or mill a few (i am planning to get a bantamtools in next year)

 

[Ranjib]

This is amazing! Please do tell us more about this.

I know right :-) ?
There are few other posts in this long thread that deserves their own thread. 3d printed contraptions, specific to individual reef-pi modules is another one.

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

I know right :-) ?
There are few other posts in this long thread that deserves their own thread. 3d printed contraptions, specific to individual reef-pi modules is another one.

This might have saved me several hours in soldering, but to be honest, i kinda enjoy the solitude it provides.

 

[Des Westcott]

I have never encountered something like this. I’ll try to reproduce . Dashboard config should not be able to something like this

Ranjib

That sound like the issue I had when I changed my Dashboard Settings.

Incedentally, I am busy setting up a PiZero for my Brine Shrimp Hatchery (Brine-Pi :)), an I just changed my Dashboard to 2 columns and 2 rows and the same thing happened to me. I'm busy scrolling back to find how you talked me through fixing it the last time via API I think.

 

[Ranjib]

This might have saved me several hours in soldering, but to be honest, i kinda enjoy the solitude it provides.

you'll have to solder the components in this hat as well. Its just the connections are made, so no jumper wire related work (i.e. the solid core wire based things).
I too like the soldering works, its time consuming but theres something very peaceful about it.. i guess it has to do with solitude and focused work to make those connections right..

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

you'll have to solder the components in this hat as well. Its just the connections are made, so no jumper wire related work (i.e. the solid core wire based things).
I too like the soldering works, its time consuming but theres something very peaceful about it.. i guess it has to do with solitude and focused work to make those connections right..

Focused, detail oriented work. Can't be rushed, can't have distractions, it just peaceful, and i enjoy that. Glad to see that I'm not alone in that. BTW, are you using a flux cleaner at all? Its been a very long time since I've done this type of work, and I'm not sure excess flux will harm anything.

 

[Diamond1]

IMO it sounds like the Pi-HAT that @wykat designed is exactly what you are after (pic below). As you aren't doing lights you wouldn't need the PWM board (and I'm not sure if he has fixed the issues with that one yet) but the HAT has been tested and is ready to go.

You can upload the files and order it from JLPCB. I can't remember off the top of my head but the PCB and the components needed should be $10-20 or there abouts. You just need to solder the components onto the PCB and you get:
- 16 relay outlets
- 2 ATO sensors
- 2 Dosing pumps
- Multiple temp sensors

Thanks @wykat for this! This is awsome! Is this what your talking about for uploading files?

 

[Diamond1]

I agree with you guys it would be nice if Wykat could make this a seperate post in the DIY section. This kinda gets Lost in the 300 plus pages of info here.

 

[speedstar]

IMO it sounds like the Pi-HAT that @wykat designed is exactly what you are after (pic below). As you aren't doing lights you wouldn't need the PWM board (and I'm not sure if he has fixed the issues with that one yet) but the HAT has been tested and is ready to go.

You can upload the files and order it from JLPCB. I can't remember off the top of my head but the PCB and the components needed should be $10-20 or there abouts. You just need to solder the components onto the PCB and you get:
- 16 relay outlets
- 2 ATO sensors
- 2 Dosing pumps
- Multiple temp sensors

Is there a BOM list for the parts? It looked like that section in the docs was blank./

 

[MaccaPopEye]

Thanks @wykat for this! This is awsome! Is this what your talking about for uploading files?

Both the PCB files and the BOM can be found here:
https://github.com/vandegraaf/Reef-PI_PCBs

I just downloaded the whole project from GitHub, then on JLPCB upload the "Reef-PI_HAT.zip" file to JLPCB (this .zip has all the .gbr files that JLPCB need). From memory all the default settings were fine. I was going to wait for the PWM board to be ready as well but I figured it's going to take me a while to get the main brain up and running anyway so I'll be ordering mine in the next couple of days.

The PCBs themselves only cost around $2 (for 10 of them) but the shipping can be a significant additional cost. There may also be other PCB milling companies that can provide more affordable shipping options.

Is there a BOM list for the parts? It looked like that section in the docs was blank./

The BOM for all the other components that you need is the "HAT.csv" file, I open it with Microsoft excel as opening it on GitHub is a bit confusing. It says what components you need and how many of each you need, there is even links for some. I got most of it (if not all of it) from Mouser.

I agree with you guys it would be nice if Wykat could make this a seperate post in the DIY section. This kinda gets Lost in the 300 plus pages of info here.

I agree that would be good, it still has the potential to be lost in the DIY forum though :p maybe when Wykat is happy with the PWM board he can start a separate thread :)

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

I agree with you guys it would be nice if Wykat could make this a seperate post in the DIY section. This kinda gets Lost in the 300 plus pages of info here.

600 pages on mobile

 

[Diamond1]

600 pages on mobile

Yeah it took me a week to read most of it and that was just quick scanning alot!

 

[speedstar]

Yeah it took me a week to read most of it and that was just quick scanning alot!

ditto luckily I had the time while waiting for the parts...