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

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Ranjib

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I'm at my wit's end with my ATO.

For a while now I've had a problem with it. It used to work 100% and then all of a sudden, it would keep failing to the "on" status. I used the same settings that always worked for me and the ATO would just turn the pump on after a few seconds. If I manually turn the ATO Pump off, it would turn itself back on after a few seconds, despite the sensor being under water. I did try "reverse" and all the same. I thought it was the sensor, so I bought a new one and same story. I eventually stopped using it because I'm planning a whole re-build of the Reef-Pi in the next few weeks. Going bigger and better with future upgrades in mind.

I made it through the last build updates and it still did not work. I had a bit of time on my hands today, so I did a full clean re-install. Raspbian from scratch and the latest Reef-Pi RC2.

Guess what?

Same thing.

Could it be something wrong with the Pi3? I have a spare one and that is the only thing I can think to change.

Any suggestions?
Can you share your ato configuration(screenshot showing inlet , pump etc)? Does your ato setup work on test environment , like if you test it with a cup of water , dip the probe and take it off, does it work as expected ?
 
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Yes, I reset the database and rebuilt my settings. I think it may be a bug because I could reproduce it by changing the columns to 2 and then back to 1 on the dashboard.
It will be really helpful if you can list the steps to reproduce it, we can then fix the original issue
 

ScottBrew

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It will be really helpful if you can list the steps to reproduce it, we can then fix the original issue
It's pretty much how I explained it, but I'll add as much detail as I can... When I first got it running, I had set the dashboard to 2 columns wide in the config screen and then changed it back to 1 column and tried to increase the width from 500 to 800. The browser went blank, just a white screen where reef-pi should have been. I could open other tabs and browse other sites. This is from the pi itself with a monitor and keyboard/mouse. Same thing if I remoted in to it from my computer. After I reset it, I tried it again; changed the config to 2 columns and then back to 1 column, did not change the width though. Same result, white screen. I don't know if it makes any difference but it's a pi 3B+ and only configuration different from the reef-pi guide is I set it to a static IP.
 
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It's pretty much how I explained it, but I'll add as much detail as I can... When I first got it running, I had set the dashboard to 2 columns wide in the config screen and then changed it back to 1 column and tried to increase the width from 500 to 800. The browser went blank, just a white screen where reef-pi should have been. I could open other tabs and browse other sites. This is from the pi itself with a monitor and keyboard/mouse. Same thing if I remoted in to it from my computer. After I reset it, I tried it again; changed the config to 2 columns and then back to 1 column, did not change the width though. Same result, white screen. I don't know if it makes any difference but it's a pi 3B+ and only configuration different from the reef-pi guide is I set it to a static IP.
Sorry for your trouble :-(

I tried to reproduce this without any luck. I have tried different combinations, including two columns, 1 columns, 2 row , 1 row, different width , height etc.
This is unlikely to do with Pi.. I am fairly sure theres a software bug in the UI code, thats running in the browser which is exposed when you make those changes. I also think this does not impact the controller itself (i.e. ato, lighting etc should work fine), it only breaks the UI. I'll keep trying to reproduce it. Fixing this type of bugs is trivial as long as we can reproduce it.
If its possible, just share the screenshot of the config that breaks the UI, without actually saving it, so that it does not break your UI. I completely understand if its too much ask.
 
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...Meanwhile...

pink-acro-1.jpg


lepto.jpg


green-slimer.jpg


grace-sizline.jpg
 

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...Meanwhile...

pink-acro-1.jpg


lepto.jpg


green-slimer.jpg


grace-sizline.jpg
Looks great!
Sorry for your trouble :-(

I tried to reproduce this without any luck. I have tried different combinations, including two columns, 1 columns, 2 row , 1 row, different width , height etc.
This is unlikely to do with Pi.. I am fairly sure theres a software bug in the UI code, thats running in the browser which is exposed when you make those changes. I also think this does not impact the controller itself (i.e. ato, lighting etc should work fine), it only breaks the UI. I'll keep trying to reproduce it. Fixing this type of bugs is trivial as long as we can reproduce it.
If its possible, just share the screenshot of the config that breaks the UI, without actually saving it, so that it does not break your UI. I completely understand if its too much ask.
I'll do that when I get back home. Can I save a copy of the reef-pi.db and then restore it if i can corrupt it again? I think I may have had 4 rows because I have 3 temp sensors and wanted to see the equipment graph as well.
 

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Looks great!

I'll do that when I get back home. Can I save a copy of the reef-pi.db and then restore it if i can corrupt it again? I think I may have had 4 rows because I have 3 temp sensors and wanted to see the equipment graph as well.

Before you set the Dashboard to the colums and Rows that Crash it. Do you completely set up the Hardware and Verify its all working before assigning dashboard charts. Or does it Crash before you can even assign dashboard Items?

In an older version I had a similar but with temp prob.The issue for me was the a bad Resister on the temp and it was not reading correctly. I found this by not adding the probs to dashboard and watched them in the Temperature tab and realized one was Broke.
Or does it freak out before you even assign a graph ?
 

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Can you share your ato configuration(screenshot showing inlet , pump etc)? Does your ato setup work on test environment , like if you test it with a cup of water , dip the probe and take it off, does it work as expected ?

I have to completely delete the ATO setup otherwise it keeps on triggering the ATO Pump regardless of whether it is enabled or not.
 

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Before you set the Dashboard to the colums and Rows that Crash it. Do you completely set up the Hardware and Verify its all working before assigning dashboard charts. Or does it Crash before you can even assign dashboard Items?

In an older version I had a similar but with temp prob.The issue for me was the a bad Resister on the temp and it was not reading correctly. I found this by not adding the probs to dashboard and watched them in the Temperature tab and realized one was Broke.
Or does it freak out before you even assign a graph ?
The dashboard send to be working fine, I can monitor 3 temp probes, equipment on/off cycles and memory/proc. If I recall, I set up the lights and thermometers and then it failed, then reset database and tried again before entering anything and it failed again.
 
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The dashboard send to be working fine, I can monitor 3 temp probes, equipment on/off cycles and memory/proc. If I recall, I set up the lights and thermometers and then it failed, then reset database and tried again before entering anything and it failed again.
Though we have not been able to reproduce this exact issue (and we'll continue to investigate this further), we are going to put some safety checks to ensure that just dashboard error (even if it occurs) does not crash the whole app: https://github.com/reef-pi/reef-pi/issues/627
 

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Hello, my temp probe came with 1 meter wire but its too short to reach the sump. Has anybody tried soldering an extra meter or 2 to it? Will this affect its reading?
 

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Did I read somewhere that Reef-Pi doesn't use SPIO (SP10??) and that you can disable it and use the pins (GPIO 8,7) for Relays?

I can't find where i read that.
 

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Well, so far my reefpi has been running on the bench with all my rules in place for several days now with no issue. I think I am done with the testing portion or power, temp, and ATO and ready to move to the next phase which is doser control. I know that the easiest thing to do would be to get a pi Zero and build it separate but I am suborn and determined to build it all together. I decided to go with the SPT SP200VO pump which has a max current draw of 150mA at 12 volts.

http://www.aptinstruments.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SP200VO

I did a ton of reading on the subject and found that MOSFET motor drivers are preferred not only for the increased current capability but they tend to play nicer with micro controllers and dont cause resets from power spikes. With that said the dual channel TB6612FNG while its overkill for my project is used in lots of robotics projects, is good for up to 1.2 amp continuous per channel, and has flyback diodes built in.

https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-tb6612-h-bridge-dc-stepper-motor-driver-breakout/overview

I am going to change things around a little on my pi, mainly I want the built in circuit protection so I will be wiring it up to get power from the micro USB port connected to the buck converter. I will also be upgrading my power supply to a regulated 12v 5 amp power supply. For those that are electronics smart. The only question I cant seem to find a definitive answer on is will I need decoupling capacitors on the LM2596 regulator be sufficient for keeping spikes or noise down? I know the pi itself has some built in. Here is a basic diagram.
44737642015_820c261b66_b.jpg
 
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Erica-Renee

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Well, so far my reefpi has been running on the bench with all my rules in place for several days now with no issue. I think I am done with the testing portion or power, temp, and ATO and ready to move to the next phase which is doser control. I know that the easiest thing to do would be to get a pi Zero and build it separate but I am suborn and determined to build it all together. I decided to go with the SPT SP200VO pump which has a max current draw of 150mA at 12 volts.

http://www.aptinstruments.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SP200VO

I did a ton of reading on the subject and found that MOSFET motor drivers are preferred not only for the increased current capability but they tend to play nicer with micro controllers and dont cause resets from power spikes. With that said the dual channel TB6612FNG while its overkill for my project is used in lots of robotics projects, is good for up to 1.2 amp continuous per channel, and has flyback diodes built in.

https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-tb6612-h-bridge-dc-stepper-motor-driver-breakout/overview

I am going to change things around a little on my pi, mainly I want the built in circuit protection so I will be wiring it up to get power from the micro USB port connected to the buck converter. I will also be upgrading my power supply to a regulated 12v 5 amp power supply. For those that are electronics smart. The only question I cant seem to find a definitive answer on is will I need decoupling capacitors on the LM2596 regulator be sufficient for keeping spikes or noise down? I know the pi itself has some built in. Here is a basic diagram.
44737642015_820c261b66_b.jpg
Kewl.

I have 4 12v dosing pumps (took from jeboa doser) I have them running thru the 16 channel Server pwn board using a uln2803 as a gate . the pumps are powered by a there own 12 v plug .
 

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