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

[rsehnert]

I would like to use his housing because it looks awesome but the reality is that my housing will be stuffed in to the back of my cabinet somewhere and doesnt have to be pretty, so I will just use a plain box and use a Dremel to cut out the holes. Looking forward to seeing your build thread!
Where abouts in Australia are you?

I am in Sydney. And I am kinda with you. I don't really see the need for the box to be pretty either. Very cool concept, but I think it will be more practical for me to use a normal project box.

 

[rsehnert]

Wouldn't the wiring regulations only apply to the house wiring, not to something you plug into the wall

@LionHeart2017 I am pretty sure it includes everything. I found this:

Under Queensland’s Electrical Safety Act 2002, forbidden tasks include:

• installing a new power point.
• replacing a light switch.
• replacing a batten holder with a new light fitting.
• repairing an appliance such as a heater.
• altering the location of an existing power point.
• replacing a light fitting with a ceiling fan.
• constructing an extension lead.
• replacing a plug on the end of a lead

If we can't replace a plug I am pretty sure wiring a whole power board would be out of the question (at least legally).

 

[LionHeart2017]

@LionHeart2017 I am pretty sure it includes everything. I found this:

Under Queenslandâ€[emoji769]s Electrical Safety Act 2002, forbidden tasks include:

• installing a new power point.
• replacing a light switch.
• replacing a batten holder with a new light fitting.
• repairing an appliance such as a heater.
• altering the location of an existing power point.
• replacing a light fitting with a ceiling fan.
• constructing an extension lead.
• replacing a plug on the end of a lead

If we can't replace a plug I am pretty sure wiring a whole power board would be out of the question (at least legally).

Wow, you need an electrician for a plug change, that's pretty strict

 

[rsehnert]

Wow, you need an electrician for a plug change, that's pretty strict

Yup. I am renting which makes me even more wary, as I am pretty sure the apartment building supervisor comes and does yearly electrical inspections. It may derail my whole Reef pi project.

 

[buddy.]

Wow, you need an electrician for a plug change, that's pretty strict

Yeah you can't do any 240v and above at all yourself. Even in a motorhome you need it done by an electrician and all certified. Probably saves a lot of fires happening though!

 

[pickupman66]

A little humor for you. Why is he here. Nothing to eat here. Unless he knows it's almost feeding time.

 

[Ranjib]

A little humor for you. Why is he here. Nothing to eat here. Unless he knows it's almost feeding time.

That’s a big acro :-)

 

[MaccaPopEye]

Yup. I am renting which makes me even more wary, as I am pretty sure the apartment building supervisor comes and does yearly electrical inspections. It may derail my whole Reef pi project.

Yeah you can't do any 240v and above at all yourself. Even in a motorhome you need it done by an electrician and all certified. Probably saves a lot of fires happening though!

Regs are much stricter here for sure and I believe it actually differs a bit for each state / territory to make it more complicated. I have been told (but I don't know what the guys qualifications were and I haven't looked it up myself yet to confirm or deny) that in some states as long as it's not hard wired into mains power it's OK (this was in a discussion on an Aus 3D printing page as many 3D printers are kits bought overseas).

Renting certainly makes it a lot harder for sure. I'd ask an electrician what the laws are in your state for "rewiring a corded appliance" (I need to get around to doing this too).

I think motorhomes are a bit different because they are technically a dwelling. But you may still need to get it tested and tagged at a minimum if your landlord finds out about it.

Edit: all the low voltage stuff is definitely fine though :)

 

[b4tn]

So I guess the ULN2803 does not have short protection. I just accidentally fried mine. I will do more testing tomorrow but I think the RPI is fine. Sounds stupid but my tv has been having issues that I have been troubleshooting. I discovered that if I put a fan on the back the issues are gone. So for fun I thought I would put the temp probe and fan off a gpio and run the chiller in reef-pi. Well the fan leads shorted and the 2803 got super hot and that awesome burnt smell.

 

[ScottBrew]

So I guess the ULN2803 does not have short protection. I just accidentally fried mine. I will do more testing tomorrow but I think the RPI is fine. Sounds stupid but my tv has been having issues that I have been troubleshooting. I discovered that if I put a fan on the back the issues are gone. So for fun I thought I would put the temp probe and fan off a gpio and run the chiller in reef-pi. Well the fan leads shorted and the 2803 got super hot and that awesome burnt smell.

You are NOT the first to let the magic smoke out and certainly won't be the last! :rolleyes: Do you have any spare 2803's?

 

[rsehnert]

Regs are much stricter here for sure and I believe it actually differs a bit for each state / territory to make it more complicated. I have been told (but I don't know what the guys qualifications were and I haven't looked it up myself yet to confirm or deny) that in some states as long as it's not hard wired into mains power it's OK (this was in a discussion on an Aus 3D printing page as many 3D printers are kits bought overseas).

Renting certainly makes it a lot harder for sure. I'd ask an electrician what the laws are in your state for "rewiring a corded appliance" (I need to get around to doing this too).

Thanks so much @MaccaPopEye. I will ask my electrician friend and see if he can clarify the law in NSW for us. I probably am thinking overkill on this, but I do remember them coming around last year for the electrical fire safety inspection thing.

 

[b4tn]

You are NOT the first to let the magic smoke out and certainly won't be the last! :rolleyes: Do you have any spare 2803's?

I don’t but reef-pi is not running my reef yet so it’s just a small setback. I need to finish building and close the box so I will stop messing with it lol

 

[Ranjib]

Fts of my nano

Apartment move is coming , thinking of some changes in rockscape
Sps are fighting for space

Red dragon

Micro goni

Zoa island

 

[Diamond1]

Fts of my nano

Apartment move is coming , thinking of some changes in rockscape
Sps are fighting for space

Red dragon

Micro goni

Zoa island

SPS are fighting for space....

Sheesh we should all have that problem:cool:

 

[buddy.]

@rsehnert here is the link for the relay boards :)

 

[pickupman66]

I have moved several tanks in my 18 years of reef keeping. It is not a fun task

 

[b4tn]

Does anyone know what this error is?

{"error":"request failed - Throttle error. b4tn data rate limit reached, 16 seconds until throttle reset"}

 

[b4tn]

Does anyone know what this error is?

{"error":"request failed - Throttle error. b4tn data rate limit reached, 16 seconds until throttle reset"}

Quoting myself lol. I figured it out. I guess there is a limit to the amount of data adafruit.IO can accept. My temp was set to check every 5 seconds. I switched it to 30 seconds and fixed it.

 

[Ranjib]

Quoting myself lol. I figured it out. I guess there is a limit to the amount of data adafruit.IO can accept. My temp was set to check every 5 seconds. I switched it to 30 seconds and fixed it.

the defeault (free account) limit for adafruit io is 10 feed, 30 data points per minute. I was concerned about it from very beginning, given we have multiple ato and temp controller support, users could easily hit the limit.

 

[Nicolas Sabrun]

I'm waiting also for button interrupts, they will be convenient. You can build a macro that will turn off everything you want off and wait X amount of time and back on automatically. Works great! Make sure you turn off the corresponding timer as well as the device. Here are screen shots of mine. Looks long but I added a bunch of waits to give room for editing in other stuff as you can't insert into the list, just build from the bottom. It turns on main pumps and powerheads for short duration numerous times to help keep any uneaten food in suspension before pumps kick back on fully.

Thanks. I will give it a try. I am not too familiar with macros