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

[Ranjib]

Heres my tank so far.

Awesome :-)

 

[Cary]

Heres my tank so far.

[/QUOTE

What size tank is that?

 

[Brad Cox]

For what ? If the pwm circuit is working, you don't need the DAC

But the maraqua works on 0-10v analog.

 

[Ranjib]

But the maraqua works on 0-10v analog.

Oh.. so the pwm circuit is not working ? I think I am missing something here.

 

[Brad Cox]

Oh.. so the pwm circuit is not working ? I think I am missing something here.

It is working. But my lights are making crazy noises. And i did some more research and all i found was it was 0-10volts analog.

But i never seen anything about converting it because they were useing the apex.

 

[Ranjib]

It is working. But my lights are making crazy noises. And i did some more research and all i found was it was 0-10volts analog.

But i never seen anything about converting it because they were useing the apex.

Ok then, I guess we have to do some DAC work. Do you . have a DAC board ? I have one, but I need some time to write the code for it.
Also, we should try to find out this the cause, meanwhile. It will be bummer if we do all the DAC work and then dont get this issue resolved :-( . I'll keep you posted on the DAC progress. I think we need an op-amp with gain 2 for boosting 0-5 v DAC output to 0-10v. Transistor might work, but I'm not sure

 

[Brad Cox]

Ok then, I guess we have to do some DAC work. Do you . have a DAC board ? I have one, but I need some time to write the code for it.
Also, we should try to find out this the cause, meanwhile. It will be bummer if we do all the DAC work and then dont get this issue resolved :-( . I'll keep you posted on the DAC progress. I think we need an op-amp with gain 2 for boosting 0-5 v DAC output to 0-10v. Transistor might work, but I'm not sure

Gotcha.
I dont have any op amps but i can get some.

Im 99 percent sure.

Its a 0-10volt resistive dimmer.

I do have a dac. Mcp4725

 

[Ranjib]

P

Gotcha.
I dont have any op amps but i can get some.

Im 99 percent sure.

Its a 0-10volt resistive dimmer.

I do have a dac. Mcp4725

Perfect. I'll be writing code for the exact same one. I know its i2c based, and embd already has library for it....
exciting time ahead

 

[Brad Cox]

P

Perfect. I'll be writing code for the exact same one. I know its i2c based, and embd already has library for it....
exciting time ahead

Awesome!!
Is rhe wiring totally different?

 

[Aaron Smith]

Brad, what 3D printer do you have? I was thinking about getting an anet a8 kit, mainly for the kit factor.

 

[Brad Cox]

Brad, what 3D printer do you have? I was thinking about getting an anet a8 kit, mainly for the kit factor.

I bought a cheap kit off amazon and put it together. its was a prusa i3 clone. biggest point of sale. it wouldn't print something over and over. had to readjust everytime and it never printed right.

I returned it to amazon and bought the monoprice maker select 3d here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018GZBC3Y?ref=emc_b_5_t

works great! simple. and thingiverse has a ton of stuff to print or u can design your own stuff.
theres so many different printers but the monoprice had the best reviews in my price range. plus it was already assembled. plug it up and print in 30 minutes or less.

 

[Mr_Robot]

I bought a cheap kit off amazon and put it together. its was a prusa i3 clone. biggest point of sale. it wouldn't print something over and over. had to readjust everytime and it never printed right.

I returned it to amazon and bought the monoprice maker select 3d here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018GZBC3Y?ref=emc_b_5_t

works great! simple. and thingiverse has a ton of stuff to print or u can design your own stuff.
theres so many different printers but the monoprice had the best reviews in my price range. plus it was already assembled. plug it up and print in 30 minutes or less.

Make sure you make your designs available for the public to use!

 

[Ranjib]

I bought a cheap kit off amazon and put it together. its was a prusa i3 clone. biggest point of sale. it wouldn't print something over and over. had to readjust everytime and it never printed right.

I returned it to amazon and bought the monoprice maker select 3d here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018GZBC3Y?ref=emc_b_5_t

works great! simple. and thingiverse has a ton of stuff to print or u can design your own stuff.
theres so many different printers but the monoprice had the best reviews in my price range. plus it was already assembled. plug it up and print in 30 minutes or less.

I have heard good things about monoprice as well, even the 200$ select model. I had a delta/mini kossel, but had to give it away to my friend due to lack of space, after I got my son :-) . 3d priniting would make housing related work so much easier.

 

[Brad Cox]

I have heard good things about monoprice as well, even the 200$ select model. I had a delta/mini kossel, but had to give it away to my friend due to lack of space, after I got my son :) . 3d priniting would make housing related work so much easier.

Yea i need to figure out all the parts i need and hopefully i can make a housing to fit it all it. I dont see anything on thingiverse for them.

Do i need two dac converters one for each channel?

Also is the ato ready to work?what sensor is best? Im going on vacation and need a ato.

 

[Ranjib]

Yea i need to figure out all the parts i need and hopefully i can make a housing to fit it all it. I dont see anything on thingiverse for them.

Do i need two dac converters one for each channel?

Also is the ato ready to work?what sensor is best? Im going on vacation and need a ato.

Yes, from what I understand the mcp4725 has a single vdd output. You'll need one for each channel.
ATO is based on photo electric sensor from dfrobot (got it from amazon) https://www.dfrobot.com/product-1470.html
The ATO code is generic, and should work with float switches as well

 

[Brad Cox]

Yes, from what I understand the mcp4725 has a single vdd output. You'll need one for each channel.
ATO is based on photo electric sensor from dfrobot (got it from amazon) https://www.dfrobot.com/product-1470.html
The ATO code is generic, and should work with float switches as well

Gotcha! Imma order the sensor and one relay board correct? Hopefully have it tuesday so i can get it working.

Ill also order another dac board. I assume they arr strong enough to support 3 lights.

Are you making any headway writing the code for it?

 

[Brad Cox]

O

Gotcha! Imma order the sensor and one relay board correct? Hopefully have it tuesday so i can get it working.

Ill also order another dac board. I assume they arr strong enough to support 3 lights.

Are you making any headway writing the code for it?

ordered!

Do u have the info for the ato build?

 

[Ranjib]

Gotcha! Imma order the sensor and one relay board correct? Hopefully have it tuesday so i can get it working.

Ill also order another dac board. I assume they arr strong enough to support 3 lights.

Are you making any headway writing the code for it?

My current focus is to get some a initial release with a lot of improved existing functionality.. more on that later, I'll see if I can get time to add the DAC code. I think adding the code wont be hard, the time consuming part will be to test it out, since I have to setup a bread board circuit etc. If you are up for that work :-), I can take a initial stab at the code this week, what do you say ?

 

[Ranjib]

O

ordered!

Do u have the info for the ato build?

Unfortunately not. For what its worth, ATO build is the simplest of all the controllers. I'll give a brief run down of the steps here, that should get you started (and if you could contribute the ATO guide that would be awesome, everyone else would be thankful :-) )
Here are the steps:
1) Get a photoelectric sensor from DFrobot, a set of male/female 3.5 mm audio jack. Since the probe is 3 pin (1 GND, 1 5v, 1 data) we can use audio jacks as connector.
2) Wire up the probe to the male audio jack instead of the 3 pin connector it comes with. Hook up the salvaged connector with female panel mount audio jack. This will give you a easily pluggable probe, where the probe is connected to a male audio jack and the female part will be mounted on the housing
3) Connect the breakout board that comes with photo electric sensor to raspberry pi. Wiring is described here: https://www.dfrobot.com/wiki/index.php/Liquid_Level_Sensor-FS-IR02_SKU:_SEN0205
in-short, you need the red wire goes to 5 v rails, black wire goes to GND, and the other data wire goes to any of the GPIO pin (ref: http://www.jameco.com/Jameco/workshop/circuitnotes/raspberry_pi_circuit_note_fig2.jpg, choose one of the green pins). Note down this pin number
4) Configure reef-pi: Specify the pin which reef-pi should monitor to get current water level value (0 or 1) , also specify the outlet reef-pi should switch on, when the water level is below. You should plug in a water pump in that outlet. If you use the older version of reef-pi (0.7 ) you can specify all these via configuration file : https://github.com/reef-pi/reef-pi/blob/0.0.7/build/reef-pi.yml#L3 .

My advice will be to setup the wiring, configure reef-pi, enable telemetry, and dont enable 'control' mode. reef-pi ato system will send telemetry data everytime it detects the water level is off, it will only turn on the outlet if `control` configuration parameter is set to true. Run the ato for couple of days in just sensor mode, with control disabled and see how frequently it trips (using the graph) , if things looke good, enable control :-). I would also advice getting a smaller gph pump for ato (or get an ato sepecific pump like this: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/smart-ato-replacement-dc-pump-autoaqua.html, remember to use 12v based relay outlet)

 

[Brad Cox]

My current focus is to get some a initial release with a lot of improved existing functionality.. more on that later, I'll see if I can get time to add the DAC code. I think adding the code wont be hard, the time consuming part will be to test it out, since I have to setup a bread board circuit etc. If you are up for that work :), I can take a initial stab at the code this week, what do you say ?

I would be up for it.

But im leaving wednesday to go on vacation so i eont be any help until after i get back.