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

[Bigtrout]

one more advantage of linear regulator is that they wont fluctuate the output voltage if the input voltage changes little bit, which lm2586 does a lot

There was a time when linear regulators were the tinkerers friend(showing my age with that statement), i still have a bunch of 7812 and 7805 to make 12 and 5 volts, but nowadays, buying board, mounting them with the passives, etc its easier and just as cheap to use a meanwell small RS power supply.

Chalk up another win for my 7 dollar 15 watt RS meanwells...stable, efficient and easy to hook up in a 2"×2×1 form factor, and they have overcurrent protection built right in!

 

[theatrus]

Definitely go with buck converters for any digital workloads. The old school 7805 regulators are also a dinosaur - there are a ton of better linear regulators when you actually need them for analog or very low usage applications.

The linears will work fine, but the Raspberry Pi will give you a ton of load and make it quite toasty on a 12->5V shift :)

 

[PaulJ2303]

thanks for the replies fella's :)
It's such an interesting subject area and i'm learning a lot. i'm probably going to go with the buck converter because it wont generate as much heat in my enclosed box.
I'll be driving it with an old 12v 1.5A laptop power supply, i'm hoping i wont have to worry about output voltage fluctuations when using that.

one more thing before i sidle off .. in our stores we've got boxes of single industrial mechanical relays but i'm thinking for simplicity's sake and to avoid any back EMF spikes i should go with cheap and cheerful opto-isolated 8 bank relays off of amazon
choices choices lol

 

[b4tn]

Kind of funny. In highschool I used to build DC power supplies for all sorts of things. Got into Reef-pi over 20 years later and was thinking to build my own power supply till I read the specs on the 7805 vs lm2586. I guess I am getting old too lol.

 

[b4tn]

A little humor I ran across today for those of you guys that are doing FW pi's lol

 

[crowndroyal]

Could one use an old Samsung tablet screen for a touch screen ?

 

[crowndroyal]

Could one use an old Samsung tablet screen ,for a touch screen ?

 

[Ranjib]

Could one use an old Samsung tablet screen ,for a touch screen ?

yes

 

[Bigtrout]

A little humor I ran across today for those of you guys that are doing FW pi's lol

Hey now....lol

 

[Bigtrout]

thanks for the replies fella's :)
It's such an interesting subject area and i'm learning a lot. i'm probably going to go with the buck converter because it wont generate as much heat in my enclosed box.
I'll be driving it with an old 12v 1.5A laptop power supply, i'm hoping i wont have to worry about output voltage fluctuations when using that.

one more thing before i sidle off .. in our stores we've got boxes of single industrial mechanical relays but i'm thinking for simplicity's sake and to avoid any back EMF spikes i should go with cheap and cheerful opto-isolated 8 bank relays off of amazon
choices choices lol

Depends on the relays...for what most need the 8 channel jobs are just fine...if u can get ahold of some nice mini industrial relays however ;)

 

[crowndroyal]

My next question, for the controller UI.

Is there more icons available for the UI ? Can we make our own or is there a selection we can choose from ?

 

[Ranjib]

My next question, for the controller UI.

Is there more icons available for the UI ? Can we make our own or is there a selection we can choose from ?

Im not sure what you mean, reef-pi is just a website, that you visit from you tablet's browser. Its not an app that you will install in the tablet. You can bookmark the controller url for ease of access and I know linux desktops allows creating desktop shortcuts for urls with customizable icons. So you can get similar user experience.

 

[crowndroyal]

Im not sure what you mean, reef-pi is just a website, that you visit from you tablet's browser. Its not an app that you will install in the tablet. You can bookmark the controller url for ease of access and I know linux desktops allows creating desktop shortcuts for urls with customization icons. So you can get similar user experience.

there is no "User interface" ? ( like reefbot )
There is no icons that one sees on the actual screen on the controller to make changes or have a visual of whats going on ?

there is no app available to see whats going on while away or to control away from home ?

 

[ChrisNH]

Can you be more specific on the differences you are noticing ?the schematics are similar but not exact due to just physical convenience (like closer /proximity for builds) or ease of drawing /illustration (for schematics)

I am comparing this image: https://learn.adafruit.com/assets/60855
To this image: https://learn.adafruit.com/assets/61329

and specifically how the power connector and buck converter are wired in.

 

[Bigtrout]

there is no "User interface" ? ( like reefbot )
There is no icons that one sees on the actual screen on the controller to make changes or have a visual of whats going on ?

there is no app available to see whats going on while away or to control away from home ?

Yes there is a web UI...meaning you go to a web address on your local network in a browser. You can make changes, see graphs, turn equipment on and off...etc.
You can access remotely as long as you can get on your local network remotely. There are various ways to accomplish this. I myself VPN into my local network and there is my controller!

 

[SDchris]

Seawater total alkalinity from open-cell, non-purged, stepwise, potentiometric titration data.
It's in python but maybe of interest.

Chris

 

[theatrus]

Kind of funny. In highschool I used to build DC power supplies for all sorts of things. Got into Reef-pi over 20 years later and was thinking to build my own power supply till I read the specs on the 7805 vs lm2586. I guess I am getting old too lol.

The LM2586 is a dinosaur too, lots more efficient higher frequency switchers out there, but you can’t beat the price of those modules.

 

[Ranjib]

Seawater total alkalinity from open-cell, non-purged, stepwise, potentiometric titration data.
It's in python but maybe of interest.

Chris

Interesting. Let me read through the docs. Do you know the author ?

 

[SDchris]

Interesting. Let me read through the docs. Do you know the author ?

No I don't.
I have been working on my own alk monitor for while and was looking for a program to be able to use for comparative tests, so as to rule out where some of my errors are coming from (probe, controller or software)
Have just ordered the parts for the Reef-Pi pH/orp board. Looking forward to giving it a go with the above software.

Chris

 

[Ranjib]

Awesome. Keep us posted on your finding.