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

[burningbaal]

Anyone know of a black box LED that is controllable? I want to get a few black box LEDs for my future 180g, but want to be able to ramp each unit (expecting 3-6 of them, depending on wattage) up individually, and to control an actinic type apart from the daylight. two channels would be fine for me, I just want to control the brightness of each of the two channels individually so I can get a white sunrise, then bring in the blues, then ramp the whites down for dusk and run a little blues until my bedtime

 

[Ranjib]

Anyone know of a black box LED that is controllable? I want to get a few black box LEDs for my future 180g, but want to be able to ramp each unit (expecting 3-6 of them, depending on wattage) up individually, and to control an actinic type apart from the daylight. two channels would be fine for me, I just want to control the brightness of each of the two channels individually so I can get a white sunrise, then bring in the blues, then ramp the whites down for dusk and run a little blues until my bedtime

There are several posts here in r2r on controlling viparspectra and mars aqua lights using reef-pi, search for those

 

[Schreiber]

There are several posts here in r2r on controlling viparspectra and mars aqua lights using reef-pi, search for those

Here's a couple worthwhile reads.

Mars Aqua led light

Mars Aqua led light I have 5 of them want to make them dimmable with a Raspberry pi. will a PCA9685 16-channel 12-bit PWM servo driver do this or do i have to convert to analog for it to work. I tried the reef-pi setup for Kessil leds and the light will not dim I wired the lights the way they...

www.reef2reef.com

Mars Aqua Chinese black box PWM Converter

The Mars Aqua lights have been out for a pretty long time, and there are already plenty of examples of modding them to be controlled with 0-10v analog or pwm. They usually seem to be destructive and still require a timer to actually turn the lights on and off. I came up with the following...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[zab34]

So going to venture into a reefpi build. I want to use one of ML Hats but it looks like v3 is sold out.

Will I have any limitations going with a v2? Will I encounter any limitations with a pi zero vs a pi 3?

Any builds you would recommend that used the ML hat.

Ideally I would like:

Relay power control
ATO from float sensors
Temperature monitoring and heater control
Macros for feed and water change

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

So going to venture into a reefpi build. I want to use one of ML Hats but it looks like v3 is sold out.

Will I have any limitations going with a v2? Will I encounter any limitations with a pi zero vs a pi 3?

Any builds you would recommend that used the ML hat.

Ideally I would like:

Relay power control
ATO from float sensors
Temperature monitoring and heater control
Macros for feed and water change

The V2 hat has exactly the same functions as the V3 hat, the only difference being smaller connectors and Status LEDs on the board. For longevity, that V2 hat is the way to go.

I have to V2 hats and it is an awesome product and will easily be able to implement the functions like you listed.

As far as Raspberry Pi zero vs The 3B, if you are going to run it as a headless unit without a ton of sensors and equipment, the zero will work just fine. 3B just has more muscle and LAN capability.

I use 3Bs with my build.

 

[PHopkins]

I just installed reef pi on a rasberry pi zero w. When i try and test the jack for the pwm control I am getting the error message

{"error":"Failed to update. Error: write /sys/class/pwm/pwmchip0/pwm0/period: invalid argument"} | HTTP 500

When I try and change User name and Password it is giving me this error

Failed to initialize i2c. Error:open /dev/i2c-1: no such file or directory

any help getting this working would be greatly appreciated

 

[Ranjib]

Here's a couple worthwhile reads.

Mars Aqua led light

Mars Aqua led light I have 5 of them want to make them dimmable with a Raspberry pi. will a PCA9685 16-channel 12-bit PWM servo driver do this or do i have to convert to analog for it to work. I tried the reef-pi setup for Kessil leds and the light will not dim I wired the lights the way they...

www.reef2reef.com

Mars Aqua Chinese black box PWM Converter

The Mars Aqua lights have been out for a pretty long time, and there are already plenty of examples of modding them to be controlled with 0-10v analog or pwm. They usually seem to be destructive and still require a timer to actually turn the lights on and off. I came up with the following...

www.reef2reef.com

Thank you @Schreiber :hugs:

 

[Ranjib]

I just installed reef pi on a rasberry pi zero w. When i try and test the jack for the pwm control I am getting the error message

{"error":"Failed to update. Error: write /sys/class/pwm/pwmchip0/pwm0/period: invalid argument"} | HTTP 500

When I try and change User name and Password it is giving me this error

Failed to initialize i2c. Error:eek:pen /dev/i2c-1: no such file or directory

any help getting this working would be greatly appreciated

Enable i2c using raspi-config, and reboot. Which version you are using? use 2.5 if you are unsure.

 

[zab34]

The V2 hat has exactly the same functions as the V3 hat, the only difference being smaller connectors and Status LEDs on the board. For longevity, that V2 hat is the way to go.

I have to V2 hats and it is an awesome product and will easily be able to implement the functions like you listed.

As far as Raspberry Pi zero vs The 3B, if you are going to run it as a headless unit without a ton of sensors and equipment, the zero will work just fine. 3B just has more muscle and LAN capability.

I use 3Bs with my build.

What exactly is meant by headless? I assumed it was access via a browser regardless.

Will the mars aqua board work with a 2 channel, 300w 32” fixture?

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

What exactly is meant by headless? I assumed it was access via a browser regardless.

Will the mars aqua board work with a 2 channel, 300w 32” fixture?

Yes, meaning without rendering a GUI.

As for Mars aqua, assuming the wiring is the same as it is for 165w, then yes. There are several posts on the subject in this thread.

 

[Garold R Seifert]

I picked up a biocube led for really cheap and was wondering if anyone had any luck controlling the lights through reef pi? I looked around and couldn't find anything.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

I picked up a biocube led for really cheap and was wondering if anyone had any luck controlling the lights through reef pi? I looked around and couldn't find anything.

Depends on the lights in question.

 

[zab34]

Yes, meaning without rendering a GUI.

As for Mars aqua, assuming the wiring is the same as it is for 165w, then yes. There are several posts on the subject in this thread.

Great. I saw a lot of threads outlining the 165w. Wasn’t sure if there was any limitations to the board when it came wattage or drivers.

If the Pi zero cannot render a GUI would I be able to swap it with a 3 in the future if I wanted to go that route?

Simple switch the hat and sd card?

 

[PHopkins]

Enable i2c using raspi-config, and reboot. Which version you are using? use 2.5 if you are unsure.

Thanks,
I updated from 2.4 to 2.5

The light test is working now. I still cannot update the username or password

 

[Ranjib]

Thanks,
I updated from 2.4 to 2.5

The light test is working now. I still cannot update the username or password

Start a thread, and folks can chime in.

 

[Ranjib]

Great. I saw a lot of threads outlining the 165w. Wasn’t sure if there was any limitations to the board when it came wattage or drivers.

If the Pi zero cannot render a GUI would I be able to swap it with a 3 in the future if I wanted to go that route?

Simple switch the hat and sd card?

You dont have to change the circuit, as the pin layout is same, just make sure you have enough room to physically place pi 3 , as it takes more space. Software wise, you can reuse the sd card, without reinstalling raspbian, but you have to reinstall reef-pi for pi 3 version. The packages are different for pi zero and pi 3. You data /configuration should persist, but I have not tested this out.

 

[zab34]

You dont have to change the circuit, as the pin layout is same, just make sure you have enough room to physically place pi 3 , as it takes more space. Software wise, you can reuse the sd card, without reinstalling raspbian, but you have to reinstall reef-pi for pi 3 version. The packages are different for pi zero and pi 3. You data /configuration should persist, but I have not tested this out.

Good to know.

 

[Garold R Seifert]

The build in LED lights on the bio cube

 

[Garold R Seifert]

Depends on the lights in question.

The built in LED lights on the bio cube

 

[Michael Lane]

What exactly is meant by headless? I assumed it was access via a browser regardless.

Will the mars aqua board work with a 2 channel, 300w 32” fixture?

Post a picture of the control boards in the light, or start a new thread and we can help. There are a couple versions of control for the black box lights. Some are PWM and some are analog/current controlled.