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

[PaulJ2303]

Well done @Urtoo .. post a link to your build page I'll follow it with interest.

edit: its ok ive just spotted the big blue build thread button :)

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Anyone running 6 or more light channels on their reef pi?

 

[Urtoo]

Michael shows how to chain them using his converters in his build.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Michael shows how to chain them using his converters in his build.

If that was a reply to me, I know how to wire them up, just wondering if anyone is running more than 5 channels. Sorry if I didn't clarify. Upto 5 channels everything runs fine. As soon as 6th channel is introduced, Leds flicker until a channel is powered off.

 

[Ranjib]

Well done @Urtoo .. post a link to your build page I'll follow it with interest.

edit: its ok ive just spotted the big blue build thread button :)

Please link it here when you do. We love to read through the build threads as it help us understand wha to improve, what’s working well etc

 

[Ranjib]

Anyone running 6 or more light channels on their reef pi?

None that I’m aware of.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

None that I’m aware of.

Is there any reason why PCA9685 wouldn't be able to do 5+ channels of pwm lights? Really trying to figure this out before I lose my mind.

 

[Ranjib]

Upgrading one of my older builds with reef-pi 3.0 based system. This housing was one of my favorite as it was a major upgrade form ply wood made box , and this thing was sturdy . I loved the clear cover :-)

That said , now I recall how much work it was to mount those connectors . All the dremel works involved decent amount of elbow grease

and there were lots of mistakes made :-)

Now, the new thing is like 1/2the size

it looks sleek too :-), I like the form factor. It was a dream to get down to exactly required volume .

not to mention the huge amount of time saved. With 0.8 mm nozzle and at 60mm speed, my ended 3 Printed this housing under two hours . It takes longer for me to solder the boards :-)
One of the changes i made was to use smaller switch. Earlier due to larger housing the bigger buttons didn’t look odd. Now with these purpose designed 3D printed enclosures, those buttons are visibly taking large real estate . Hence the new switch

With this , u was able to keep the enclosure height at 28mm.

 

[Bigtrout]

Is there any reason why PCA9685 wouldn't be able to do 5+ channels of pwm lights? Really trying to figure this out before I lose my mind.

How are you powering the pca9685? If its an adadruit board theres a header to seperately power the channels vs powering thru the pi

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

How are you powering the pca9685? If its an adadruit board theres a header to seperately power the channels vs powering thru the pi

Back-powered from Mikes Reef-pi hat v2. The actual power source is a 2.1A 12v adapter to a buck converter --->5v. Right now lights are the only things connected to the pi.

 

[Ranjib]

Back-powered from Mikes Reef-pi hat v2. The actual power source is a 2.1A 12v adapter to a buck converter --->5v. Right now lights are the only things connected to the pi.

Do you know the current draw from each of pca9685 pin? I would be very concerned if you are not powering it with dedicated 5v line.

 

[Ranjib]

Bio cube fts

pico

garage , the reef-pi 3.0 test tank

 

[pickupman66]

Good evening all. Need a little direction on chasing a bug. Since re-installing reef-pi, I have and an issue with my Temperature sensors vanishing after programming. I will get them programmed, and after some time (hours, Minutes) when I go back to check they have stopped updating graphs. checking the configs on them, in the temp programming there no longer show where you select them. I cannot select them either. reload or reboot does not help. what has helped is disconnecting and then reconnecting the wire connection, but they go away after a while. I even tried a Brand new probe and same issue.

This was one of the original circuits I made as shown in m y build thread. from the circuit, it goes into a cat 5 cable out to the tank where it is broken back out to allow me to connect the three wires on the probes. I have not changed anything physically aside from unpluggin the Cat 5 once to clear a wire.

where can i go that might direct me as to why reef-pi loses the connection with these?


from the errors log:\

Oct 6 08:38:14
temperature sub-system. Failed to read sensor TANK. Error:open /sys/bus/w1/devices/28-01131e872049/w1_slave: no such file or directory

Oct 6 08:39:14
temperature sub-system. Failed to read sensor Sump Temp. Error:open /sys/bus/w1/devices/28-0213169a87aa/w1_slave: no such file or directory

Oct 6 08:39:14
temperature sub-system. Failed to read sensor Room Temp. Error:open /sys/bus/w1/devices/28-021316a280aa/w1_slave: no such file or directory

Oct 6 21:15:26
temperature sub-system. Failed to read sensor Sump Temp. Error:open /sys/bus/w1/devices/28-01131e7b9804/w1_slave: no such file or directory

 

[Bigtrout]

90 percent chance this is a wiring issue. Check, double check and triple check your wiring first

 

[Ranjib]

Good evening all. Need a little direction on chasing a bug. Since re-installing reef-pi, I have and an issue with my Temperature sensors vanishing after programming. I will get them programmed, and after some time (hours, Minutes) when I go back to check they have stopped updating graphs. checking the configs on them, in the temp programming there no longer show where you select them. I cannot select them either. reload or reboot does not help. what has helped is disconnecting and then reconnecting the wire connection, but they go away after a while. I even tried a Brand new probe and same issue.

This was one of the original circuits I made as shown in m y build thread. from the circuit, it goes into a cat 5 cable out to the tank where it is broken back out to allow me to connect the three wires on the probes. I have not changed anything physically aside from unpluggin the Cat 5 once to clear a wire.

where can i go that might direct me as to why reef-pi loses the connection with these?


from the errors log:\

Oct 6 08:38:14
temperature sub-system. Failed to read sensor TANK. Error:eek:pen /sys/bus/w1/devices/28-01131e872049/w1_slave: no such file or directory

Oct 6 08:39:14
temperature sub-system. Failed to read sensor Sump Temp. Error:eek:pen /sys/bus/w1/devices/28-0213169a87aa/w1_slave: no such file or directory

Oct 6 08:39:14
temperature sub-system. Failed to read sensor Room Temp. Error:eek:pen /sys/bus/w1/devices/28-021316a280aa/w1_slave: no such file or directory

Oct 6 21:15:26
temperature sub-system. Failed to read sensor Sump Temp. Error:eek:pen /sys/bus/w1/devices/28-01131e7b9804/w1_slave: no such file or directory

Do you see any thing under /sys/bus/w1/devices folder?

ls /sys/bus/w1/devices

if not, then the sensor is not being detected. This is not a reef-pi related issue, but this is probably the most common issue i see folks encounter. It can happen due to a fixed set of things:
- did you updated kerner or pi?
- Check wiring. DId you changed the temp sensor wiring or ant other circuitry ? Some time new equipment in tank can interfere with the sensor.
- The sensor can itself go bad. Though this happen, its unlikely to happen exactly the same time when you update software. In past 4 years i have had only one sensor go bad among the dozen i used. If you have an extra sensor, try swapping that. Reef-pi will still show the old sensor missing, but a new one should pop up in the sensor selection menu

 

[Alaa]

Your current setup is missing some resistors. Essentially you have two options for this, solder some resistors in, or use a program to set the pi built in resistors.
If you go for the solder route, it should be something like this.
R1 is a current limiting resistor for the safety of the system
R2 is a pull down resistor to keep the pin from floating somewhere randomly between 0 & 3.3V

Hi as i understand from other setups that the 10K goes for the 3v and not the ground, is it okay to use with the ground and if so which is better

 

[dmolavi]

The Inventronics driver takes a 0(1)-10VDC for dimming.
This is no problem for reef-pi. It should be able to run off of the same circuit that I built for my SbReeflights.
It will use the 12V from the driver, step it down to 10V for the dimming circuit, and then use the PWM from the pi to control the dimming.
It may be able to run straight from a 10V PWM, if not a simple RC circuit will smooth out to get an "analog" dimming.
The other light is a big ???

@Ryan115 I'm trying to get this working now using the Pico board from @theatrus ...no joy so far, though i've wired the 0-10V outputs from the pico board as 2 separate outputs (the way they would "normally" be for PWM driven lights). Can we go offline to PMs to discuss this, since I think it's a fairly simple wiring issue... Thanks in advance.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

I could have sworn this has already been asked/discussed, but for the life of me I can't find it.

As far as automatic light ramping, is there a way to increase the frequency from once every two hours to once an hour? Or more?

Or is that a limitation of reef pi?

 

[Schreiber]

Seeing @Ranjib 's post about updating his old system just made me realize I've never posted a picture of my enclosure! I'm usually only posting about or responding to problems. Figured it was time for some positivity!

 

[Urtoo]

You sir, have a large print surface. I need to get the wife to ask me for an upgraded 3D printer. Off to get some beer to help me with that