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

[Des Westcott]

 

[Des Westcott]

Reef-Pi isn't able to detect any of my sensors

 

[burningbaal]

Well, I had to sign up for a new forum due to this one. I've only had a chance to do a quick overview, but looks like this project is alive and kicking, and I'm ready to dig deeper.

I've got a background in electronics manufacturing, so hopefully I can contribute to the overall project as needed. I may have to finally figure out how to use github (always found it a really annoying file system to be honest).

Anyway, back to reading and trolling to see where things are, where I can help, and where I can pick up and start building one of these.

Welcome to R2R!
cooperative source control (like github) can be pretty weird if you've never worked in a team that leverages its resources, you have to kinda forget about what you think you knew about terms like 'branch' and 'pull' and 'merge' because they have very specific meaning in this context that may not line up with what you're used to. I'm the opposite, I'm very used to working with things like github (or bitbucket, etc), but am very not familiar with electronics, so maybe we can help each other :)

Anyways, welcome to the coolest non-regional forum, we're glad to have you here!

 

[hhaase]

With a thread this long, it'll probably take me a while to get sorted with the current state of the project, but I can definitely contribute in some areas. My main strengths are on the manufacturing side, so DFM work, PCB layout, schematics are all within my wheelhouse. Code I'm not very good with, circuit design I'm very hit or miss.

Heck, being open-source, I'm very interested in maybe seeing this system produced.

 

[Ranjib]

Reef-Pi isn't able to detect any of my sensors

Is one wire enabled and the sensors are detected by raspbian. Reef-pi can only show them and use them if its detected. If its not,, this is beyond reef-pi, and we have to look are circuit/raspbian configuration

 

[Ranjib]

With a thread this long, it'll probably take me a while to get sorted with the current state of the project, but I can definitely contribute in some areas. My main strengths are on the manufacturing side, so DFM work, PCB layout, schematics are all within my wheelhouse. Code I'm not very good with, circuit design I'm very hit or miss.

Heck, being open-source, I'm very interested in maybe seeing this system produced.

We could use any and all help with pcb layout & circuit designs. You are right. its best to start with building a prototype, run it and explore the software/hardware.. then take it from there.
There are many unsolved issues on both the software and hardware side of things. We can cut out a small work for you, in areas you are comfortable with to help you get started on actual development.

 

[Blaxkin]

I also have the problem after every restart with errors that my temp probes are not connected.

i have to delete the temp probes and add them new.

but they always there in the temp menue

I will post pictures tommorow

 

[Ranjib]

I also have the problem after every restart with errors that my temp probes are not connected.

i have to delete the temp probes and add them new.

but they always there in the temp menue

I will post pictures tommorow

Thats a bug then ... can you share the details. If the underlying sensor is detected.. reef-pi should be fine from there.. anything after that is possibly a reef-pi bug. Happy to address those

 

[hhaase]

Hmmmm..... I think I'll take my dive into this via just building one up. This way I can get a good feel for areas that might be well served by having a dedicated PCB. I've never really used a pi before but no reason I can't start now. From what I can tell there are a few main system groups, which are all independent standalone systems right now. Is that a safe assumption?

Here's the systems I see at current in the adafruit guides that would line up as their own schematic/layout sets. Feel free to correct me at any point. I'd like to start doing up schematics for these individual units.

A main hat, which includes the external power controller, temp controller, and level controller. This should be very easy to incorporate into a single dedicated PCB.

A PH monitor controller. This looks like just a basic breakout board.

A dosing controller. Very simple looking single board system to be honest.

A lighting controller system. Most of this could also be put onto a single board, with the PCA9685 as a daughter-board stacked on top. Once the design is nailed down, given that adafrut stuff is typically also open-source based, it could potentially be integrated into a single board system, but I'd probably not do that yet. I also don't have lights that are compatible, but doesn't mean boards can't be made. Just that I can't test here.

 

[Blaxkin]

So now iam also finished my build :-)

With 3.0 and pca9685 as outputs i integrated 5 12v outputs :-) thanks for that

i designed 3 pcbs, two of them are stackable

a jebao dp4s can be directly connected.

thank you ranjib for reef pi :-D

 

[Ranjib]

So now iam also finished my build :)

With 3.0 and pca9685 as outputs i integrated 5 12v outputs :) thanks for that

i designed 3 pcbs, two of them are stackable

a jebao dp4s can be directly connected.

thank you ranjib for reef pi :-D

Woohoo :-) . thats awesome . Thank you for sharing

 

[Ranjib]

Hmmmm..... I think I'll take my dive into this via just building one up. This way I can get a good feel for areas that might be well served by having a dedicated PCB. I've never really used a pi before but no reason I can't start now. From what I can tell there are a few main system groups, which are all independent standalone systems right now. Is that a safe assumption?

Here's the systems I see at current in the adafruit guides that would line up as their own schematic/layout sets. Feel free to correct me at any point. I'd like to start doing up schematics for these individual units.

A main hat, which includes the external power controller, temp controller, and level controller. This should be very easy to incorporate into a single dedicated PCB.

A PH monitor controller. This looks like just a basic breakout board.

A dosing controller. Very simple looking single board system to be honest.

A lighting controller system. Most of this could also be put onto a single board, with the PCA9685 as a daughter-board stacked on top. Once the design is nailed down, given that adafrut stuff is typically also open-source based, it could potentially be integrated into a single board system, but I'd probably not do that yet. I also don't have lights that are compatible, but doesn't mean boards can't be made. Just that I can't test here.

On spot with your assessment

 

[DawnfromPa]

Let me know when you master this and it comes to market. I will buy for sure just price it under 99 so I can afford it. I know this will be huge especially for all in ones. I use apps that were set it and forget it...and barely do much now.

 

[burningbaal]

So now iam also finished my build :)

With 3.0 and pca9685 as outputs i integrated 5 12v outputs :) thanks for that

i designed 3 pcbs, two of them are stackable

a jebao dp4s can be directly connected.

thank you ranjib for reef pi :-D

wanna send one to me!? :)

 

[Ranjib]

Hive minds,
I have just cut another release candidate, reef-pi 3.0-rc0 . This is the first release candidate for 3.0, coming two weeks after 3.0 beta release. This means we have fixed all the critical bugs. And unless some new blockers found (serious bugs ) we are on our course for final release. This is mostly a bugfix release since 3.0 beta with some ui improvements for the light module. Here is a summary of changes, taken straight from the release page,

• bugfix: reef-pi db command argument processing
• bugfix: jack remove ui was broken
• feat: expose reversible option for macro (required for control target)
• feat: light ui support for 3.0 api
• feat: dutch translation
• bugfix: temperature and ph chart current reading not showing
• chore: log driver initialization errors
• chore: improve internationalization coverage (connectors ui)
• feat: use selectable pins for connectors based on driver types
• bugfix: email to ui field under telemetry section does not accept user input

packages can be found in usual location: https://github.com/reef-pi/reef-pi/releases/tag/3.0.0-rc0

 

[Des Westcott]

Is one wire enabled and the sensors are detected by raspbian. Reef-pi can only show them and use them if its detected. If its not,, this is beyond reef-pi, and we have to look are circuit/raspbian configuration

They were working for about 5 days then stopped. So 1-wire must be enabled or they wouldn't have been detected and installed in the beginning. Not so?
I'll run Raspi-Config now and check though.

 

[Des Westcott]

They were working for about 5 days then stopped. So 1-wire must be enabled or they wouldn't have been detected and installed in the beginning. Not so?
I'll run Raspi-Config now and check though.

Update

Before checking Raspi-Config, I physically unplugged my sensors from the board. Rebooted and plugged back in. Reef-Pi now sees the sensors = win.

BUT because I deleted my "Tank Temp" from the Temperature tab, I needed to set that up again with Temp control. I can't save the settings because the UI tells me "The temperature settings cannot be saved due to validation errors. Please correct the errors and try again. " in the pink box. I also get the "hysteresis_less_than" notification in red under the Hysteresis box. I have tried various numbers for hysteresis.

Reef-Pi is measuring temp and plotting the graph now, but I can't add control.

Solution?

 

[PaulJ2303]

Hi @Ranjib
just tried rc0 everything looks good apart from my first temp sensor disappears when you reboot the pi ... i've attached ac couple of screen shots to help with any debugging as i know you've had this from a couple of others:



these screen shots are both from after a reboot and the tank temp disappears from my dashboard.

Edit:
if i then delete "tank temp" from reef pi and re make it ... i can then re initialise it in the dashboard and it's fine again until the next reboot
hope that helps.

 

[Mike Kearns]

So now iam also finished my build :)

With 3.0 and pca9685 as outputs i integrated 5 12v outputs :) thanks for that

i designed 3 pcbs, two of them are stackable

a jebao dp4s can be directly connected.

thank you ranjib for reef pi :-D

That looks awesome. Did you 3D print the box?

 

[Blaxkin]

That looks awesome. Did you 3D print the box?

Yes its 3d printed :-)