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

[Michael Lane]

Im planning to run cooling fans over a l298 board via a pwm signal from a pca9685. The goal being PID control where the fans can spin slowly (and therefore silently) all the time instead of fast and loud again and again.

Now as far as i know reef-pi can't do this, but my question is, can i have an external program control that one channel of the pca9685 while reef-pi controls the others? or is that not going to work?

That should be possible. I've run some tests using i2c tools as well as a python script and both seemed to work just fine.

 

[theatrus]

Im planning to run cooling fans over a l298 board via a pwm signal from a pca9685. The goal being PID control where the fans can spin slowly (and therefore silently) all the time instead of fast and loud again and again.

Now as far as i know reef-pi can't do this, but my question is, can i have an external program control that one channel of the pca9685 while reef-pi controls the others? or is that not going to work?

Should work fine - ReefPi only updates the channels it cares about. Note that you shouldn't touch any of the setup registers (just the channel register).

 

[Yov]

so i bought the pi camera and i am trying this but i get this error:

{"error":"Item 'latest' does not exist in bucket 'camera'"} | HTTP 404

any clues?

 

[Ranjib]

I thought it would be good to repost this. This is the issue I was having with my macro. Using this post helped solve the issue.

+100. I have taken note on this. We'll be adding features to address some of these. Thank you

 

[Ranjib]

so i bought the pi camera and i am trying this but i get this error:

{"error":"Item 'latest' does not exist in bucket 'camera'"} | HTTP 404

any clues?

It means there's no photo taken yet. Hence no latest image found. Its a benign error similar to what we used to see around usage (no usage data found for newly created sensor/controller). I have fixed it for the controller, but that camera module still has that old behavior.

 

[Yov]

It means there's no photo taken yet. Hence no latest image found. Its a benign error similar to what we used to see around usage (no usage data found for newly created sensor/controller). I have fixed it for the controller, but that camera module still has that old behavior.

And is it posible i am doing something wrong? No photo can be taken.

 

[Ranjib]

And is it posible i am doing something wrong? No photo can be taken.

Do you see any error in the log when you click on the take photo button? Do you have raspistill installed?

 

[Ranjib]

Cool, let me know if it works. I have no idea why it's happening, I think it's rather complicated to figure out.

@Ranjib @Michael Lane Do you think it's something serious? Should I stop recommending Pi 4? Since I make cases I know what people use and most is Pi 4 then Pi 3 and very few with Zero.

I dont have a pi 4 with me that i can test :-( . If its something we can reproduce, we can then fix it, even if it involves a temporary fork of the embd repo. I have reduced reef-pi dependency on it significantly already, may be we'll get rid of it altogether. The only thats holding me back from not recommending it is there are few folks who are already running it successfully.,

 

[Yov]

Do you see any error in the log when you click on the take photo button? Do you have raspistill installed?

yes: 404 page not found | HTTP 404

But suddenly i see a picture XD! nothing changed? Still getting the error...

 

[robsworld78]

I dont have a pi 4 with me that i can test :-( . If its something we can reproduce, we can then fix it, even if it involves a temporary fork of the embd repo. I have reduced reef-pi dependency on it significantly already, may be we'll get rid of it altogether. The only thats holding me back from not recommending it is there are few folks who are already running it successfully.,

Well we have to get you a Pi 4. :) If 10 of us send $5 to your PayPal you can order one, who's willing to chip in with me? What email do we use if you care to share?

 

[Mikeneedsahobby]

Well we have to get you a Pi 4. :) If 10 of us send $5 to your PayPal you can order one, who's willing to chip in with me? What email do we use if you care to share?

I think @Ranjib should be rich from this thing. Or at least able to enjoy a meal at an expensive restaurant near him. I would send $5.

 

[Mikeneedsahobby]

@Ranjib is like Henry Ford or The VW Beetle. He has brought controllers to the working people.

 

[Ranjib]

:-) . It’s not about the money . Thank to all your blessing I am doing ok. I had bought a pi 4, but destroyed it during some usb c power delivery experiment. And I personally was frustrated with micro hdmi port, and then since 2020 I got very busy with the new house etc. that’s all, I’ll be getting pi 4 and sort this out, just give me some time to schedule some free time for this :-)

 

[Zippyfear]

I have had to open my case up probably 5 times due to broken wires or pins coming off. I guess stripping wires with with a blade isn’t smart. Lots of breaks where the strip started. I also started soldering my wires to the crimp pin connectors because they kept pulling out.

Great idea.. crimp pins are driving me insane lately.

 

[theatrus]

Great idea.. crimp pins are driving me insane lately.

Crimping is hard, its a better connection than soldering if done right, but its hard to do right especially with the wrong tool.

If you have lots of smaller pins the line of Engineer crimpers at least have the right die shape in them:

ENGINEER INC. - PRECISION CONNECTOR CRIMPING PLIERS FOR NARROW-PITCH AND UNIVERSAL CRIMPING

Micro connector crimping pliers PA-09 and Universal crimping tools PA-20 and PA-21 adaptable for JST, Molex, Tyco (AMP), HRS and other brand open-barrel terminals. Also good for D-sub connectors. Featuring very precise crimping finish owing to elaborately-designed and machined dies. Crimped...

www.engineer.jp

You can find them on Amazon for pretty cheap. If you want sticker shock you can always price the "official" tool for whatever connector you have, and find its likely $500+ for a hand tool ;)

 

[Mikeneedsahobby]

Crimping is hard, its a better connection than soldering if done right, but its hard to do right especially with the wrong tool.

If you have lots of smaller pins the line of Engineer crimpers at least have the right die shape in them:

ENGINEER INC. - PRECISION CONNECTOR CRIMPING PLIERS FOR NARROW-PITCH AND UNIVERSAL CRIMPING

Micro connector crimping pliers PA-09 and Universal crimping tools PA-20 and PA-21 adaptable for JST, Molex, Tyco (AMP), HRS and other brand open-barrel terminals. Also good for D-sub connectors. Featuring very precise crimping finish owing to elaborately-designed and machined dies. Crimped...

www.engineer.jp

You can find them on Amazon for pretty cheap. If you want sticker shock you can always price the "official" tool for whatever connector you have, and find its likely $500+ for a hand tool ;)

i hope I’m done with these connectors. But if I was starting now I would definitely get something. Standard electrical strippers and crimpers are about useless for this stuff. I did all my connections with a sharp knife and tiny pliers. ... and many cuss words.

 

[worldsokayestreef]

@robsworld78

If you're running a Pi4 you'll have to reinstall Raspbian but don't install the Raspbian update.

Can confirm. Same issue. Reinstalled and back to normal

 

[Ranjib]

I’m pi 4 is on the way, should be able to update on this by next week

 

[brandon clow]

Crimping is hard, its a better connection than soldering if done right, but its hard to do right especially with the wrong tool.

If you have lots of smaller pins the line of Engineer crimpers at least have the right die shape in them:

ENGINEER INC. - PRECISION CONNECTOR CRIMPING PLIERS FOR NARROW-PITCH AND UNIVERSAL CRIMPING

Micro connector crimping pliers PA-09 and Universal crimping tools PA-20 and PA-21 adaptable for JST, Molex, Tyco (AMP), HRS and other brand open-barrel terminals. Also good for D-sub connectors. Featuring very precise crimping finish owing to elaborately-designed and machined dies. Crimped...

www.engineer.jp

You can find them on Amazon for pretty cheap. If you want sticker shock you can always price the "official" tool for whatever connector you have, and find its likely $500+ for a hand tool ;)

I use either Deutsch or Amp for all of my connections. I am not a fan of my Amp pin crimper but the connectors seem to be a bit smaller then my bulky Deutsch ones. I have looked at hirschmann but it doesn't seem to be as readily available. +1 on the crimper and die costs, the half price alternatives are still worth it IMO.

 

[theatrus]

I use either Deutsch or Amp for all of my connections. I am not a fan of my Amp pin crimper but the connectors seem to be a bit smaller then my bulky Deutsch ones. I have looked at hirschmann but it doesn't seem to be as readily available. +1 on the crimper and die costs, the half price alternatives are still worth it IMO.

My first LED setup ( https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/ledbrick-diy-led-pendant-with-pucks.243746/ ) used Molex MicroFit connectors. While the connectors (that haven't been salt water splashed) work great years later, I spent hours with the wrong tools building cable harnesses. Its a giant pain. Hence I go for direct wire to board types for ease of use now, especially without how infrequently I actually disconnect the connector.