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

[Ranjib]

now that i have spotted this dude red handed, im rethinking if all those weird ato behaviors were due to bad float switch or some other issues like this.. anyhow.. i kinda rely on the alert mechanism heavily, even for normal chores (like ato reservoir empty),,,,

 

[Coolhack]

So, i have had this working before but cant seem to get it working now. I am trying to get the email to text feature working and it isnt sending the emails. I have 2 factor set up with my app password and still nothing. Any thoughts?

 

[Ranjib]

So, i have had this working before but cant seem to get it working now. I am trying to get the email to text feature working and it isnt sending the emails. I have 2 factor set up with my app password and still nothing. Any thoughts?

you see any error in the log when you hit the test email button?

 

[stefanm]

Can someone please help me out, should be simple. I've changed router and my pi doesn't have a LAN port, I've also set the PI's IP address as static, so it won't automatically show up on the new router, I can access with the old router though. How do I set it up on the new router? Via putty?

 

[Coolhack]

you see any error in the log when you hit the test email button?

Nothing! I have contacted my cell phone company and they are sending me new sim cards. Hopefully that fixes the leak problem.

you see any error in the log when you hit the test email button?

Nothing at all. It was like the text messages were sent and stuck in limbo, of course i found this out this morning when i called my cell phone provider. I could text and call from both of my numbers but i could not receive texts or calls from either of my numbers or anyone else's numbers for that matter. No sms gateway set up it seemed.

 

[Raf714]

So, i have had this working before but cant seem to get it working now. I am trying to get the email to text feature working and it isnt sending the emails. I have 2 factor set up with my app password and still nothing. Any thoughts?

If you are trying to mail via a google account, it is blocked by google because it is send from a not trusted app. I have the same problem here.

 

[BSA]

Can someone please help me out, should be simple. I've changed router and my pi doesn't have a LAN port, I've also set the PI's IP address as static, so it won't automatically show up on the new router, I can access with the old router though. How do I set it up on the new router? Via putty?

You don't need Putty, just copy "wpa_supplicant.conf" (here you update your wifi name and password) to boot drive of your memory card. put back memory card to the Pi and fire it up. I had just sucessfully update my password.

 

[stefanm]

You don't need Putty, just copy "wpa_supplicant.conf" (here you update your wifi name and password) to boot drive of your memory card. put back memory card to the Pi and fire it up. I had just sucessfully update my password.

Actually I don't want to remove the Sd card as it's a pain to access. I think no I know what to edit it should be possible Via putty.

 

[BSA]

Actually I don't want to remove the Sd card as it's a pain to access. I think no I know what to edit it should be possible Via putty.

OK you can Putty if you still have your old router but for me, i had changed the router password so i had no choice but to take out the Sd Card.

 

[stefanm]

OK you can Putty if you still have your old router but for me, i had changed the router password so i had no choice but to take out the Sd Card.

I've still got the old router connected, without internet. The password is the same for both routers, hopefully it'll work.

 

[Coolhack]

I started at reformat SDcard again and did a complete fresh install.
Without setting up any modules and ONLY selecting the 3 items in the "Configuration" folder Dose-LightingpPCS8685 and pressing "REBOOT"
Here are the log files before and after pressing "REBOOT"

pi@reeftank:~ $ sudo systemctl status reef-pi.service

? reef-pi.service - raspberry pi based reef tank controller
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/reef-pi.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: active (running) since Mon 2019-07-15 12:31:38 AEST; 2min 58s ago
Main PID: 268 (reef-pi)
Memory: 9.3M
CGroup: /system.slice/reef-pi.service
+-268 /usr/bin/reef-pi daemon -config /etc/reef-pi/config.yml

Jul 15 12:31:39 reeftank reef-pi[268]: 2019/07/15 12:31:39 INFO: equipment subsystem: Finished syncing all equipment
Jul 15 12:31:39 reeftank reef-pi[268]: 2019/07/15 12:31:39 Successfully started subsystem: equipment
Jul 15 12:31:40 reeftank reef-pi[268]: 2019/07/15 12:31:40 Successfully started subsystem: timers
Jul 15 12:31:40 reeftank reef-pi[268]: 2019/07/15 12:31:40 Successfully started subsystem: ato
Jul 15 12:31:40 reeftank reef-pi[268]: 2019/07/15 12:31:40 Successfully started subsystem: temperature
Jul 15 12:31:40 reeftank reef-pi[268]: 2019/07/15 12:31:40 Successfully started subsystem: macro
Jul 15 12:31:40 reeftank reef-pi[268]: 2019/07/15 12:31:40 reef-pi is up and running
Jul 15 12:31:40 reeftank reef-pi[268]: 2019/07/15 12:31:40 Starting http server at: 0.0.0.0:80
Jul 15 12:31:40 reeftank reef-pi[268]: 2019/07/15 12:31:40 ERROR: health checker. Failed to load usage. Error: Item 'health_stats' does not exist in bucket '
Jul 15 12:31:40 reeftank reef-pi[268]: 2019/07/15 12:31:40 Starting health checker

*****************************************************************
Error Log file after pressing "REBOOT"

pi@reeftank:~ $ sudo journalctl -fu reef-pi.service
-- Logs begin at Mon 2019-07-15 12:39:55 AEST. --
Jul 15 12:41:28 reeftank systemd[1]: Started raspberry pi based reef tank controller.
Jul 15 12:41:29 reeftank reef-pi[292]: 2019/07/15 12:41:29 Setting pca9685 frquency: 1500
Jul 15 12:41:29 reeftank reef-pi[292]: 2019/07/15 12:41:29 ERROR: Failed to initialize pca9685 driver with mock i2c bus. Error: remote I/O error
Jul 15 12:41:29 reeftank reef-pi[292]: 2019/07/15 12:41:29 ERROR: Failed to initialize controller. Error:remote I/O error
Jul 15 12:41:29 reeftank systemd[1]: reef-pi.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Jul 15 12:41:29 reeftank systemd[1]: reef-pi.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Jul 15 12:44:19 reeftank systemd[1]: reef-pi.service: Service RestartSec=1min 30s expired, scheduling restart.
Jul 15 12:44:19 reeftank systemd[1]: reef-pi.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 1.
Jul 15 12:44:19 reeftank systemd[1]: Stopped raspberry pi based reef tank controller.
Jul 15 12:44:19 reeftank systemd[1]: Started raspberry pi based reef tank controller.
Jul 15 12:44:19 reeftank reef-pi[599]: 2019/07/15 12:44:19 Setting pca9685 frquency: 1500
Jul 15 12:44:19 reeftank reef-pi[599]: 2019/07/15 12:44:19 ERROR: Failed to initialize pca9685 driver with mock i2c bus. Error: remote I/O error
Jul 15 12:44:19 reeftank reef-pi[599]: 2019/07/15 12:44:19 ERROR: Failed to initialize controller. Error:remote I/O error
Jul 15 12:44:19 reeftank systemd[1]: reef-pi.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Jul 15 12:44:19 reeftank systemd[1]: reef-pi.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.

Why are you rebooting and not reloading?

 

[Coolhack]

Hey everyone, me again. I just got these bomb leds for my tank and the power supply for them is 48 volts and 5.2amps out, is there a way to control these with reefpi?

 

[Sral]

Hey everyone, me again. I just got these bomb leds for my tank and the power supply for them is 48 volts and 5.2amps out, is there a way to control these with reefpi?

Absolutely, you just need the right power supply and a n-channel MOSFET that can handle a least 48V and 5.2A. So Maybe one with 60V and 10A.

Depending if you want to dimm them, you should also use an Optocoupled Gate driver to switch those MOSFETs with a PWM signal and maybe a DC/DC converter to bring the 48V down to 5V to run the gate-driver and a few capacitors to protect the power supply from the PWM frequency / fats MOSFET switching.

You could also just run the MOSFET Gate directly from the PI or the PCA9685 PWM chip, but I'm paranoid about that so I wouldn't recommend it ^^

BTW, there are also people that keep more to Meanwell LDD drivers (constant current drivers). There are ups and downs to both. I personally opted for MOSFETs for the constant voltage drive in order to not change the LED color with the dimming, downside is, of course, that you need more kit to drive it.

Here is my DIY LED control thread. Still WIP, but I can quickly draw up a circuit for my project to give you some info. Just ask :)

You can also use the advanced search, just go for "thread Search", enter the DIY Subforum and look for "LED driver".
That gives this thread for example. Might have some info. You can find another few threads linked in my DIY LED control thread.

 

[Coolhack]

Absolutely, you just need the right power supply and a n-channel MOSFET that can handle a least 48V and 5.2A. So Maybe one with 60V and 10A.

Depending if you want to dimm them, you should also use an Optocoupled Gate driver to switch those MOSFETs with a PWM signal and maybe a DC/DC converter to bring the 48V down to 5V to run the gate-driver and a few capacitors to protect the power supply from the PWM frequency / fats MOSFET switching.

You could also just run the MOSFET Gate directly from the PI or the PCA9685 PWM chip, but I'm paranoid about that so I wouldn't recommend it ^^

BTW, there are also people that keep more to Meanwell LDD drivers (constant current drivers). There are ups and downs to both. I personally opted for MOSFETs for the constant voltage drive in order to not change the LED color with the dimming, downside is, of course, that you need more kit to drive it.

Here is my DIY LED control thread. Still WIP, but I can quickly draw up a circuit for my project to give you some info. Just ask :)

You can also use the advanced search, just go for "thread Search", enter the DIY Subforum and look for "LED driver".
That gives this thread for example. Might have some info. You can find another few threads linked in my DIY LED control thread.

I have the 48 inch reefbreeders photon v2 leds w/o internet control. Can i use the power supply provided? I just opened the light up and see that it is 12 volt based.

 

[Coolhack]

Ok, so i took the light apart and have pictures of the inside. I also made a video as well, see if i can't upload it to.

 

[Coolhack]

See if the video uploads. Is there a way to do this without the nexus app upgrade from Reef Breeders?

 

[Sral]

See if the video uploads. Is there a way to do this without the nexus app upgrade from Reef Breeders?

Sadly the video did not upload. I guess it'seither too big or there is a general block on videos.

So just to be sure: you have a Reefbreeders Photon 48-V2 Pro ? That's the only 48 inch v2 version without wifi I could find on their website.
[Edit]: just read through the text, the pro has a WiFi chip inside, the older v2 does not.

So judging from their website, there is for example an Apex VDM integration Kit. I'm pretty sure that this is only a 0-10V PWM input, so that should definitely be an option to integrate with Reef-Pi. Problem is, of course, that it's quite pricey @100$ ^^

Judging from the fact that this is possible and that there is a installation video, you can probably DIY it as well. You could also try to contact the manufacturer and ask if that's possible, just to be sure (as currently for example, the APex VDM modules are out of stock).

I would recommend starting a separate thread for this project, where we can go over the details.

 

[Sral]

Just for reference, there is a dedicated thread to this ^^

 

[Ranjib]

Sadly the video did not upload. I guess it'seither too big or there is a general block on videos.

So just to be sure: you have a Reefbreeders Photon 48-V2 Pro ? That's the only 48 inch v2 version without wifi I could find on their website.
[Edit]: just read through the text, the pro has a WiFi chip inside, the older v2 does not.

So judging from their website, there is for example an Apex VDM integration Kit. I'm pretty sure that this is only a 0-10V PWM input, so that should definitely be an option to integrate with Reef-Pi. Problem is, of course, that it's quite pricey @100$ ^^

Judging from the fact that this is possible and that there is a installation video, you can probably DIY it as well. You could also try to contact the manufacturer and ask if that's possible, just to be sure (as currently for example, the APex VDM modules are out of stock).

I would recommend starting a separate thread for this project, where we can go over the details.

Use YouTube for video, and link it in your thread. Use the dedicated thread to continue the discussion .

 

[Ranjib]

last week I revisited my dosing setup. For long I wanted the dc pumps to be controllable manually . Both speed and direction. This is useful in initial setup (direction ) and calibration . But rarely required once things are dialed in. The manual off also provides some safety and convenience during maintenance.
here is the new design , with a dc motor controller inside the peristaltic pump housing. This allows direction and speed control without any external input .

Side view

Front view

So far , happy with the outcome . For ato this does not matter since the flow rate (100ml/min) is fairly small , even for pico tanks . But for dosing this can be handy , as I can tune in the speed to match /calibrate a required rate . Direction control is handy too.
I have published the 3D designs in thingiverse if any of you are interested , https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5508550
And here is the controller I’m using in this build , 3$ a piece , https://a.co/d/ejsbYMu