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

Ranjib · Oct 11, 2022

DWKDiver said:
did restart reload etc. cant backup the database if you cant get into the configuration tab!!!

Database is in /var/lb/reef-pi , you can also manually copy it over

Ranjib · Oct 11, 2022

Ranjib said:
Database is in /var/lb/reef-pi , you can also manually copy it over

And introspect what’s in there with the reef-pi db command

Ranjib · Oct 11, 2022

eggi55 said:
Hi Ranjib
can you tell me where you got the case from?

Amazon. Search for project enclosure box
Like this : https://a.co/d/e3Da3i4

They come in various sizes . Very durable and feels awesome to touch . They are hard to work with , 3.5mm jack connectors require some extra filing to mount , the thickness is bit higher .
That extra work , and cost is what drove me to 3D printing . But then 3D printed wants are less durable and can not be on hot / humid areas (pla that i use )

eggi55 · Oct 11, 2022

Ranjib said:
Amazon. Search for project enclosure box
Like this : https://a.co/d/e3Da3i4

They come in various sizes . Very durable and feels awesome to touch . They are hard to work with , 3.5mm jack connectors require some extra filing to mount , the thickness is bit higher .
That extra work , and cost is what drove me to 3D printing . But then 3D printed wants are less durable and can not be on hot / humid areas (pla that i use )

thanks
i would like to use 4 dosing pumps with your laso 2 x 2 setup because i have used up almost all gpio but didn't want to use another raspi i would like to use an extension with the mcp 23017 but need help on how i use the mcp or if he can the reef-pi works together.

Ranjib · Oct 11, 2022

weilerda said:
does anyone know if stepper driver board is needed to run stepper pump? Or can reef pi handle it. Trying to figure out what is needed and how to wire. I looked at the video posted on here but am still confused. I see the driver in reef pi but am unsure how it works. Appreciate any help or guidance. I have robo tank v3 if that makes any difference with the latest version of reef pi.

@Ranjib and @robsworld78

You will need a dedicated stepper driver , in fact I have only tested my setup with drv8825 . In the ui you have to associate 5 outlets (could be pi gpio ) that controls direction , microstepping details and speed (step pin )

Ranjib · Oct 11, 2022

eggi55 said:
thanks
i would like to use 4 dosing pumps with your laso 2 x 2 setup because i have used up almost all gpio but didn't want to use another raspi i would like to use an extension with the mcp 23017 but need help on how i use the mcp or if he can the reef-pi works together.

I think we’ll need a driver for mcp23017 , it will not work as it is

eggi55 · Oct 11, 2022

Ranjib said:
I think we’ll need a driver for mcp23017 , it will not work as it is

oh it was just a suggestion do you have another solution to eg. to extend gpio ?
if it doesn't work then I use the pwm and don't run forwards and backwards

geekengineer · Oct 11, 2022

hmm I guess I didn't realize there wasn't support of a I2C IO expander. Not sure if I might need that also, but I haven't planned out the main controller a whole ton yet. Sort of depends on were I put my dossers as well and if I change them to a stepper or something more compatible. Currently I have one I built a while back that uses it's own I2C slave interface that I made up to be a bit similar to the atlas-scientific ones (other than one controller runs four motors) using one of those tiny aurdino boards. That way the on-off timing can be more accurate. I suspect I would have to write my own driver for that setup however.

eggi55 · Oct 12, 2022

If anyone is interested, if I set up moon fahse and set up e.g. lunar (moon phase), I can switch from auto to manual but no longer to auto. I have to delete moonlight and set it up again means re-enter lunar. use 5.3

geekengineer · Oct 12, 2022

eggi55 said:
If anyone is interested, if I set up moon fahse and set up e.g. lunar (moon phase), I can switch from auto to manual but no longer to auto. I have to delete moonlight and set it up again means re-enter lunar. use 5.3

So is that for reef-pi? like a macro?

eggi55 · Oct 12, 2022

geekengineer said:
So is that for reef-pi? like a macro?

eggi55 · Oct 12, 2022

runs under lights

DWKDiver · Oct 12, 2022

Ranjib said:
Generallg reload reef-pi should be enough , any configuration change requires reef-pi software reload . Sometime this (software reload ) does not work , hence we reboot pi. But that’s should not be common , if so, it’s a bug and I should look into it.

I deleted the db and reprogrammed. It works fine now.

But my pi3b+ seems to disconnect from wifi every few days. Trying to track that down.

Thanks

Ranjib · Oct 13, 2022

DWKDiver said:
I deleted the db and reprogrammed. It works fine now.

But my pi3b+ seems to disconnect from wifi every few days. Trying to track that down.

Thanks

Power ? Does it show under voltage warnings ?

Ranjib · Oct 13, 2022

eggi55 said:
If anyone is interested, if I set up moon fahse and set up e.g. lunar (moon phase), I can switch from auto to manual but no longer to auto. I have to delete moonlight and set it up again means re-enter lunar. use 5.3

this Is a bug ? If so, I should get it fixed before 6.0 release

robsworld78 · Oct 13, 2022

weilerda said:
does anyone know if stepper driver board is needed to run stepper pump? Or can reef pi handle it. Trying to figure out what is needed and how to wire. I looked at the video posted on here but am still confused. I see the driver in reef pi but am unsure how it works. Appreciate any help or guidance. I have robo tank v3 if that makes any difference with the latest version of reef pi.

@Ranjib and @robsworld78,

Yeah you'll need to add a stepper motor driver, the drv8825 is what's been tested so far. This will require 5 GPIO's, on the main controller if you have a DB9 connector not being used you can get 5 GPIO's from it. Here's a link to a guide showing how to connect the stepper motor to the GPIO's, instead of connecting directly to the Pi header you go the DB9 as those are direct.

Raspberry Pi Stepper Motor Tutorial | Rototron

Dual rotating control panel MAME cabinet plus hobby projects and tutorials for Raspberry Pi, arcade and electronics.

www.rototron.info

Here's a link showing the pinouts of the DB9's on the controller and a table at the bottom of the page showing which GPIO number they are.

Robo-Tank Controller Wiring Diagrams.docx

Controller Wiring Diagrams Safety Reminder READ & FOLLOW ALL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS DANGER Never handle electrical equipment with wet hands special care should be taken since water is employed in the use of aquarium equipment Do not attempt repairs to commercial equipment yourself...

docs.google.com

In reef-pi you setup those GPIO's as an "outlet connector", if you ran my install script they'll already be set like that so you can go directly to the doser tab and add it.