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

[Ranjib]

I will await the arrival of the first 2 boards and if they're ok I will order this PWM module for testing :cool: (the strange text behind 'Detected' in the 1st picture is from the PDF converter). The board size is 56x85mm, should fit on the PI HAT and cost for 10 of these PCB's is 1.73 Eur ex shipment from supplier.

You only have to populate the resistors, transistors and connectors for the number of PWM signals you need ;)

this looks very nice :-)
pca9685 will be soldered by the user ?

 

[wykat]

this looks very nice :)
pca9685 will be soldered by the user ?

Let me test it myself, I think it will not be that difficult since these boards have masks and it should be easier to solder a larger SMT component versus the small resistors, capacitors and transistors. I've done it at long time ago with a microchip controller myself. The trick is to mount the edges to align the chip, then it's easy.

The problem with small SMT components is that they can't be hold and often get 'stuck' to the solder and move from the board. This is a lot easier with larger chips.

This comes very close to my experience:

 

[Ranjib]

Let me test it myself, I think it will not be that difficult since these boards have masks and it should be easier to solder a larger SMT component versus the small resistors, capacitors and transistors. I've done it at long time ago with a microchip controller myself. The trick is to mount the edges to align the chip, then it's easy.

The problem with small SMT components is that they can't be hold and often get 'stuck' to the solder and move from the board. This is a lot easier with larger chips.

This comes very close to my experience:

Interesting. If its not very hard, I'll definitely give this a shot.
Do you have a single place with all the design files? I would love to tinker with some,

 

[wykat]

Interesting. If its not very hard, I'll definitely give this a shot.
Do you have a single place with all the design files? I would love to tinker with some,

I can share the design files but I don't have a place to share and no experience with sites such as github, etc. If somebody has a place to share I can move it there.

Give me some time, I will order a fix IP and then I can use my own webserver (and email) again. A good reason for this as I wanted to do this already for a long time ;)

 

[Ranjib]

I can share the design files but I don't have a place to share and no experience with sites such as github, etc. If somebody has a place to share I can move it there.

if you are ok with it, I can create a repository in github, and you can check in the design files. You have to create a github profile (all of this is free).

 

[wykat]

if you are ok with it, I can create a repository in github, and you can check in the design files. You have to create a github profile (all of this is free).

Will look into github as well then. I did already send a request for a fix IP to my provider (they don't offer it in their add on services, but have confirmed that they can provide)

 

[Brad Cox]

So can i update to 2.0 from 1.5 without changing anything?

 

[Ranjib]

So can i update to 2.0 from 1.5 without changing anything?

oh.. from 1.5 to 2.0 will require changing things for sure, its a major version change.
I'll say wait for 2.0 final release, if you are not into testing things. these are beta releases and likely to have bugs etc. We'll have a decent migration guide for 1.x to 2.0 as part of final release

 

[Ranjib]

Will look into github as well then. I did already send a request for a fix IP to my provider (they don't offer it in their add on services, but have confirmed that they can provide)

there's a whole ecosystem of web services for free for open source projects, including hosting code, documentation, design files etc. reef-pi website itself is hosted by github. Hosting your own web server will be lot more work with less reliability/functionalities, compared to the opensource ecosysten (github, thingiverse, learn.adafruit.com etc)

 

[Brad Cox]

oh.. from 1.5 to 2.0 will require changing things for sure, its a major version change.
I'll say wait for 2.0 final release, if you are not into testing things. these are beta releases and likely to have bugs etc. We'll have a decent migration guide for 1.x to 2.0 as part of final release

Will do.

I hope to get the hat and get all my reefpi into one enclosure to neating things up.

Im also wanting to use another reefpi on a seperate pi to water my christmas tree this year :)

 

[Ranjib]

Will do.

I hope to get the hat and get all my reefpi into one enclosure to neating things up.

Im also wanting to use another reefpi on a seperate pi to water my christmas tree this year :)

Thats one of the reason I try to make major releases in/around the Christmas. My Christmas lighting is always powered by reef-pi :-)

 

[Brad Cox]

Thats one of the reason I try to make major releases in/around the Christmas. My Christmas lighting is always powered by reef-pi :-)

That would be intereting to see!

 

[sjeff35]

Hello hiveminds,
I have cut a new 2.0 beta release for reef-pi just now. This release bring loads of new features and some bug fixes. Some major changes include:
Features:

• Macro sub-system
• All connectors (jacks, inlets and outlets) and equipment are now editable via UI
• reset password through command line
• light profiles (diurnal, auto and manual)

Bugfixes:

• pca9685 allows all 16 channels

Some other technical chores:

• Better error messages in UI
• Dashboard configuration moved to dashboard itself
• Navigation UI overhauled
• edit/update button alignment across all module UIs

Release builds can be found in usual location: https://github.com/reef-pi/reef-pi/releases/tag/2.0.0-beta-7

Please help us testing out the 2.x beta builds, every bit of testing would help/benefit rest of the community. I don't expect many big breaking changes after this. I'll work on some validation and editable timer/doser next, but dont expect those to break anything existing. In short, this is very much what the final 2.0 release will look like, except with bug fixes (if we find any).
I believe you'll like the UI better, I am overhauling the UI as part of 2.0 release, and I think now its nearing completion. The navigation /tabs have refreshed look now, configuration tab is little bit different (and I hope you all like it better).
Theres a command line way to reset password now, this should help get out of those tricky situations where you lost the password, without erasing the whole database.
The macro feature is perhaps the most powerful feature I have implented in reef-pi till now. I expect it to evolve a lot, but even the basic implementation that we have now should unlock lot of new use cases. I'll make follow up posts on it as I run it through my builds..
happy reefing

I created a small Macro for testing:

When I ran it, this is what I got:

 

[Erica-Renee]

there's a whole ecosystem of web services for free for open source projects, including hosting code, documentation, design files etc. reef-pi website itself is hosted by github. Hosting your own web server will be lot more work with less reliability/functionalities, compared to the opensource ecosysten (github, thingiverse, learn.adafruit.com etc)

This is why I moved my Company to a Professional Web Host instead of on my Home server . My Website (ericaremodel.com) Loads Much faster . My email is Routed Quicker , My Accounting Software which is written is API Driven ,web server is Blazing fast. Professional SSL With Guaranttee Protection for Customers Personal Information . It cast me about 4.00 a month paid two years up front..

 

[Erica-Renee]

I created a small Macro for testing:

When I ran it, this is what I got:

I will try to do some testing this evening . I have to clean up the Back of my Van a bit. Stupid Insurance risk assessment coming this week. Always Something

 

[sjeff35]

I created a small Macro for testing:

When I ran it, this is what I got:

It actually did stop the RETURN , but never turned it back on.

Just noticed it says it's still running.

 

[Brad Cox]

This is why I moved my Company to a Professional Web Host instead of on my Home server . My Website (ericaremodel.com) Loads Much faster . My email is Routed Quicker , My Accounting Software which is written is API Driven ,web server is Blazing fast. Professional SSL With Guaranttee Protection for Customers Personal Information . It cast me about 4.00 a month paid two years up front..

Who does your hosting?

 

[Ranjib]

I created a small Macro for testing:

When I ran it, this is what I got:

Likely a bug, does it work without the wait step. I am looking into it right now.

 

[sjeff35]

Likely a bug, does it work without the wait step. I am looking into it right now.

@Ranjib Is there a way to kill the running Macro?

Thanks

 

[Ranjib]

It actually did stop the RETURN , but never turned it back on.

Just noticed it says it's still running.

Macro actions are not automatically revert back. Your configuration look right, and I think because the wait step failed, it the last step which turns the motor back on is skipped.
The UI is refreshed automatically at 10 seconds interval, so give it a time (or do a explicit refresh in browser)