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

[Matt Carden]

Are you saying that pi 3 comes with 2 pwm port already? Without any other parts.

I only need 2 0-10v for my mars aqua. One for blue, one for white.

How can I wire these to the pi? Obviously ground would go to the pi ground. What about the + wire?

I didnt receive my pi yet but try to gather info so I know what to do when it gets here.

I have 3 SB reeflights configured for control by Apex, also with 2 channel control needed. I am now having a hard time stomaching $800 on an Apex. I am therefore interested in the same question above. I want the ability to ramp the lights up and down(sunrise sunset).

 

[Thomas J Loeper]

Yes. Pi 3 and Pi zero both comes with two hardware timers (PWMs). I have detailed how to enable it here: https://learn.adafruit.com/reef-pi-installation-and-configuration/raspberry-pi-configuration
After you have configured it, you can declare jacks (PWM connectors) in reef-pi to use those two pins by slecting driver as "rpi" (other option is to use PCA9685), and pin number 0 (for GPIO 18) or 1 (for GPIO 19). Rember, Pi's pwm are 3.3V , unlike PCA9685 which is 5V. But this should not make any difference in most cases (since we use NPN transistor or meanwell drivers to convert that Pi/PCA9685 pwm to 10V or something else suitable for the LED lights, and both NPN transistor or meanwell drivers work on 3.3V pwm just fine)
let me know if you have any more questions

I didn't know the Pi's PWM ran at 3.3v. With the Pi's PWM running at 3.3v they may be able to directly control Ocean Revive T-247 and possibly Viparspectra lights (they appear to use the same timer/controller). Here is a guy that is controlling a Ocean Revive T-247 with an Arduino at 3.3v PWM:

Do you think the Pi could do the same without additional circuitry?

 

[Ranjib]

I didn't know the Pi's PWM ran at 3.3v. With the Pi's PWM running at 3.3v they may be able to directly control Ocean Revive T-247 and possibly Viparspectra lights (they appear to use the same timer/controller). Here is a guy that is controlling a Ocean Revive T-247 with an Arduino at 3.3v PWM:

Do you think the Pi could do the same without additional circuitry?

I think it will work. If you do end up testing /building this, remember you can tune the pwm frequency in reef-pi, and I think you will need this. I’ll double check the video and see if I can zoom in and get the pwm frequency

 

[Thomas J Loeper]

I think it will work. If you do end up testing /building this, remember you can tune the pwm frequency in reef-pi, and I think you will need this. I’ll double check the video and see if I can zoom in and get the pwm frequency

I was able to zoom in and see that his scope was indicating a frequency of 1KHz. I wonder if he copied the frequency from the light's controller or if he went with it because it just worked. Either way, it appears to work just fine.

I am currently planning a 40b build and was down to selecting either the SB 32" Basic or the Viparspectra 300w light. I watched videos on how to modify a SB light to use a controller and I was leaning this direction because of it. However, after seeing this video, I feel a Viparspectra light can also be easily modified. Decisions... decisions... Either way, I will definitely be using the Reef Pi as a controller. If I try out the Viparspectra light I will be sure to let everyone know how it works out.

 

[b4tn]

I was able to zoom in and see that his scope was indicating a frequency of 1KHz. I wonder if he copied the frequency from the light's controller or if he went with it because it just worked. Either way, it appears to work just fine.

I am currently planning a 40b build and was down to selecting either the SB 32" Basic or the Viparspectra 300w light. I watched videos on how to modify a SB light to use a controller and I was leaning this direction because of it. However, after seeing this video, I feel a Viparspectra light can also be easily modified. Decisions... decisions... Either way, I will definitely be using the Reef Pi as a controller. If I try out the Viparspectra light I will be sure to let everyone know how it works out.

Keep us informed. I looked into this as well for the OR lights but scrapped the plan barbecue the lights would only dim to 10% then you had to switch them off with a relay or mosfet.

 

[JDowns]

That s interesting. My issue is my head unit is shot so i can t get anything from it.

If I understand it correctly, two wire provides power to each module. The 2 other are for signal.

Would you know what kind of power each module use?

If I power the module directly, would it be possible to connect the 2 other wire to the pi and get control of the module thru reef pi?

I am complete newbie on that stuff so bare with me please.

I just ordered my pi 3 B+. My next step is to figure out if DA modules can be reused.

If I remember correctly VCC/GND originate from the PB4, the daisy chain is the first PB4 channel 1 to the head unit, then ports 2->1->2-> etc. Then one of the modules had to be last, can't remember if it was Temp or Salinity. Can't remember if VCC was 5v or 3.3V. But I'm pretty sure the I2C would work whether the SDA/SCL lines were either.

I couldn't find my drive or at least locate the project on one of them. But I was able to find an old box with RKL gear in it. It won't take too much effort to recreate the library, but I can't promise on time since I'm simply bogged down with personal projects at the moment.

You can have my old head unit when I'm done testing if you want it.

 

[b4tn]

For those that built their own power outlet strips. I’m having a hard time finding a box to house the outlets. I can find 4 gang outlet boxes for interior walls for cheap all day but they are ugly lol. I was thinking to get a project box but cutting clean square holes would be a challenge and I don’t think it would hold the outlets very sturdy. I found some external mount 4 gang boxes but at $70 I don’t want to drop the coin. Any ideas?

 

[hockeyhead019]

Looking for a little help now.

I have my Pi 3 all booted up, successfully running SSH and got the reef-pi build installed via the instructions, however I cannot get to the reef-pi login page? I've tried both the IP address identified from the Pi (ifconfig from the terminal) and the renamed.local. I'm attempting to reach the page from a PC via Firefox that is on the same wifi network as the pi. I get a "Unable to connect" page in firefox.

I assume I'm missing something pretty simple lol. Just hoping somebody can help point me to what that is.

 

[ScottBrew]

Radio shack project box on Amazon is what I used. 8x6x3 I believe is the size. It's a little bit thin but once all put together was surprisingly stout. Comes with a plastic cover and an aluminum cover that goes over the plastic one.

For those that built their own power outlet strips. I’m having a hard time finding a box to house the outlets. I can find 4 gang outlet boxes for interior walls for cheap all day but they are ugly lol. I was thinking to get a project box but cutting clean square holes would be a challenge and I don’t think it would hold the outlets very sturdy. I found some external mount 4 gang boxes but at $70 I don’t want to drop the coin. Any ideas?

 

[ScottBrew]

Try the

Looking for a little help now.

I have my Pi 3 all booted up, successfully running SSH and got the reef-pi build installed via the instructions, however I cannot get to the reef-pi login page? I've tried both the IP address identified from the Pi (ifconfig from the terminal) and the renamed.local. I'm attempting to reach the page from a PC via Firefox that is on the same wifi network as the pi. I get a "Unable to connect" page in firefox.

I assume I'm missing something pretty simple lol. Just hoping somebody can help point me to what that is.

IP address with the port number, should be 80, so an example, 192.168.0.100:80 but whatever your IP is. Ssh is a secure shell, you would use that with a command line, not the browser.

 

[hockeyhead019]

Try the

IP address with the port number, should be 80, so an example, 192.168.0.100:80 but whatever your IP is. Ssh is a secure shell, you would use that with a command line, not the browser.

Thanks for the answer. How do I figure out what port I'm on? I have port forwarding turned on my router for my xbox, and port 80 is listed there. I don't see "Port" listed anywhere in the ifconfig for the pi?

I'm able to connect via SSH on port 22 but cannot seem to connect to the pi through the browser with the IP:22

 

[Erica-Renee]

Thanks for the answer. How do I figure out what port I'm on? I have port forwarding turned on my router for my xbox, and port 80 is listed there. I don't see "Port" listed anywhere in the ifconfig for the pi?

I'm able to connect via SSH on port 22 but cannot seem to connect to the pi through the browser with the IP:22

when you connect thru ssh you are typing in a PORT Number.. If you just type that same port number into your browser it should load the reef-pi web interface.. The Reef-pi gui is nothing more then a web page in simple terms.
you can get the raspberry pi address by typeing either in ssh or directly on the pi itself by typing ifconfig ... at the cmd

I think i typed all of that right .. sometimes i forget unless i am typing at it .

 

[hockeyhead019]

when you connect thru ssh you are typing in a PORT Number.. If you just type that same port number into your browser it should load the reef-pi web interface.. The Reef-pi gui is nothing more then a web page in simple terms.
you can get the raspberry pi address by typeing either in ssh or directly on the pi itself by typing ifconfig ... at the cmd

I think i typed all of that right .. sometimes i forget unless i am typing at it .

No dice :/ same set of numbers I punch into PuTTY (windows SSH handler I'm using) I get a error loading the web page. PuTTY successfully connects and I have verified that I'm actually SSH'ing.

 

[Erica-Renee]

No dice :/ same set of numbers I punch into PuTTY (windows SSH handler I'm using) I get a error loading the web page. PuTTY successfully connects and I have verified that I'm actually SSH'ing.

Try Clearing the browser history, rebooting the Computer and Router..

you have checked to be sure pi is running right . Using the troubleshooting guide on how to stop and restart reef-pi ?

 

[hockeyhead019]

Hmmmm I'm not even sure what I did... but now I have the login page! Lol. All I did was go through and double check all the steps in the configuration guide and reboot the pi. Now it appears I'm good to go, so I must have missed a step somewhere. I apologize for the silly posts, I should have double checked the procedure on everything prior to posting.

Thanks for the quick responses @Erica-Renee and @ScottBrew

 

[b4tn]

Radio shack project box on Amazon is what I used. 8x6x3 I believe is the size. It's a little bit thin but once all put together was surprisingly stout. Comes with a plastic cover and an aluminum cover that goes over the plastic one.

That’s perfect! Thanks.

 

[Erica-Renee]

For those that built their own power outlet strips. I’m having a hard time finding a box to house the outlets. I can find 4 gang outlet boxes for interior walls for cheap all day but they are ugly lol. I was thinking to get a project box but cutting clean square holes would be a challenge and I don’t think it would hold the outlets very sturdy. I found some external mount 4 gang boxes but at $70 I don’t want to drop the coin. Any ideas?

This.. Is so much a issue for me.. at 70.00 for that box . even 25.00 ..
I have 3 3d printers in my Cart on Amazon the only reason (as of this moment ) One will not be on my front porch Sunday is i CAN NOT MAKE UP MY MIND. My wife is like Just buy all 3 and send the two you do not like back and SHUT UP!!!

This is worse the finding the perfect BRA..

 

[paphater]

I'm in the game! ;Woot It's probably the last time I'll order from adafruit but after three weeks I'll finally be able to start my build.

 

[hockeyhead019]

I'm in the game! ;Woot It's probably the last time I'll order from adafruit but after three weeks I'll finally be able to start my build.

Welcome, it's a fun place to be :)

 

[Erica-Renee]

I'm in the game! ;Woot It's probably the last time I'll order from adafruit but after three weeks I'll finally be able to start my build.

Awesome the more people the more fun.. Just be aware i am Blonde and type to much . But on the good side some of it its Useful..