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

[LionHeart2017]

https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=peristaltic+pump+nema+17&dwh=985bf5bf33bfd6b

PLenty of options to 3D print peristaltic heads for Nema 17 steppers.......

I so would like a 3d printer, those pumps look proper good, not like the plastic generic China ones

 

[Des Westcott]

I've been making great strides with my lighting lately.

First, I got that "Black Box" light working by adding Meanwell PWM drivers and running it off a PiZero using the two built in PWM channels. That worked very well and I have passed the light on to a young local reefer setting up a small frag system to supplement his student income.

Second, I connected up one channel of my 5-channel DIY light with new PWM driver to the PiZero on the built it PWM and it worked! First time I have got that right with that light. Next step was to try get that same test channel working with the PCA9685 board so that I can set up all 5 channels. FAIL! I can't get it to work. I have checked and double checked connections against Ranjib's guide as well other Adafruit PCA9685 guides and no go. I have checked that PCA9685 is enabled in Reef-Pi. I have checked that the config.txt is correct. I have also now had to try run it off the Pi3 running my main system (because the PiZero is gone) and have double checked everything again. Still nothing. My next step is to connect it to the PI3 built in PWM channel and see if it works like it did on the Zero, but I'm sure it should.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow of how I've got it connected up and I'd appreciate anyone pointing me in the right direction to get this sorted out.

 

[ScottBrew]

https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=peristaltic+pump+nema+17&dwh=985bf5bf33bfd6b

PLenty of options to 3D print peristaltic heads for Nema 17 steppers.......

I so would like a 3d printer, those pumps look proper good, not like the plastic generic China ones

I know what I am asking Santa for this year! ;Smuggrin

 

[LionHeart2017]

I've been making great strides with my lighting lately.

First, I got that "Black Box" light working by adding Meanwell PWM drivers and running it off a PiZero using the two built in PWM channels. That worked very well and I have passed the light on to a young local reefer setting up a small frag system to supplement his student income.

Second, I connected up one channel of my 5-channel DIY light with new PWM driver to the PiZero on the built it PWM and it worked! First time I have got that right with that light. Next step was to try get that same test channel working with the PCA9685 board so that I can set up all 5 channels. FAIL! I can't get it to work. I have checked and double checked connections against Ranjib's guide as well other Adafruit PCA9685 guides and no go. I have checked that PCA9685 is enabled in Reef-Pi. I have checked that the config.txt is correct. I have also now had to try run it off the Pi3 running my main system (because the PiZero is gone) and have double checked everything again. Still nothing. My next step is to connect it to the PI3 built in PWM channel and see if it works like it did on the Zero, but I'm sure it should.

I'll post some pictures tomorrow of how I've got it connected up and I'd appreciate anyone pointing me in the right direction to get this sorted out.

That's good on the black boxes, I'm using them myself, looking for different ways to power each panel myself, I have some mean wells myself to mess with when I can.

On the PWM side, there analog, digital, 0-10v, 1-10v, plus more, something to think about with what you have and what you know was working is just double check what you doing/using.

I only just realised the other day about 0-10v and 1-10v, never even noticed they was different

 

[That Crusso Kid]

https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=peristaltic+pump+nema+17&dwh=985bf5bf33bfd6b

PLenty of options to 3D print peristaltic heads for Nema 17 steppers.......

Very, very cool! Thanks for the comment @Des Westcott !

Like @LionHeart2017 , I also lack a 3D printer. I am hoping to have one and know how to use it by the time I build out my reef-pi. However, in case I do not have the 3D printer, I'd still be curious as to what @Mwdsonny will be using.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

I know what I am asking Santa for this year! ;Smuggrin

@ScottBrew - very cool! Let us know which one "Santa" brings you. You think "he'll" bring a less expensive one like a Geeetech or a more fancy one like a FormLabs, MakerBot or Zortrax?

 

[Ranjib]

I know what I am asking Santa for this year! ;Smuggrin

Same here :-)

 

[Mwdsonny]

Very, very cool! Thanks for the comment @Des Westcott !

Like @LionHeart2017 , I also lack a 3D printer. I am hoping to have one and know how to use it by the time I build out my reef-pi. However, in case I do not have the 3D printer, I'd still be curious as to what @Mwdsonny will be using.

I was planning to look at 3d printing a pump head for a nema 17 motor, but ive also sourced them online as well. heres a cheap one for a nema 17.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Min...lgo_pvid=16ed0bab-deca-45a1-b6b3-ed8d6af11672

 

[LionHeart2017]

I was planning to look at 3d printing a pump head for a nema 17 motor, but ive also sourced them online as well. heres a cheap one for a nema 17.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Min...lgo_pvid=16ed0bab-deca-45a1-b6b3-ed8d6af11672

Some nice options on there for dosing, pity aquarium manufacturers mainly use the white generic ones, I'm not a fan of them

 

[Ryan115]

I am an electrician by trade, but the control/calibrate part I need help with, once I get it working Ill do a writeup and wiring setup for yall. just want to make sure it works correctly with the software. Im currently using my pi to control my 3d printer. but the printer has its own control board, just using the pi as a iot connection instead of connecting it directly to my laptop. Waiting on my 2nd pi 3 (this one will be a 3+ where current is original 3). and ordered a 8 relay station thats 3.3 volt turnon to run directly off gpio pins. to make it easy.

What relay system did you get? Driving the relays directly with the 3.3V may not work out, as you can only source a few mA from each pin.
Most boards I've seen will use a higher (5 or 12VDC) supply and are triggered by the GPIO.

 

[Dave's Reef]

Ok guys another million dollar probably a stupid question but my PWM is working backwards 99% is 0 and 1% is 100 not sure why it worked before

 

[Michael Lane]

Ok guys another million dollar probably a stupid question but my PWM is working backwards 99% is 0 and 1% is 100 not sure why it worked before

That sounds like Active High vs Active Low. You should be able to change the Behavior property to fix this. If you are using 1.x, the field is called Reverse.

 

[Dave's Reef]

That sounds like Active High vs Active Low. You should be able to change the Behavior property to fix this. If you are using 1.x, the field is called Reverse.

Awesome thanks I'll give that a try tomorrow

 

[Ranjib]

Ok guys another million dollar probably a stupid question but my PWM is working backwards 99% is 0 and 1% is 100 not sure why it worked before

Tinker with two settings: Active High/ Active Low, and start value (try setting it to 1)

 

[b4tn]

What would you all consider safe temperature for the raspberry and circuitry? While testing I have one of my probes in the box with the lid off and it’s running about 85 degrees ambient. I don’t have my doser motors out yet so I’m running a 12 volt computer fan on my dosing schedule. Just out of curiosity I put the fan in the box and temps dropped from 85 down to 70 with the fan blowing at 75% every 2 minutes for 10 seconds lol. I’m thinking about getting a ds18b20 in transistor form factor to mount to my hat and use it to control a small box fan.

 

[ScottBrew]

What would you all consider safe temperature for the raspberry and circuitry? While testing I have one of my probes in the box with the lid off and it’s running about 85 degrees ambient. I don’t have my doser motors out yet so I’m running a 12 volt computer fan on my dosing schedule. Just out of curiosity I put the fan in the box and temps dropped from 85 down to 70 with the fan blowing at 75% every 2 minutes for 10 seconds lol. I’m thinking about getting a ds18b20 in transistor form factor to mount to my hat and use it to control a small box fan.

What's the temperature readout in the toolbar of the pi saying? Mine is at 51-52 degrees C.

 

[Ranjib]

Hi all, reef-pi 2.0 is out, here is the release post: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reef-pi-2-0-release-announcement.508835/
Thank you all for everybit of contribution, from build a reef-pi controller and testing it out to supporting others in this thread.

Happy thanks giving

 

[ScottBrew]

Hi all, reef-pi 2.0 is out, here is the release post: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reef-pi-2-0-release-announcement.508835/
Thank you all for everybit of contribution, from build a reef-pi controller and testing it out to supporting others in this thread.

Happy thanks giving

Awesome! Thank YOU for all the hard work you do with this project!!! Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy the time with your family.

 

[ScottBrew]

What would you all consider safe temperature for the raspberry and circuitry? While testing I have one of my probes in the box with the lid off and it’s running about 85 degrees ambient. I don’t have my doser motors out yet so I’m running a 12 volt computer fan on my dosing schedule. Just out of curiosity I put the fan in the box and temps dropped from 85 down to 70 with the fan blowing at 75% every 2 minutes for 10 seconds lol. I’m thinking about getting a ds18b20 in transistor form factor to mount to my hat and use it to control a small box fan.

if you are running a pi zero, try the command /opt/vc/bin/vcgencmd measure_temp Here is my result.

 

[b4tn]

if you are running a pi zero, try the command /opt/vc/bin/vcgencmd measure_temp Here is my result.

39.2 degrees with the fan blowing on it. I’m just curious when is temp critical? I am sure once I put a lid on the box temp will go up.