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

[b4tn]

The tank is finally switched over and running on the Adafruit Motor Hat and a Pi Zero W.
Currently my ATO is running on a AquaLifter, but I would like to move it over to a peristaltic pump (or DC motor diaphragm pump) running on one of the motor outputs on the hat. Those are basically TB6612s run off of the PCA9685.
Is there any way to define then PWM pins as equipment pins to be able to use them for this, or any other work around that I am missing?

That’s pretty sweet. So you just select pca9865 in the driver area of the ui and it will run the stepper motor from this board?

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

So I have read that some people are not liking the 3.5mm stereo plugs. I have always used switch craft plugs and they are fantastic. I actually have some on the way to replaced the temporary ones i have on my probes currently. I know they a bit expensive but you cannot go wrong with a quality plug.

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/502-35HDNN

 

[b4tn]

So I have read that some people are not liking the 3.5mm stereo plugs. I have always used switch craft plugs and they are fantastic. I actually have some on the way to replaced the temporary ones i have on my probes currently. I know they a bit expensive but you cannot go wrong with a quality plug.

https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/502-35HDNN

I did not have issues with the make plug at all. It was the female plugs that failed or shorted internally.

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

I did not have issues with the make plug at all. It was the female plugs that failed or shorted internally.

The female plugs I used as temps are trash just like the males.

 

[sfgabe]

The female plugs I used as temps are trash just like the males.

Same experience with a bag of them from amazon. Seems impossible to know the quality before you buy them. About 1/3 of the 20 pack I got were actually usable, and it took a lot of soldering and unsoldering to figure that out.

 

[b4tn]

Is this timer set up wrong? I am having issues for long term timer operation. If I set a device to turn on at say 12:30 then turn off after 120 seconds I have no issues. But if I have something timed to turn on at 12 and off 8 hours later it never works after the 8 hour period. I checked voltage at the gpio pin and am getting 3.3 volts so it’s not the relay getting stuck it’s like the timer is not working

 

[Ranjib]

Is this timer set up wrong? I am having issues for long term timer operation. If I set a device to turn on at say 12:30 then turn off after 120 seconds I have no issues. But if I have something timed to turn on at 12 and off 8 hours later it never works after the 8 hour period. I checked voltage at the gpio pin and am getting 3.3 volts so it’s not the relay getting stuck it’s like the timer is not working

Minute should be 1 or a fixed value, not *, that implies every minute

 

[Ranjib]

Minute should be 1 or a fixed value, not *, that implies every minute

you should also reload reef-pi after you fixed the timer, else it may have lot of undone go routines (threads that have been kicked off every minute since you have enabled this timer and waiting for 8 hours to finish)

 

[ScottBrew]

Is this timer set up wrong? I am having issues for long term timer operation. If I set a device to turn on at say 12:30 then turn off after 120 seconds I have no issues. But if I have something timed to turn on at 12 and off 8 hours later it never works after the 8 hour period. I checked voltage at the gpio pin and am getting 3.3 volts so it’s not the relay getting stuck it’s like the timer is not working

Can you use a turn off command instead? So, turn on and stay on, then another timer for turn off and stay off.

 

[speedstar]

Is this timer set up wrong? I am having issues for long term timer operation. If I set a device to turn on at say 12:30 then turn off after 120 seconds I have no issues. But if I have something timed to turn on at 12 and off 8 hours later it never works after the 8 hour period. I checked voltage at the gpio pin and am getting 3.3 volts so it’s not the relay getting stuck it’s like the timer is not working

I had an issue where my MH wouldn't turn off occasionally, I have to believe for me it had something to do with my relay pack and direct driving it at 3.3V once I swapped to using transistor drive theULN chip and 5v all my problems went away no issues for past 5 weeks.

 

[Jonathan Troutt]

I had an issue where my MH wouldn't turn off occasionally, I have to believe for me it had something to do with my relay pack and direct driving it at 3.3V once I swapped to using transistor drive theULN chip and 5v all my problems went away no issues for past 5 weeks.

could you give a link to what you used? peeees

 

[speedstar]

could you give a link to what you used? peeees

its the standard chip used in the adifruit tutorial https://learn.adafruit.com/reef-pi-power-controller/hardware-setup but i used 5v drive to match my relays

 

[b4tn]

Minute should be 1 or a fixed value, not *, that implies every minute

you should also reload reef-pi after you fixed the timer, else it may have lot of undone go routines (threads that have been kicked off every minute since you have enabled this timer and waiting for 8 hours to finish)

Thanks, I need to re read the Cron timer cheat sheet again. I have such a hard time wrapping my head around it.

 

[ScottBrew]

Thanks, I need to re read the Cron timer cheat sheet again. I have such a hard time wrapping my head around it.

Once you get it, you got it!!! Easy as pie once you understand the concept.

 

[b4tn]

Can you use a turn off command instead? So, turn on and stay on, then another timer for turn off and stay off.

I think I like this idea better lol. Much easier

I had an issue where my MH wouldn't turn off occasionally, I have to believe for me it had something to do with my relay pack and direct driving it at 3.3V once I swapped to using transistor drive theULN chip and 5v all my problems went away no issues for past 5 weeks.

I have the ULN chip for my main relays but have 2 more driven off transistors. I am sure I’m just doing the timer wrong

 

[ScottBrew]

I think I like this idea better lol. Much easier



I have the ULN chip for my main relays but have 2 more driven off transistors. I am sure I’m just doing the timer wrong

I've been running the whole time I've been set up, without the ULN's. Everything turns on and off as commanded. Building a new proto hat now with the ULN's but not quite finished.

 

[LionHeart2017]

Is the older uln2803a guide still available? no power strip here in uk, my relays are 5v so I assume a separate 5v supply should be connected to com pin on the uln2803a and share the ground from the separate 5v with the rpi?

 

[Erica-Renee]

@LionHeart2017



@Diamond1 has a guide thru the first 2-6 pages of his thread. This is prob the most current and information available as we were discussing this at that time with him..

Good Luck

 

[pdisner]

Have you guys seen the Adafruit platinum PT1000 temp probe? Says it’s not accurate. What does everyone think? Not sure if it’s waterproof.

 

[ScottBrew]

Have you guys seen the Adafruit platinum PT1000 temp probe? Says it’s not accurate. What does everyone think? Not sure if it’s waterproof.

That isn't a DS18B20 one-wire sensor that we are normally using. Not how that would be supported with the reef-pi software.