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

[DirtDiggler2823]

Well in my ongoing battel with my temperature sensor, the sensor is winning. The new and tested sensor, with new 3.5mm plug, new socket and direct solder to the Pi Hat failed last night about 3 hours after deployment. The sensor just literally goes off line. Sometimes, I can unplug it, and re-plug it to bring it back up, but that is rare.

I have either an entire batch of bad sensors or a sick Raspberry Pi 3+ or Pi Hat. Just for fun, I am going to change to another GPIO pin as a test. Other then ordering a batch of new sensors, I am not sure what to do.

My level sensor and all power relays are working perfectly as is the Reef Pi program. I am convinced that the temp sensor issue is a hardware issue of some sort.

Switch to new pins on the pi-hat. Are the probes getting hot?

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Well in my ongoing battel with my temperature sensor, the sensor is winning. The new and tested sensor, with new 3.5mm plug, new socket and direct solder to the Pi Hat failed last night about 3 hours after deployment. The sensor just literally goes off line. Sometimes, I can unplug it, and re-plug it to bring it back up, but that is rare.

I have either an entire batch of bad sensors or a sick Raspberry Pi 3+ or Pi Hat. Just for fun, I am going to change to another GPIO pin as a test. Other then ordering a batch of new sensors, I am not sure what to do.

My level sensor and all power relays are working perfectly as is the Reef Pi program. I am convinced that the temp sensor issue is a hardware issue of some sort.

The 3.5mm plugs act wonky sometimes. Even when new. Many people moved away from the 3.5mm to other types of connectors. I believe @Diamond1 has had very good results with aviation connectors. Maybe he will comment.

 

[Diamond1]

@Ranjib
I switched both of my reef-pi from 2.0 to 2.2 last night after your release and let reef-pi run overnight. Looked this morning and the memory usage looked better. Still seeing a slight increase in memory usage but the curve is less dramatic than it was before.
My cpu usage is high on both units but I'm running a GUI and have a couple configuration issues I need to fix so I'm not worrying about that right now.

On the main reef-pi which runs 16 relays, 2 temp probes, 2 ATO sensors, and 2 dosing pumps. The dashboard configuration is not responding to the way I have it set up. I have the configuration set up to have 2 columns and 4 rows (as the first pic shows) but after installing 2.2 it doesn't show up on the dashboard this way (2nd pic). The odd thing is that the reef-pi that controls my lights was updated to 2.2 also, it doesn't have the same issue with column placement.

The dosing pump graphs are also not representing dosing as they should, even though both pumps are running as they are programed to. This actually started before I updated to rpi 2.2.



It went from this: (Pi 1)

To this: You can see where I installed 2.2, and the memory usage drop after installation.

Light controller: (Pi 2) No issues with the column placement

 

[Diamond1]

The 3.5mm plugs act wonky sometimes. Even when new. Many people moved away from the 3.5mm to other types of connectors. I believe @Diamond1 has had very good results with aviation connectors. Maybe he will comment.

I'm actually using Mini XLR connectors for temp probes.
https://www.amazon.com/Female-Panel...48344005&sr=8-3&keywords=mini+xlr+panel+mount

 

[b4tn]

@Ranjib

The dosing pump graphs are also not representing dosing as they should, even though both pumps are running as they are programed to. This actually started before I updated to rpi 2.2.

I was getting the same issues pre 2.2 with the dosers as well. Glad I am not nuts. lol

 

[b4tn]

The 3.5mm plugs act wonky sometimes. Even when new. Many people moved away from the 3.5mm to other types of connectors. I believe @Diamond1 has had very good results with aviation connectors. Maybe he will comment.

I had the exact same issue with my probes using the 3.5mm plugs. I would have to wiggle them around, pull them out a little, push them in a hair, etc. God forbid I move the box because then I would have to fine tune the plugs again! I went with screw terminal plugs. They are bulky but they are super solid and its fast to switch out or add probes without soldering.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MZHXKN2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Diamond1]

I was getting the same issues pre 2.2 with the dosers as well. Glad I am not nuts. lol

LOL You're not nuts.
I noticed this happening with the pumps around the same time you did, but since the pumps were working and I needed to address some configuration issues with gpio pins and my wykat hat I was planning on doing a a complete redo of my configuration then address the issue after i got that figured out.

 

[Ryan115]

I'm actually using Mini XLR connectors for temp probes.
https://www.amazon.com/Female-Panel...48344005&sr=8-3&keywords=mini+xlr+panel+mount

I am using the mini xlrs as well, and I love them. I did not have any issues with my 3.5mm plugs (old radioshack plugs) but I am happy that I switched.
I went with the 3 pin version for my temp probes and I am going to be using the 4 pins for my lighting controls.
https://www.amazon.com/Connector-Au...7&sr=8-10&keywords=3+pin+mini+xlr+panel+mount

 

[Diamond1]

I am using the mini xlrs as well, and I love them. I did not have any issues with my 3.5mm plugs (old radioshack plugs) but I am happy that I switched.
I went with the 3 pin version for my temp probes and I am going to be using the 4 pins for my lighting controls.
https://www.amazon.com/Connector-Au...7&sr=8-10&keywords=3+pin+mini+xlr+panel+mount

Agreed. The mini xlrs are rock solid.

 

[b4tn]

LOL You're not nuts.
I noticed this happening with the pumps around the same time you did, but since the pumps were working and I needed to address some configuration issues with gpio pins and my wykat hat I was planning on doing a a complete redo of my configuration then address the issue after i got that figured out.

;Wacky

 

[daveCB]

Thanks All - I am either going with Mini XLR's or Phoenix style sockets with plugs. In my industry, we use both extensively without issue. Thanks for all of the comments.

 

[theatrus]

Question for @theatrus - will the pico boards be compatible with Reef-Pi 3?

Yup. The pH adapter on the board has a MCU that mimics an ADS1115 so the pH functionality works the same across both reef-pi pH adapters.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

I was getting the same issues pre 2.2 with the dosers as well. Glad I am not nuts. lol

What does the doser issues have to do with you being nuts? The two are mutually exclusive. Try to keep that in mind and do not comingle them. ;)

LOL You're not nuts.
I noticed this happening with the pumps around the same time you did, but since the pumps were working and I needed to address some configuration issues with gpio pins and my wykat hat I was planning on doing a a complete redo of my configuration then address the issue after i got that figured out.

Don't encourage him about the "not being nuts!" ;)

;Wacky

This is exactly what I am talking about!

BTW - I notice these things because I AM NUTS and I can easily recognize it in others! ;Wacky;Wacky;Wacky (Oh, and don't think you're too far off either @Diamond1 )

 

[daveCB]

Mini XLR's ordered!

Another question: Can you successfully extend the cable for the optical sensors (DFROBOT FS-IR02)

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

We're about a month out from pH functionality with the base boards?

 

[Bigtrout]

I'm actually using Mini XLR connectors for temp probes.
https://www.amazon.com/Female-Panel...48344005&sr=8-3&keywords=mini+xlr+panel+mount

I am having success with ethernet connectors for the probes as well

 

[Ranjib]

We're about a month out from pH functionality with the base boards?

Yup. That’s my current estimate ... but it can always change if we encounter bugs(delayed) or get a some free cycles ( faster).

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

Yup. That’s my current estimate ... but it can always change if we encounter bugs(delayed) or get a some free cycles ( faster).

Yes! I'm going to buy a double junction probe soon for this.

 

[Diamond1]

;Wacky

Yes! I'm going to buy a double junction probe soon for this.

Nice I just got my probe today it was delayed because the snow storm here over the weekend.
Snow plow guy knocked down my mailbox and I wasn't getting mail till I got the box back upright.

I think the plow drivers around here paint little mailboxes on the doors of their truck like WWII fighter pilots used to.;Shifty

 

[Reefology1]

You are not over your head. It is just your head is not in the clouds like these geniuses.

The problem you are having is that the config.txt is a system file and is protected from accidental changes. It won't save changes for a normal user. To get around this open terminal and use the command "sudo nano /boot/config.txt". make the change then save by pressing ctrl X then yes to save.

"sudo" gives you admin rights and allows the file to be changed. "nano" is a text editor you can run from the terminal window.

I only know all this because I spent 30 minutes banging my head into a wall on why I couldn't change the file. The knot on my head grew new brain cells and I finally understood.

thanks a bunch Mikeneedsahobby, this did the trick written in a way I could understand. I think I need to follow a single thread (this one way too long), been reading too much, to decide which options I want to employ. Need simple terminology (like above) as I'm new to all this programming language. Do you have a build thread? or is there one you'd recommend?