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

[ChrisNH]

I got some canon plugs for routing my ATO water sensor through the case:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/371820092068

I am using the DFRobot sensor.

Then realized it might mess up the sensor. Is this going to be a problem?

 

[AquaRaider44]

I got some canon plugs for routing my ATO water sensor through the case:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/371820092068

I am using the DFRobot sensor.

Then realized it might mess up the sensor. Is this going to be a problem?

I think it will work right as long as you connect the wires properly on both ends.

 

[AquaRaider44]

Get a cheapy and pwm control it to dim it...the blue channel on my beamswork lights goes pretty dim

How would I go about PWM controlling a 6v 300 ma led module?

 

[Ranjib]

How would I go about PWM controlling a 6v 300 ma led module?

ULN2803A IC to gate the 6v 300ma power, and Pi or pca9685 for pwm. You can also use most logic level mosfets (the one I showed in adafruit guide).

 

[AquaRaider44]

ULN2803A IC to gate the 6v 300ma power, and Pi or pca9685 for pwm. You can also use most logic level mosfets (the one I showed in adafruit guide).

OK I was just about to ask that so I can use either a ULN2803 or an N-channel MOSFET. Since I already have a ULN2803 @ 12v with 4 free slots I suppose I should try to maybe find 12v led lights and use the existing setup.

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

IN reef -pi >> dashboard >> Configure >> Columns change the Columns value to 2

Going to try and reduce the size of the tiles

 

[AquaRaider44]

ULN2803A IC to gate the 6v 300ma power, and Pi or pca9685 for pwm. You can also use most logic level mosfets (the one I showed in adafruit guide).

Are all LED's dimmable using PWM? For example https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...title_srh_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A19PINGUYHMOO6 says its not dimmable but does that mean non-voltage dimmable but PWM would work?

 

[Ryan115]

I have the same concern as well, but I think theres some good mechanism in place now. I am using google wifi routers (two of them) to build a mesh network at home/garage. Each of these little beasts can easily support 12-15 devices. So theres redundancy as well as isolation from my comcast/xfinity router. Which means my devices (reef-pi, model railroad controller, octoprint, garage controller, terrrarium controller etc etc) will continue function even if comcast router dies or disconnect from internet. This also gives me the ability to watch their health state from mobile app anywhere in the world and poke a hole (port forward) on-demand, without relying on xfinity's expensive packages (my xfinity ??). Its still need to be proven for long term usage, as i just introduced this in less than a month before, but i think this is something reliable enough that I can recommend. I'll keep you all posted about my learning

With many of these devices having power monitoring, would it be possible to get some validation checks on whether devices are actually turned on/off when reef-pi tells them to? Additionally some monitoring of pumps and such as they start pulling more power when they are getting dirty.

 

[Michael Lane]

Are all LED's dimmable using PWM? For example https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...title_srh_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A19PINGUYHMOO6 says its not dimmable but does that mean non-voltage dimmable but PWM would work?

LEDs are dimmable via PWM, but many of the drivers/power supplies may not support it direclty. The lights you linked to just seem to be a strip of LEDs pre-configured to work with 12v; they don't include a power supply. You should be able to use a mosfet or even ULN2803 to dim these kinds of strips with your own 12v supply.

 

[AquaRaider44]

LEDs are dimmable via PWM, but many of the drivers/power supplies may not support it direclty. The lights you linked to just seem to be a strip of LEDs pre-configured to work with 12v; they don't include a power supply. You should be able to use a mosfet or even ULN2803 to dim these kinds of strips with your own 12v supply.

That's what I thought. Maybe I'll buy those or some other one.

 

[Bigtrout]

That's what I thought. Maybe I'll buy those or some other one.

Get a strip of 5730 led or a cheapy light based on the 5730 they are brighter than the 3528s ...they will dim nicely and are bright enough to add some blue kick during the day if you need it

 

[AquaRaider44]

Get a strip of 5730 led or a cheapy light based on the 5730 they are brighter than the 3528s ...they will dim nicely and are bright enough to add some blue kick during the day if you need it

Thanks for the suggestion but I already bought some https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/reef-pi-the-all-in-one-pi-challenge.592733/page-9#post-6185856 I don't really need them to be super bright as I am only looking to use at night.

 

[Ranjib]

@Ranjib

On the pico board, can I use the pins in the header for the ato? although I only have 5 volts?

yes, both simple float switches or dfrobot photoelectric sensors should work

@Ranjib I see that you have a Coralife lunar light over your tank like this one https://www.amazon.com/Coralife-Energy-Savers-ACL15608-Biocube/dp/B0088ZJ4U6. How dim does this get? Can you post some pictures and experiences with it?

Does anyone else have some lunar lights that they use that get super dim and can be run off of the reef pi?

I use the coralife strip that came with the biocube, and power it with 12v 1A power supply, using pi pwm + a logic level power mosfet.

 

[Ranjib]

OK I was just about to ask that so I can use either a ULN2803 or an N-channel MOSFET. Since I already have a ULN2803 @ 12v with 4 free slots I suppose I should try to maybe find 12v led lights and use the existing setup.

Yes. you can use darlingtons (unl2803) or power mosfets . The later are rater for higher current, while unl2803a is only good if your overall current draw is less than 700ma. Meanwell drivers are the one that are rated for even higher current and optimized for LED usage (constant current)

 

[AquaRaider44]

@Ranjib When is temperature offset/calibration going to be added? I would think this should be stupid simple to add.

 

[Ranjib]

Are all LED's dimmable using PWM? For example https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...title_srh_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A19PINGUYHMOO6 says its not dimmable but does that mean non-voltage dimmable but PWM would work?

Should be, its not exactly dimming that we are doing with pwm, its more like very fast on/off .. at least with the lunar lights, since im controlling the power directly, while for kessil we only provide the control signal, i dont know internally its mapped to variable voltage (say 0-90W) or pwm (very fast on/off, and the % of on is controlling the dimming effect)

 

[Ranjib]

With many of these devices having power monitoring, would it be possible to get some validation checks on whether devices are actually turned on/off when reef-pi tells them to? Additionally some monitoring of pumps and such as they start pulling more power when they are getting dirty.

Should be. Something i am willing to consider post 3.0. not before that .. unless anyone else willing to do the engineering work :-)

 

[Ranjib]

LEDs are dimmable via PWM, but many of the drivers/power supplies may not support it direclty. The lights you linked to just seem to be a strip of LEDs pre-configured to work with 12v; they don't include a power supply. You should be able to use a mosfet or even ULN2803 to dim these kinds of strips with your own 12v supply.

Spot on.. i have those and i dim everywhere.. :-) kitchen, bathroom., wife's closet .. its not needed.. but why not :-) , it will be cool to simulate storm effect in every corner of the home during halloween

 

[Ranjib]

@Ranjib When is temperature offset/calibration going to be added? I would think this should be stupid simple to add.

Sometime before the 3.0 final release (thanksgiving). It's not priority right now.. but yes it's a simple logic to add but due to the complex nature of software development the actual work is lot more than that (UI, tests etc). So its better to get started with this while we work on some other temperature controller feature such as hysteresis

 

[bala murugan 00500]

Hi friends ....
i'm planning to use one cheep PWM driver from china for moon lighting. In this i'm really not happy to connect my PWM (5v) from pca9685 to my led Driver (5v pwm)
If the drive fail, high volt from driver will burn the pca9685 or pi . So is it necessary to isolation pwm power between them... if so how to do it ...

here is the product link

https://www.tanotis.com/products/ta...vMapxB9UUJJax70K0dBTvfMc1Xp-orWoaAgnKEALw_wcB