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

[Ranjib]

Hi I would like to measure the water level in a tank using my reef pi. (That is the actual water level not just the level is low with a traditional optical sensor)

Have come across the ‘etape liquid level sensor’ (google it). It says it works the same way as a thermistor. Could I define it as a thermometer to report water level (or any other way within reef pi? Thank you

long back (pre 1.0) reef-pi used to support etapes (reef-pi used to be called as reefer during that time). I dropped its support due to lack of usecases and the complexity in wiring (SPI involves more wire), in favor of photoelectric sensor and float switches.
Now that we have HAL (hardware abstraction layer), it wont be hard to bring back support for etapes, but I have to sort out the usecases.

 

[MikeSpike]

long back (pre 1.0) reef-pi used to support etapes (reef-pi used to be called as reefer during that time). I dropped its support due to lack of usecases and the complexity in wiring (SPI involves more wire), in favor of photoelectric sensor and float switches.
Now that we have HAL (hardware abstraction layer), it wont be hard to bring back support for etapes, but I have to sort out the usecases.

Thanks for the swift response. Any eta on when you think this might be added?

 

[Michael Lane]

Hi I would like to measure the water level in a tank using my reef pi. (That is the actual water level not just the level is low with a traditional optical sensor)

Have come across the ‘etape liquid level sensor’ (google it). It says it works the same way as a thermistor. Could I define it as a thermometer to report water level (or any other way within reef pi? Thank you

Another common technique is to measure the weight of the reservoir and calculate the level or volume from the weight. reef-pi doesn't support load cell weight sensors yet, but the driver system with v3.0 will make this much easier.

 

[HM3105]

h103, hs110, hs300

Thanks @Ranjib!

BTW, did you mean hs103? Google couldn't find h103.

 

[Ranjib]

Thanks @Ranjib!

BTW, did you mean hs103? Google couldn't find h103.

Yess, :-) , apologies for the type

 

[Ranjib]

Thanks for the swift response. Any eta on when you think this might be added?

I have no plan for it right now. As I was saying I want to understand how I’ll be using this to solve a specific problem related to reef keeping or any aquarium setup in general. Those bits are essential to understand what other pieces needed and if there exist alternate techniques

 

[MikeSpike]

I have no plan for it right now. As I was saying I want to understand how I’ll be using this to solve a specific problem related to reef keeping or any aquarium setup in general. Those bits are essential to understand what other pieces needed and if there exist alternate techniques

Some possible uses
1. Measuring how much water is let in R.O. rather than just 'Refill'
2. Using Reefpi to automate water changes in a more dynamic way e.g. 10l or 20l rather than at a set point of the infrared sensor

 

[Mad_Deuce]

Hi Ranjib it is possible if you can tell know how much current does the kessil A80 0-10v draw per channel? I figure must be slow low 50ma ish per channel?

I'm calculating to see if my sinking output can handle the job or not. I'm using an automation hat there 3x 24v sinking output on board but can only handle 500ma combine. I already got one of the output slotted out to run 2x 12v fan at 150ma each. So not much amp left to share.

 

[DaveWasabi]

Just been to this thread. It's amazing, the things you can do with a few tools and electronics at your disposal.

 

[Ranjib]

Just been to this thread. It's amazing, the things you can do with a few tools and electronics at your disposal.

thank you for the kind words

 

[Ranjib]

Hi Ranjib it is possible if you can tell know how much current does the kessil A80 0-10v draw per channel? I figure must be slow low 50ma ish per channel?

I'm calculating to see if my sinking output can handle the job or not. I'm using an automation hat there 3x 24v sinking output on board but can only handle 500ma combine. I already got one of the output slotted out to run 2x 12v fan at 150ma each. So not much amp left to share.

under 40ma, but use common npn transistors (2n222a ) to gate the pi or pca9685 pwm output

 

[Ranjib]

Some possible uses
1. Measuring how much water is let in R.O. rather than just 'Refill'
2. Using Reefpi to automate water changes in a more dynamic way e.g. 10l or 20l rather than at a set point of the infrared sensor

This first use case is incomplete, like what to do after you know the level .. the second use case can be done using peristaltic pumps, folks already does this and without using any water level sensor, as we need to only add /remove fixed amount of water for this.

 

[Ranjib]

Just finished a pi3 all in one build with 3d printed enclosure .

This one can do one temp sensor, one float switch , one kessil and one ph probe .

Similar to the last all in one build (I’m upgrading my builds to use 3d printed enclosures) this one has space for accessing pi 3 usb and hdmi ports

The electronics is very similar to other all in one build except it does not have the adj powerstrip control circuit involving 12v and uln2893a.

Overall pretty happy with the result . I used 3mm walls for this build , which made it pretty sturdy .
Here are both of my 3dprinted builds

Now back to 3.0 feature development ..:-)

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Just finished a pi3 all in one build with 3d printed enclosure .

This one can do one temp sensor, one float switch , one kessil and one ph probe .

Similar to the last all in one build (I’m upgrading my builds to use 3d printed enclosures) this one has space for accessing pi 3 usb and hdmi ports

The electronics is very similar to other all in one build except it does not have the adj powerstrip control circuit involving 12v and uln2893a.

Overall pretty happy with the result . I used 3mm walls for this build , which made it pretty sturdy .
Here are both of my 3dprinted builds

Now back to 3.0 feature development ..:)

Lookin good!

I want a 3D printer.

 

[Bigtrout]

Just finished a pi3 all in one build with 3d printed enclosure .

This one can do one temp sensor, one float switch , one kessil and one ph probe .

Similar to the last all in one build (I’m upgrading my builds to use 3d printed enclosures) this one has space for accessing pi 3 usb and hdmi ports

The electronics is very similar to other all in one build except it does not have the adj powerstrip control circuit involving 12v and uln2893a.

Overall pretty happy with the result . I used 3mm walls for this build , which made it pretty sturdy .
Here are both of my 3dprinted builds

Now back to 3.0 feature development ..:)

Very nice...send me one...lol!

 

[Alaa]

Hi all
Quick question
Can i use pi roi and pca board on the same time ine to control lights and the other fot doser if so do i connect both pca board and the motor board to same raspberry pi pins
Thanks for all your support

 

[Ranjib]

Hi all
Quick question
Can i use pi roi and pca board on the same time ine to control lights and the other fot doser if so do i connect both pca board and the motor board to same raspberry pi pins
Thanks for all your support

Yes you can , but I’m curious if you need all 16 channels of pca9685 as well as pi ‘s two channel. At that scale you are likely to need more power management circuit . If you don’t need that many channel just use pca9685 for pwm

 

[Schreiber]

Sorry i missed that. What happens when you run calibration at speed 50 for 10 seconds? Can you check the log and take reading with multimeter on the l293d pwm and in1/in2 pins?

Oh man, it's been awhile. I've been constantly traveling for work & haven't had time to get back to working on this until this weekend. I found my issue with the equipment control (bad solder connection) & found out my temperature issues were due to a faulty sensor.

But I'm still stumped by dosing unfortunately. Output 1-4 are reading at a constant 2.7 volts whether or not I'm running calibration.

Input 1, 3, & 4 are reading constant 0 volts. Input 2 has around 0.5 volts.

Any advice where to go from here?

 

[Alaa]

Yes you can , but I’m curious if you need all 16 channels of pca9685 as well as pi ‘s two channel. At that scale you are likely to need more power management circuit . If you don’t need that many channel just use pca9685 for pwm

Thanks for your response
I don't need the 16 channels but can i use for both leds and motors at the same time with the same frequency

 

[Ranjib]

Oh man, it's been awhile. I've been constantly traveling for work & haven't had time to get back to working on this until this weekend. I found my issue with the equipment control (bad solder connection) & found out my temperature issues were due to a faulty sensor.

But I'm still stumped by dosing unfortunately. Output 1-4 are reading at a constant 2.7 volts whether or not I'm running calibration.

Input 1, 3, & 4 are reading constant 0 volts. Input 2 has around 0.5 volts.

Any advice where to go from here?

you are using pca9685 for pwm?