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

[bishoptf]

Where is the best place for build threads, should that go in DIY? I need to start one and so many spots not sure where to start.

Thanks...

 

[Bigtrout]

New user here.

I'm considering setting up a Raspberry-Pi to control a Finnex Plated+ light, as the controller board recently died, and I am really missing the day/night cycles. My main question is whether reef-pi can be used to control a light like this? Does it do day/night cycles or use weather information? The Finnex light has a ground, +15V, and Red, Green, Blue, and White contacts on the edge of the LED board. I currently have it wired +15v to R,G,B,W so that it is 100% on with a timer at the wall. In order to do proper dimming I will need to pulse +15v to the R, G, B, W contacts. Is reef-pi for me, or should I get something like an Arduino or coding something for myself? I would like to expand it to do other things over time like adding sensors/cameras, so I think something like a Raspberry-Pi would be better in the long run, but trying to figure out exactly what I need (both software and hardware).

I am pulsing +15v to beamswork lights. Im sending +15v to the blue and white channel on 2 beamswork DA fspec lights for a total of 4 channels and it works great for almost a year now. Read my build thread and buy some premade mosfet modules... no need for meanwell drivers because you can use the existing light power supply. Because you are pulsing +15v the modules need to use a p channel mosfet. ALOT OF MODULES ON EBAY OR AMAZON USE n channel mosfets and wont work. Message me if you need help.

The p channel mosfet modules are based on the IRF5305s mosfet and look like this: the green terminals are where the light power input and output to the respective RGB or W channel will land. The small 2 pin connector is the pwm signal and ground from a pca9685.

 

[Bigtrout]

Thank you for the detailed post, we really appreciate you taking the time to document feedback. I’ll be going through this. Macros should run forward via timer or other macro, the reverse mode is only used for the automatic turn off feature in timer (or reverse mode in parent macro). If this is not the case, it’s a bug, and we’ll fix it.

For reversible macros to not trigger opposite action in reverse mode (your second ask) , I think it’s doable, but I would like to think through the use case, for some reason I feel it’s not intuitive and we might be able to adress this better in some different fashion, ... but we’ll see.

I’ve been busy with the new house move , my tanks are still not setup and everything is still in plastic containers. Thanks to reef-pi I don’t have coral mortality this time, temp, ato , everything is up even in plastic container. But I’ll need some more time to setup home, tanks and then resume back my reef-pi works.

Congrats...moving is a pain in the butt but more space means more tanks?!!

 

[Ranjib]

Congrats...moving is a pain in the butt but more space means more tanks?!!

Thank you.. most likely bigger tank instead of more :-) . want to keep some new fish. I want to spend some time thinking and decide on plumbing first. For larger tank, water change is my biggest concern. I am thinking of a spot in the living area , right adjacent to garage... so probably can do some plumbing through the drywall.

 

[Des Westcott]

Thank you.. most likely bigger tank instead of more :) . want to keep some new fish. I want to spend some time thinking and decide on plumbing first. For larger tank, water change is my biggest concern. I am thinking of a spot in the living area , right adjacent to garage... so probably can do some plumbing through the drywall.

I definitely agree with bigger rather than more. 1 x 200l tank is definitely less work that 2 x 100l

 

[Des Westcott]

Thank you for the detailed post, we really appreciate you taking the time to document feedback. I’ll be going through this. Macros should run forward via timer or other macro, the reverse mode is only used for the automatic turn off feature in timer (or reverse mode in parent macro). If this is not the case, it’s a bug, and we’ll fix it.

For reversible macros to not trigger opposite action in reverse mode (your second ask) , I think it’s doable, but I would like to think through the use case, for some reason I feel it’s not intuitive and we might be able to adress this better in some different fashion, ... but we’ll see.

I’ve been busy with the new house move , my tanks are still not setup and everything is still in plastic containers. Thanks to reef-pi I don’t have coral mortality this time, temp, ato , everything is up even in plastic container. But I’ll need some more time to setup home, tanks and then resume back my reef-pi works.

Hey Ranjib. Yes, I understand you are moving - good luck with that! It's been a long time since I had to do it!

I had the time, so decided to write the post detailing my experience. I'm sure if I've experiencing this, others must be too. Triggering a macro with a timer is potentially such a powerful feature and I've been really excited to use it. It takes reeftank automation (and reef-pi) to the next level for me.

As far as the two reversing Macro options I mentioned might be nice, maybe I didn't think things through enough. I personally (in my use cases) haven't come across a situation (yet possibly) where I've though that being able to reverse Macros would a usefull. This is probably because of the way I used my Macros so far. Mine lay out all the steps, turning equipment off and then back on but sometimes with different wait times between. But I can see how being able to create a Macro to turn a set of features on and then reverse it would be usefull if the Macro was complex enough. I also appreciate the ability to have Macro "modules" and combine them to operate as "subroutines" like the very basic computer programming principles.

Re-thinking things, if the Timers and Macros were triggering the Macros forwards, maybe there is no need for the additional reversing options at all.

Good luck with getting the tanks set up again!

 

[Freccialata]

Ufffff...... it's really hard!!!

I have bought a TP-Link HS110 smart plug (EU plug).
I wish to test if it works as a simple timer function.
It is connected to my router by WiFi (IP: 192.168.1.137).
To set it on reef-pi, I login into reef-pi.

Configuration --> Drivers --> + --> Name: HS110_1 Type: HS110 Address: 192.168.1.137 --> Add

Configuration --> Admin --> Reload

Configuration --> Connectors --> Outlets --> + --> Name: Test1 Pin: 0 Driver: HS110 --> Add

Configuration --> Admin --> Reload

Equipment --> + --> Name: TimerTest Outlet: Test1 --> Add

I have this error:
{"error":"Failed to create. Error: dial tcp: address 192.168.1.137: missing port in address"} | HTTP 500

Whats wrong???

 

[BenB]

The IP needs :9999 at the end

example, mine says 192.168.10.15:9999

 

[Freccialata]

Thankkkkkkksssssssssssssss!!!!!!

It works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ranjib]

Thankkkkkkksssssssssssssss!!!!!!

It works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Woot :-)

 

[Ranjib]

\m/ . You are da best :-)

 

[Freccialata]

I'm "playing" with my Raspberry and reef-pi.
I have conncted the DS18B20 temperature sensor straight to the Raspberry (pin 1-3-9) with no 4.7K resistor.
Often in the temperature tab I can't add any sensor (because there isn't any sensor available).
Sometimes there are 3 available sensors...
28-04177049bcff
28-2392abcabcabc
28-f0a0a0abbd4f
...which one is the right one?
I have selected the first one.
The temperature of the room is 19°C... the sensor reports more or less 25.
I have calibrated it (in the calibration the temperature runs very fast up and down from 24.XY to 25.XY and viceversa), but even if I keep it inside my hand (temperature should rise)... It always shows (more or less) the same temperature.
Any help?

 

[Ranjib]

I'm "playing" with my Raspberry and reef-pi.
I have conncted the DS18B20 temperature sensor straight to the Raspberry (pin 1-3-9) with no 4.7K resistor.
Often in the temperature tab I can't add any sensor (because there isn't any sensor available).
Sometimes there are 3 available sensors...
28-04177049bcff
28-2392abcabcabc
28-f0a0a0abbd4f
...which one is the right one?
I have selected the first one.
The temperature of the room is 19°C... the sensor reports more or less 25.
I have calibrated it (in the calibration the temperature runs very fast up and down from 24.XY to 25.XY and viceversa), but even if I keep it inside my hand (temperature should rise)... It always shows (more or less) the same temperature.
Any help?

The three fake probe setup happens when you run reef-pi in dev_mode. Its for development use. Always use 4.7K resistor and disable dev_mode.

 

[bishoptf]

@Bigtrout and others, appears that they have discontinued the sale of the DJ powerstrips. I know we now have the option of using the tplink smart interfaces but not sure I want or need to go down that path for my new build. I am looking on ebay for used relay packs and there are several. My question is if I want to go through and replace the internal relay with something better what would your recommendation be? Best bang for buck relay etc.

Thanks in advance! :)

 

[That Crusso Kid]

@Bigtrout and others, appears that they have discontinued the sale of the DJ powerstrips. I know we now have the option of using the tplink smart interfaces but not sure I want or need to go down that path for my new build. I am looking on ebay for used relay packs and there are several. My question is if I want to go through and replace the internal relay with something better what would your recommendation be? Best bang for buck relay etc.

Thanks in advance! :)

Nice to see you back!

 

[bishoptf]

Nice to see you back!

Thanks, had some *cough* health issues that kind of kept me busy. May have some additional stuff to deal with but decided to try and get a 29G reef tank going. I'm still in the process of building/completing the stand but hopefully that will be done this weekend and I can move to plumbing the tank to the sump. Lots of reading and watching BRS videos, trying to learn as much as I can while going through the process, long way to go.

My original reef-pi is still chugging along but will be setting up another one for the new reef tank, went the easy route with @Michael Lane addon boards. Trying to figure out what to do for the relay ports, doesn't look like you can purchase new the DJ relay packs, thinking about going used and maybe replacing the relays.

:)

 

[Phildago]

@Ranjib

How precise can I get with the dosing pumps?

I've been modifying the time by 1 tenth of a second, but is it possible to change it by the hundredth?

For example, I run one of my pumps for 1.6 seconds. Would the program accept and run a command for 1.65 seconds?

 

[Ranjib]

@Bigtrout and others, appears that they have discontinued the sale of the DJ powerstrips. I know we now have the option of using the tplink smart interfaces but not sure I want or need to go down that path for my new build. I am looking on ebay for used relay packs and there are several. My question is if I want to go through and replace the internal relay with something better what would your recommendation be? Best bang for buck relay etc.

Thanks in advance! :)

We'll have DLI web pro and shelly one (pm) support in 2020.

 

[Ranjib]

@Ranjib

How precise can I get with the dosing pumps?

I've been modifying the time by 1 tenth of a second, but is it possible to change it by the hundredth?

For example, I run one of my pumps for 1.6 seconds. Would the program accept and run a command for 1.65 seconds?

No very. with dc pumps we cant be very precise with small volumes. Im working around with dilution instead for the time being, till we get stepper motor drivers in reef-pi (another thing i aiming in 2020)

 

[Phildago]

No very. with dc pumps we cant be very precise with small volumes. Im working around with dilution instead for the time being, till we get stepper motor drivers in reef-pi (another thing i aiming in 2020)

That will be amazing. I have a few stepper motors ready to go.

So dc pumps have their own issues, but since I run my pumps once an hour, there's enough repetition to create a pretty stable average dose from day to day. I'm happy enough for the time being with it, but definitely plan to be an early adopter of the step motor when its ready to go.