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

[Ranjib]

Dumb question, one of my units is the protoboard wired up, temp, lights, DJ power strip. I would like to add ATO and just want to use float switches vs the optical sensor that is in the write up guide. My newer build uses a @Michael Lane hat so its easy peasy. I think with the float switches I can just wire it up to a GPIO and wire it up, does there need to be any resistor for the circuit?

Thanks :)

It should work. It’s like driving without a seat belt, it’s recommended to put a resistor for safety .

 

[Ranjib]

I don't know if this has been recommended yet, and have been swamped the last few months, so haven't been following the threads.. but..

Can we add the ability for a macro step to be an email alert that the macro has completed.. I run a 2.5 hour water change macro.. and it's nice to be alerted at the end that it completed.. and maybe even once for the start.. I would like to add those in as steps. because I forget to restart it if I want to change more/check levels and new water available.

I like that :-). We have reminder as timer target, but not inside macro. Let me think through..

 

[Ranjib]

It should work. It’s like driving without a seat belt, it’s recommended to put a resistor for safety .

I take that back. I didnt notice you mentioned Michael's board. I think he added pull up resistors. Is it marked as just GPIO or ato ?

 

[Michael Lane]

Dumb question, one of my units is the protoboard wired up, temp, lights, DJ power strip. I would like to add ATO and just want to use float switches vs the optical sensor that is in the write up guide. My newer build uses a @Michael Lane hat so its easy peasy. I think with the float switches I can just wire it up to a GPIO and wire it up, does there need to be any resistor for the circuit?

Thanks :)

I would recommend using a current limit resistor. I use 220 ohms, but the value isn't critical. The other end of float should be connected to 3.3v since the internal pull down is enabled by default (assuming GPIO 9 or higher).

 

[jacobc1199]

Hello all,
I've recently been working on my own Reef-pi project and stumbled into an issue. My first try of hooking things up I shorted my pi zero by accident :( but luckily I had a really old pi (Model B) lying around to keep playing with and hooked it up right this time. I switched the SD card containing my version of reefpi (3.0) with all my outlets and such already configured into the "new" pi. When I got into my Reefpi interface and tried to test my outlets, it said: "error: Failed to update. Error: Can't update 11 - can't get output pin." I got this error when trying to test any of the outlets and figured it must have been an issue with the configuration of the outlets since the GPIO of the piB is different of the newer pi's. When I went to connectors under configuration, it gave me the error, "reef-pi cannot read analog input of null." My best guess is that I have one of the channels set to pin 13 but with the old pi it actually does not have a pin 13. Any thoughts on how to fix this? I realize the raspberry pi B is a bit outdated these days but I was hoping I would be able to use to do some testing anyways.

 

[bishoptf]

I would recommend using a current limit resistor. I use 220 ohms, but the value isn't critical. The other end of float should be connected to 3.3v since the internal pull down is enabled by default (assuming GPIO 9 or higher).

Thanks I was looking for what size to use...I am adding a QT coral tank and want to add ATO to the existing setup that is feeding my freshwater setup, do I just add the resistor inline? I will need to go and search and see if I can figure it out but I assume it will be similar to the way the temp probes are wired...but need to verify.

:)

 

[Ranjib]

Hello all,
I've recently been working on my own Reef-pi project and stumbled into an issue. My first try of hooking things up I shorted my pi zero by accident :( but luckily I had a really old pi (Model B) lying around to keep playing with and hooked it up right this time. I switched the SD card containing my version of reefpi (3.0) with all my outlets and such already configured into the "new" pi. When I got into my Reefpi interface and tried to test my outlets, it said: "error: Failed to update. Error: Can't update 11 - can't get output pin." I got this error when trying to test any of the outlets and figured it must have been an issue with the configuration of the outlets since the GPIO of the piB is different of the newer pi's. When I went to connectors under configuration, it gave me the error, "reef-pi cannot read analog input of null." My best guess is that I have one of the channels set to pin 13 but with the old pi it actually does not have a pin 13. Any thoughts on how to fix this? I realize the raspberry pi B is a bit outdated these days but I was hoping I would be able to use to do some testing anyways.

Is this a 26 pin pi ? If so, you have to use a different gpio PIN number. I have not tested it, but start with some google ...and update your configuration

 

[Coolhack]

Quick question, Reef Pi does work with Raspberry Pi 4 right?

 

[GaryE]

Quick question, Reef Pi does work with Raspberry Pi 4 right?

Yes

 

[Coolhack]

I have another question, has anyone or is anyone using the leviathan chip?

 

[Michael Lane]

Thanks I was looking for what size to use...I am adding a QT coral tank and want to add ATO to the existing setup that is feeding my freshwater setup, do I just add the resistor inline? I will need to go and search and see if I can figure it out but I assume it will be similar to the way the temp probes are wired...but need to verify.

:)

It's different from the way temp probes are hooked up. The temp probes use a shared pull up resistor. This should use individual current limit resistors. Any value up to ~10k would be fine (and possibly better).

Something like this shows connecting to IO 18. The resistor can be on either wire.

 

[Michael Lane]

Hello all,
I've recently been working on my own Reef-pi project and stumbled into an issue. My first try of hooking things up I shorted my pi zero by accident :( but luckily I had a really old pi (Model B) lying around to keep playing with and hooked it up right this time. I switched the SD card containing my version of reefpi (3.0) with all my outlets and such already configured into the "new" pi. When I got into my Reefpi interface and tried to test my outlets, it said: "error: Failed to update. Error: Can't update 11 - can't get output pin." I got this error when trying to test any of the outlets and figured it must have been an issue with the configuration of the outlets since the GPIO of the piB is different of the newer pi's. When I went to connectors under configuration, it gave me the error, "reef-pi cannot read analog input of null." My best guess is that I have one of the channels set to pin 13 but with the old pi it actually does not have a pin 13. Any thoughts on how to fix this? I realize the raspberry pi B is a bit outdated these days but I was hoping I would be able to use to do some testing anyways.

You may need to load a different build of reef-pi. It sounds like you might still be running the pi-zero build on the pi B.

 

[MikeSpike]

Hi there. From memory there was bug or issue upgrading from ReefPi 2 to 3 and it was suggested to do a clean install.
1. Is this still true with 3.4
2. What is the recommended installation steps if yes. On the guide it says just to do a wget.
Thanks.

 

[jacobc1199]

You may need to load a different build of reef-pi. It sounds like you might still be running the pi-zero build on the pi B.

I was thinking that was a possibility. When looking through the releases on github I only see builds for the zero and pi3 should I try the 3? When I wget the right file and unpackage it will it automatically install the new version or do I need to delete the current version first? Thanks.

 

[bishoptf]

Hi there. From memory there was bug or issue upgrading from ReefPi 2 to 3 and it was suggested to do a clean install.
1. Is this still true with 3.4
2. What is the recommended installation steps if yes. On the guide it says just to do a wget.
Thanks.

2.x to 3.x require clean install, you can upgrade 3.1.x to 3.4 etc, usually withing a given code train you can upgrade. Here are the upgrade steps - https://reef-pi.github.io/additional-documentation/upgrade/

 

[bishoptf]

It's different from the way temp probes are hooked up. The temp probes use a shared pull up resistor. This should use individual current limit resistors. Any value up to ~10k would be fine (and possibly better).

Something like this shows connecting to IO 18. The resistor can be on either wire.

Thanks, makes sense, feed from 3.3v rail and then tie it into an open GPIO port. Need to figure out how I want to add it to the hat.

Thanks for the help as usual :)

I found this old schematic for wiring in float switches, can someone explain the difference?

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

My 125g tank was setup with RKE controller and several modules. I have been trying to source a new head unit but I was not successful since the company went out of business. Would it be possible to be a reef-pi controller that would reuse some of the RKE module such PB4 power bar, ALC light...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[bishoptf]

I was thinking that was a possibility. When looking through the releases on github I only see builds for the zero and pi3 should I try the 3? When I wget the right file and unpackage it will it automatically install the new version or do I need to delete the current version first? Thanks.

From my understanding, you have the zero and everything else, so depending on which model you have you use that version, if its not a zero use the version 3 train. You should check and make sure it has 40pin gpio layout, if its the really old 26pin gpio I do not think those models will work with this code, @Ranjib or someone else can correct me if I am mistaken.

:)

 

[jacobc1199]

From my understanding, you have the zero and everything else, so depending on which model you have you use that version, if its not a zero use the version 3 train. You should check and make sure it has 40pin gpio layout, if its the really old 26pin gpio I do not think those models will work with this code, @Ranjib or someone else can correct me if I am mistaken.

:)

I did some more digging and found documentation that said that the older pi B's (26pin GPIO) had a more similar binary to the Zero than the pi3, is this still the case @Ranjib. I went ahead and did a clean install of reef-pi 3.4 for the zero and still ran into the issue of not being able to set connectors because of the error seen below. I was able to list the db bucket for the analog inputs and it returned an empty list. Any ideas on how to fix this? I assume that bucket is not supposed to be empty. Thanks for everyone's help I haven't done a project like this in a while and it shows!

 

[Ranjib]

I did some more digging and found documentation that said that the older pi B's (26pin GPIO) had a more similar binary to the Zero than the pi3, is this still the case @Ranjib. I went ahead and did a clean install of reef-pi 3.4 for the zero and still ran into the issue of not being able to set connectors because of the error seen below. I was able to list the db bucket for the analog inputs and it returned an empty list. Any ideas on how to fix this? I assume that bucket is not supposed to be empty. Thanks for everyone's help I haven't done a project like this in a while and it shows!

I think the 26 pin pi has different gpio PIN numbers. I don’t have one handy to test, but try googling the pi out for that pi and see if the correct gpio PIN number works, if not , we are out of luck

 

[MikeSpike]

2.x to 3.x require clean install, you can upgrade 3.1.x to 3.4 etc, usually withing a given code train you can upgrade. Here are the upgrade steps - https://reef-pi.github.io/additional-documentation/upgrade/

Thanks. But i cant see the instructions there for a clean install and maintaining my setup?