I'll give this a try this weekend
Better quick snapshot
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I'll give this a try this weekend
Better quick snapshot
Speaking of level sensors, I wanted to toy with the idea of making USB modules to expand Reef-Pi, base-board or not. I also wanted to experiment using pressure sensors to determine liquid level in arbitrary amounts (think ATO reservoir, 2-part, etc)
As part of the experiment, I knocked this up:
Its designed to slide into a case:
I can inexpensively making face-plates for both sides using acrylic of PCBs them selves, which makes doing cutouts for ports much easier, even if the case is more expensive than plastic (though the aluminum extrusion is extra lux).
So, whats on board?
- ATSAMD21G processor for USB
- Two MPXV7002 pressure sensors (differential). https://www.nxp.com/docs/en/data-sheet/MPXV7002.pdf for level sensors. I'd bring out the ports via tubing. The idea is to use a rigid piece of airline tubing immersed in the liquid of choice connected via airline back to the module. As liquid level changes, so does the hydrostatic air pressure in the rigid tubing. Using a differential sensor to cancel out atmospheric pressure changes.
- Four pin pluggable terminal block connector for connecting two mechanical float switches
- 4 pin JST XH header to direct connect the IR level sensors
- Misc power bits
Its going to take a bit to get USB support into Reef-Pi, but this will be a cheap but useful way to test the whole idea out. Even though the case is tiny I'm trying to see if I can squeeze something for a DC pump power connector in, but it may be better suited for a bigger version of the case.
Any progress on this? I was going to cobble together a high/low ATO sensor using a couple of float switches, but this has the potential to be a much more elegant solution. Or, if my SMT soldering chops were good enough, I'd use the pressure sensors....
Back from my trip. I'm working on a prioritized burn down list. Some insight:
Because I've built a prioritized list, I'm now going to just pick entries at random :troll:
- Publish initial Pico board hook-up guides / documentation.
- Finish the hookup decals for the case. Mail out decals to everyone who got a case so far.
- Debug and validate Reef-Pi 3.0 work to support all Pico hardware.
- Publish an apt-get repository and packages (reef-pi included) for setup of the Pico board in one command.
- Finish the level controller PCB and validate sensors
- Write initial support for USB devices for Reef-Pi using the 3.0 HAL layer.
- (Holding pattern pending Reef-Pi 3.0 release) Pico Board General Availability.
- Finish design of dual stepper doser USB board.
- Finish design of LED driver single link driver and power injector
- More peripherals!
Back from my trip. I'm working on a prioritized burn down list. Some insight:
Because I've built a prioritized list, I'm now going to just pick entries at random :troll:
- Publish initial Pico board hook-up guides / documentation.
- Finish the hookup decals for the case. Mail out decals to everyone who got a case so far.
- Debug and validate Reef-Pi 3.0 work to support all Pico hardware.
- Publish an apt-get repository and packages (reef-pi included) for setup of the Pico board in one command.
- Finish the level controller PCB and validate sensors
- Write initial support for USB devices for Reef-Pi using the 3.0 HAL layer.
- (Holding pattern pending Reef-Pi 3.0 release) Pico Board General Availability.
- Finish design of dual stepper doser USB board.
- Finish design of LED driver single link driver and power injector
- More peripherals!
Out of curiousity - how/where will you source the decals? I'm looking at some way to label my case, but I've got a custom build, and would like something that looks better than handwritten Sharpie
I'm using laser-printable vinyl labels
https://www.onlinelabels.com/weatherproof_vinyl_laser.htm
Do a color print on a full sheet and then rotary cut the strips out.
Thanks
The $65000 question...I have access to a high quality laser printer at work (some gigantic Konica beast)...but I don't think it can print white...so this might not work for me, unless I do black outlined text...
@theatrus did you fix the 10v pwm connector issue where GND was not on sleeve ? I think for public release it will be awesome to pull in the ato circuit (either for float switch or ph to sensors ) , so that folks can just hook up the probes/float switch
If you want white text on black background, you'll need to fill the space with toner to create your own black. Pretty much all label stock ships as white, or lighter colors, as there is no common white ink in any full color flat stock printing process (now on silk-screen and pad prints, sure... and there are some direct-to-packaging inkjets which can deposit white or at least an undercoat, but this is way more specialized)
I
I'm thinking that finding stencils might be the better path forward on this (spray painting the enclosure, then masking off to spray the stencils in white), given that otherwise, it'll look...meh. The 'power' and 'dc input' symbols might be tough to locate, but I'm going to search around.
I think some P-touch label printers will do white letters on black labels.If you want white text on black background, you'll need to fill the space with toner to create your own black. Pretty much all label stock ships as white, or lighter colors, as there is no common white ink in any full color flat stock printing process (now on silk-screen and pad prints, sure... and there are some direct-to-packaging inkjets which can deposit white or at least an undercoat, but this is way more specialized)
I think some P-touch label printers will do white letters on black labels.
A Brady wire label printer will do the same you can print many sizes on regular label tapes, and as an added bonus you could print those sleeves for the wire ends to label them, and it has all the electrical symbols built in
Hmmm....are silk screens for one offs reasonably priced?It’s expensive for one offs, but you can get stamps made and use a white ink with them. Consider it a lower resolution pad print.
Also silk screens are much nicer than stencils since you’re not limited to shapes that don’t require support.
now thats a cool enclosureShare my controller with cutting sticker