Reef Pi, on a wish and a prayer!

OP
OP
PaulJ2303

PaulJ2303

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 30, 2018
Messages
76
Reaction score
172
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hi,
I've decided to have a go at building a reef pi monitoring system, here we go o_O

So I've just bought a raspberry 3b+ and installed raspbian on it. i then installed the reef pi software on top of that and following the adafruit guide it all went surprisingly well, I've attached a pic of my pi making an LED flash.
Ok i am aware that most of the guys that have gone through this will not be impressed, but for me the fact that i can sit on my couch and turn an LED on and off with my phone is the coolest thing in the world ;Happy

IMG_20190503_155915.jpg
 
OP
OP
PaulJ2303

PaulJ2303

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 30, 2018
Messages
76
Reaction score
172
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm still in the testing and playing with it stage so forgive me for the breadboard wiring.
here is a pic of my temperature sensor correctly sensing data and displaying it on my phone. again how cool is that!

IMG_20190505_133531.jpg


Capture.JPG
 
OP
OP
PaulJ2303

PaulJ2303

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 30, 2018
Messages
76
Reaction score
172
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Im thinking of doing the same. I have two Pi's stitting next to me holding my desk down. I just want to be able t0 use a touchscreen like my 3d printer for software programmed buttons like feeding. That would put the PI over the top for me.
Well the reef pi software works and looks great on my phone. When I've finished the build I'll be able to turn my pumps on and off and stuff like that from my phone .. which is a touch screen and remotely too. . Is that what you meant ?
 

Taxus812

Destroyer of corals
View Badges
Joined
Mar 28, 2019
Messages
716
Reaction score
788
Location
Windsor
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
This is the pi I’m using to control my printer. It has a 5” touchscreen with The software button I spoke about. I tend to not have my phone anywhere near the tanks when doing maintenance. I can picture that screen mounted in the cabinet with a few buttons or a small status. Also my wife could feed the fish :)
A2424ABE-8892-4C6B-A52B-F23913B03AF4.jpeg
 
OP
OP
PaulJ2303

PaulJ2303

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 30, 2018
Messages
76
Reaction score
172
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Nice looks ready good. Quite the professional touch. I see what you mean now.

Edit: and you're right a simple interface
 

Ranjib

7500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 16, 2016
Messages
9,825
Reaction score
17,041
Location
Pleasant Hill, Concord
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Yay
Hi,
I've decided to have a go at building a reef pi monitoring system, here we go o_O

So I've just bought a raspberry 3b+ and installed raspbian on it. i then installed the reef pi software on top of that and following the adafruit guide it all went surprisingly well, I've attached a pic of my pi making an LED flash.
Ok i am aware that most of the guys that have gone through this will not be impressed, but for me the fact that i can sit on my couch and turn an LED on and off with my phone is the coolest thing in the world ;Happy

IMG_20190503_155915.jpg
Yay :) . totally know that feeling . Godspeed, #reefpi
 
OP
OP
PaulJ2303

PaulJ2303

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 30, 2018
Messages
76
Reaction score
172
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
now it's kind of bedded in i've decided to move onto the next steps

eventually i want to get to this:
2x Temperature probes
8 Power controller
3 dosing pumps
a PH probe ... because you just can't have too many measurements
and hopefully some ATO control

just for now my next step I want to try and fit the power controller and the dosing pumps one this one Pi
any advice as to how to proceed would be great

:cool:
 

Ranjib

7500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 16, 2016
Messages
9,825
Reaction score
17,041
Location
Pleasant Hill, Concord
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
With 3.0 coming in we can have wifi smart powerstrips doing the power control (and eneregy monitoring). Just another option , other than the existing ADJ 8 channel power strip or Scratch build using relays and receptacles.
 

Michael Lane

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2018
Messages
677
Reaction score
1,123
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
A single reef-pi can handle all of those functions. Here's what I think would be needed for the next steps.

You'll need to decide on what you will use for outlets.
  • ADJ SRP8 is nice because of the enclosure. It requires 8 gpio, a ULN2803, and a source of 12v.
  • Relay board and DIY outlets. Specifics will depend on the relay board, but they can sometimes work directly from gpio without an additional chip.
  • Smart Powerstrip is cool because it doesn't need any wiring, but it depends on a reliable wifi network.
There is also some variability for dosing pumps.
  • Modify an existing dosing pump (I'm using a jebao dp3s with dp4s being added soon). It can be cheaper than buying individual peristaltic pumps and includes an enclosure
  • Custom build using individual peristaltic DC pumps offers more flexibility, but more work. There are a few ways these can be driven.
  • Custom build using stepper motors would offer better accuracy, but is more complicated circuitry.
 

Michael Lane

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 11, 2018
Messages
677
Reaction score
1,123
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
reef-pi doesn't depend on the cloud, but there are some cloud integration possibilities. I think reef-pi is best suited for a local home network (wired or wireless). It is also possible to set up reef-pi without a network just by connected a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
 

Dr. Dendrostein

Marine fish monthly
View Badges
Joined
Nov 8, 2017
Messages
9,581
Reaction score
20,789
Location
Fullerton, California
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
reef-pi doesn't depend on the cloud, but there are some cloud integration possibilities. I think reef-pi is best suited for a local home network (wired or wireless). It is also possible to set up reef-pi without a network just by connected a monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Instead of monitor, keyboard, and mouse, for monitoring can you setup a tablet? Thx
 

Ranjib

7500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 16, 2016
Messages
9,825
Reaction score
17,041
Location
Pleasant Hill, Concord
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Instead of monitor, keyboard, and mouse, for monitoring can you setup a tablet? Thx
You can use anything that has a browser (safari, chrome, firefox, etc), which includes laptop, computer, tablet, phone.. its just a website thats running in your home network. Let's not derail this thread, please ask your question in the main thread or start a separate thread
 
OP
OP
PaulJ2303

PaulJ2303

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 30, 2018
Messages
76
Reaction score
172
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
A single reef-pi can handle all of those functions. Here's what I think would be needed for the next steps.
You'll need to decide on what you will use for outlets.
  • ADJ SRP8 is nice because of the enclosure. It requires 8 gpio, a ULN2803, and a source of 12v.
  • Relay board and DIY outlets. Specifics will depend on the relay board, but they can sometimes work directly from gpio without an additional chip.
  • Smart Powerstrip is cool because it doesn't need any wiring, but it depends on a reliable wifi network.
There is also some variability for dosing pumps.
  • Modify an existing dosing pump (I'm using a jebao dp3s with dp4s being added soon). It can be cheaper than buying individual peristaltic pumps and includes an enclosure
  • Custom build using individual peristaltic DC pumps offers more flexibility, but more work. There are a few ways these can be driven.
  • Custom build using stepper motors would offer better accuracy, but is more complicated circuitry.
Thanks for the reply Michael.

As I'm in the Uk i wouldn't be able to use the 'ADJ SRP8' as it has different plugs and for the life of me i haven't been able to source a UK alternative. so my instinct is to go with a relay board and DIY outlets. i already have a 'ULN2803' sitting here on my desk so i'd like to use that if possible. as far as dosing pumps are concerned the 'Jebao dp3s' is a very good idea that i'm definitely going to use (Thanks)

so where to start? The saying goes that "discretion is the better part of valour" so as I'm going to be going "off plan" so to speak i'm beginning to wonder if this may be a little beyond my very basic skills and knowledge.
I notice you @Michael Lane sell some reef-pi hat's ... would one of your hat's fit my bill?

thanks for any help guy's
 
OP
OP
PaulJ2303

PaulJ2303

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 30, 2018
Messages
76
Reaction score
172
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
With 3.0 coming in we can have wifi smart powerstrips doing the power control (and eneregy monitoring). Just another option , other than the existing ADJ 8 channel power strip or Scratch build using relays and receptacles.

Hi Ranjib just noticed your post,
as an addendum to what I've said to Michael I've Just taken a quick look at these power strips on google it may well be the way to go they aren't that expensive either
 
Back
Top