Robo-Tank 2.0 for reef-pi

MoKan Reefer

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 7, 2018
Messages
224
Reaction score
184
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Yeah sadly I do need to charge more but I am keeping things as low possible. Fully assembled this will be $109 possibly $119, it's impossible to DIY for this, let alone time. With an AC power bar assembled it won't go over $200.

I'm thinking I might skip the Kickstarter idea for now as that'll take time, I have nothing for it haha. I'm actually just revising the board to add RTC and get the faceplate etc made. I did just need to get a batch of v1.0 so I'll probably wait 2-3 weeks to order and should have in around a month. Whatever is left of 1.0 I'll be blowing out the DIY version at $60, there's a lot less to solder as I have some parts pre mounted now so if you want a deal it might be worth waiting for that.

As the price is over the $100 I'm going to put together a basic version, I hope to order a beta when I order 2.0 and then shortly after I'll get them. I'm hoping assembled these will be $50 - $70 depending what I add, that's the hard part. I know for pennies more I can add this or that so I never stop, those pennies do start to add up though.

Yeah, I can only imagine lol.
I reread in case I was missing it but is this unit going to be expandable for more power bars like the V1 was with the addition of the PCA9685 connection?
Definitely let me know if/when you blow out the v1s and I'll probably pick one up for when I can finally swap out the current 180 to the 270 gallon that's been sitting in the living room almost 2 years lol. The v1 will go on it being that I'm going to have it specifically for the wife and I'll still want a v2 for myself and the 280. Figure at this price point one can't afford to do half of what these are capable of whether someone went diy or mainstream tech even at 2-3× the pricing so I can't lose either way.
You and I spoke awhile back (probably nearly if not more than a year ago) so I'll email you in the next few days as I had a few more questions but don't want to sidebar this announcement thread.
 
OP
OP
robsworld78

robsworld78

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 14, 2020
Messages
952
Reaction score
1,280
Location
Edmonton, Canada
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Sounds like a good plan. You can still add the PCA9685 expansion and the other extensions I have will also still work.
 

ColoredRock

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 9, 2021
Messages
849
Reaction score
1,021
Location
Murrieta, CA (North of San Diego)
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Can we pre order v 2 :)

I just setup a brand new cube with nothing but dry rock and a rock from a pre established tank. would love to set this up from scratch. was about to pull the plug and get the first version. Nothing is going to change on the cube for a couple months as it matures.
 
OP
OP
robsworld78

robsworld78

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 14, 2020
Messages
952
Reaction score
1,280
Location
Edmonton, Canada
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Can we pre order v 2 :)

I just setup a brand new cube with nothing but dry rock and a rock from a pre established tank. would love to set this up from scratch. was about to pull the plug and get the first version. Nothing is going to change on the cube for a couple months as it matures.
Sure why not. :) Like that you can have it for the cost of current controller. If you do, place an order for what I have and put a comment on the order that it's a pre-order. Anyone else feel free to do so as well.
 
OP
OP
robsworld78

robsworld78

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 14, 2020
Messages
952
Reaction score
1,280
Location
Edmonton, Canada
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
whats current expected availability on the v2 boards?

patiently waiting to order one :)
Thanks for your patience, I'm a little slow. :) I did order them Oct 1 but there was a big holiday in China that slowed it down, it looks like they are ready to ship to me now though so I expect to have them next week
 

ColoredRock

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 9, 2021
Messages
849
Reaction score
1,021
Location
Murrieta, CA (North of San Diego)
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thanks for your patience, I'm a little slow. :) I did order them Oct 1 but there was a big holiday in China that slowed it down, it looks like they are ready to ship to me now though so I expect to have them next week
dam you... you are going to make me sign up for a paypal account...ugh :p
 

nbooks

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 20, 2020
Messages
308
Reaction score
348
Location
New York
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thanks for your patience, I'm a little slow. :) I did order them Oct 1 but there was a big holiday in China that slowed it down, it looks like they are ready to ship to me now though so I expect to have them next week

I figured it would likely be supply chain stuff slowing you down, no surprise there.

i need a good wintee project anyway. Thanks!
 
OP
OP
robsworld78

robsworld78

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 14, 2020
Messages
952
Reaction score
1,280
Location
Edmonton, Canada
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I figured it would likely be supply chain stuff slowing you down, no surprise there.

i need a good wintee project anyway. Thanks!
I can't really blame the delay on that but I have definitely felt the effects, been very lucky to get a couple parts when I need them and it looks like still at least 6 months until Mouser etc gets any real stock. The pca9685 is one of them and there's no alternatives.
 
OP
OP
robsworld78

robsworld78

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 14, 2020
Messages
952
Reaction score
1,280
Location
Edmonton, Canada
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It's finally ready but sadly there's one small issue with the small sensor extension module. As it is today only the optical sensor sockets work, to use the non-contact sensor socket on a specific port two resistors needs to be removed. An optical and non-contact socket share a port so one or the other can be used, I left this till the last minute rushing it and failed to put a jumper to select which socket is being used so there's a pullup and pulldown resistor on the same data line, like this the pullup can't do it's job for the non-contact sensor. When the pulldown resistor is removed it's fine, technically there should be a jumper to do this and will be when I get more.

CAM02609.jpg


CAM02544.jpg
 

level16gazebo

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 29, 2017
Messages
175
Reaction score
94
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
How much current can I switch with the DC ports? Want to plug in a big ol' 24v PSU and use it to power my pumps.

Any plans for a pump controller ala 'Wave Engine'?
 
OP
OP
robsworld78

robsworld78

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 14, 2020
Messages
952
Reaction score
1,280
Location
Edmonton, Canada
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
How much current can I switch with the DC ports? Want to plug in a big ol' 24v PSU and use it to power my pumps.

Any plans for a pump controller ala 'Wave Engine'?
Hi, I'm guessing it's probably not enough. :) The max continuous is 3 amps on one DC port or between them all. You can however connect external mosfet modules to the PWM channels if you want to be able to adjust the output voltage (speed) or DB9 ports for on/off. Here's the type I'm referring to.

Sorry not sure about a pump controller, that would require changes to reef-pi which I'm unable to do at this time. You would need to use the lighting controls to come up with some kind of pattern. I'm not sure if anyone has done it but I think some basic control is possible as is.

EDIT: Removed link as it wasn't helpful....
 
Last edited:

level16gazebo

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Apr 29, 2017
Messages
175
Reaction score
94
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hi, I'm guessing it's probably not enough. :) The max continuous is 3 amps on one DC port or between them all. You can however connect external mosfet modules to the PWM channels if you want to be able to adjust the output voltage (speed) or DB9 ports for on/off. Here's the type I'm referring to.


Sorry not sure about a pump controller, that would require changes to reef-pi which I'm unable to do at this time. You would need to use the lighting controls to come up with some kind of pattern. I'm not sure if anyone has done it but I think some basic control is possible as is.
dang. It's not *quite* enough. As I understand it, it should be trivial to create a simple on/off relay box, the same as the power strip, but with DC in and DC out, yeah? 5.5mm jacks are pretty much ubiqutious. I bet that's something a lot of people are looking for but don't know they're looking for - you'd get all the benefits of a power bar but without all the extra bricks.
 
OP
OP
robsworld78

robsworld78

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 14, 2020
Messages
952
Reaction score
1,280
Location
Edmonton, Canada
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
dang. It's not *quite* enough. As I understand it, it should be trivial to create a simple on/off relay box, the same as the power strip, but with DC in and DC out, yeah? 5.5mm jacks are pretty much ubiqutious. I bet that's something a lot of people are looking for but don't know they're looking for - you'd get all the benefits of a power bar but without all the extra bricks.
Yeah you can use relays and switch them the same way however the relay still needs a mosfet to switch it. Relays are a little bit on the high current side to connect directly to a signal so you need to watch for that. Those mosfets are basically the electronic version of the relay, both will do the same in this case. If you're ok with relays the mosfet will do good. For a while I've been thinking of making a high current DC power bar maybe in a few months I'll have one. It'll be mosfets with common plugs as you mentioned.
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 73 37.6%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 66 34.0%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 12.9%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 28 14.4%
  • Other.

    Votes: 2 1.0%
Back
Top