me too buddy. Your build thread and the pictures where you show the front board that the drivers plug into look exactly like the ones in my fixtures as well.No problem hope it works.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
me too buddy. Your build thread and the pictures where you show the front board that the drivers plug into look exactly like the ones in my fixtures as well.No problem hope it works.
If you’re getting less than 3.3V, check the pull-up (10k) resistors on the SDA line. The line should idle high.
Also check the voltage level with nothing else connected except the Pi and the resistors.
Also make sure you haven’t tried to use the SDA pin as another function.
If your multi meter has a fast min/max mode it’s also useful to see if the voltages vary when you try to use it.
SDA is sitting at 3.3v. The only multimeter I own is a Fluke 115. There is a very small fluctuation in voltage is I run i2cdetect command but we are talking 30-40 mV. I am trying to get this working on a fresh install of raspbian and reef-pi.
@theatrus
New raspberry pi solves my issue. Both PCA9685 modules are good. Some how I damaged the i2c bus on the first raspberry pi.....bummer.
At least I got it up and running.
@Diamond1
my lights work exactly like yours do. I was thinking about how to wire my lights to my reef-pi.
I have a abundance of ethernet cat5e cable laying around. I was thinking I could use it for this purpose. I feel like it would be perfect. 8 wires, 4 for each driver. Get a jack and mount it right to the back of my light and the same for my enclosure for my reef-pi.
My only question is the wires are a small gauge obviously I know I wouldn't have an issue with the PWM and GND. But would running 12v through a relay and back to on/off be a problem for cat5e?
I would also like to know this?
How much current in amps are u planning on running thru? Cat 5 is usually only 22awg or 24 awg?
I edited my post...for just signal cat 5 is fine...22 awg MAX 3 amps, 24 awg, 2 amps...less if its a long run but for less than 1 amp signal..cat 5 should be good. Anything more than one amp and I personally would use 18awg or better, cat 5 is good for signal its what im planning on using myself for the pwm signals to my lights if I decide to put my homemade drivers inside my light housing. I may decide to do otherwise and my lights draw 4 amps on a channel, so 18 awg it is. A good source of inexpensive multiwire cable for 18 awg is thermostat wire, bearing in mind it is solid conductors, not stranded.
Ok so from what I have found out according to
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category_5_cable
Is that cat5 can handle 500mA. Which is perfectly fine for what I am doing with it.
The cat5e that I have is 24awg. See above. It’s only going to carry 12v signal to turn drivers on and off and a 3.3v 200hz pwm signal for dimming control. I am currently working on wiring the jacks that are going to be in the reef pi enclosure.
I made the mistake not to buy the tool to push the wires into the jack.....
I edited my post...for just signal cat 5 is fine...22 awg MAX 3 amps, 24 awg, 2 amps...less if its a long run but for less than 1 amp signal..cat 5 should be good. Anything more than one amp and I personally would use 18awg or better, cat 5 is good for signal its what im planning on using myself for the pwm signals to my lights if I decide to put my homemade drivers inside my light housing. I may decide to do otherwise and my lights draw 4 amps on a channel, so 18 awg it is. A good source of inexpensive multiwire cable for 18 awg is thermostat wire, bearing in mind it is solid conductors, not stranded.
I hope you'll give details on this?