Matt's Reef-Pi build thread

Matt Carden · Jun 17, 2022

robsworld78 said:
In the Pi SSH terminal if you run the following command do you see the pca9685 listed? It should show up as 0x40, in reef-pi for the driver address you would use 64.

I didn't get the command you mention above?

robsworld78 · Jun 18, 2022

Matt Carden said:
I didn't get the command you mention above?

Ah crap, sorry... This command will check which I2C devices are connected, maybe it's using a different address then expected.

i2cdetect -y 1

Matt Carden · Jun 20, 2022

This is what came up when I entered command. @Ranjib @robsworld78

This is in reef-pi when trying to setup the driver.

robsworld78 · Jun 21, 2022

Matt Carden said:
This is what came up when I entered command. @Ranjib @robsworld78

This is in reef-pi when trying to setup the driver.

The pca9685 is being detected and the address for reef-pi driver is correct. Is the problem with validation not allowing you to save it? If so maybe try a desktop browser.

Matt Carden · Jun 21, 2022

OMG I'm stupid! I just figured it out! The fields in the pic above for address and frequency were autofilled by reef-pi so I was just clicking save! I just tried to type the information in the boxes and it saved!

Matt Carden · Jul 17, 2022

I have some weird going ons happening with my reef-pi! Started ths controller up about a month ago. Had a few hiccups but otherwise running smoothly. I have been accessing daily via Google Chrome browser by typing in my IP address to turn off my return pump for frozen feedings. A few days ago I couldn't access via Chrome anymore but the controller was still controlling the equipment. Yesterday I went on my Xfinity gateway app and discovered my reef-pi IP address had changed! I was then able to access via Chrome with the updated IP address.

Then this morning I woke to discover my lights never turned off as scheduled last night and my water level was low. The truly strange part is that the reef-pi was controlling the intensity of the lights. I reset the Raspberry-Pi power and everything started working correctly?

HuduVudu · Jul 17, 2022

Matt Carden said:
Yesterday I went on my Xfinity gateway app and discovered my reef-pi IP address had changed! I was then able to access via Chrome with the updated IP address.

The lease on the Pi expired and the router (part of the gateway) re-assigned the address. Normally people don't have a lot going on their networks so the router will just re-assign the same ip but sometimes the router decides to re-assign a new one. You can use the localhost pathing to solve this problem.

@Ranjib what is used when you make a localhost call?

Matt Carden · Jul 17, 2022

So this will probably happen again?

HuduVudu · Jul 17, 2022

Matt Carden said:
So this will probably happen again?

The ip changing ... yes.

Apex uses localhost with the login name to create a web address that you can use to get to the Apex.

This is the question I am asking Ranji, on how to do it with ReefPi

HuduVudu · Jul 17, 2022

Matt Carden said:
So this will probably happen again?

This is how it how it happens on Apex ... "http://apex.local/"

Under: "Sign into the APEX local dashboard"

https://www.neptunesystems.com/getstarted/apexng/apex-wired/

Sral · Jul 17, 2022

HuduVudu said:
This is how it how it happens on Apex ... "http://apex.local/"

Under: "Sign into the APEX local dashboard"

https://www.neptunesystems.com/getstarted/apexng/apex-wired/

It works the same in reefPi, depending on which name you set.

I think the standard is http://reefpi.local, even though I had some problems getting it to work that way. That's why I have set my Router to give the PI a fixed address.

HuduVudu · Jul 17, 2022

Sral said:
It works the same in reefPi, depending on which name you set.

I think the standard is http://reefpi.local

Mine isn't coming up with this. I haven't directly set the local host in ReefPi.

Is it based on the username or is there a field directly in ReefPi that I can change?

Matt Carden · Jul 17, 2022

I wasn't using ".local" ill try that when I get home. I've also tried setting up an SSH but have been unsuccessful.

HuduVudu · Jul 17, 2022

Matt Carden said:
I wasn't using ".local" ill try that when I get home. I've also tried setting up an SSH but have been unsuccessful.

These might be configuration file or CLI commands.

Let's see what Sral or Ranji have to say. I am no expert here.

Sral · Jul 17, 2022

Just set up a new Raspian OS Lite with the Raspberry Pi Imager and there you could set the name.

HuduVudu · Jul 17, 2022

Sral said:
Just set up a new Raspian OS Lite with the Raspberry Pi Imager and there you could set the name.

In the setup?

EDIT: Is there a default?

Sral · Jul 17, 2022

HuduVudu said:
In the setup?

EDIT: Is there a default?

Yes, in the advanced settings.

Default I think is raspberrypi (.local)

HuduVudu · Jul 17, 2022

Sral said:
Yes, in the advanced settings.

Default I think is raspberrypi (.local)

Is there anyway to change after the installation process. I am thinking there is a config file that I can get to change it.

HuduVudu · Jul 17, 2022

Matt Carden said:
I wasn't using ".local" ill try that when I get home. I've also tried setting up an SSH but have been unsuccessful.

Got it the defualt is:

http://raspberrypi

There is no .local after the name.

@Sral

HuduVudu · Jul 17, 2022

@Matt Carden @Sral

Found it!

You need to ssh in. You should be in your home directory. You can then type in ... sudo raspi-config
This brings up the config interface and under System Options > Host Name you can change the host name.

Once you change the host name and the Raspberry Pi reboots then you can use the hostname instead of the ip to access the reefpi interface.

For example if I change the hostname to crazyreef
Then I would access using:

http://crazyreef

More info:

reef-pi Guide 1: Setup and Demonstration

reef-pi is an opensource reef tank controller capable of automating day to day reef keeping chored including equipment control, temperature control, water level control, dawn to dusk light cycle. T...

learn.adafruit.com