Quality peristaltic pumps

[DirtDiggler2823]

With this hobby you never know. Lol! Just some ideas.

Yep. Maybe I'll just take a shot in the dark and see where it goes, or buy 4 different brands and just see how they perform.

 

[sbash]

The Jaebo mentioned earlier would need to be ripped apart to work, although the cost is low, the effort may not be worth it. However, there are 'expansion' models for the Jaebo unit which connects using an RJ11 (I think), you MIGHT be able to hack it to work with the pi.

I will note, the Jaebos are considered highly unreliable. However, nobody is really sure if it is the pump getting stuck on, the motor controller (for the pump) or the dosing controller itself.

If you just want a selection of pumps, AliExpress has them starting at $3 each...

That said, if you just buy the pump itself, you still need a motor driver for it to interface with the pi. I'm not sure if a simple 12v relay will do the trick or not. I would think something like this would work though:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14451

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

The Jaebo mentioned earlier would need to be ripped apart to work, although the cost is low, the effort may not be worth it. However, there are 'expansion' models for the Jaebo unit which connects using an RJ11 (I think), you MIGHT be able to hack it to work with the pi.

I will note, the Jaebos are considered highly unreliable. However, nobody is really sure if it is the pump getting stuck on, the motor controller (for the pump) or the dosing controller itself.

If you just want a selection of pumps, AliExpress has them starting at $3 each...

That said, if you just buy the pump itself, you still need a motor driver for it to interface with the pi. I'm not sure if a simple 12v relay will do the trick or not. I would think something like this would work though:
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/14451

The reef-pi can drive them, from what ive been told.

 

[sbash]

The reef-pi can drive them, from what ive been told.

Not directly, you still need a motor controller and a power supply.

The pumps will likely be 12v, thus you need a 12v power supply. The Pi has 5v and 3.3v outputs, but you would be pushing your limit to power a motor with them (assuming you had a 5v pump).

The ReefPi BOM does include a relay board, so you might be able to just hook up a 12v power supply through it and power the pump; not sure, you'd have to test it!

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

Not directly, you still need a motor controller and a power supply.

The pumps will likely be 12v, thus you need a 12v power supply. The Pi has 5v and 3.3v outputs, but you would be pushing your limit to power a motor with them (assuming you had a 5v pump).

The ReefPi BOM does include a relay board, so you might be able to just hook up a 12v power supply through it and power the pump; not sure, you'd have to test it!

The controller is simply on/off, correct?

 

[sbash]

The controller is simply on/off, correct?

For this purpose, that is all you need. You wouldn't be ramping up and down the motor. However, look at the duty cycle on the relay you have/get to be sure it will be reliable to switch off and on several times a day (potentially) for the next few years. The relays are mechanical switches, so you are introducing a small amount of risk...

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

For this purpose, that is all you need. You wouldn't be ramping up and down the motor. However, look at the duty cycle on the relay you have/get to be sure it will be reliable to switch off and on several times a day (potentially) for the next few years. The relays are mechanical switches, so you are introducing a small amount of risk...

I have a power strip that the reef-pi ,controls. The relays in there should be pretty good.

 

[BigJohnny]

I'm building a DYI dosing setup with my reef-pi as the controller. I'm looking for decent pumps that won't break the bank, as the price point on these things is from $5 to $90 per unit, and there is no real feedback on many of the models to do any comparison. Are there any folks here who have any experience with these dosing pumps outside of the normal vendor brands?

Check out kamoers offerings. Alibaba sells a bunch

 

[NY_Caveman]

Just throwing this out there...

If you want reliability consider looking for medical grade peristaltic pumps. I have little information on them and have never used one, but I figure if they are keeping people alive they are probably made well and have good warranties.

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

Just throwing this out there...

If you want reliability consider looking for medical grade peristaltic pumps. I have little information on them and have never used one, but I figure if they are keeping people alive they are probably made well and have good warranties.

I've seen them, but they are super expensive.

 

[Mpal771]

I'm building a DYI dosing setup with my reef-pi as the controller. I'm looking for decent pumps that won't break the bank, as the price point on these things is from $5 to $90 per unit, and there is no real feedback on many of the models to do any comparison. Are there any folks here who have any experience with these dosing pumps outside of the normal vendor brands?

Stay away from Jaebo and go with spectra

 

[salty joe]

I made a doser using Arduino and tried the really inexpensive pumps (like the ones in Jebao dosers)-they don't hold up. I have been happy with these. They do make noise, it's not ridiculous IMO, but it can be heard through a door. I've been using them for a couple years or so. I used mosfets to do the switching and the first ones fried at about 6 months. Spence from Drazzy fixed me up with some really heavy duty mosfets and chose the transistor for me. They are rock solid. Spence is very knowledgeable and very helpful.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Peristalti...h=item2a7dc1b1c7:g:yysAAOSw2gxY0eZT:rk:2:pf:0

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

I made a doser using Arduino and tried the really inexpensive pumps (like the ones in Jebao dosers)-they don't hold up. I have been happy with these. They do make noise, it's not ridiculous IMO, but it can be heard through a door. I've been using them for a couple years or so. I used mosfets to do the switching and the first ones fried at about 6 months. Spence from Drazzy fixed me up with some really heavy duty mosfets and chose the transistor for me. They are rock solid. Spence is very knowledgeable and very helpful.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Peristalti...h=item2a7dc1b1c7:g:yysAAOSw2gxY0eZT:rk:2:pf:0

These could be what I'm looking for

 

[sector9]

I ended up going with a Masterflex pump but they are pricey. I would look in to these APT pumps though http://www.aptinstruments.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=SP100 . Apparently they are used by BRS in their highly rated “Drew’s doser”. I agree with you that a $4 pump is not likely to be reliable enough for dosing

More info: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1773806

 

[b4tn]

I made a doser using Arduino and tried the really inexpensive pumps (like the ones in Jebao dosers)-they don't hold up. I have been happy with these. They do make noise, it's not ridiculous IMO, but it can be heard through a door. I've been using them for a couple years or so. I used mosfets to do the switching and the first ones fried at about 6 months. Spence from Drazzy fixed me up with some really heavy duty mosfets and chose the transistor for me. They are rock solid. Spence is very knowledgeable and very helpful.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Peristalti...h=item2a7dc1b1c7:g:yysAAOSw2gxY0eZT:rk:2:pf:0

I have been looking around trying to figure out what sets Peristaltic pumps apart and I think I figured it out. All of the Cheap Chinese ones are friction driven. The shaft of the motor is pushed between three plastic rollers with the tubing around them stuffed into a housing. Because its so tight, the friction from the motor shaft spins the rollers. All the expensive pumps seem to be direct driven metal rollers with bearings. This pump looks from the picture to have a direct driven roller and is probably the best we will get for middle ground quality wise. It has a really high current draw compared to most of the other cheap ones that are usually around 600mA.

 

[b4tn]

I ended up going with a Masterflex pump but they are pricey. I would look in to these APT pumps though http://www.aptinstruments.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=SP100 . Apparently they are used by BRS in their highly rated “Drew’s doser”. I agree with you that a $4 pump is not likely to be reliable enough for dosing

More info: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1773806

This API one looks nice!
http://www.aptinstruments.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=SP100VO

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

I have been looking around trying to figure out what sets Peristaltic pumps apart and I think I figured it out. All of the Cheap Chinese ones are friction driven. The shaft of the motor is pushed between three plastic rollers with the tubing around them stuffed into a housing. Because its so tight, the friction from the motor shaft spins the rollers. All the expensive pumps seem to be direct driven metal rollers with bearings. This pump looks from the picture to have a direct driven roller and is probably the best we will get for middle ground quality wise. It has a really high current draw compared to most of the other cheap ones that are usually around 600mA.

I'm reading that the masterflex pumps are bulletproof, but i have no idea how big they are. I know they cost a lot new, but used they are reasonable.