reef-pi :: An opensource reef tank controller based on Raspberry Pi.

[speedstar]

Its not that bad, something is taking some memory, as long as you have pi running for long time, you'll see some pattern like this. Rememer Pi has around 1Gb memory, i.e. 1024, and you have only used 100, so its not at all risky. Secondly, just from that its not clear whats taking that memory, you have to run top/htop to find out the culprit. But from the current state,, i wont be worried at all.. i'll let it run for month or more and then see if it persists. Most often there will be weekly patterns of memory climbing up and then subsiding. I can explain why that happens.. but I think that will be too technical for this thread .

Thanks so much, I was thinking the scale was 0~100% and i was using 80%

 

[b4tn]

I wasnt planning on doing this but I changed my mind I accidentally stumbled on some info about the Ocean Revive lights that I run. The PWM wire is overly simple to access. I was thinking it would be a difficult process and didnt want to hack up my lights. Looks like the OR T247 lights use a 3.3v PWM control wire thats right on top when you open the case. The purple and blue wires turn the lights on and off when jumped together.

 

[Ranjib]

Thanks so much, I was thinking the scale was 0~100% and i was using 80%

Sorry about that, we should update docs with this information, I bet others will stumble across this as well

 

[Ranjib]

I wasnt planning on doing this but I changed my mind I accidentally stumbled on some info about the Ocean Revive lights that I run. The PWM wire is overly simple to access. I was thinking it would be a difficult process and didnt want to hack up my lights. Looks like the OR T247 lights use a 3.3v PWM control wire thats right on top when you open the case. The purple and blue wires turn the lights on and off when jumped together.

Let us know how it works out

 

[Diamond1]

I wasnt planning on doing this but I changed my mind I accidentally stumbled on some info about the Ocean Revive lights that I run. The PWM wire is overly simple to access. I was thinking it would be a difficult process and didnt want to hack up my lights. Looks like the OR T247 lights use a 3.3v PWM control wire thats right on top when you open the case. The purple and blue wires turn the lights on and off when jumped together.

That is very cool I have one of these fixtures too and couldn't find any info on wiring the to a pi.

 

[b4tn]

That is very cool I have one of these fixtures too and couldn't find any info on wiring the to a pi.

All the websites I was trying to look at today where blocked at work so I have to do some research tonight. Looks like you might need separate relays for 12 volt power and I think the pi uses 5 volts for the PWM so I need to see how I can drop it to 3.3 volts. I’m not sure if they can be turned off with the pwm at 0 volts or not. The blue fish controller can only drop it to 10%.

 

[Diamond1]

All the websites I was trying to look at today where blocked at work so I have to do some research tonight. Looks like you might need separate relays for 12 volt power and I think the pi uses 5 volts for the PWM so I need to see how I can drop it to 3.3 volts. I’m not sure if they can be turned off with the pwm at 0 volts or not. The blue fish controller can only drop it to 10%.

Would one of these work for dropping the power from 5 to 3.3 volts?
A step down converter.

 

[Diamond1]

Is this where you got the wiring diagram from?
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/t247-bluefish-mini-mod.252211/

 

[b4tn]

Yes, that’s where I got the diagram and the idea. I’m not sure about the buck converter. I am not super smart beyond the basics with electronics. I do know that a pwm signal is similar to ac so I’m not sure if it needs a special converter but I would think so. I know you can make a voltage splitter with resistors but I have to read up on it.

 

[Diamond1]

I'm a total noob at this stuff too, so maybe someone else could chime in with a way to get things figured out. I do know that the buck converter in @Ranjib's power module takes 12 volts and the buck converter can be dialed down to 3.3 volts but it may not be the best way to do things.
For his lighting module he's using this:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/815

 

[pickupman66]

Yes, that’s where I got the diagram and the idea. I’m not sure about the buck converter. I am not super smart beyond the basics with electronics. I do know that a pwm signal is similar to ac so I’m not sure if it needs a special converter but I would think so. I know you can make a voltage splitter with resistors but I have to read up on it.

I'm not an expert but quick Google reveals you need resistors.

https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/314048/reducing-pwm-voltage-peak

 

[pickupman66]

He was a bit lost when I got home.

 

[Ranjib]

All the websites I was trying to look at today where blocked at work so I have to do some research tonight. Looks like you might need separate relays for 12 volt power and I think the pi uses 5 volts for the PWM so I need to see how I can drop it to 3.3 volts. I’m not sure if they can be turned off with the pwm at 0 volts or not. The blue fish controller can only drop it to 10%.

there are 5.5v to 3.3v bidirectional converter, that may do this? https://www.adafruit.com/product/1875

 

[Ranjib]

All the websites I was trying to look at today where blocked at work so I have to do some research tonight. Looks like you might need separate relays for 12 volt power and I think the pi uses 5 volts for the PWM so I need to see how I can drop it to 3.3 volts. I’m not sure if they can be turned off with the pwm at 0 volts or not. The blue fish controller can only drop it to 10%.

The Pi based PWM (two channels only) are infact 3.3V. PCA9685 based PWM (16 channels) are 5V

 

[Ranjib]

Would one of these work for dropping the power from 5 to 3.3 volts?
A step down converter.

Probably, but I am not sure. They have a voltage drop (this is why 12V input maps to 11.6V output), but I think it may work. I can check it. But why you need this? Pi itself provides 3.3V rail

 

[Diamond1]

Probably, but I am not sure. They have a voltage drop (this is why 12V input maps to 11.6V output), but I think it may work. I can check it. But why you need this? Pi itself provides 3.3V rail

I was looking for a way to hook up my OR t247 lights to reef pi. They run on 3.3v pwm and all the circuits I've seen seem to run on 5v or 10v pwm. If you have a schematic for a cicuit that runs on 3.3v could you link it please?

 

[Ranjib]

I was looking for a way to hook up my OR t247 lights to reef pi. They run on 3.3v pwm and all the circuits I've seen seem to run on 5v or 10v pwm. If you have a schematic for a cicuit that runs on 3.3v could you link it please?

The raspberry Pi GPIO 18 and 19 is 3.3 V PWM. You can use it as long as the current draw is not very significant (i.e. less than 20ma). Since theres no additional circuit involved, theres no schematic. But its limited to two channels only.

 

[Diamond1]

TY for the info!

 

[Ranjib]

This weekend I upgraded my kessilncobtroller. I have built a new one during the adafruit guide development so this one is now replaced . I thought I’ll tear it down and salvage the parts I want (lm2596 modules , pi zero). I realized a few things ,
- this was a old workhorses . It ran for more than a year and four months . I knew lot less about fabricating plastic enclosure during that time

Most of my approach were influence by wood working. Metal standoffs , metal screws ,

It was an onerous build process

Thenperf board was cheaper and lot worse.
And I never used rails , instead the power source jack had multiple female jumpers soldered to then

Bye bye old kessil .

I have spend several days when this controller was not accessible via ui , due to network issues I suspect , but light cycle was spot on. I hated the fact that there was not way to power down the build other than unplugging the jack . All my follow up builds have spdt buttons now. I also didn’t like the cheap 3.5mm audio jacks (panel mount). These were so bad that they’ll almost always loose their grip if pressed hard. The gold plated ones are far far better, and only little bit expensive. Always go for those.

 

[Ranjib]

new kessil controller