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

[Aaron Smith]

@Aaron Smith this is what I was trying to explain earlier, that some of the equipments work fine with 10v pwm even though they mention 0-10v analog (kessil for example) in their control specifications.

I am planning to buy an oscilloscope and get to the bottom of it ... soon

I think you are correct.

By the way lighting labels are back to the default and now I have both blue and white on a schedule!

 

[Ranjib]

Love it

 

[MaccaPopEye]

I'll say lets go slow with only 1 channel first. Hook up ULN2903a to boost PCA9685's 5v PWM to 10v PWM, and see if that works. If so, we are good, and only need some more electronics. If not, I'll do some software + DAC (digital to analog converter) to generate analog 0-10v. To summarize lets first test that 10v pwm wont work and we have to generate 0-10v analog.

Sounds like a plan! It will take me a while to get all the parts (shipping to where I live takes forever) but I should be able to update in a few weeks time

 

[Aaron Smith]

Sounds like a plan! It will take me a while to get all the parts (shipping to where I live takes forever) but I should be able to update in a few weeks time

Patiently waiting....

I am bad about waiting and only buy Amazon prime 2 day. Then I track shipment for 1.5 days[emoji3]

 

[MaccaPopEye]

Patiently waiting....

I am bad about waiting and only buy Amazon prime 2 day. Then I track shipment for 1.5 days[emoji3]

I wish we had that in Aus. We have overnight shipping, but even though I live in a capital city we are quite remote (not on the eastern sea board) and "overnight shipping" is generally 3-5 working days and costs way more than standard shipping which takes 7-10 working days

 

[Aaron Smith]

I wish we had that in Aus. We have overnight shipping, but even though I live in a capital city we are quite remote (not on the eastern sea board) and "overnight shipping" is generally 3-5 working days and costs way more than standard shipping which takes 7-10 working days

Well hello from Oregon, West coast US!

 

[Ranjib]

I wish we had that in Aus. We have overnight shipping, but even though I live in a capital city we are quite remote (not on the eastern sea board) and "overnight shipping" is generally 3-5 working days and costs way more than standard shipping which takes 7-10 working days

Australian corals are distinct. Because of their strict import laws.., i was watching reed builders videos on australian reef keeper, so nice.

 

[Aaron Smith]

This morning I went to check out my lighting schedule and noticed that my blue channel was ramping up slightly then dimming down in a cycle about every 10 seconds.The whites were scheduled off. I disabled the schedule and checked with equipment dimming, and found the same happening.

Any ideas?

 

[Ranjib]

Check the logs of reef-pi, what values of PWM is it setting during this? does it happen only in the lower range (say 0->1.v) and not in high range (4->5v)?

```
sudo journalctl -fu reef-pi.service
```

 

[MaccaPopEye]

I'll say lets go slow with only 1 channel first. Hook up ULN2903a to boost PCA9685's 5v PWM to 10v PWM, and see if that works. If so, we are good, and only need some more electronics. If not, I'll do some software + DAC (digital to analog converter) to generate analog 0-10v. To summarize lets first test that 10v pwm wont work and we have to generate 0-10v analog.

Sorry did you mean a ULN2803A (I am pretty sure that's the one)? I can't seem to find any ULN2903a chips. Or would an L293D work better or does it not matter?

 

[Aaron Smith]

Check the logs of reef-pi, what values of PWM is it setting during this? does it happen only in the lower range (say 0->1.v) and not in high range (4->5v)?

```
sudo journalctl -fu reef-pi.service
```

Will check when I'm home this evening. I need to set up remote terminal to my pi, so I can pull data during the day!

 

[Ranjib]

Sorry did you mean a ULN2803A (I am pretty sure that's the one)? I can't seem to find any ULN2903a chips. Or would an L293D work better or does it not matter?

Oops, you are right it should be UL2803a. I'll prefer it over L293d. L293d is a H-bridge, darlington IC, i.e. it can change the direction or polarity, for DC current, which is very useful for dosers or other type of pumpe (move them in either forward or reverse direction), but has very little usage in LEDs. Additionally ULN2803a will give more channels to control than l293d

 

[Aaron Smith]

Will check when I'm home this evening. I need to set up remote terminal to my pi, so I can pull data during the day!

Light are trying to come on and off on their own. Lighting tab is set to disable, and equipment tab lights are on 0.

Acting weird[emoji848]

 

[Ranjib]

Light are trying to come on and off on their own. Lighting tab is set to disable, and equipment tab lights are on 0.

Acting weird[emoji848]

Do you have jobs defined that are switching on off the relay / light power

 

[Aaron Smith]

Do you have jobs defined that are switching on off the relay / light power

No jobs set. Before, the sliders would shut off the drivers at 0

 

[Aaron Smith]

According to the journal, the slider are 1 number off the slider value on the low end

 

[Aaron Smith]

 

[Aaron Smith]

@Ranjib
I am running a full lighting cycle so we can scroll through the journal to see any anomalies in the outputs.

Currently I have no strobing.

 

[Ranjib]

According to the journal, the slider are 1 number off the slider value on the low end

That, my friend is a software critter . I'll clean it up .

 

[Aaron Smith]

I have the light off tank and running a schedule. So far I have seen no issues with strobing. [emoji16]