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

[Aaron Smith]

The funny thing is back in my apprentice days, we were bored one day and decided to lock up a big hole hog drill with an amp meter clamped onto the circuit. We easily pulled 35 amps on a 20 amp circuit before the breaker tripped. Then go home to my wife who is able to trip any circuit breaker in the house with a hair dryer. I don't care what anyone says, electricity is magic, which makes me freaking Gandalf!

I thought more about this.... Perhaps this actually means my wife is Gandalf[emoji848]

 

[denierlexiese]

I checked, my whole house is 20 amps and up on each breaker. I guess that is really nice I think a lot of houses are 15 amp breakers.

 

[denierlexiese]

@Ranjib So are you recommending ssr 4 ports for wavemakers, and a 4 port mechanical for high watts devices like heaters and chillers?

 

[Aaron Smith]

I checked, my whole house is 20 amps and up on each breaker. I guess that is really nice I think a lot of houses are 15 amp breakers.

Most these days are 15 amp general purpose outlets aside from kitchen, dining, laundry, and bathrooms being 20 amp.

 

[HM3105]

ok, I adjusted the config.yml file but I can't access it from a regular web browser? Also, the IP address in the reef pi window went blank?

 

[denierlexiese]

@Aaron Smith That's interesting. I would have thoughts my outlets would have to be 20 amps, since the breakers are all 20 amps. That said I have distributed half of my family room between the fish tank all on one outlet ultimately, and my tv / computers on the other outlet. So that means each outlet is probably supporting about 1200 watts each.

I wonder how many amps the gauge of generic surge protectors can take...googling around it looks like most surge protectors should be able to take 15 amps of power.

 

[Aaron Smith]

@Aaron Smith That's interesting. I would have thoughts my outlets would have to be 20 amps, since the breakers are all 20 amps. That said I have distributed half of my family room between the fish tank all on one outlet ultimately, and my tv / computers on the other outlet. So that means each outlet is probably supporting about 1200 watts each.

I wonder how many amps the gauge of generic surge protectors can take...googling around it looks like most surge protectors should be able to take 15 amps of power.

15 amp receptacles can be installed on 20 amp wire (12awg) and a 20 circuit breaker. But you cannot install (legally) a 20 amp receptacle on a 15 amp wire (14awg) and 15 amp circuit breaker. 20 amp receptacles allow devices with larger amp draw to be plugged in. Some printers for example. Your house may have been wired in all 12awg wire with 20 amp circuit breakers. If you look at the nema configuration of a 20 amp rated receptacle, you will see on the neutral side there is a horizontal slot on the left vertical.

Probably not exactly what you were asking....

 

[denierlexiese]

That's a perfect answer. I checked out all my receptacles. They all don't have the slot, so they are all probably 15 amp receptacles. Very interesting education. It makes me think twice about daisy chaining surge protectors, and high wattage devices.

 

[Aaron Smith]

Generally speaking regardless if 15 amp or 20 amp breakers are used, 15 amp receptacles are used due to the fact that there is really no use for the 20 horizontal slot in residential. 20 amp recepts are more robust although the residential market generally doesn't support the slightly higher cost

 

[Aaron Smith]

That's a perfect answer. I checked out all my receptacles. They all don't have the slot, so they are all probably 15 amp receptacles. Very interesting education. It makes me think twice about daisy chaining surge protectors, and high wattage devices.

I am assuming you have seen the classic christmas movie national Lampoon's christmas vacation?!

 

[Ranjib]

@Ranjib So are you recommending ssr 4 ports for wavemakers, and a 4 port mechanical for high watts devices like heaters and chillers?

Yes.

 

[Ranjib]

I thought more about this.... Perhaps this actually means my wife is Gandalf[emoji848]

:0) And you know she is getting wiser if she turns whiter than before :-O

 

[Ranjib]

ok, I adjusted the config.yml file but I can't access it from a regular web browser? Also, the IP address in the reef pi window went blank?

Can you share what you see if you run:
```
sudo systemctl status reef-pi.service
sudo journalctl -u reef-pi.service
```

 

[Aaron Smith]

:0) And you know she is getting wiser if she turns whiter than before :-O

She just finished her master's. She is no longer the gray.....

Man this is getting to nerdy. I hope my humor lightens the mood for the programmers, and makes it a fun read for future reef-pi installers[emoji23]

 

[Ranjib]

She just finished her master's. She is no longer the gray.....

Man this is getting to nerdy. I hope my humor lightens the mood for the programmers, and makes it a fun read for future reef-pi installers[emoji23]

It is. Not to mention all the electrical wisdom you are sharing, I am thankful, otherwise I would have never known how to identify a 20A electrical receptacle

 

[njtiger aquariums]

Great info here. I know when it came to doing my outlets I was concerned cause I have no electrical knowledge. Those EMR handle 10A each channel, as stated above, and I have ran a 300watt heater with no issues on one outlet for about a month or two (then I changed my configuration on my system). I am looking to swap the 4 channel out for a 8 channel so I can control more. I just need to re-think the design of my outlets.

 

[Cary]

Ranjib and all...I think I remember Ranjib saying he wanted a 10" display. While sourcing parts...yes, I am still sourcing parts, I found this 10" display on sainsmart.com. https://www.sainsmart.com/sainsmart-10-1-inch-tft-lcd-1024-576-monitor-driver-hdmi-vga-for-raspberry-pi.html

I thought I would share the information, just in case anyone had not seen it.

 

[Cary]

I dont think this monitor is a touch screen. I believe that is required what you are using, right Ranjib?

 

[Ranjib]

I dont think this monitor is a touch screen. I believe that is required what you are using, right Ranjib?

Yup. If you want to control the outlets, change led intensity etc,, you need the touch screen. If you just want to see graphs/charts, simple monitor will do.

 

[Cary]

Yup. If you want to control the outlets, change led intensity etc,, you need the touch screen. If you just want to see graphs/charts, simple monitor will do.

Thanks. .. I thought so