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

[Ryan115]

Where is the 1.1 amp coming from? The relays per manufacture spec (Sainsmart) should pull max of 20ma each to work.

Otherwise you and @Ranjib are correct, I'll have to increase the power supply. =(

I don't know where they get the 20mA spec from, if you go down into their own documentation it says that they need a 400mA supply to turn all relays on.
Though I still question that as well, if you look at the coil current on the spec sheet for the individual relays (Songle SRD-05VDC-SL-C) they are ~70mA each.

 

[Ryan115]

Editing an existing equipment was in my mind, I just didn’t get time to do it. Given deleting and recreating was trivial I didn’t get back to it later. I’ll add it in my todo list, but not sure if I’ll have enough time to do this before 1.0, the UI for editing is bit complex, and I am already working on the doser right now, plus this is workflow is not encountered on daily operation, i.e once equipment is declared regular day to day operation is fine. Still this is important and common expectation, reef-pi must have it.

I’ll add the outlet details on every existing equipment display , that’s easy to add

Thanks a tonne for your valuable feedback, always appreciate these

I have been keeping a running list of improvements/mods, and I guess if you are thinking about doing some re-coding now would be a good time. No major issues though.

· Change temp range in chart (currently goes to 0, may be better with a higher static lower limit, or with a limit ~1-2deg below min measured temp

· Longer displayed temp record option (will this be an issue with system memory), since the system temp change is so gradual at 5 min, we can only see 100 min history

· Ability to reconfigure equipment/outlets/timers without deleting

· Moon light with incrementing cycle (to be able to actually replicate a monthly lunar cycle) or anyway to offset a light schedule by ~.85hrs every day?

· Buttons or number adjustment for lighting ( I get OCD for a particular number and it can be hard with the slider)

· Details about timers after setting them

· Display pin #s on outlets/jacks

 

[Ranjib]

Good morning. I guess I still have a problem.

I performed a reboot and reload from system.
When checking the IO feed I have nothing to display.

log screen just now

Can u share a screenshot of the adafruit Io feeds page?

 

[Ranjib]

I have been keeping a running list of improvements/mods, and I guess if you are thinking about doing some re-coding now would be a good time. No major issues though.

· Change temp range in chart (currently goes to 0, may be better with a higher static lower limit, or with a limit ~1-2deg below min measured temp

· Longer displayed temp record option (will this be an issue with system memory), since the system temp change is so gradual at 5 min, we can only see 100 min history

· Ability to reconfigure equipment/outlets/timers without deleting

· Moon light with incrementing cycle (to be able to actually replicate a monthly lunar cycle) or anyway to offset a light schedule by ~.85hrs every day?

· Buttons or number adjustment for lighting ( I get OCD for a particular number and it can be hard with the slider)

· Details about timers after setting them

· Display pin #s on outlets/jacks

1 & 2 I can do before 1.0, 3,4 after that , should be easy , just software change , so may be a version update after 1.0 release . 5,6 is done, should be available in next release (or you can build from master )

 

[Cary]

Thanks Ranjib,

I will change the eth0. I have not touched this field since I had my fiasco (losing my ip address and having to reinstall Raspbian and reef-pi last week).

As for the rest. Yes, temperature is spelled correct and lower case, in both places. I will check that again tonight.
Yes, Telemetry is checked and the token was copied from adafruit and pasted in reef-pi see message #1475. The only other thing I have in the fields (user field??) is my user name for adafruit. I tried both without and with this information in the reef-pi system tab.
I don't remember a prefix field. I will need to check when I get home from work.

 

[Cary]

I have been keeping a running list of improvements/mods, and I guess if you are thinking about doing some re-coding now would be a good time. No major issues though.

· Change temp range in chart (currently goes to 0, may be better with a higher static lower limit, or with a limit ~1-2deg below min measured temp

· Longer displayed temp record option (will this be an issue with system memory), since the system temp change is so gradual at 5 min, we can only see 100 min history

· Ability to reconfigure equipment/outlets/timers without deleting

· Moon light with incrementing cycle (to be able to actually replicate a monthly lunar cycle) or anyway to offset a light schedule by ~.85hrs every day?

· Buttons or number adjustment for lighting ( I get OCD for a particular number and it can be hard with the slider)

· Details about timers after setting them

· Display pin #s on outlets/jacks

Ranjib, I think you also wanted to make the temp graph "auto update". I will be changing my poll number to 5 minutes. Right now it is on 1 minute.

 

[Cary]

Ranjib, attached is my adafruit io.

 

[Ryan115]

Ranjib, attached is my adafruit io.

is temperature set for both the name and the key for that feed? click the gear icon next to Feed Information, in the top right.

 

[Cary]

Here you go. Yes I think it is set up correctly. I checked the key last night and it was the same.
Too bad I can't get on my Reef-pi from here. I have not enable vnc yet.
thanks..Are you back from Hawaii?

 

[Ryan115]

Here you go. Yes I think it is set up correctly. I checked the key last night and it was the same.
Too bad I can't get on my Reef-pi from here. I have not enable vnc yet.
thanks..Are you back from Hawaii?

The one I am wondering about it the other "key" on the individual feeds

 

[Ryan115]

sorry, I didnt look close enough at the picture you posted...that key should be the same name "temperature"
It is different from the AIO key.

 

[Cary]

The one I am wondering about it the other "key" on the individual feeds

Ryan, So you have temperature for the name and temperature for the key as your graphic shows...if so, that is probably my problem. I put the key # as you can see in my graphic

 

[Cary]

Thanks that fixed it. now I can see it on the AIO feed here at work.

 

[Ryan115]

So tested with the bucked down 12v supply (buck module is rated for 3A), so no issue of under powered supply.
Same results.
The next test was to remove the other 5v supply and source power directly from the pi.
All relays fired!
Only issue was that the individual LEDs on the board (one for each circuit) would not light up. One did once, but then not again. I don't really care about those since they are buried in a box anyway.
So all I can think is that there was difference with respect to GND causing the issue. Though they all have the same GND on the AC side.

Now to decide if I want to pull the 2.5A 5V supply and put it internal to the APC box, then run power to relay board and pi in parallel off of that, or pull power through pi pins.

 

[Ryan115]

Forgot to mention, this is the one that I have
http://www.dx.com/p/8-channel-relay...rd-for-arduino-avr-arm-51-141670#.WdenGmhSzIU

I'm not sure how the other boards would work, with separate connections for coil and trigger input.

 

[TherealplexiG]

I didn't go through the whole thread coz initially I saw a few wires than I fainted. This thing is out of my league. Do we have a dummys guide for building the pi which I can't eat?
Ranjib I hail from your native country.

 

[Ryan115]

It can be a little overwhelming at first. The good thing is that it is very modular, and you can add as you go.
Really all you need to get started is the pi, a power supply and a microsd card.

What features are you most interested in?

 

[Ranjib]

I have been keeping a running list of improvements/mods, and I guess if you are thinking about doing some re-coding now would be a good time. No major issues though.

· Change temp range in chart (currently goes to 0, may be better with a higher static lower limit, or with a limit ~1-2deg below min measured temp

· Longer displayed temp record option (will this be an issue with system memory), since the system temp change is so gradual at 5 min, we can only see 100 min history

· Ability to reconfigure equipment/outlets/timers without deleting

· Moon light with incrementing cycle (to be able to actually replicate a monthly lunar cycle) or anyway to offset a light schedule by ~.85hrs every day?

· Buttons or number adjustment for lighting ( I get OCD for a particular number and it can be hard with the slider)

· Details about timers after setting them

· Display pin #s on outlets/jacks

What is the acceptable time window for # 2 ? last 2 hours? or last 24 hours or a whole week of temperature history?. Your guess is correct this will come at a cost of increased memory footprint (I am yet to quantify that), also I am kinda leaning towards using adafruit.io for longer historical trends

Can you explain a bit more about the ~.85 hrs offset ?

 

[Will Milberger]

Understood. I use EMRs for most of my electronics projects, and actually prefer them. The relay to which you linked, for example, uses Omron G3MB SSRs (per the manufacturer's site). Per Omron's spec sheet, these relays have a maximum rated current of 2A. This means the most you could safely switch with these relays long term is roughly 240W @ 120VAC, 480W @ 240VAC. They also are not rated to switch DC loads (per the manufacturer datasheet). You can switch DC loads with them, but per Omron's SSR info sheets, special precautions need to be taken if the relay is not specifically rated to switch DC loads.

I don't mean to start a debate on SSRs vs EMRs. I was just curious why you chose what you did. Thanks!

I found these:
https://www.amazon.com/SainSmart-10...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=YF00W2MAZHH4BX7YDEFK

Don't know if they'll work.

 

[Ranjib]

Here you go. Yes I think it is set up correctly. I checked the key last night and it was the same.
Too bad I can't get on my Reef-pi from here. I have not enable vnc yet.
thanks..Are you back from Hawaii?

You must reset your keys... its public now.. thats not good.. next time you share screen shot , either blurr them or reset after every sharing.