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

[TMB]

What a cool group of people in this thread! If anyone needs help with a build, the answer is posted almost instantly. If you're considering building a Reef-Pi, don't hesitate. Ranjib has already done the hard work for you.

@Ranjib , are you (or anyone else) still interested in seeing current builds? I'm just starting a new build that should be pretty cool - 16 outlets, Temp control, ATO, and some cool housings/modules (future PH?). I just don't want to post them here in unless you say it's ok.

TMB

 

[Ranjib]

What a cool group of people in this thread! If anyone needs help with a build, the answer is posted almost instantly. If you're considering building a Reef-Pi, don't hesitate. Ranjib has already done the hard work for you.

@Ranjib , are you (or anyone else) still interested in seeing current builds? I'm just starting a new build that should be pretty cool - 16 outlets, Temp control, ATO, and some cool housings/modules (future PH?). I just don't want to post them here in unless you say it's ok.

TMB

I am always, always interested in seeing builds. Current, old, new .. all are welcome . Pics, tips, questions, failures, feedbacks everything is welcome. Every bit of information is welcomed here. Sharing is caring

 

[jcmental]

Short answer...probably.
I am not sure exactly which dimmer circuit is in the Viparspectra, but very likely it is something like this
https://www.dhgate.com/product/dimmers-replacement-for-chinese-black-box/257420958.html
That circuit outputs a 0-10V dimming signal, but others have had success replacing it with 10V pwm.
I have a SbReeflight BB, and I am just about finished on a plug and play replacement circuit that will take the PWM from reef-pi and output the analog signal. This will require no cutting of internal wires, just unplug one dimming circuit and plug in this one. However you may need different plugs for yours.
Here is the circuit for this, it is soldered up, I just need to test the output now.

Otherwise there are some off the shelf modules that you can get, like this one
https://www.amazon.com/MagiDeal-Digital-Analog-Tranformer-Converter/dp/B00UIZKYAS

I shall be looking into this, I have 3 Viperspecter 165w lights, they are different to the normal Chinese black box, they have a built in timer for each channel and the dimming is done via 1 potentiometer with a built in momentary push switch to select the function. from what I can tell each power moduel has 4 wires going into this timer / control board, so I will be looking to see what each one does. If I work it out I shall let you know.

 

[jcmental]

My crappy network connection :0/ .

Awesome I'm at work now but when I get home I will try it. then post something else I cant work out lol

Thanks again for the help guys, I hope one day I will be able to do the same thing.

 

[Ranjib]

I shall be looking into this, I have 3 Viperspecter 165w lights, they are different to the normal Chinese black box, they have a built in timer for each channel and the dimming is done via 1 potentiometer with a built in momentary push switch to select the function. from what I can tell each power moduel has 4 wires going into this timer / control board, so I will be looking to see what each one does. If I work it out I shall let you know.

Awesome , keep us posted

 

[jcmental]

Default username and password is both set as reef-pi

Thanks Ranjib and the rest of you ;-)
It worked I can see my reef pi console
How do I know what gpio's to assign to equipment please? I'm assuming you need to add all your own equipment using the big green + button. their is nothing in my equipment list yet.

 

[Ranjib]

Thanks Ranjib and the rest of you ;-)
It worked I can see my reef pi console
How do I know what gpio's to assign to equipment please? I'm assuming you need to add all your own equipment using the big green + button. their is nothing in my equipment list yet.

Follow the powe bar guide
https://reef-pi.github.io/build-guides/power/

 

[jcmental]

Follow the powe bar guide
https://reef-pi.github.io/build-guides/power/

Ok thanks
Does this look right then?

 

[Ranjib]

Ok thanks
Does this look right then?

Yes. You have to define some outlets, then you can create equipment and associate them with outlets

 

[jcmental]

I think I'm missing something. It lets me open a text box to name my equipment but when I click the outlet drop down it opens a skinny text box but wont let me type anything in it.

Ok update do I have to go into connectors in configurasion and add the name and pin number there first then go to equipment and select from that list?

 

[Ranjib]

I think I'm missing something. It lets me open a text box to name my equipment but when I click the outlet drop down it opens a skinny text box but wont let me type anything in it.

Ok update do I have to go into connectors in configurasion and add the name and pin number there first then go to equipment and select from that list?

Yes

 

[jcmental]

so last question of the day, this is doing my head in. How do I get the lighting tab and show the sliders to adjust the intensity and duration please?

 

[MaccaPopEye]

so last question of the day, this is doing my head in. How do I get the lighting tab and show the sliders to adjust the intensity and duration please?

Hi mate,

Follow the guide here - https://reef-pi.github.io/build-guides/lighting/

You have to enable lighting in the Configuration tab and then add "Jacks" to control the PWM signal

 

[jcmental]

Hi mate,

Follow the guide here - https://reef-pi.github.io/build-guides/lighting/

You have to enable lighting in the Configuration tab and then add "Jacks" to control the PWM signal

Yeah thanks @Popeye been trying but still no tab thought it was because it needs to restart but all I get is this message
{"error":"Failed to reload reef-pi. Output:. Error: signal: terminated"}
I've gone through all the things I added like blue lights pin 3 ...ect and deleted them but it still wont restart
I've even been into the command window and tried the sudo systemctl restart reef-pi.service but all that does is bring up a new line.

 

[Ranjib]

Yeah thanks @Popeye been trying but still no tab thought it was because it needs to restart but all I get is this message
{"error":"Failed to reload reef-pi. Output:. Error: signal: terminated"}
I've gone through all the things I added like blue lights pin 3 ...ect and deleted them but it still wont restart
I've even been into the command window and tried the sudo systemctl restart reef-pi.service but all that does is bring up a new line.

can you share some screenshots ?

 

[Ryan115]

Yeah thanks @Popeye been trying but still no tab thought it was because it needs to restart but all I get is this message
{"error":"Failed to reload reef-pi. Output:. Error: signal: terminated"}
I've gone through all the things I added like blue lights pin 3 ...ect and deleted them but it still wont restart
I've even been into the command window and tried the sudo systemctl restart reef-pi.service but all that does is bring up a new line.

Do you have the PCA9685 connected? reef-pi is expecting that when setting the pin numbers.
After you connectors are configured, it should be something like this...

 

[Ryan115]

 

[Ryan115]

I shall be looking into this, I have 3 Viperspecter 165w lights, they are different to the normal Chinese black box, they have a built in timer for each channel and the dimming is done via 1 potentiometer with a built in momentary push switch to select the function. from what I can tell each power moduel has 4 wires going into this timer / control board, so I will be looking to see what each one does. If I work it out I shall let you know.

If you can post some pictures of the inside of the BB and of the dimmer circuit, we may be able to work out what some is doing.

Also, it may not matter much for yours, but here is the updated circuit for the other BBs.
Hopefully I can modify my perma-proto tomorrow and get it tested out.

 

[Andy Harrison]

So glad I found this! Have spent the last few hours reading the entire thread. Very nice work. I have been using the PI in an animated Christmas light display for years. I've even created PCB's for the hobby and had them mass produced for both power distribution and Picaps for lights. This is right up my alley. The only part I've never spent time learning is the UI coding and this is the part I'm the most picky about. I would like to have a dark display with easy to read temp, PH, etc. My ideal setup would be a tablet mounted beside the tank that I can easily read and easily put into feed mode etc. I saw a few UI tweaks and talks of an IOS app a few times but was wondering if anyone had ever got a darker icon looking UI setup and working?

Below is some of the stuff I've done in the past with the pi...

 

[Ranjib]

So glad I found this! Have spent the last few hours reading the entire thread. Very nice work. I have been using the PI in an animated Christmas light display for years. I've even created PCB's for the hobby and had them mass produced for both power distribution and Picaps for lights. This is right up my alley. The only part I've never spent time learning is the UI coding and this is the part I'm the most picky about. I would like to have a dark display with easy to read temp, PH, etc. My ideal setup would be a tablet mounted beside the tank that I can easily read and easily put into feed mode etc. I saw a few UI tweaks and talks of an IOS app a few times but was wondering if anyone had ever got a darker icon looking UI setup and working?

Below is some of the stuff I've done in the past with the pi...

thank you for the kind words.
I can definitely look at possible customizations on the UI side, I dont think it will be hard to support a configurable themes.

We can surely use your help with reviewing the electronics (I always feel we need some extra capacitors/resistors ) and PCB designs. There are couple of folks who are already chiming in, so a broader collaboration with them will be awesome

Let us know if you need any help with the build,