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

[Ryan115]

When you insert or remove the jack from the housing the tip touches the sleeve. Its not a big deal unless you are not plugging/unplugging probe when pi is running. This is also the reason I have not changed the guides to use some other connectors (other than the fact other connectors are relatively hard to source and may require special crimping tools)

So are you saying that the male tip is contacting both female tip and ring at the same time? The male tip shouldn't engage with the female tip (and become energized) until it is almost completely seated.
I will have to test some of the spares I have around here with a continuity meter while mating them to see if I get any connection.
I have plugged and unplugged mine several times while the pi was running with no issues.

 

[Ranjib]

Looks beautiful! Something for me to aspire for. Just got frags in my tank last night, it will be a long time til I get them grown out.

That galaxea will sting everything within 6” with its sweeper tentacles

 

[Ranjib]

So are you saying that the male tip is contacting both female tip and ring at the same time? The male tip shouldn't engage with the female tip (and become energized) until it is almost completely seated.
I will have to test some of the spares I have around here with a continuity meter while mating them to see if I get any connection.
I have plugged and unplugged mine several times while the pi was running with no issues.

Not at the same time, but it touches both (one after another) during the plugging/unplugging process

 

[LionHeart2017]

So are you saying that the male tip is contacting both female tip and ring at the same time? The male tip shouldn't engage with the female tip (and become energized) until it is almost completely seated.
I will have to test some of the spares I have around here with a continuity meter while mating them to see if I get any connection.
I have plugged and unplugged mine several times while the pi was running with no issues.

Could be a quality thing with the connectors, I'm yet to find a good quality barrel Jack and the male plugs are just junk, but for a £1 for 10 you get what you pay for I guess

 

[Ranjib]

Could be a quality thing with the connectors, I'm yet to find a good quality barrel Jack and the male plugs are just junk, but for a £1 for 10 you get what you pay for I guess

I order a set of panel mount female barrel jack connector rated for 10A, with the xlr/mini din connectors

 

[LionHeart2017]

I order a set of panel mount female barrel jack connector rated for 10A, with the xlr/mini din connectors

Finding good quality at low prices is so hard, I made an order today, cheap as chips and that's 2x pca9685 boards in there

 

[ScottBrew]

That galaxea will sting everything within 6” with its sweeper tentacles

Yeah, I am aware! That's why it's up there on its own rock.

 

[theatrus]

The pitch of MicroUSB is pretty small, so panel mount breakouts are ideal.

Using a MiniDIN for power is very nice - do note that several variants exist, and its common to find the power variant of DIN-4 connectors for higher current power supplies. The usual standard for lower current supplies is the good old 2.1x5.5mm barrel.

 

[Guillermo Tinoco]

Hi, I was hoping someone could help me. I have been running my reef-pi without any problems for a week. Now all of a sudden I can't access the UI. When I go to my raspberry pi's ip (like i had been doing all week) it now tries to get me to download a file, (i downloaded it and opened it in notepad and it doesnt seem to be anything). Reef-pi still seems to be running without any problems, lights are working, ato is working but now i can't get to the page.

Any help would be appreciated. Below is the readout of the status command.

pi@reefpi:~ $ sudo systemctl status reef-pi.service
● reef-pi.service - raspberry pi based reef tank controller
   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/reef-pi.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
   Active: active (running) since Mon 2018-11-26 23:50:07 CST; 12min ago
 Main PID: 1730 (reef-pi)
   CGroup: /system.slice/reef-pi.service
           └─1730 /usr/bin/reef-pi daemon -config /etc/reef-pi/config.yml

Nov 27 00:02:09 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:09 temperature sub-system:  sensor Temp1 value: 76.1
Nov 27 00:02:09 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:09 temperature subsystem: Current temperature is wit
Nov 27 00:02:09 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:09 Setting GPIO Pin: 3 State: 1
Nov 27 00:02:10 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:10 ERROR: Failed to submit data to adafruit.io. User
Nov 27 00:02:23 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:23 ato sub-system:  sensor ato1 value: 1
Nov 27 00:02:23 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:23 Setting GPIO Pin: 2 State: 1
Nov 27 00:02:38 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:38 lighting-subsystem: Setting PWM value: 86  at cha
Nov 27 00:02:38 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:38 ato sub-system:  sensor ato1 value: 1
Nov 27 00:02:38 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:38 lighting-subsystem: Setting PWM value: 91  at cha
Nov 27 00:02:38 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:38 Setting GPIO Pin: 2 State: 1

 

[pdisner]

Is there a reef-pi wallpaper I can use?

I think we all need to work on some sort of logo or design. My wife is an awesome artist. She’s designed a company logo for me? That is, once I have a company[emoji1]. I just have a FB group page for now.
But if you all would like to spitball some ideas on a logo for Ranjibs project, I’d be happy to have her try out some ideas from your ideas. Let me know.

 

[pdisner]

yes . I think we'll run our of compute power on pi, before electronics limitations, once mcp23017 support lands. We have to update the reef-pi code as well, currently it assumes only one pca9685 is present.
Whats more interesting is Raspberry Pi 4 will be based on different processor, means significantly more firepower. And god knows what else peripheral, may be more built in PWMs, or even analog I/O .. finger crossed

Have you seen the A+? I’m sure you have. I was debating on ordering one to play with.

 

[pdisner]

I’m thinking along the lines of the Atmel SAMD21 series

Why?

Cheap
Good peripherals
Not archaic
Already used by the Arduino Zero and Circuit Playground Express (you can run MicroPython on the big one!)
I was already use the SAMD10/11 on the Pico board for pH and system watchdog

It’s not a DIP package and not 5V I/O as the main downsides. But someone could reprogram a CircuitPlaygroundExpress or Arduino Zero as the controller.

So what did you use for you pH module and probe? How much was it? I can’t afford 200$ for a pH setup. My wife would kill me if I spent that much on a oH probe.

 

[pdisner]

halow Ranjib, I need your help to check my schematic, sorry I am not electronic engineer maybe there are still many errors, I have a problem with libraries for CHIP L29D tipe SMD. I am very happy if anyone can help this eagle library chip. thanks

This design is not finished just to see the chip layout.

What did you use to diagram all of this? It looks incredibly pristine. Very neat and tidy. And don’t tell me it’s freehand...

 

[Ranjib]

Hi, I was hoping someone could help me. I have been running my reef-pi without any problems for a week. Now all of a sudden I can't access the UI. When I go to my raspberry pi's ip (like i had been doing all week) it now tries to get me to download a file, (i downloaded it and opened it in notepad and it doesnt seem to be anything). Reef-pi still seems to be running without any problems, lights are working, ato is working but now i can't get to the page.

Any help would be appreciated. Below is the readout of the status command.

pi@reefpi:~ $ sudo systemctl status reef-pi.service
● reef-pi.service - raspberry pi based reef tank controller
   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/reef-pi.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
   Active: active (running) since Mon 2018-11-26 23:50:07 CST; 12min ago
 Main PID: 1730 (reef-pi)
   CGroup: /system.slice/reef-pi.service
           └─1730 /usr/bin/reef-pi daemon -config /etc/reef-pi/config.yml

Nov 27 00:02:09 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:09 temperature sub-system:  sensor Temp1 value: 76.1
Nov 27 00:02:09 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:09 temperature subsystem: Current temperature is wit
Nov 27 00:02:09 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:09 Setting GPIO Pin: 3 State: 1
Nov 27 00:02:10 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:10 ERROR: Failed to submit data to adafruit.io. User
Nov 27 00:02:23 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:23 ato sub-system:  sensor ato1 value: 1
Nov 27 00:02:23 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:23 Setting GPIO Pin: 2 State: 1
Nov 27 00:02:38 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:38 lighting-subsystem: Setting PWM value: 86  at cha
Nov 27 00:02:38 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:38 ato sub-system:  sensor ato1 value: 1
Nov 27 00:02:38 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:38 lighting-subsystem: Setting PWM value: 91  at cha
Nov 27 00:02:38 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:38 Setting GPIO Pin: 2 State: 1

I think you have enabled https. How are you acessing reef-pi? like ip & port? Share the address you are typing on the web browser, if its http://localhost, try https://localhost:80

 

[Ranjib]

Hi, I was hoping someone could help me. I have been running my reef-pi without any problems for a week. Now all of a sudden I can't access the UI. When I go to my raspberry pi's ip (like i had been doing all week) it now tries to get me to download a file, (i downloaded it and opened it in notepad and it doesnt seem to be anything). Reef-pi still seems to be running without any problems, lights are working, ato is working but now i can't get to the page.

Any help would be appreciated. Below is the readout of the status command.

pi@reefpi:~ $ sudo systemctl status reef-pi.service
● reef-pi.service - raspberry pi based reef tank controller
   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/reef-pi.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
   Active: active (running) since Mon 2018-11-26 23:50:07 CST; 12min ago
 Main PID: 1730 (reef-pi)
   CGroup: /system.slice/reef-pi.service
           └─1730 /usr/bin/reef-pi daemon -config /etc/reef-pi/config.yml

Nov 27 00:02:09 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:09 temperature sub-system:  sensor Temp1 value: 76.1
Nov 27 00:02:09 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:09 temperature subsystem: Current temperature is wit
Nov 27 00:02:09 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:09 Setting GPIO Pin: 3 State: 1
Nov 27 00:02:10 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:10 ERROR: Failed to submit data to adafruit.io. User
Nov 27 00:02:23 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:23 ato sub-system:  sensor ato1 value: 1
Nov 27 00:02:23 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:23 Setting GPIO Pin: 2 State: 1
Nov 27 00:02:38 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:38 lighting-subsystem: Setting PWM value: 86  at cha
Nov 27 00:02:38 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:38 ato sub-system:  sensor ato1 value: 1
Nov 27 00:02:38 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:38 lighting-subsystem: Setting PWM value: 91  at cha
Nov 27 00:02:38 reefpi reef-pi[1730]: 2018/11/27 00:02:38 Setting GPIO Pin: 2 State: 1

And welcome to reef2reef :0), you'll love it here

 

[Ranjib]

Have you seen the A+? I’m sure you have. I was debating on ordering one to play with.

I have not used one. But I think it better suited for my use case, A+. I dont need LAN connection or so many USB port the Pi3 B+ gives, and I could use some extra space. May be next build. I have lost only one Pi in past two years. So, I really dont need any more .. which is another problem. I have to give away at least 4 Pi 2 or older model B :-/

 

[theatrus]

What did you use to diagram all of this? It looks incredibly pristine. Very neat and tidy. And don’t tell me it’s freehand...

It has the color scheme of Eagle CAD.

(You can usually tell the various EDA tools apart based upon their default colors in schematics [emoji854])

 

[theatrus]

I have not used one. But I think it better suited for my use case, A+. I dont need LAN connection or so many USB port the Pi3 B+ gives, and I could use some extra space. May be next build. I have lost only one Pi in past two years. So, I really dont need any more .. which is another problem. I have to give away at least 4 Pi 2 or older model B :-/

Waiting for the A+ to be in stock somewhere, but it’s a nice form factor as long as it’s not restricted to the one per person like the Pi Zero.

 

[Diamond1]

Waiting for the A+ to be in stock somewhere, but it’s a nice form factor as long as it’s not restricted to the one per person like the Pi Zero.

There's a seller on Amazon that has them for $30. I was gonna try one out but bought a B3 for less money.
https://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Pi...id=1543314960&sr=1-3&keywords=raspberry+pi+a+

 

[Schreiber]

So, its working as expected now? I'd love to know your experience with reef-pi. If I recall correctly, you have been running it for few months now

Well, it was working & I managed to break it again, lol. I'm attempting to run a pi hole ad-blocker on the same RBPi, but it also uses port 80. I attempted changing the end of the address field in the setting for reef pi from 80 to 8093, but it seems to have broken it. It still shows it as running, but I can't access any of the UI. It simply shows a blank dashboard when I go to http://localhost.

I tried stopping & starting reef pi, as well as resetting its database, but no luck. Looks like I may have to do a fresh install, which I assume would reset that address to default.

Assuming it does reset everything I broke, how would you recommend changing the port so I don't kill everything again?

~`~

As far as my experience with reef pi, it's definitely been frustrating at times like this. But that's more due to me poking around & changing things. Overall though, it's been excellent. It's let me take multi-day trips without worrying at all about my tank, which is awesome. I managed to get a bit of saltwater in the RBPi housing & fried one, but once I replaced it, it's been smooth sailing since then. I'm definitely not using it to its fullest potential, just using the equipment control & timers at the moment. But it's been very reliable & an awesome project, especially due to all the excellent support & updates from you, @Ranjib !