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

[Jean-Pierre Renaud]

Hello guys !

i just setup new water level sensors, i have one on GPIO 16 that is set has the LOW LEVEL WARNING,

i want a pump to stop when that sensor is out of water, the pump is on AC4


SO, when i activate AC4, when the water level reaches the sensor, i want the AC4 to turn off.

i can't find how to do this.

Thanks

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

@@ranjib, are you running the dosers directly off the board?

 

[sector9]

I added another Sparkfun temperature probe to my build but I am having issues with some of the readings. As you can see from the temperature graph, I will randomly get erroneous temperature readings of -1000 to -3000 from this new probe.

I know people have reported problems with extending the cable for their sensors but both cables for my temperature sensors are exactly the same length. I am running the latest release of reef-pi 2.0
I occasionally get errors like "temperature sub-system. Failed to read sensor Display. Error:First line of device file does not ends with YES" but not at the times associated with these erroneous readings.

Any ideas on what could be causing the issue?

Another problem has been email alert notifications. I receive the "test" email without problems but I realized that I am not receiving other notification emails. For example, I set this probe to send alerts if temp is below 77 and nothing was sent. There is an error message "535 5.7.8 Username and Password not accepted. Learn more at 5.7.8 https://support.google.com/mail/?p=BadCredentials k18sm21237749ioa.39 - gsmtp" but if there's a problem with the username or password, how come the test email comes through without difficulty?

 

[wykat]

happy new year Australia !

 

[Bigtrout]

I added another Sparkfun temperature probe to my build but I am having issues with some of the readings. As you can see from the temperature graph, I will randomly get erroneous temperature readings of -1000 to -3000 from this new probe.

I know people have reported problems with extending the cable for their sensors but both cables for my temperature sensors are exactly the same length. I am running the latest release of reef-pi 2.0
I occasionally get errors like "temperature sub-system. Failed to read sensor Display. Error:First line of device file does not ends with YES" but not at the times associated with these erroneous readings.

Any ideas on what could be causing the issue?

Another problem has been email alert notifications. I receive the "test" email without problems but I realized that I am not receiving other notification emails. For example, I set this probe to send alerts if temp is below 77 and nothing was sent. There is an error message "535 5.7.8 Username and Password not accepted. Learn more at 5.7.8 https://support.google.com/mail/?p=BadCredentials k18sm21237749ioa.39 - gsmtp" but if there's a problem with the username or password, how come the test email comes through without difficulty?

Have you tried each sensor seperately?
Maybe the new sensor has a problem.
Try each seperately and see if theres a problem with a sensor first, then go from there

 

[OllieNZ]

After a few failed attempts to set up my ZeroW using the headless technique I gave in, dug out an old monitor and had it set up in a matter of minutes . I can now use it via SSH and VNC to keep things tidy. The Reef-pi software setup on the other hand was dead simple and without any issues. Got a few bits of hardware still on the way but can't wait to really get stuck in.

How have people been finding those stainless tipped temp sensors? I've got half a dozen laying about and would rather use those than buy something new.

 

[rushbattle]

After a few failed attempts to set up my ZeroW using the headless technique I gave in, dug out an old monitor and had it set up in a matter of minutes . I can now use it via SSH and VNC to keep things tidy. The Reef-pi software setup on the other hand was dead simple and without any issues. Got a few bits of hardware still on the way but can't wait to really get stuck in.

How have people been finding those stainless tipped temp sensors? I've got half a dozen laying about and would rather use those than buy something new.

I managed to do this eventually but it took a bit of messing around to get there. I should have written it all in this thread so everyone else would know. I’ll see if I can remember.

 

[OllieNZ]

I managed to do this eventually but it took a bit of messing around to get there. I should have written it all in this thread so everyone else would know. I’ll see if I can remember.

I was using this guide: https://learn.adafruit.com/raspberry-pi-zero-creation
It seems to be suggested elsewhere that there can be issues using the this command "ctrl_interface=DIR=/var/run/wpa_supplicant GROUP=netdev" with complex WiFi passwords. The biggest issue is if you mess it up or want to try something different you have to reflash the OS each time. I got a tad frustrated after half a dozen attempts ;Rage

 

[crusso1993]

happy new year Australia !

Happy New Year to all you Downunder!

 

[crusso1993]

After a few failed attempts to set up my ZeroW using the headless technique I gave in, dug out an old monitor and had it set up in a matter of minutes . I can now use it via SSH and VNC to keep things tidy. The Reef-pi software setup on the other hand was dead simple and without any issues. Got a few bits of hardware still on the way but can't wait to really get stuck in.

How have people been finding those stainless tipped temp sensors? I've got half a dozen laying about and would rather use those than buy something new.

@OllieNZ - there are mixed reviews on the SS temp probes. Some people have had good results and some have had bad results i.e. - large variance in temp from one probe to another, early sensor failure, tough time figuring out a good way to coat the SS, etc.
@theatrus was going to be conducting some different materials/methods for coating the SS. Perhaps he'll chime in here too.

 

[theatrus]

@OllieNZ - there are mixed reviews on the SS temp probes. Some people have had good results and some have had bad results i.e. - large variance in temp from one probe to another, early sensor failure, tough time figuring out a good way to coat the SS, etc.
@theatrus was going to be conducting some different materials/methods for coating the SS. Perhaps he'll chime in here too.

I’m convinced most of the “S”S probes use a cloned sensor part, hence the super low cost and marginal performance in some cases.

So far an acrylic or polyurethane coating is doing really well.

 

[b4tn]

I’m convinced most of the “S”S probes use a cloned sensor part, hence the super low cost and marginal performance in some cases.

So far an acrylic or polyurethane coating is doing really well.

I have coated mine in silicone. From what I can tell it has little to no affect on the readings and if there is it is very marginal.

On the other hand @theatrus I am curious what products you used for coating yours? The silicone is horribly ugly lol and takes several days to cure. It would be nice to get something you can just dip and let drip dry then repeat a few times.

 

[dmolavi]

Is the BOM linked here still accurate, or are there changes to it? I'm going to start a build shortly (probably can't use the Reef-Pi base boards since I'm trying to incorporate my existing power, thermocouple, etc)...

 

[dmolavi]

How customizable is the UI for reef-pi? Is it basic javascript/JSON or something similar?

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

Is anyone running their 5v dosing pumps directly off the reef-pi?

 

[b4tn]

Is anyone running their 5v dosing pumps directly off the reef-pi?

You would need some sort of driver. The raspberry output is 3.3v and does not have enough current available to run a motor.

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

You would need some sort of driver. The raspberry output is 3.3v and does not have enough current available to run a motor.

Ok. I thought it ran 5v for some reason.

 

[b4tn]

Ok. I thought it ran 5v for some reason.

I used the TB6612. It’s not that expensive and pretty straight forward. I run it directly off the RPI pins.

https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-tb6612-h-bridge-dc-stepper-motor-driver-breakout/overview

 

[ScottF83]

Hello

I'd like to create a continuous feeder using the dosing pump design

The section about controlling the direction of the pumps interested me as it would be ideal to have the pump run in one direction to feed and then in the opposite direction to clear the tubes to prevent spoiling of the food within the tube line

Is this possible in the coding or is it a case of setting the direction once in the settings?

Next, switch to the equipment tab and create four virtual equipment items and associate them with the outlets. As per our circuit, GPIO 5 and 22 are controlling the first pump, hence when the equipment associated with them (Pump1-A and Pump1-B) are both on or off, the pump will be off. Same goes for the other pump. In the screenshot below, one of the equipment items associated each pump is on, while the other is off. Which means the pump will run (as long as there's a PWM output). If we make Pump1-A off and Pump1-B on, that will change the direction of PumpA.

 

[theatrus]

How customizable is the UI for reef-pi? Is it basic javascript/JSON or something similar?

It’s a Javascript React front end and a Go back end. Ranjib has done a good job of keeping things as straightforward as possible