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

[bishoptf]

So i'm 100% brand new to all things pi, and microcircuitry related.
I'm attempting to reproduce the circuit quoted that was created by Ryan, but i'm having some difficulty determining what needs to be connected to what on the reverse side of the board, would anyone be able to provide some insight?

Welcome

The fritz diagram looks like it provides most of the information that is needed, what in particular are you trying to understand by looking on the back of the board? You probably should start a build thread dedicated to your build and that way reply's will all be in that thread and not get lost in the mix here. I too am new to putting electronic things like this together, my recommendation would be to break the circuit down and try to understand how each piece works, that will help to make sense of the diagram. Keep in mind there is usually more than one way to do the circuits so break the pieces down and go from there.

 

[geekengineer]

I believe it is possible to run the real time kernel on a pi, not sure of the trade offs etc - https://www.get-edi.io/Real-Time-Linux-on-the-Raspberry-Pi/

Interesting didn't know you could do that.

 

[bishoptf]

Interesting didn't know you could do that.

Most linux distro's have a real time kernel option and you just load it up via the package manager but I did a quick search and doesn't look like anyone is doing it for the pi or one that I could find, while you can roll your own you would have to update it accordingly when needed.

 

[bishoptf]

Interesting didn't know you could do that.

Found this, maybe this is something you my want to help with, looks like they are doing something - https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=117&t=206747

Build instructions - https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/linux/kernel/building.md

 

[geekengineer]

Hi reef-pi builders, I know some of you have build blackbox controller with reef-pi. @neilp2006 here is trying to build a blackbox controller with reef-pi and would like to get some pointers.
I think I have mentioned this earlier, but this must be a very common use case, having a dedicated article or post on this will be awesome

Probably dumb question but I not sure what a blackbox controller is for sure or what that term means?

 

[jtma4914]

Welcome

The fritz diagram looks like it provides most of the information that is needed, what in particular are you trying to understand by looking on the back of the board? You probably should start a build thread dedicated to your build and that way reply's will all be in that thread and not get lost in the mix here. I too am new to putting electronic things like this together, my recommendation would be to break the circuit down and try to understand how each piece works, that will help to make sense of the diagram. Keep in mind there is usually more than one way to do the circuits so break the pieces down and go from there.

Hey Tom,

Thank you for your advice I do appreciate, and am trying to follow it. I think I'm just letting myself get overwhelmed by seeing multiple representations of the same thing, and then trying to interpret it with absolutely no knowledge to interpret from.
I'll just sit myself down with a printout of the fritz, and related terms referenced in it, and try to make heads and tails of what I see.

Thank you again for your advice!

 

[crusso1993]

Hi reef-pi builders, I know some of you have build blackbox controller with reef-pi. @neilp2006 here is trying to build a blackbox controller with reef-pi and would like to get some pointers.
I think I have mentioned this earlier, but this must be a very common use case, having a dedicated article or post on this will be awesome

Thanks so much! I hadn’t realized you were ‘reef-pi Ranjib’ until after we PMd.

I’d be looking to use a coralux storm controller, which is 0-5v dimming, but a 10v converter is available. Wondering if I’d have to switch out the drivers on a viparspectra 165 or if they are ready to go. I have a bunch of 1000mA LDD meanwells already.

Thanks

@neilp2006 and @Ranjib ;

@Diamond1 and @b4tn are probably the best two to offer help with the Viparspectra.

There is also an ongoing Viparspectra build by @ph123uk to found in the below link.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/m...y-viparspectra-pwm-light-controller-d.545810/

 

[16Reefer170]

Hi, I wondering how many reef-pi builds are on R2R, and if anyone has a list or an easy way to find them?

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

Hi, I wondering how many reef-pi builds are on R2R, and if anyone has a list or an easy way to find them?

Fire up a thread asking that question

 

[bishoptf]

Hey Tom,

Thank you for your advice I do appreciate, and am trying to follow it. I think I'm just letting myself get overwhelmed by seeing multiple representations of the same thing, and then trying to interpret it with absolutely no knowledge to interpret from.
I'll just sit myself down with a printout of the fritz, and related terms referenced in it, and try to make heads and tails of what I see.

Thank you again for your advice!

From looking at the diagrams, the picture was the least helpful, the fritz diagrams the schematic should help provide enough information, then I usually try to break each section down to understand how it works, that helps a lot with getting a more complete picture since you start to understand what each item is doing and why. If you have not started your own build thread that would be the place to gather additional information.

 

[Ranjib]

Hi, I wondering how many reef-pi builds are on R2R, and if anyone has a list or an easy way to find them?

I dont know of any, but I am trying consolidate them in one place and publish it as additional resources in the website, stay tune.. in couple of hours this will be out

 

[bishoptf]

Throwing this out there since I am in the process of *cough* clearing out inventory and I think some of it might be useful to the builds. I have a lot and when I say a lot I mean a whole bin full of power supplies. Most of them were for thin clients and most of them are 18-19.5v DC units anywhere from 2-4amps. Since most of us are using the buck converter they would be able to dial in the voltage needed. These are all name brand power supplies, APD, Delta etc used supplies. If anyone is interested just hit me up via PM and I can provide more details if needed.

 

[Ranjib]

@neilp2006 and @Ranjib ;

@Diamond1 and @b4tn are probably the best two to offer help with the Viparspectra.

There is also an ongoing Viparspectra build by @ph123uk to found in the below link.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/m...y-viparspectra-pwm-light-controller-d.545810/

Thank you Im in process of rolling up these into a single webpage that we can maintain going forward

 

[Zekth]

Hello everyone,

The multilingual of reef-pi is finally available in the current state of the project. Not in a release at the moment. Here are the languages to be included with people wanting to contribute on it:

• English
• French
• Italian
• German
• Hindi
• Persian
• Spanish

If you want to contribute to this part of the project i've written a guide:
https://github.com/reef-pi/reef-pi/blob/master/internationalization_contributing.md

If it's not clear enough please let me know or open an issue and i'll do my best to improve it.

 

[Ranjib]

Hello everyone,

The multilingual of reef-pi is finally available in the current state of the project. Not in a release at the moment. Here are the languages to be included with people wanting to contribute on it:

• English
• French
• Italian
• German
• Hindi
• Persian
• Spanish

If you want to contribute to this part of the project i've written a guide:
https://github.com/reef-pi/reef-pi/blob/master/internationalization_contributing.md

If it's not clear enough please let me know or open an issue and i'll do my best to improve it.

Thank you so much @Zekth for leading this effort. This will be the first internationalization effort and I am stoked about it :0)

 

[Ranjib]

On this note, I have also made a website page on additional resources on reef-pi, outside the guides and website. https://reef-pi.github.io/additional-documentation/resources/ . This page has links for reef-pi build threads, api usage, press releases etc.

Check it out and let me know if you would like to see any other categories, and if there are some other popular/helpful link that I have missed/I should be adding.

 

[bishoptf]

Here is something I have meant to bring up but keep forgetting. I have not opened an issue yet but first wanted to see what others think and maybe there is another way to do what I like to do.

With a planted fw tank if you are dosing fertilizers ala the ei method, to reset the tank you should do 50% water changes weekly. I have 3 small tanks and while I am dosing on the low side, I do 50%. When I go to do each tank I turn off the filter and the heater since the water level can go below my heaters. I normally unplug them but with reef-pi I usually just do it from my phone. I would go the the equipment page and turn the outlet off. What I forgot about is since I using the heater as a failsafe safe with the temp probes they would turn back on. I would first have to go to the temp page and remove the heater control and then turn the outlet off, then they would stay off or I could just unplug them.

This had me thinking of an easy override ability when doing tank maintenance and I'd like to turn stuff off that is integrated with other functions.

Going to think about this some more and see if I can think of something that makes sense and would be easy to implement. If anyone has any suggestions or thinks that this would be nice to have please post.

 

[bishoptf]

On this note, I have also made a website page on additional resources on reef-pi, outside the guides and website. https://reef-pi.github.io/additional-documentation/resources/ . This page has links for reef-pi build threads, api usage, press releases etc.

Check it out and let me know if you would like to see any other categories, and if there are some other popular/helpful link that I have missed/I should be adding.

Awesome, I will for sure take a look and help reviewing the documents, will do this while watching/listening to wrc results in Sweden.

 

[Ranjib]

Here is something I have meant to bring up but keep forgetting. I have not opened an issue yet but first wanted to see what others think and maybe there is another way to do what I like to do.

With a planted fw tank if you are dosing fertilizers ala the ei method, to reset the tank you should do 50% water changes weekly. I have 3 small tanks and while I am dosing on the low side, I do 50%. When I go to do each tank I turn off the filter and the heater since the water level can go below my heaters. I normally unplug them but with reef-pi I usually just do it from my phone. I would go the the equipment page and turn the outlet off. What I forgot about is since I using the heater as a failsafe safe with the temp probes they would turn back on. I would first have to go to the temp page and remove the heater control and then turn the outlet off, then they would stay off or I could just unplug them.

This had me thinking of an easy override ability when doing tank maintenance and I'd like to turn stuff off that is integrated with other functions.

Going to think about this some more and see if I can think of something that makes sense and would be easy to implement. If anyone has any suggestions or thinks that this would be nice to have please post.

You can create macro to turn off equipemt, disable timers , ato, temeperature controller etc. I use one macro each to before and after the water change

 

[bishoptf]

You can create macro to turn off equipemt, disable timers , ato, temeperature controller etc. I use one macro each to before and after the water change

Ha, well that would do it, haven't used the macro functions so something new to fiddle with...woot!