Anyone have a DIY Controller?

[drillsar]

I remember I read somewhere someone did this

 

[customcolor]

im working on one hooked up to my computer to run my lights and a few dosing pumps. granted using a windows program is not the most reliable but its not like ill be using it to run my pumps, ozone, or controle my ph so im going to do it all i need is a cable and i can start.

 

[Icefire]

I'm gonna run a PLC for my 110G, 100% reliable

 

[BeanAnimal]

There are a handfull of us who have developed controllers.

I am currently working with an Atmega128 micro. Others have used

Dallas 1-wire with a Linksys router
Dallas 1-wire with on a PC or other platform
PC based software with USB or ISA/PC I/O
Motorola microcontroller
Rabbit microcontroller
PIC microcontroller
PC with X-10
PLC system
Home Automation Controllers
Ocelot automation controllers
Etc.

What are your skills and what are you trying to do.

 

[EnderG60]

is there a way to connect probes to a PC? Like calc, ph and orp?

Once you have an interface of probe and PC reading and controling shouldnt be to hard.

Ive been wanting to try this, but its down on the list of projects at the moment so i havent done much research.

 

[richard21]

Hi,

Have a DIY controller unit that may suit -

Please mail me for a full manual and program code etc, about 2mb

Richard

 

[richard21]

Hi,

EnderG60 - have replied to your mail twice but keeps returning as mailbox not found

Richard21

 

[EnderG60]

DOH wrong email address, fixed it sorry

 

[funman1]

I know there's tons of people who have done that, but here was mine I did over a year ago.

PLC Based
Start
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...ight=controller

And then continued here
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...ight=controller

 

[customcolor]

her is a link for probs you can hook up to a computer with ther Go Link adaptor
http://www.vernier.com/probes/

 

[EnderG60]

Controlling lights and pumps and such is simple, a cheap laptop and some X10 or the like can do that. its reading and controlling things like ORP, ph, calc and the like im more interested in.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Yeah, not to mention that problem with x-10 is that it is a 30 year old protocal that has no error correction or feedback between the controller and the devices being controlled.

 

[drillsar]

im interested in the reading of ph, etc as well, anybody done that?

 

[drillsar]

found one interesting:


http://members.optusnet.com.au/markdem/

 

[EnderG60]

thats basicly what im looking for(I just want more probes to read)

For simplisity(sp?) sake I just want something PC based. Once thats done, I can write some software pretty easy to control dosing(since calc and alk controlling isnt feasable yet), as well as log the status of all variables I want/ can get probes for. And it would be web accessable too.

and yeah I know what you mean about the x-10 stuff, but there are plenty of other options for this. Hell it doesnt even have to be wireless, but it would be nice.

All I really need is a simple way to read probes(temp, ph, orp, and if possible calc and alk) on a PC, rest is cake.

 

[drillsar]

I agree EnderG60, the aquacontroller is nice but alot of $$$

 

[fade2grey]

anyone hear anything more about this project?
http://www.compudoc97.com/SWNDIY3.html

http://www.compudoc97.com/SWNDIY3pr.html

Looks fantastic but last update was a few years ago..

 

[dixonjk]

Thats a lil beyond DIY!

 

[BeanAnimal]

Wait till you see my touchscreen project

 

[fade2grey]

BeanAnimal... touch screen? sounds cool.. tell all

Seriously though guys, if anyone knows anything about that project (or fancy's guiding a noddy through building one like theirs in return for some start to finish destructions & pics for the greater good)

drop me a mail on fade2greyuk [at] hotmail [dot] com