Control Jebao DC pump with Raspberry Pi

[davevrave]

I've been looking for information on controlling the Jebao DC pumps (this range http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jebao-Jec...2000-15000-Marine-Aquarium-Fish-/361415715173) with a RPI.

I came across this post on the forum (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2526771 Reply 12 by dartier) which mentions it. No detailed information is given sadly.

I was wondering if anyone here could please give me more information on your set-up please or point me in the right direction to more information.

Ideally I'm hoping to be able to control the flow rate as well as turn on and off via the Pi.

So far I've managed to find that the controller uses a 0-5v analogue signal to vary speed?

Thanks,
David

 

[dartier]

I've been looking for information on controlling the Jebao DC pumps (this range http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jebao-Jec...2000-15000-Marine-Aquarium-Fish-/361415715173) with a RPI.

I came across this post on the forum (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2526771 Reply 12 by dartier) which mentions it. No detailed information is given sadly.

I was wondering if anyone here could please give me more information on your set-up please or point me in the right direction to more information.

Ideally I'm hoping to be able to control the flow rate as well as turn on and off via the Pi.

So far I've managed to find that the controller uses a 0-5v analogue signal to vary speed?

Thanks,
David

Sure I can tell you the path I took to get this working on the RPI.

You are correct that the means of control is a 0-5v analog signal. 0v being off fully and 5v being 100% on.

To generate the Analog signal on the Pi, I used a breakout board from Adafruit with a MCP4725 on it. This board uses I2C to interface with the Pi. It exposes 1 address pin, so you can have only 2 of these units on the same I2C bus so the maximum number of pumps you can control with these is 2.

Removing the above the 2 pump limitation is something I have thought about a lot. Although I have not tried this yet, I am pretty sure that a PWM signal fed through a low pass filter would be the best approach. This is how the Arduino based controllers like the Reef Angel do it.

Since I use a 16 channel I2C board for generating PWM signals for controlling my LED array, this should allow for 16 DC pumps to be controlled when paired with LPFs.

My next build is going to have more than 2 DC pumps in it, so I plan to try the LPF method in the field. I will try to remember to update this thread with the results.

Dennis

 

[perkint]

Yeah, something like the PCA9685 (I2C PWM chip with 16 channels, 0 to 4095 on each) and an LPF on each one would give you plenty of control. There is another thread kicking around on here for getting compatible connectors, as well (so you don't have to cut the pump plug and rewire)...

Tim

 

[dartier]

Yeah, something like the PCA9685 (I2C PWM chip with 16 channels, 0 to 4095 on each) and an LPF on each one would give you plenty of control. There is another thread kicking around on here for getting compatible connectors, as well (so you don't have to cut the pump plug and rewire)...

Yep, that is the chip that I am using (for my LEDs). There are now Chinese versions available of the boards on ebay, so they are very affordable.

Once I have determined what the values are for the LPF, hopefully I will have enough focus to design up a 16 channel LPF board that can be sent out to one of the board houses. That would make it truly plug and play.

Too many projects and too little time for them! I might have to retire just so I can get my project backlog done. :spin2:

Dennis

 

[perkint]

Do the board to take a PCA9685 as well - SMD only (as far as I'm aware!) but do-able with a soldering iron. Just. And would make it a fairly cheap package - sure you'd be able to sell on any spares!

Tim

 

[dartier]

Do the board to take a PCA9685 as well - SMD only (as far as I'm aware!) but do-able with a soldering iron. Just. And would make it a fairly cheap package - sure you'd be able to sell on any spares!

Tim, I was about to say, "clearly you have over estimated by design capabilties", but I went and studied the Adafruit board, and other than the PCA9685, there are not a lot of other components required (a decoupling capacitor and current limiting resistors). So it is within the realm of possibilities!

Dennis

 

[perkint]

Go for it

Stick screw terminals on it as well and if I wasn't in a different continent, I'd split the production costs of the PCBs!

Tim