DIY controller

[natual]

Ron,

I was looking at your controller I did notice that you have connections for the ethernet to a computer but can it be a standalone unit/connected to the computer and hook to the internet so someone can monitor there tank from anywhere?

The other question involves probes I see you said that DO can be added, will it be compatable with your box? Also, ever think of putting in programing to calc. BOD?
What about a conductivity probe, I know you started talking about TDS meter but Conductivity would be great for people like me. I know the darn things are around $200 (just bought one for work the other day) but there are replatinizing solutions even for the four cell probes that could extend the life.
Any calculations in the software for determining CO2 content?

Great work.

 

[ronc98]

The connection to the computer is actually RS485. I did not make the controller webbased just because when I started I wanted to use a platform I already had developed.

Yes it does run standalone. That is the only way to really do it right. I plan on making it webbased however that is down the road. Right now I simply use remote desktop to log into the computer that is connected to it. From there I can upload or download the setpoints and monitor it.

The conductivity probe is done I am just testing it right now.

You could connect a DO probe to the system however I have not written any code for that portion. I just have not need it.

BOD is way way more complicated then just simply measuring the dissolved oxygen uptake. The correct way to do BOD is to monitor the uptake of a closed system for 25-30 days. I spent alot of time developing an instrument that did this very thing. The estimation of BOD is crap. It is simply impossible unless you can live with up to 100 percent errors.

 

[RobbyG]

Ron I have been tagging along with this for sometime now, it's just amazing what you have built. Do you have any pictures of all the components laid out? I would love to see how it would stack up against the controllers in the Comparison chart. As one EE to another, this is a fantastic piece of work.