DIY Reef Controller
- Thread starter nkd5024
- Start date
fefegarcia1
Member
I think now is the time to do a survey with stakeholders in your project.
Once the program is ready will give much more work to change the LCD.
Once the program is ready will give much more work to change the LCD.
nkd5024
New member
Important Update!
I just noticed on Henning Karlsen's TinyFAT library that you can set the SPI speed. It mentions issues with the VeryHigh setting if using an SD card interface that using resistor levelshifters or a slower connection.
I am using the adafruit sd card breakout board and changing my SPI speed to Very High works amazing. The speed difference in loading the images is around double as fast. All that you have to do to try this out it change line 380 from,
file.initFAT();
to
file.initFAT(SPISPEED_VERYHIGH);
Hopefully this will work for everyone using the sd card slot on the lcd screen shield!
I just noticed on Henning Karlsen's TinyFAT library that you can set the SPI speed. It mentions issues with the VeryHigh setting if using an SD card interface that using resistor levelshifters or a slower connection.
I am using the adafruit sd card breakout board and changing my SPI speed to Very High works amazing. The speed difference in loading the images is around double as fast. All that you have to do to try this out it change line 380 from,
file.initFAT();
to
file.initFAT(SPISPEED_VERYHIGH);
Hopefully this will work for everyone using the sd card slot on the lcd screen shield!
nkd5024
New member
I am currently looking into how to individually dim 1w moonlight leds for the lunar cycles. Does know how to go about this?
Can it simply be a 3v 1amp walwart connected to four of the leds in parallel with a small resistor next to each led, or will a single led get the full 1 amp when the other three of off?
Any help you be greatly appreciated!
Can it simply be a 3v 1amp walwart connected to four of the leds in parallel with a small resistor next to each led, or will a single led get the full 1 amp when the other three of off?
Any help you be greatly appreciated!
funkyfish77
New member
Maybe some thing like this http://electronics-diy.com/power-led-driver-circuit.php
Hope that helped a little
Funky
Hope that helped a little
Funky
nkd5024
New member
So i just finished the main board and the shift register boards in eagle. I will upload them later today and will order them tonight. I will also upload a bill of materials including the project box i'll be using.
The main board has support for 6 channels of led dimming, 4 channels of moon light dimming, connection for a DS18B20 temp sensor, connection for the etape liquid level sensor, and a simple dimming circuit for the lcd screen.
It also has additional connections for I2C and SPI incase anyone wants to add something down the road we don't need a new board. There is some free space, so I may add a prototyping area as well.
The shift register board also has a connection for eight 3mm leds that can be added to the outlet box so you can tell when each outlet is on without checking the controller.
The main board has support for 6 channels of led dimming, 4 channels of moon light dimming, connection for a DS18B20 temp sensor, connection for the etape liquid level sensor, and a simple dimming circuit for the lcd screen.
It also has additional connections for I2C and SPI incase anyone wants to add something down the road we don't need a new board. There is some free space, so I may add a prototyping area as well.
The shift register board also has a connection for eight 3mm leds that can be added to the outlet box so you can tell when each outlet is on without checking the controller.
Are you using the Atmega 2650 to get 10 pwm channels?
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Ahh....ok...was actually thinking of using it too on a custom design for up to 12 lighting channels and 1 moonlight channel in either 0-5v or 0-10v, 8 relays and pH and ORP monitoring....still doing research on pH n ORP...
Even thought about using a transistor with a 700mA capacity to run possibly 3-4 3w LEDs directly without the need for a driver. If I do that it'd be for 36-48 LEDs only...so anything less than a 40B i'm thinking.
Even thought about using a transistor with a 700mA capacity to run possibly 3-4 3w LEDs directly without the need for a driver. If I do that it'd be for 36-48 LEDs only...so anything less than a 40B i'm thinking.
nkd5024
New member
funkyfish,
Thanks for the link, the same guy has an instructables guide on how to make the name constant current circuit except with pwm. This is what i'll be using for the moonlights.
89Delta, Have you seen the atlas scientific ph and orp stamps? Seems to be the most sensible solution.
If you were to check out the link funkyfish posted above there is a very simple constant current circuit that may suit your needs.
I am currently modifying the moonlight circuit on the board and then they'll be on there way!
Thanks for the link, the same guy has an instructables guide on how to make the name constant current circuit except with pwm. This is what i'll be using for the moonlights.
89Delta, Have you seen the atlas scientific ph and orp stamps? Seems to be the most sensible solution.
If you were to check out the link funkyfish posted above there is a very simple constant current circuit that may suit your needs.
I am currently modifying the moonlight circuit on the board and then they'll be on there way!
Did see that awhile ago as well as thought of using the CAT4101's....but if I used a 2N2222A which is rated for .8A I could run 3 3w LEDs with a resistor in-line to bring the FwdV to what I need for the LEDs running the whole unit with a 12V PS....haven't gotten to how many A I'd need though yet.
dwolson2
New member
Ok, so I have tried to figure this out. I have the sainsmart mega2560 and the tft_320qvt screen. I can't get past the "New_Life_Reef_Controller:5905: error: 'myGLCD' was not declared in this scope" error and its highlighting this code: UTFTtf myGLCD(SSD1289Z, 38, 39, 40, 41); I've tried the UTFTtf myGLCD(ITDB32S, 38, 39, 40, 41); and cant get that to work either... its really getting annoying
Any help would be great
Any help would be great
nkd5024
New member
dwolson,
The LCD screen is also from sainsmart correct?
My screen also has TFT_320_QVT and works fine with the library so I don't think the screen is the issue.
If you haven't edited the code at all, did you put the libraries into your arduino/libraries folder. Specifically the UTFT_TinyFAT library for the error.
If you edited the code at all it could be that you don't have (#include <UTFT_tinyFAT.h>) at the top of the code.
Hope this helps!
The LCD screen is also from sainsmart correct?
My screen also has TFT_320_QVT and works fine with the library so I don't think the screen is the issue.
If you haven't edited the code at all, did you put the libraries into your arduino/libraries folder. Specifically the UTFT_TinyFAT library for the error.
If you edited the code at all it could be that you don't have (#include <UTFT_tinyFAT.h>) at the top of the code.
Hope this helps!
dwolson2
New member
Ok so I'm not getting that error anymore, but now the screen is blank. It lights up, but just blank. Soooo I know there are issues with the SD card reader on this board, does that mean the pictures can't load from it? If so that would explain the blank screen right? If that's the case, can I just do the wire crossing thing to get the SD card reader to work or did I do something else wrong....lol This controller is fun...
nanolover80
New member
OMG can i get you to help me with mine .. i just started toget things together to do this very thing..AWESOME job
nkd5024
New member
dwolson,
Yes, the sainsmart lcd screens sd card reader don't work.
I would try the wire crossing thing and then run the All_In_One_Demo from the Tiny_Fat library to make sure that your SD Card is working correctly by checking the serial monitor.
If all is well after that, load up the controller program and you should be set!
Also remember to change line 380 from file.initFAT(); to file.initFAT(SPISPEED_VERYHIGH);
This will double the refresh rate of the images.
nanolover,
Sure, pm me.
UPDATE:
So I finally got the moonlight circuit done and ordered the pcb boards! The order was submitted tonight so hopefully in about a week i'll be getting a package!
You can check out the eagle files on the google code page for the project as well as download the cam files that are ready to be sent to ITead studios. The main board is 10x10 and the shift register board is 5x5.
Here is a 3D render of the finished boards.
Yes, the sainsmart lcd screens sd card reader don't work.
I would try the wire crossing thing and then run the All_In_One_Demo from the Tiny_Fat library to make sure that your SD Card is working correctly by checking the serial monitor.
If all is well after that, load up the controller program and you should be set!
Also remember to change line 380 from file.initFAT(); to file.initFAT(SPISPEED_VERYHIGH);
This will double the refresh rate of the images.
nanolover,
Sure, pm me.
UPDATE:
So I finally got the moonlight circuit done and ordered the pcb boards! The order was submitted tonight so hopefully in about a week i'll be getting a package!
You can check out the eagle files on the google code page for the project as well as download the cam files that are ready to be sent to ITead studios. The main board is 10x10 and the shift register board is 5x5.
Here is a 3D render of the finished boards.
