Howto: Use a Linksys Router as Wireless Reef Controller - WRRC

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9207873#post9207873 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by lakee911
We get the idea, Bean, but what are you saying? I can not hack it, but other people have? You don't know my, or other people's abilities.

Like I said, when it gets big, it'll be hackable again :)

Jason
Click to expand...

I am sure it will get hacked.... Just not something I care to worry about :) I also do not like the program and the government scam going on behind it. However, at the moment it is not a viable unit to use as a controller, as it has not (that I can tell) been hacked. I would much rather use a more powerfull unit anyway :) I don't bother hacking stuff anymore for the most part. I have done xboxes, tivos, DVD chipsets, and half a dozen other things. Then again I hate C and dislike linux even more... so of course my bias is thrown in there too :)

Don't get me wrong, I think it is great that people are working with these things. It just takes too much time to get up to speed with each new hack, firmware update or method of working something... Again I would rather use my brainpower to write good code and design good circuits and NOT use it googling FAQs or hack scripts. Did I say I can't stand linux :D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9208688#post9208688 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bad inferno
Pista01..Steve this is the flow meter I use 0.25 - 6.5 litres/min (US$50.00)
http://www.rs-components.com.au/1/indexb923.html
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I'll probably use the flow meter to monitor for sudden changes in flow, possibly checking the rate every minute or so. I was thinking of using the second channel on the counter to monitor the external pump speed by counting the pulses from an LED under the pump fan blades (Pan World). Temp sensors are cheap, so I'll probably monitor the pump temperature as well. I've been really impressed with the easy of use with these 1-wire devices.

Steve
 
I built a 1-wire temperature board that holds up to 64 1-wire temp sensors and dumps the data back via the serial port every few seconds. When i am done with the setup, there will be temp probes on everything :D
 
okay, so what is the bottom line here in this thread. I guess it is possible to be done, but is it cheaper then buying the commercial versions / aquacontroller iii ???

And how does a guy like me with some knowledge but probably not enough to want to get into a new hobby of field of expertise get one?

Thanks

bill
 
Yeah, one thing i would love to know is what PH probes/equipment is required for the 1-wire network... As well as detailed instructions on how to get it to work...

Bad Inferno you listed a couple of products, and i did a search for them and i can't find ANY for the price you have listed (they want like $300+)...

This is really the only thing holding me back from getting all the stuff and building one... :)

Other stuff i would like to measure is salinity, ORP and CO2, so advice on what stuff people used for that would be awesome too... :)
 
Bergovoy it is usually more expensive to DIY something like this. You need a fairly well stocked parts box, a good temp controlled soldering iron, test equipment (digital and analog multimeter at least) etc. Even if you already had all of the equipmnent and a parts box... costs add up quickly. A buck here, two bucks there... etc.

The nice thing is being able to build something in your own vision and do it at your own pace and level of customization. Electronics is a very rewarding hobby and to some of us it is certainly as enjoyable as reefing :)

Bean
 
I agree with Bean, it's almost always more expensive to DIY a controller.

If you are a bit weak on the electronics side, you can buy ready made boards with 1-wire devices from places like www.aagelectronica.com and hobby-boards.com. You could probably assemble the hardware side with very little soldering. You would also need to make sure that whatever you choose can handle the current, especially with metal halides and large heaters.

The hardware side is actually easier than the logic side, IMHO. You can collect a lot of data, but what you do with it is critical. You would have to build reliability into the software. Hardware does fail. For example, you don't want a heater to stay on because a temp sensor fails. If you do everything right, you could end up with a very nice controller that does exactly what you need. If not, then disaster could result. I wouldn't DIY a controller unless you are very confident in your skills.
 
Bean, My quandry is that beyond the typical male persona of wanting to build something with my hands, but I have a fascination with electronics, that stems from my post high school, first years of college where I switched majors from EE to Business.

And now my interest being piqued with things that seem like they area attainable but yet still out of reach.

Practicality vs wanting to do it because I think I am capable and or may learn something is very tempting.

I just dont want to invest the time and effort of someting that wil not work nor will I be able to be of much help in making it work.

Yes, I want a kit
 
Bergovoy, I think we are in a similar situation. I have a basic background. Took several years of comp sci classes and some engineering, but moved to another major. I wans to learn, but it's not like anyone will tell me buy these 15 parts and solder them together like this. Everyone says find some kind of pH probe then figure out how it works on your own.

I bet anyone who could build a step by step website on how to do one or two aspects of this stuff would have a website as popular as mighty melev. (BeanAnimal you hear that? You could one up melev!) :-)
 
Most of us are interested in building things that seem very attainable but are yet so far out of reach... that is the challenge and that also answers the practicality questions. Your feelings are very understandable... we all have them. So grab the soldering iron, a few books (google has made it SOOO MUCH easier) and dig in.

Remember the sci.electronics newsgroups are great when you need help!

Gordonious there are hundreds (thousands) of websites out there devoted to electronics for DIYers :) I only know enough to be dangerous.
 
Here are some links I found useful when I was doing research for my 1-wire based controller:

http://www.maxim-ic.com/1-Wire.cfm
http://www.data-acquisition.us/indu...rs_transmitters_measurement/Transmitters.html
http://www.aagelectronica.com/aag/index.html
http://www.embeddeddatasystems.com/
http://www.hobby-boards.com
http://www.eidusa.com/Interface_Boards_High_Inpidance.htm
http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref=PHTX21&Nav=
http://www.omega.com/techref/ph.html
http://owfs.sourceforge.net
http://www.maxim-ic.com/products/ibutton/software/sdk/sdks.cfm
http://www.systronix.com/expansion/8x1wire/81w.htm
http://aquariomate.sourceforge.net/index.php (appears dead, but still interesting)
http://www.automatedaquariums.com (as close to a "kit" I've found, but lots of $$$$)


The second link describes interfacing to 4-20 mA loop devices, which is what most pH transmitters use. These should provide a good starting point.

As nice as it would be for someone to write up a step by step process to build a controller, I don't think it would be very practical. Everyone has different skills. One person might prefer to use Windows, whereas another prefers Linux. Then there are those that prefer to build everything from scratch, right down to soldering every last component. There are lots of options when it comes to software. Then there is the issue of parts. Most people will try to find inexpensive components, like I did with the pH transmitter. That exact model can't be found anymore. Different components mean there will be a certain level of tinkering required. I think it's far better to understand how the individual components work, like pH probes and such, than to just get step by step instructions. If you understand how each piece works individually, then you'll be better equipped to put it all together into a working controller, not to mention better equipped to fix it when it breaks.

I think the RC3A project here on RC was supposed to build a community controller, but it appears that there wasn't a consensus in the community on how to build it.
 
Well, I have the hardware I'll be developing on. I was using a bulky old PC that was my brother's but I was able to find one of those HP E-PC's locally for next to nothing.

It's a 2.4ghz that the guy was selling b/c they got a new one and his son had decided he wanted to 'pimp it out' so the kid took paint thinner to it and started stripping the case paint. The outside looked a bit messy, but the guts are perfect. I did a little cleanup just to give it a uniform look and - violas in nice full-featured small form factor powerhouse PC to control my aquarium. It's probably a bit overpowered, but for $25 I can't do much better.

The only bummer about the E-PC's is that there's no built-in Serial ports. I ordered a USB to Serial converter to solve that for use with the X10 controller. At just under $10 shipped, I can't complain. From what I read, they are supposed to be fairly well supported by linux, so I'll keep my fingers crossed on that until it arrives.

I'm in the process of configuring the box as an Ubuntu 6.10 LAMP server (Linux - Apache, MySQL, PHP) and setting up OWFS on it again. It's not too bad since I documented my work the first time I set it up. I can share the install steps if anyone would like them.

I also picked up a second pH amplifier off ebay for use with my ORP probe. The hardware's all the same, the only difference between pH and ORP is in the software since there's no crazy conversion needed for ORP as it's just viewed in mV.

I need to finish tweaking the code for the wiki a bit to fix the broken versioning system, and then I'd like to start documenting stuff for others to use. I've got it password protected to prevent spamming by the ruthless, but If anyone wants to add/edit content, send me a PM and I can give you the password.

www.bytality.com/wrrc
 
Sounds good big Red! Be forewarned that ePCs use very cheap quality components. When I used to sell PCs, I'd see people come in and buy them for half the price and more of them came back than any other brand. Hopefully you'll have good luck with it, but if you're relying on it for control, make sure everything is failsafe (i.e. don't wire something like your top off to open full when the PC is off or something...) Good luck

BTW, I got my FON via FedEx the other day! Sure was quick. :) I'm waiting on a serial cable for my iPaq and then I'll use that for my controller.

What pH amp you using, BigRed?

Jason
 
Yeah, this one's an HP, so marginally better. :) I generally prefer to build them myself so I know it's quality stuff, but for the price I'll use it til it dies and replace. I will of course have a data backup plan in place.

I'm using the Vernier pH amp. I don't remember the model off the top of my head, but I think I posted it a couple pages back.
 
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