Must-haves for EASY DIY controller?

I have read and read and read these posts. Unfortunately I am lost as a goose in a snow storm. I do have some basic elec. skills but none with programing. All I want is a controler that will dim leds vis pwm, operate a few power heads, temp and ph monitor. What do I need to get and where and where would I get the sketchs? Can anyone help me with this?
 
If someone could just point me to or right a simple to understand (reef controlers for dumbies) post it sure would help us computer dumbies out alot. Just by using the KISS method would work just fine.. KISS (keep it simple stupid). It seems this thread is seeing who is the smartist and who can build a super computer. All I want is somthing to operate and control my tank while I'm at work for up to 96hrs. and all my son has to do is feed the fish......Is there anything like that out there?
 
firefightered66 said:
If someone could just point me to or right a simple to understand (reef controlers for dumbies) post it sure would help us computer dumbies out alot. Just by using the KISS method would work just fine.. KISS (keep it simple stupid). It seems this thread is seeing who is the smartist and who can build a super computer. All I want is somthing to operate and control my tank while I'm at work for up to 96hrs. and all my son has to do is feed the fish......Is there anything like that out there?
Click to expand...

How about you just buy a Reefkeeper Lite? $119 brand new, closer to $80 used in the classified section. It will control 4 devices out of the box. Add some modules and you can have pH and ORP and other goodies. Also consider Apex Lite.

You're going to spend at least that much in parts ****ing around with a DIY system, not to mention hours of your time, and you still won't know why it doesn't work right because unless you know or can learn to read/write C (sketches are a variation of it) you aren't going to get much of anywhere.

This thread is really more for those who have the desire and means to build their own, and it does not sound like this fits your needs.
 
Is the hydra reef site messed up? I can seem to find the build instructions anymore. I finally got one built but I am trying to test with the hello test files. MAKE SURE YOU TEST YOUR BOARDS BEFORE YOU START. I HAVE A COMPLETE BOARD THAT IS TOTAL CRAP BECAUSE SOME DIRTY TRACES. SPENT HOURS TRYIN TO FIX IT AND GAVE UP.


James
 
Wow this looks awesome. Found the hydra reef wiki site and decided to read the forum that started it all. Looks like I will have some reading to do!
 
Has development on this stopped? I have a board that is all put together and no matter what program I use or what I try I keep getting error after error message when it comes to sending the data to the board.

I guess for starters what software/device are people using to transfer the code onto the hydra? I have tried too many different programs that I have lost track of them all and am using an FTDI FT232RL USB to TTL Serial cable to transfer the code.
 
Hydra is designed to work with standard arduino software. That assumes your ATMegas have the arduino bootloader.
 
terahz said:
Hydra is designed to work with standard arduino software. That assumes your ATMegas have the arduino bootloader.
Click to expand...

I purchased the ones with the optiboot on them. No matter what I try to do I get the error code "avrdude: stk500_getsync(): not in sync: resp=0x00"
 
Can someone give a link to the device they are using to transfer the code onto the hydra? I tried using a different computer this morning and am still getting the same error. When googling a solution everyone states that it is a problem with the device not properly resetting the hydra before the computer tries to write the code onto the device.

Thanks
 
I came across the Eln Dimming shield and would like to implement it in my controller. Questions I have are...
1.What are the benifets to useing this one over just a transitor and power source?
2. Does this need an external 10v power supply or is that what the capacitors are for?
3. Why is this using so many capacitors?
Thanks for awsering my questions. Im new at this and would like to understand why you did this design than just throwing the parts on to it to make it work.
 
5 Extra Hydra PCBs

5 Extra Hydra PCBs

I have 5 spare Hydra PCB's available for sale.

I decided to shutdown my 120gal tank before I got a chance to build the Hydra.

Its been a while but the boards cost me $4 each.

If anyone is looking for a HYDRA PCB, please message me.
 
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i too, like many of you, was set on using a PLC to drive my fish tank. I had the dream of pH, salinity, pumps and status, etc. The list is endless and the control capabilities are as well. I do not agree with the argument that dedicated controls are better (i.e., one for temp monitoring and control, one for ph and co2 control, etc) That is a very simple view to have. How do you think industrial chillers and boilers work? Pumps, temps, valves, monitoring, and safety all in mind, done in one controler (or expanded controller of course depending on number of I/O). I work in the HVAC control world now (3 years ago started HVAC control coming from Allen Bradley PLC world of indutrial background.) When I started in the HVAC control industry, I realized that finally my answers were right here in this industry. We control chillers, boilers, pumps, valves, temperatures, pH, salinity, TDS, and a plethera of other items as well. ANY probe can be made to talk to ANY controller. All of this is done with controllers that are life safety approved (surely good enough for your tank!) I have no fear whatsoever of using a single point of control for the whole tank. This product is robust, fast, industry trusted, fairly easy to program (I say fairly, because honestly, most people are NOT programmers), and not that expensive (The controller I am using is $500, 10 Universal inputs, 6 Digital Out, 4 analog out). The software is the expensive part. I am currently in negotiations with my company to be able to license and sell an older verion of the server software. ( i obviously have a copy for myself, but I want to share the love!...can't be free though unfortunately) Right now, the software, includes server, database, programming software, and graphics builder, for around $800.00. This software is industry leading. Used by mahy hospitals and larger systems around the world. I trust it to control $250,000 chillers and millions of doallrs of other equipment DAILY. IT WILL most difinately control a fish tank just fine. I have been away from RC for quite some time, as I got tired of CONSTANTLY getting bashed for idea concerning PLC's, and other items. Anyways, I'm back, and I will be sharing my newest build as it comes to life. I had to tear down my 6 year old 75 gallon tank in order to get this new 180 in place. That is done and now I am down to equipment placing, laying new flooring, etc.
 
update: I have received the rights to become an OEM distributor of this product. I am being sketchy on the details at this time, because A) I think RC doesnt appreciate people trying to sell stuff in here, and B) It's my idea, and until I can present this to the world in business fashion (website offerings, etc) I am not really gonna let my idea leak. The owner of my company believes I have a viable business plan and those words made my day, especially when he said "I never in a million years thought of controlling a fish tank".....

the below photo is of a ph probe connected to my electronic circuit (designed by myself and a friend) that has been logging on my controller for the last 5 days. I changed the fluid in which it resides to show differing levels. My circuit has a 95% rate of change in <3 seconds.
oh, forgot to mention, we know have circuits completed for ORP, salinity, and pH. More to come as they get built.
 

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I too work in the control field as an electrician covering not just HVAC but industrial motor control, pumps and valves, RC tornado siren alert, pneumatics, printing press industry etc. I too looked at PLC control and as you yourself stated this biggest hindrance is cost. Starting with the hardware with most units being modular you start with a base unit price and it just continues with each added module. Then there is the exorbitant cost of the proprietary software which always runs way more than the cost of the hardware. I am not limited to any one vendor and have experience enough to know that they all cost way more than any average hobbiest wants to afford, myself included. Micro controllers like arduino are indeed the answer I've been looking for to do control work of this nature. It is not limited to single dedicated parts of a system and can be expanded to do any or all one might require. All this at a far less cost with software that is free and is compiled and not an interpreted language as most plc's currently use. This in a much much smaller package which can either be purchased pre-manufactured or as here built by the users themselves. PLC's have their place in industry where cost rarely is a factor but cannot for these reasons be implemented at a hobbiest level.
 
how much is a hobbyist willing to spend? I think upwards of $2500-3000 personally. I know people that have spent near that on projects that are, at best, incomplete and dont really do what was hoped for in the first place! I have the solution. I will be going public with my product within the next year. The figure above would be high end. I believe that I can satisfy most people for around $1100.00, what a bargain I say. Especially when it is all talking to each other to form a complete solution (to your specs) and it will be accessable via internet, and will text or email you with alarms (that are defineable).
 
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