My Neptune Apex web interface compatible DIY reef controller
- Thread starter d0ughb0y
- Start date
Moomin1967
New member
It is interesting that the worst bleaching events are not further north or south where visitations are very restricted or even prohibited. I can't imagine 6.5 million doses of sun protection can do the coral much good.
spookydooky
New member
I´m having some trouble with the orp sensor.
Both the pH and Cond is initalised but the orp failes every time.
I even bought a second sensor to be sure but it still does not work.
It seems to move on very quickly in the startprocess, it is like it doesn´t have anuff time to start.
It works fine with Atlas test schedule.
Is anyone els having problems with this?
Both the pH and Cond is initalised but the orp failes every time.
I even bought a second sensor to be sure but it still does not work.
It seems to move on very quickly in the startprocess, it is like it doesn´t have anuff time to start.
It works fine with Atlas test schedule.
Is anyone els having problems with this?
spookydooky
New member
It´s in I2C-mode and it´s active in the sketch.
I'm having trouble with the Doser and PWM Fan circuits - I can't get them to work. I've built a few and haven't gotten them to work yet...
For the doser circuit, one of the pump leads goes to PeristalticPump0 and the other would be 12v, right? I've been using a second 12v wall-wart power supply for the dosers/fans. So I have run a wire from the arduino ground to the 12v power supply ground. I've been re-reading this thread and a few on arduino.cc, but haven't been able to figure out where I went wrong. Any tricks for wiring the dosers that I may have been missing?
For the doser circuit, one of the pump leads goes to PeristalticPump0 and the other would be 12v, right? I've been using a second 12v wall-wart power supply for the dosers/fans. So I have run a wire from the arduino ground to the 12v power supply ground. I've been re-reading this thread and a few on arduino.cc, but haven't been able to figure out where I went wrong. Any tricks for wiring the dosers that I may have been missing?
d0ughb0y
Active member
The peristaltic pump circuit is common +12, and the PWM fan is common Gnd.
If you are going to use a different 12v supply for the doser, you connect the power supply gnd to arduino gnd, then the 12v to the diode on the transistor collector, then the pump connects to the same 12v and the transistor collector. It looks like you connected it right for the doser.
for the pwm fan, since it is common ground, you connect arduino gnd to the fan gnd, and the transistor collector to the fan 12v.
d0ughb0y
Active member
no pcb for the original controller. its all hand assembled on prototype board.
d0ughb0y
Active member
you can try running i2c at a slower rate.
I re-wired a test circuit for the peristaltic pump with all new components (transistor + diode), it ran fine for ~2 minutes last night but when I touched the BC338 it was hot. Then it stopped working entirely, I believe the BC338 transistor burned out. Have you had issues with the transistor overheating?
My test circuit used only one 12v power supply, the Vin pin for +12v, arduino ground, and pin 39 where I had it switch HIGH to LOW every 5 seconds. I've tried to set up a more controlled environment where I could test just one variable: the circuit.
My test circuit used only one 12v power supply, the Vin pin for +12v, arduino ground, and pin 39 where I had it switch HIGH to LOW every 5 seconds. I've tried to set up a more controlled environment where I could test just one variable: the circuit.
d0ughb0y
Active member
My Neptune Apex web interface compatible DIY reef controller
I think the transistor was not able to handle being ON for 2 minutes.
In my new design, I use the ULN2803 as the driver. You can use that instead. I think the original circuit does not work well. On my recent issue with the pump not working, it was due to the transistor as well.
I think the transistor was not able to handle being ON for 2 minutes.
In my new design, I use the ULN2803 as the driver. You can use that instead. I think the original circuit does not work well. On my recent issue with the pump not working, it was due to the transistor as well.
Last edited:
Got it - I'll pick up a couple ULN2803 chips in the next day or so and give that a shot.
I didn't see a schematic for the new design, do you have the wiring schematic for the ULN2803 portion somewhere?
I'll re-build and test the PWM fan circuit too so I can check if I am having a similar issue to the peristaltic pumps or if my circuit was just incorrect.
I didn't see a schematic for the new design, do you have the wiring schematic for the ULN2803 portion somewhere?
I'll re-build and test the PWM fan circuit too so I can check if I am having a similar issue to the peristaltic pumps or if my circuit was just incorrect.
d0ughb0y
Active member
it is just a straight connection from arduino pin to uln2803 input, then output to doser pump and a 12v to the other doser pump terminal.
for the pwm fan, I replaced the pnp transistor with a small p channel mosfet. I think the transistor circuit should be fine as long as you use a fan that requires a small current.
for the pwm fan, I replaced the pnp transistor with a small p channel mosfet. I think the transistor circuit should be fine as long as you use a fan that requires a small current.
I really appreciate the help, thanks!
So for the peristaltic circuit, the uln2803 replaces the 4.7k + 47k resistors and the diode + transistor, right? Since the diode + transistor are built in to the uln2803...
Current draw on the pwm fans should be a lot lower than the dosers so I'll make a new test circuit using the existing transistor circuit and see if I can get it to work.
So for the peristaltic circuit, the uln2803 replaces the 4.7k + 47k resistors and the diode + transistor, right? Since the diode + transistor are built in to the uln2803...
Current draw on the pwm fans should be a lot lower than the dosers so I'll make a new test circuit using the existing transistor circuit and see if I can get it to work.
PeterJohn48115
New member
Hi...i am a new user here. I think the circuit can still fit on 8cmx10cm by placing smaller components on the bottom layer and some creative component placement. or using 2 boards by separating the LDDs from the circuit, or just make it 5 channels max. I like everything in one board.
spookydooky
New member
Sorry for asking but how do I do that?
Which LCD's are people using. I've tried 3 so far and can not get it to display anything but black squares. I read about one of the displays I have on Amazon needing the address changed to 0x3f. I have everything running so far and working on the web. So it leads me to believe I am missing a setting. One of the LCD's is Arducam 1602 16x2 Serial HD44780 with IIC/I2C Serial Interface Adapter Module.
I figured it out and got it up and running.
Jerry what are you using for transistors in your fan power circuit in version 2? I can't quite make them out but looks like a 2n3904 (Q1) for the NPN and I can quite make out the PNP (Q2). Will these work on version 1 in place of the BC338 and BC328. It looks like they are obsolete. I can probable find them on the gray market (broker world). Then again I am trying to go all SMT parts except the connectors.
Thanks again for all you hard work, This is great!:thumbsup:
Jerry what are you using for transistors in your fan power circuit in version 2? I can't quite make them out but looks like a 2n3904 (Q1) for the NPN and I can quite make out the PNP (Q2). Will these work on version 1 in place of the BC338 and BC328. It looks like they are obsolete. I can probable find them on the gray market (broker world). Then again I am trying to go all SMT parts except the connectors.
Thanks again for all you hard work, This is great!:thumbsup:
Similar threads
