Re-automating my tank
- Thread starter Donw
- Start date
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
A lot of the club members laugh at my "system" for a 75 in wall. Like Don, the "system" is as much of a hobby to me as the actual livestock.
Don where did you find the box to house the outlets and relays? I resorted to having an aluminum panel punched for single HUBBELL narrow yokes. The panel fits in the side of my NEMA enclosure that houses the relays and indicator logic.
Still not settled on full PC controll or using a small network of PIC based controllers. I am also still tempted to grab an ocelot and play around with it. I put a lot of time into designing the output circuits and logic (PC boards and all) and am hesitant to backtrack now.
Looks good so far!
Don where did you find the box to house the outlets and relays? I resorted to having an aluminum panel punched for single HUBBELL narrow yokes. The panel fits in the side of my NEMA enclosure that houses the relays and indicator logic.
Still not settled on full PC controll or using a small network of PIC based controllers. I am also still tempted to grab an ocelot and play around with it. I put a lot of time into designing the output circuits and logic (PC boards and all) and am hesitant to backtrack now.
Looks good so far!
You dont find them, I have them made, but thats going to be a sideline to help pay for this mess. I figured they would sell easily and pretty cheap. Waiting on the boss (wife) to get time to mess with my patent.
I think I'd stay far away from the whole pc based automation thing. Ive had some bad luck in the past, thats why I went to a stand alone system.
Don
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Yeah trusting a PC can be hard. I have an ATMEGA128 that I was going to play with, but I am to lazy to solder THAT MANY SMT pins to a board and to cheap to buy a ATEMGA dev board. I got some pretty powerfull PICs but am to cheap to buy the programmer for the 18F devices (about $180).
Right now I am woring on a PIC based current measurement package that will monitor all 24 of my outputs and log the power usage of each device. It is basically a set of 24 cheap current transformers, a bridge rectifier and buffer and a PIC to do the A/D. The output with be local LCD and RS485 to interface to whatever controller I end up with.
The prototype for the relay box looks good. Don't give the wife too much credit, otherwise she will be the one who spends the profits!
Right now I am woring on a PIC based current measurement package that will monitor all 24 of my outputs and log the power usage of each device. It is basically a set of 24 cheap current transformers, a bridge rectifier and buffer and a PIC to do the A/D. The output with be local LCD and RS485 to interface to whatever controller I end up with.
The prototype for the relay box looks good. Don't give the wife too much credit, otherwise she will be the one who spends the profits!
Looks great. I cant say I made mine. Its manufactured in a factory overseas. Everthing is mounted in a PCB, 8 15a with 15a circut protection. The db9's are also board mounted. It is UL listed and will hold a patent fairly soon. Will probably sell for about the price of 8 radio shack relays, so should be very affordable for what you get.
Don
Don
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
I have considered patenting or selling some of my stuff... I just don't have the time or energy. God knows after the time I have put into development, it would be nice to get some money though.
Don, I went a step further and added a push to reset type circuit breaker on each outlet. That however pushed the cost through the roof for my 8 channel units. Once I add the current sensing to each output, the price gets kind of silly. Ohh well, it is DIY, not a business venture
Don, I went a step further and added a push to reset type circuit breaker on each outlet. That however pushed the cost through the roof for my 8 channel units. Once I add the current sensing to each output, the price gets kind of silly. Ohh well, it is DIY, not a business venture
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
RON refresh my memory... what uC are you using... an ARM? or a MOTO?
ronc98
New member
mot, 68ch11F1. If I had to do it over I would have went with something that has flash program memory. Other then that minor wish it rocks I am very happy with it. The conductivity circuit I just finished testing makes this complete.
A patent is a good ideal however there is very little money to be made in this hobby. There are DIYer like us, there are the people that would blow money on anything name brand and there are the people that pinch every penny(much like the DIYers)
I have a patent thank god it is not for something in this hobby, I would never be able to make that money back.
A patent is a good ideal however there is very little money to be made in this hobby. There are DIYer like us, there are the people that would blow money on anything name brand and there are the people that pinch every penny(much like the DIYers)
I have a patent thank god it is not for something in this hobby, I would never be able to make that money back.
Its not about making a bunch of money. Its more about making things easier for people that have no diy skills. Not everyone wants to solder up relays. Ive seen so many just plain dangerous, fire hazard diy ATO's, funky switch panels and cheap power strips. This thing can be used for any of those without buying junk.
Don
Don
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Amen that that... Those "Show me your electric panel" threads make my teeth hurt. It is painful combination of dangerous practices and sloppy implementation that does it for me. I am not sure if the sheer disregard for electrical safety or the sloppy installations bother me more
I am a neat freak when it comes to wiring and labeling. Hell I have trouble routing circuit boards becaues I hate when they look ratsnesty...
Bean
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