redtop's Ferduino controller

[fefegarcia1]

Fernando, does this circuit allow the LEDs to be dimmed from 100% to 0 % via the PWM channel of the Arduino ?

I purchased a cheap standard LED driver that can be dimmed with a normal home incandescent light dimmer connected to it's AC input lines, I was thinking of using it for my sump lighting and just use a timer to control it on and off and just set the intensity to a optimal output for Chaeto growth but if there's a way to make it dimmable with the Arduino PWM, I'd much rather do it that way

Hi!

Yes, but without LED driver haven't current control.

Best regards.
Fernando Garcia

 

[fefegarcia1]

Willie, that didnt work. It appears that I can use pin 2 and up, but it wont let me use either pin 1 or pin 0. I can use pin 2 but I am wondering why this would be the case.

Try remove Serial.begin(38400) on setup().

On this case you need of jumper to disconnect the probe before of send a code.

 

[fefegarcia1]

tried to upload the sketch again and I get error on bottom avrdude: stk500v2_ReceiveMessage(): timeout any idea what that means I will be goggling it so back later

It seems a problem of sketch size.
The maximum size is approximately 246 kB.

 

[fefegarcia1]

Fernando is there some thing is Ferduino code I have to turn on to make 1 ph probe work I am using atlas ph stamp 4.0 I am using it on a different stamp board that was made for a different project that never got off the ground. So I am not sure his board is good but with power applied I get reading of 5v all the was to the BNC connection for the probe

Try this: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/F..._Portuguese/master/Exemplos/Testar stamps.txt

 

[fefegarcia1]

Here's some new features for Joy Reef that will be available on next update of Ferduino:

 

[rott]

Try this: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/F..._Portuguese/master/Exemplos/Testar stamps.txt

I used this on my test arduino and it worked with my stamps and probes I have a DIY 4 stamp board with mux chip used 2 ph stamps (y0 ,y1) both worked fine and I tested my conductivity chip with out a probe but I did receive back numbers and the led on the chip lit up like it was transmitting so I think it went well just have to transfer it back over to my Ferduino setup now

 

[rott]

RedTop do you use a extension cable from tft to Lcd? I have an 8" one and it is affecting the colors on my screen. still usable just makes every thing really dark colors

 

[reef_republic]

Hello Redtop. Fantastic build!

I would also like to say Ola to Fernando!

I will be building one of these soon, I have seen your post both here and on ferduino.com forum.

I am staggered by the fact that I wanted to modify jarduino to perform pretty much everything Fernando and you have both done, which begins with ATO, auto WC etc, and ends with a large 7" LCD.

You guys are amazing. Ferduino is brilliant.
I am just awaiting my acceptance to the forum on Ferduino, until then would you be happy to help me either in this post or via PM with a few details and just to clarify some things for me?

Firstly, I am a little confused about the LCD shield with all the resistors and button battery holder.

What is this board? Why all the resistors? I will be getting the white one like you have, I wondered if the previous board had an RTC built in?

Thanks again!

Jay

 

[reef_republic]

OK. I have figured most of that out.

I am about to order the Sainsmart 2560 with TFT shield and the 7" LCD.
Could you help me clarify a few things?

Firstly, The sainsmart TFT shield has a built in SD card but no RTC. Am I ok to use a simple RTC module like you used connected to the I2C bus?

Secondly, The only ethernet modules I can find are half-sized/UNO sized layout, so lots of pins would need joining between the Arduino and the TFT shield if I placed the ethernet module between them both.

The solution I came up with was to use a remote ethernet module (link here)

This ethernet module has no SD reader, which is obviously a problem, so can I use the SD reader on the sainsmart TFT shield seeing as there will no longer be a conflict?

That way I could just change the code to use the 'four pins' on the TFT shield which generally need disconnecting, instead of accessing it on the ethernet shield.

Are you able to help with this?

If you can answer this for me I will be well on my way!

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

PS. Sorry for highjacking your thread!

Jay

 

[rott]

1) you should be ok using the same RTC from Fernando's build and redtops build if you haven't been there yet go to http://ferduino.com/

2) use the 5100 Ethernet go here and see the post http://www.ferduino.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=82

if you have more questions please ask some one will help you

 

[reef_republic]

Thank you Rott. Many of your contributions in this thread have already helped me along the way.

I am concerned that I will buy the wrong stuff. I know I can pretty much use any 2560 clone.
On Ebay I can get a sainsmart 2560 + LCD board + 5" or 7" display.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SainSmart...?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item1c3f310d73

I have learned that some versions of the sainsmart LCD interface board have errors in the tracks connecting the SD reader to the Mega. CLK and MOSI are the wrong way around.
This is a simple fix, but something that is one of those stupid, doesn't need to be there kinda bugs.

I wonder if I should skip the sainsmart LCD interface board and get the same white silk-screen version Redtop used.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TFT-3-2-4...ther_Computing_Networking&hash=item3f37bfacf8

I need to establish if they are all universal with the TFT's and the onboard SD readers, I assume they all use the same pins?

I also notice some have SDRAM for fonts etc, is it a requirement, and if not, does it matter if it is present?

I know I am likely reading too much in to all of this, which is why in about 10 seconds I will probably buy the above anyway, and face the pitfalls after, otherwise I will never start!

I don't want to highjack anybodies thread but I don't really know how to start a thread of my own while I am just getting my head around the basic parts I need.

Once I have ordered those three items, they will be here in a couple days, and ferduino 7.0 Eng will be uploaded, I do want everything up to that point to be pretty much 'out of the box' as the cost of getting it wrong is too high at 65.00 GBP for the Mega, lcd Interface board and the 7" TFT bundle.

I wont concern myself with getting the RTC or ethernet wrong as they can be used elsewhere, already a few arduino's knocking around the home doing various tasks which could benefit from some net, but what would I do with a 7" lcd and mega, other than load ferduino onto it, i don't know haha, but yes, I will use the ones they recommend.

I may await your response, I may just hit the buy it now button...

 

[keithbc]

Hi Marspeed
Any chance of sharing the layout file of your screw shield, I'm in South Africa and shipping it here would be a nightmare.
Thanks

 

[redtop03]

ohnobrowncow, the TFT shield that comes with the mega and 7 inch screen will work as is but if you want to use the IDE cable between the shield and screen, you're gonna need the white shield
The SD card reader on the back of the screen will work but it does require some changes, check out the ferduino forum for more information on the SD card stuff

 

[redtop03]

Hello Redtop. Fantastic build!

I would also like to say Ola to Fernando!

I will be building one of these soon, I have seen your post both here and on ferduino.com forum.

I am staggered by the fact that I wanted to modify jarduino to perform pretty much everything Fernando and you have both done, which begins with ATO, auto WC etc, and ends with a large 7" LCD.

You guys are amazing. Ferduino is brilliant.
I am just awaiting my acceptance to the forum on Ferduino, until then would you be happy to help me either in this post or via PM with a few details and just to clarify some things for me?

Firstly, I am a little confused about the LCD shield with all the resistors and button battery holder.

What is this board? Why all the resistors? I will be getting the white one like you have, I wondered if the previous board had an RTC built in?

Thanks again!

Jay

This is all Fernandos work, I just up sized it and couldn't have done that without Fernandos help,

This is an awesome controller

 

[keithbc]

Hi Redtopi
I have a Jarduino, but after reading this whole topic am going to build a Ferduino, what a great controller this is. I would just like to ask if I would be able to use your 7" code but change it back to Celsius with limited programing knowledge.
Thanks

 

[redtop03]

Hi Redtopi
I have a Jarduino, but after reading this whole topic am going to build a Ferduino, what a great controller this is. I would just like to ask if I would be able to use your 7" code but change it back to Celsius with limited programing knowledge.
Thanks

yes, it will be easy to change back to Celsius, some of the guys across the big pond have already changed it back for their controllers

I actually left that all in place in the code and all you'd need to do is comment out the Fahrenheit stuff and uncomment the Celsius stuff

changing the clock display back to 24hr instead of 12hr is fairly easy too

once you get ready to build yours, message me or give me a shout here, I'll point you in the right direction if you need help with it

 

[keithbc]

yes, it will be easy to change back to Celsius, some of the guys across the big pond have already changed it back for their controllers

I actually left that all in place in the code and all you'd need to do is comment out the Fahrenheit stuff and uncomment the Celsius stuff

changing the clock display back to 24hr instead of 12hr is fairly easy too

once you get ready to build yours, message me or give me a shout here, I'll point you in the right direction if you need help with it

Thank you, have ordered the hardware, but our postal service is on strike again, so may be months before I get it. Will keep on following topic and keeping upto date.

 

[rott]

Redtop are you going to run more than one atlas chip I plan on running 3.. 2 Ph and one for salinity. just got to figure out what I am going to do as far as a board to run them all on

 

[redtop03]

Redtop are you going to run more than one atlas chip I plan on running 3.. 2 Ph and one for salinity. just got to figure out what I am going to do as far as a board to run them all on

I don't really know yet rott, I've never actually added my pH stamp yet...kinda lost interest after the up scaling and started up sizing a few other codes LOL

I'll get back on this one soon though

 

[rott]

ok I will have to this figured out