Who wants a cheap, simple, Arduino-based LED controller?

[mm.reefs]

Is it correct that this controller doesnt support the "standard" arduino shields? I think thats a pity... I know that this design is supposed to be simple and cheap but some additional holes for some optional shield headers would add virtually no cost. The shield headers could be mounted on the backside if the pin layout is inverted. Is this possible (for me or someone else) to add this to the design, or is any of the critical "shield-pins" already occupied for other use on the Typhon board?

I had the same idea last year about inserting the Arduino "œstack" pins to the Typhon. As per DWMZ, the concept of the Typhon was to have a simple PWM controller that does not depend on other things (like an Arduino board) to work. Anyway I thought that it would be fun to tweak it.

Back then I not knew a thing about working with Eagle. I thought that Typhon was simple enough to learn Eagle with, also it was complex enough to challenge me. After some weeks learning Eagle and rearranging components I came up with what I called a Typhon/S ("œStackable or Shield"). It is a Typhon without processor and with all the "œstack" pins to plug it on top of the regular Arduino board. The first version of it had some minor bugs (buttons order) and that is why I did not post any information about it, but it is fully functional and compatible with Typhon firmware. I have some spare pcb's of these somewhere. if Pny or someone is interested just send me a PM.

I did not stop there and this year I have been working with another version, the Typhon/E (Extended). In this pcb I decided to go all the way extending the Typhon. Some of the big changes are: Arduino "œstack" pins, 6 PWM output channels, brick style pins for all Arduino I/O's, and the use of MCP23008 to control the LCD (adopted from project "œHydra"). My intention for it is to have a full development platform and be able to use other Arduino third party shields/bricks available in the market, adapting them for many things like temperature control, dosing pump control, alarm monitors, Ph monitor/control, etc. Last week I received the first batch of pcb's of the Typhon/E and soon I will adapt the Typhon firmware to it. Later I will post more information about it.

Cheers!

 

[jadette]

Not sure if I missed this, but is everyone using 12V wall warts for the power supply?

 

[Pny]

I had the same idea last year about inserting the Arduino “stack” pins to the Typhon. As per DWMZ, the concept of the Typhon was to have a simple PWM controller that does not depend on other things (like an Arduino board) to work. Anyway I thought that it would be fun to tweak it.

Back then I not knew a thing about working with Eagle. I thought that Typhon was simple enough to learn Eagle with, also it was complex enough to challenge me. After some weeks learning Eagle and rearranging components I came up with what I called a Typhon/S (“Stackable or Shield”). It is a Typhon without processor and with all the “stack” pins to plug it on top of the regular Arduino board. The first version of it had some minor bugs (buttons order) and that is why I did not post any information about it, but it is fully functional and compatible with Typhon firmware. I have some spare pcb’s of these somewhere. if Pny or someone is interested just send me a PM.

I did not stop there and this year I have been working with another version, the Typhon/E (Extended). In this pcb I decided to go all the way extending the Typhon. Some of the big changes are: Arduino “stack” pins, 6 PWM output channels, brick style pins for all Arduino I/O's, and the use of MCP23008 to control the LCD (adopted from project “Hydra”). My intention for it is to have a full development platform and be able to use other Arduino third party shields/bricks available in the market, adapting them for many things like temperature control, dosing pump control, alarm monitors, Ph monitor/control, etc. Last week I received the first batch of pcb’s of the Typhon/E and soon I will adapt the Typhon firmware to it. Later I will post more information about it.

Cheers!

It would be very interesting to see the eagle files of the Typhon-shield if you don't mind sharing them... I've also been thinking in terms of adapting the MCP23008-design to free some pins on the controller... (But I'm only been learning Eagle for a few days yet)... I'm not trying to turn it into an "Hydra" but some temperature and fan supervision would be nice additions even to an very basic LED controller to keep the LEDs alive even if some other component fails...

 

[mm.reefs]

It would be very interesting to see the eagle files of the Typhon-shield if you don't mind sharing them... I've also been thinking in terms of adapting the MCP23008-design to free some pins on the controller... (But I'm only been learning Eagle for a few days yet)... I'm not trying to turn it into an "Hydra" but some temperature and fan supervision would be nice additions even to an very basic LED controller to keep the LEDs alive even if some other component fails...

You are right about the Typhon/E. The spare I/O's can extends the regular Typhon functionality, filling a gap between this and a Hydra. Your idea to provide temperture probes to monitor the LED's is a very good one.

As soon I test the protopype pcb's, adapt the regular Typhon firmware and see that it is working fine and stable I will post all the files here. This should take me a couple of weeks more. Stay tuned!!!

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

I am really excited to see continued interest in the Typhon despite the fact that I disappeared for several months. To clarify, the license is Creative Commons 3.0 BY-NC-SA. Don't be intimidated by the name, click the link and check it out, it's explained in pretty easy terms.

Regarding shield compatibility, I am excited to see people like mm.reefs working on that, but it definitely didn't fit the original goals. I wanted something compact and as simple as possible. That meant no I/O chips (no room on the board with it still all fitting under the LCD) and no shield headers (all the I/O on the proc is used up anyways).

If people want a shield-compatible Typhon, you always have the option of building a Hydra without the pH and Ethernet hardware. It's totally compatible otherwise, and has shield headers.

Another option for expansion are the serial ("FTDI") and I2C headers on the top edge of the board. That is what I had originally intended for expansion if people wanted more I/O, sensors, or other additional hardware. I2C, especially, opens up a whole world of possibilities. I like this approach vs. switching the LCD to an I/O chip because it keeps the core software compatible: if you expand via I2C, you can still use every bit in the official firmware, with a few lines added for your new hardware. If you expand via swapping the LCD to an I/O chip and using the AVR's I/O for other functions, you're gonna have to rewrite at least some of the core firmware...

At any rate, I'm really happy to see these recent efforts even if they don't fall totally inline with my original design. That's half the fun of open source projects, seeing them go in directions you didn't originally plan for.

 

[TheFishMan65]

Welcome home!!!!

I hope all is going well. Glad your back.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Thanks. Things are going well but still settling down a bit. I won't be nearly as active as I used to be, at least for the next few weeks, but I am definitely getting back into the swing of things.

 

[mm.reefs]

Welcome DWZM! I'm happy to see you back and hope all is going ok for you!!!

<O</OThe Typhon/E is more of a personal project that I wanted to share. As I said before, I see it as a development platform for many applications I have in mind. With all the easy Arduino examples in the Web, available third party "œbricks", etc. that use regular I/O's, it was appealing for me to free up some more I/O's to test/integrate many of these options.

<O</ODefinitely the Typhon/E don't replace the original. The Typhon is inexpensive, reliable and compact... a true workhorse!!! I have built some for fellow reefers and myself. I will continue building and supporting it. Also, I think is not right to hijack this thread with Typhon/E discussion. That may confuse readers. Another alternative will be done for this.

Cheers!

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

mm, no worries. Just pointing out the differences in the approaches, not trying to promote one over the other. I think your /E project is very worthwhile indeed.

 

[b16drag]

Lots of cool progress! Looking forward to see this Typhon/E -- sucks cuz I just finished building the regular one! Oh well!

What is everyone using for their enclosures? I'm bit hesitant leaving this thing just open to the elements like this...

 

[Megablue]

Hello, this is my first message here after 3 years on the forum!
I have an modified typhon done with a friend, with in mind to use them on small salt water/ soft water tank. The original was based on a standard arduino but the typhon lowered the total cost, so with a few change we have done the new version.
We added 2 temperature control, with two channel for relay (one can be used has pwm for a fan with some more hardware). Buttons were changed to a one wire, and the pcb can be cut to deport them. On the same pcb, we added a relay and a 8bit extension. Total hardware cost is less than $30.
The code isn't totaly finished but the final include the led control (with a 'demo mode' for fun and a moonlight with 1 to 4 channel) and optional functions:
water filling with 1 to 3 float switch
temperature 1 with pwm/relay control (lm35)
temperature 2 with pwm/relay control (lm35)
and may be relay to stop pump for feeding, and relay to stop primary pump if water is too low (with another float switch).

 

[shark boy]

Programming problems

Programming problems

I must be missing something here. I load the libaries and the typhon file, hit compile and I get these errors. I can fix encoding and reload, then compile it and I get it to upload but I'm pretty sure I'm missing funtions. Anyone else have this problem? I could use a little help here.

Thanks

 

[shark boy]

I got part of the problem fixed. I was using ver Arduino 0020. It doesn't like the code.
Ver 0018 works with the downloadable code that I have. I still don't get the date, I only get the time.


One more problem.... Could someone point me in the right direction for changing the programming to do a buck/boost type of driver. I have the Recon RCD-24-1.00/W/X3 drivers. they go 5v-0v instead of 0v-5v, so when the program says they are off they are really on 100%.

:deadhorse:
Shark boy

 

[sammy113]

Hi peeps, I'm still having issues with the Typhon. Othern than I accidentally broke two header pins cause I never got a case for it and seems like the salty environment damaged them a bit and removing them broke channel 2 and 4. So I had problems with channel 3 being direct at 100% or close. I had to unplug the driver cause otherwise it will be On even if the Typhon says 0%. Now the channel 1 is flickering while being at 0%
Here's what it is doing:

any idea to fix this? BTW, I did tried reprogramming it but doesn't seem to work

 

[shark boy]

broken pins

broken pins

Sammy113,
I would try totally removing power from the unit including the battery, taking some alcohol and cleaning the whole board. Maybe try scrubbing it with a toothbrush and alcohol letting it dry and reprogramming it. You probably have salt acting as a conductor shorting part of the unit.
After cleaning it up try measuring voltage to the pins that are broken. Maybe you can get those channels back as well.

Shark boy

 

[sammy113]

what the f...?

http://www.boostled.com/products/typhon-led-controller-kit

 

[liquidarts]

As far as I remember from pg27 DWZM said it was CC By-NC-SA 3.0

Which translates too:

Under the following conditions:

• Attribution — You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).
  Attribute this work:
  What does "Attribute this work" mean?
  The page you came from contained embedded licensing metadata, including how the creator wishes to be attributed for re-use. You can use the HTML here to cite the work. Doing so will also include metadata on your page so that others can find the original work as well.
• Noncommercial — You may not use this work for commercial purposes.
• Share Alike — If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you may distribute the resulting work only under the same or similar license to this one.

With the understanding that:

• Waiver — Any of the above conditions can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder.

Lets hope they got the permission ...lol

 

[sammy113]

yeah they got it. There are credits for him in the description. I was just surprized but I'm very happy for DWZM cause he has put a lot of effort into this. Its great to have a company interested in it and distribute it
Now there is Typhon for everyone! even the electronic dumbs like me :lol:

 

[liquidarts]

Coolbeans......yes it is a great thing having a company interested.Would be even beter if they packaged it for ya.....was thinking of doing the same thing too kinda....building the drivers and typhoon w/ enclosure n being a distributor for the LFS here in Co.Spgs.....

There is no such thing as a dummy...just under-educated....if it wasn't for everyone here and the arduino i would have completely lost my c++ ability after 10yrs of not doing it.But now they all got me back into it along with using the Eagle program....thx u guys.

 

[Bezz]

Now if only they would also sell a completed Hydra