My DIY Automated Controller Build.

[BeanAnimal]

Originally Posted by hugorsf

Thanks!!!

This relay can do the job? Can y connect his realy directly to an arduino and switch on/off a 220v appliance like a pump?

Most uC pins can sink or source around around 20mA (some more some less). In most cases, we would rather sink current than source it. While 20mA is enough to drive a solid state relay and some mechanical relays, it is best practice to use a transistor to drive the relay and the uC to drive the transistor.

With a simple 5V microcontroller and the proper relay, you can easily control anything.

That said, your questions are very basic and indicate that you are new to electronics and/or basic electrical theory. If you have interest in building projects like this you should look into purchasing a basic electronics book and/or spending some time on basic electronics forums

[Vancouver Reefr]

Here is the diagram on how to do it:

http://www.arduino.cc/playground/upl...ing/relays.pdf

[currymuetze]

wow-amazing project.

I'm building sth similiar but gotta say, not nearly as professional or automized as yours.

Im facing some problems with the different power supplies I use: 3x 24v supplies for led lighting, 1-2 suppplies for 12v reefpumps, 9v supply for arduino.
Did you add caps and diodes to your circuits to protect your controller from errors and voltage peaks? Or how you making your controller working solid and safe?

Also, I would be interested in getting more info about the ph and salinity probes. This is gonna be the next addons I will need
Did you buy those in the US and do you know if they mail to Europe?
Gotta say all phprobes I saw are kinda expensive. Also, what exactly is the probe for salinity? I did not see anything on the websites you linked to? Are they named differently than salinity probe?

My major dought is about the control box for the pumps. How do you control a 220V appliance from the arduino? What component do you use?

If you are not really into electrics and do not feel save handling with high voltage, I can recommend to use wireless controlled power sockets such as these kinda things (dont know how they are called in the US):
http://src.discounto.de/pics/Angebot...-34166_xxl.jpg
I control the wireless controller via arduino to switch all my 230v devices on and off. You just need 5v and gnd and one digital out PIN to control 4 sockets. I bought alltogether 8 sockets and 2 controllers which gives me the opportunity to control a bunch of pumps, 2 heaters, the skimmer etc....
Let me know if you need more input.

Thorsten

[sendthis]

I wish I had found this a year earlier... I'm actually looking to do the same thing right now. I could have helped, but I guess this way, I can learn from you

I'm kind of curious, for your flood detector, what are you using? Sorry if you've already mentioned this, I went through your site and didn't see it (it might be in your posts on this thread somewhere and I missed it though).

I've actually been planning this for about 5 months and just recently started to make an actual plan. My first order of business is building my WC system - that's where the flood detection comes in.

Thanks,
Eric

[1RJ]

I just finished reading your webpage and WOW!!!! Thank you for being so thorough and sharing the information. I am an inspired admirer and have subscribed to see your finished project coming up. Where did you get your front panel printed. Very professional looking. Great job. I'm just starting to build my own controller - have the arduino uno controller and other parts are on the way. You have certainly raised the standard for the DIY reefer. Very professional! Thanks again.

[Vancouver Reefr]

I had the panel engraved at frontpanelexpress.com

Fantastic quality of workmanship and the free software download they give was very easy to use. It is expensive but im my opinion it was well worth it.

The Arduino is a great platform and im sure you will start upgrading once you get building. You soon run out of space when you start adding to your project.

It might not be long before i have to add a second Arduino Mega to mine as the future add ons i have planned will use up all of my I/O


VR

[Daemonfly]

Keep an eye out for the new Arduino Due which should be out in November sometime, and is ARM based (96MHz Cortex-M3). Perhaps it will fit in with your future plans better than a Mega, or perhaps it'll be overkill

[omartinez]

Great proyect...I'm almost ready to start my own proyect...

Where did you get that main plug-ings box?

[Vancouver Reefr]

DIY all the way omartinez !!!

[omartinez]

wow.....where did you build that? can you share the schematics, parts?

[qtfv]

Fantastic Job. I envisioned doing something similar but you have trully done an awesome job. Your webpage is great. Thanks for sharing. Hope to see more updates.

[WindowMaker]

can you shed some light on your serial powerbar? how does the switching mechanism on it work? Do you have any diagrams you could share? On that note, I see the front panels are done from FPE, what about the rest of the casings?

what are you using for ph and salinity probes?
I was able to find ph probes that use BNC for 20 ish dollars, but nothing much for salinity.

thanks, your project is an inspiration for sure.

[Vancouver Reefr]

Hi all,

Sorry for the delay, for those who have emailed me, i will get back to you in the coming weeks. Its been a crazy few months starting a new job, training etc and i will be moving across the country on Jan 1st. Once settled ill be able to give you all updates etc.

To answer some of your questions on here:

Im currently waiting to have the PCB's made up. The prototype boards you see in my website have proved the circuits run reliably so now i can proceed onto the PCBs.

The serial mains box has inside it a relay for each switched output. I have a data cable which comes from the Aquatroller which tells each relay to turn on/off. Each mains socket has an LED next to it which tells me if the signal is on the relay telling it to turn on. Each switch on the box is just there to quickly turn off the power to the mains socket for quick maintenance.

The main case i used for the Aquatroller is a rack mounted case which you would see in any IT server cabinet.

The Ph and salinity probes i will be using are from here:

http://www.nengshi.com/en/


They are fairly cheap, but they will only accept a money order for payment.

Stay Tuned Folks!

[WindowMaker]

was it the SDLS-0.5 model of conductivity probe that you purchased?

[okbishop]

Fantastic. Makes me want o get back into building systems. Would love to use the new chips.

[FoxDaddy]

Yeah it's ok, I built a similar system last weekend. Takes out the trash and brings in the paper too.

Seriously, the whole design is just ridiculous! Kudos!

[ReefRescue]

VR great job on the design and workmanship....are you still in Van or have you moved on....?

I am gonna build one of those for my next system. thanks for the post and the info..

RC Members wouldn't it be great if people read the entire post as opposed to just a page and ask questions that have been answered over and over again.

[pszemol]

Originally Posted by Vancouver Reefr

Probes are easy!!!

Heres a great place for probes:

http://www.made-in-china.com/showroo...catalog-1.html

Ph probes are $8.00 and Conductivity probes are $15.00

I have them and they work great!! Only problem is you have to wire transfer money to them which costs about $40

Hi, I have visited their website and they have many different models of the pH sensors available but not too much information on them... Which ones you tried? Do you know which one comes with a standard BNC connector at the end of the coax cable?

Thanks!

ps. great project - congrats!

[JAGarciaOfTroy]

To begin with... Just wow. I had the bright idea of using Arduino to build a smart Kalk stirrer and actually had the audacity to think I was innovative. Then I find this thread and now I feel more akin to the sign language gorilla from Congo. "tickle Amy! Tickle aaaaaamy".

I would love to basically just cut and paste your progress and build my own Aquacontroller, but I feel that it's best that I use you as a reference to learn how to do it myself. So I would like to ask you for a sort of bibliography of your sources. I want to learn the basics and really understand it.

That being said, what is a good guide to introduce the Arduino? I have ordered the Arduino Cookbook to begin with. Any other suggestions that would better flesh out the programming language? Also im very interested in building my own PCB board, I think thats what you called it. Did you use a specific program to model your circuit board? If so where can I find it along with a tutorial?

I would appreciate any input that would help set up a fundamental working understanding of how you evolved this amazing project. Thank you.

[currymuetze]

I like this guy and his videos: http://www.jeremyblum.com/category/arduino-tutorials/
Very detailled descriptions for both, electronics and coding
Take your time, each video is about 30 mins. Unfortunately hes only doing them once in a (very long) while

[currymuetze]

I like this guy and his videos: http://www.jeremyblum.com/category/arduino-tutorials/
Very detailled descriptions for both, electronics and coding
Take your time, each video is about 30 mins. Unfortunately hes only doing them once in a (very long) while

[WSPepsilon]

Great job, curious if you ever got around to setting up an automated salt dispenser. Been looking around for some ideas and there are surprisingly few available on this. Was thinking a side dispensing hopper with a motorized auger might work best.

Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk HD

[Vancouver Reefr]

Hi all,

So im finally installing the tank and Aquatroller. Hope to be getting wet in the next week or so. I have overhauled my journal website and added a build page of the aquarium install.

Hope you enjoy....

https://sites.google.com/site/richardorme1979/

[overexposed]

I was wondering what happened to this project!! Stumbled upon it when doing research for my tank build, and when I got to the end I was like.... did this guy ever finish? lol. Thanks for the update .

[Vancouver Reefr]

Yeah this has been a long road!!! Too long! But the usual changing job, changing house, new baby all got in the way! Its now my turn to play!!