redtop's Ferduino controller

[redtop03]

I know nothing about writing code for these DIY controllers but with a lot of help from the creator of the Ferduino, Fernando Garcia and in spite of the language barrier, with help from google translator and pestering the crap out of Fernando, I've managed to convert his code to read Fahrenheit instead of Celsius and get it to connect to the web....for some of you, that's probably not all that hard, for me is was a major accomplishment LOL

I've been using the Jarduino for a couple years now and it is working great for me but being the DIYer I am and wanting to learn more about these Arduino controllers, I wanted to tackle a much larger project, now I have 2 projects going with this and the Chauvet16 as well LOL

I've been messing with Fernando's code for a while now and decided I wanted to build a controller using his code, what I've found is that this code pretty much covers everything I could ever hope to have in a controller and much more, with the use of the Xively web site to monitor all the parameters and it even has a feature to monitor the power consumption of your reef tank....I'll save that feature for later but thought it was pretty cool since when I was using halide lighting my tank was power hungry LOL

I've been sourcing out all the components and trying to shop wisely and save as much as I could, most of the pieces have taken a while to get, a lot I'm still waiting on from all over the world, Amazon had some pieces, the rest are from Ebay

I found a nice looking project case on Amazon and thought it would hold most of the controller brains, the relays to operate the pumps and whatnot as well as the LEDs will be connected using the DB9 serial cables and remotely mounted....

I'll be using the 3.5mm stereo headphone connectors for all the float sensors, temperature probes, and the PWM control for the Jebao pumps, I'm still waiting on the stereo connectors and once I have those, as with everything else so far, I made need more stuff to make them work LOL

I'll try to explain more about what I'm doing with photos as I progress, since this is nowhere near finished and is just a pile of wires and flashing LEDs at the moment, though I do already have it communicating with Xively

pics to come later

[redtop03]

and now for a few pics











the last few pics are subject to change, I really don't know yet how I'll have to mount the 3.5mm connectors so I may have to redo the pH circuitry to accommodate everything else

[wgraham]

What all is in that stack

[caribbeanguy]

looks good!! you got a lot of stuff going on in there do you have a break down of everything in the build?

[redtop03]

Originally Posted by wgraham

What all is in that stack

the Arduino on the bottom, the Ethernet shield next, a proto board next to connect all the wiring to, which had to be trimmed to fit around the Ethernet port, and the LCD shield on top...

I'll post pics of everything taken apart later and show more detail of what's going on in there...I was just so excited to finally get it working I wanted to start a thread and post a few quick pics LOL

[redtop03]

Originally Posted by caribbeanguy

looks good!! you got a lot of stuff going on in there do you have a break down of everything in the build?

thank you, no not yet on the parts break down but I will post everything in greater detail later, hopefully supplying links to all the parts

[redtop03]

since this was the last piece I ordered, I still have a link for it, the Ethernet shield.....

I liked that it was a full shield and made specifically for the mega2560 board, it has a small proto section for connecting other things to it...once I had the correct IP addresses in the code, Xively connected to it instantly, very easy with the Ferduino code



http://www.ebay.com/itm/181229572768...84.m1439.l2649

[redtop03]

I don't know if anybody noticed in the first pic but the display screen is cracked, ol' fumble fingers dropped it taking it out of the box and cracked the screen, I have a replacement ordered but the crack doesn't seem to be hindering it's operation any

I'll keep it around for experimenting with but don't really trust it long term with my controller

[wgraham]

what pins do the Ethernet shield uses, because I thought the LCD uses the same pins

[redtop03]

I'll try to do a parts break down here since I've relocated most of the links

the Ethernet shield : http://www.ebay.com/itm/181229572768...84.m1439.l2649

the TFT LCD 3.2WD screen here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/221343348573...84.m1439.l2649

the screen shield here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321347794446...84.m1439.l2649

the RTC here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/221403480973...84.m1439.l2649

the proto board here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

relay board here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

the project case here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

pH stamp here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and because I tried to DIY this but mine looks like crap compared to these,
I will likely get the Atlas single component board for my pH stamp here: https://www.atlas-scientific.com/pro...e-carrier.html

or I may get this instead so I can upgrade as I need it to use the ORP and Density features as well as the 2nd pH stamp: https://www.atlas-scientific.com/pro...t-carrier.html

I don't run a Ca Rx, yet, but with another pH circuit, I can control the CO2 with this controller to keep it's pH in check

all the connectors and cables are coming from Amazon and Ebay as well, just do a search for DB9 serial straight through cables and chassis mounts connectors, you'll find everything you need,same for the 3.5mm stereo connectors....

if the DB9 ain't enough wires(9 wires), they make a DB15(15 wires) and DB25(25 wires) as well...I may end up having to use one or the other of those as well

and Fernando's code is here: https://github.com/fernandogarcia I used the English version

[redtop03]

Originally Posted by wgraham

what pins do the Ethernet shield uses, because I thought the LCD uses the same pins

I figured it would be easier to post that section of the code than for me to try and remember it......all of these side note comments where written in Portuguese when I started this, I used google translator to convert to English so I could hopefully understand what does what here, it's been a long task LOL

// Pins 0 and 1 reserved for serial port 0.
const byte alarmPin = 0; // Pin to trigger alarm
const byte desativarFanPin = 1; // Pin that disables the fan.
// Pin 2 reserved for the INT RFM12B.
// Pins 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 reserved for the Touch.
// Pin 5 is also the chip select the SD card.
const byte ledPinUV = 8; // Pin violet LEDs
const byte ledPinGreen = 9; // Pin green LEDs
const byte ledPinWhite = 10; // Pin white LEDs
const byte ledPinRoyBlue = 11; // Pin blue LEDs
const byte ledPinRed = 12; // Pin red LEDs
const byte fanPin = 13; // Pin that controls the fan speed Heatsink
// 14 & 15 pins reserved for serial port 3 that communicates with the "Stamps"
const byte multiplexadorS0Pin = 16; // Pin S0 control of stamps
const byte multiplexadorS1Pin = 17; // Pin S1 control of stamps
// 18 & 19 pins reserved for the RTC.
// 20 & 21 pins reserved for the PCF8575 I2C communication.
// Pins 22 ~ 41 reserved for LCD.
const byte aquecedorPin = 42; // Pin heater
const byte chillerPin = 43; // Pin chiller
const byte ledPinMoon = 44; // Pin moon light
const byte wavemaker1 = 45; // Pin wavemaker 1
const byte wavemaker2 = 46; // Pin wavemaker 2
const byte ozonizadorPin = 47; // Pin ozone
const byte reatorPin = 48; // Pin calcium reactor
const byte sensoresPin = 49; // Pin one wire temperature sensors
// Pins 50, 51, & 52 reserved for SPI communication
// Pin 53 reserved for "slave select the ethernet shield.
const int sensor1 = A0; // Analog pin that checks for voltage from the saltwater mixing tank float. // for the auto water change
const int sensor2 = A1; // Analog pin that checks for voltage at the bottom of the sump float. for the auto water change
const int sensor3 = A2; // Analog pin that checks for voltage at the top of the sump float. for the auto water change
const int sensor4 = A3; // Analog pin that checks for voltage at the reservoir float. // for the ATO container
const int sensor5 = A4; // Analog pin that checks the level of the reef tank. // for the ATO
const int sensor6 = A5; // Analog pin that checks the level of the quarantine. // for the ATO
const int bomba1Pin = 80; // Pump that draws water from saltwater mixing tank....these pumps for the automatic water change system
const int bomba2Pin = 81; // Pump that draws water from the sump........these pumps for the automatic water change system
const int bomba3Pin = 82; // Pump that draws water from the reservoir to put in the sump......these pumps for the automatic water change system
const int dosadora1 = 83; // Dosing pump 1
const int dosadora2 = 84; // Dosing pump 2
const int dosadora3 = 85; // Dosing pump 3
const int dosadora4 = A12; // Dosing pump 4
const int dosadora5 = A13; // Dosing pump 5
const int dosadora6 = A14; // Dosing pump 6
// Pin A15 reserved for SS RFM12B
///**************** PCF8575TS **********************************
const byte temporizador1 = A6; // P0 // Pin for timer 1.
const byte temporizador2 = A7; // P1 // Pin for timer 2.
const byte temporizador3 = A8; // P2 // Pin for timer 3.
const byte temporizador4 = A9; // P3 // Pin for timer 4.
const byte temporizador5 = A10; // P4 // Pin for timer 5.
const byte solenoide1Pin = A11; // P5 // Connects to CO2 tank for Ca Rx.

since I don't have the PFC8575 yet, and may not use the dosing system or the auto water change system anyway, I switched around some of the pins, you'll notice that at the bottom that some of the pins are out of order

[redtop03]

Fernando has used about every available pin on the mega for this, and then used the PFC8575 for even more LOL

[redtop03]

Fernando just emailed my some awesome news about his Ferduino build, as soon as he gives me the OK, I'll post pics of it too, but he and a couple other guys are working on a web based control for all this, the pics of the screen shots look awesome

[caribbeanguy]

nice would surely be interested in seeing that. Can this be modified for any lighting type? Not sure I am moving to Leds as yet.

[redtop03]

Originally Posted by caribbeanguy

nice would surely be interested in seeing that. Can this be modified for any lighting type? Not sure I am moving to Leds as yet.

he has the timers 1 through 5 that can be programed to turn other things on and off at specific times, they will work with any lighting system as well, the LED stuff is only for LEDs though...

I renamed the timers to what I have on the screen, under the LED bar graph, return, skimmer,cl pump, etc....they were named timer 1, timer 2, and so on

[redtop03]

Originally Posted by caribbeanguy

nice would surely be interested in seeing that. Can this be modified for any lighting type? Not sure I am moving to Leds as yet.

Originally Posted by redtop03

he has the timers 1 through 5 that can be programed to turn other things on and off at specific times, they will work with any lighting system as well, the LED stuff is only for LEDs though...

I renamed the timers to what I have on the screen, under the LED bar graph, return, skimmer,cl pump, etc....they were named timer 1, timer 2, and so on

actually, the PWM LED channels could be rewritten to be on or off and used with relays to turn any light on and off but you wouldn't have the dimming capabilities with that

[redtop03]

hopefully this will work for my power strip cause I just ordered it

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

it has a 5v USB charging system built into it so it already has power for my relay module, plus the switches light up blue

[caribbeanguy]

hey thanks for the break downs and such really appreciate your sharing this knowledge!!

[redtop03]

Originally Posted by caribbeanguy

hey thanks for the break downs and such really appreciate your sharing this knowledge!!

you're very welcome,

I've always been pretty good at following directions for wiring things up, but the knowledge for all of this is from much greater brains than mine, these guys who write the code deserve the credit and the thank you's for their hard work...

people like Doughboy with the Chauvet16, Jamie with the Jarduino, and Fernando with the Ferduino, and there's probable a half dozen or so more projects like this out there, but these guys are few and far between.....

you take only a handful of electronic geniuses in this big ol' world, then only a fraction of them are into reefing, electronic and computer savvy minded brains like these guys have are scarce in our hobby...

I've found out that the best way to learn this stuff is to jump in head first and see what happens....I have been reading ""Arduino for dummies"" trying to get a better understanding of what's going on within these codes, it is still way over my head but I am learning a little each day

and I've probable already spent enough on all of this Arduino stuff to buy a fully equipped Neptune Apex, but where's the fun in that LOL this is just another hobby for me and I love doing stuff like this and learning as I go and hopefully keeping the Alzheimer disease away

[fefegarcia1]

Originally Posted by redtop03

Fernando just emailed my some awesome news about his Ferduino build, as soon as he gives me the OK, I'll post pics of it too, but he and a couple other guys are working on a web based control for all this, the pics of the screen shots look awesome

Hi!

We have much work to do yet but soon we'll release an alpha version to tests.

Some pics.









Thank you Willie by show your controller.

Best regards.

Fernando Garcia

[redtop03]

Originally Posted by fefegarcia1

Thank you Willie by show your controller.

Best regards.

Fernando Garcia

it's my pleasure Fernando, thank you for all the hard work you've put into this

[redtop03]

got my new screen and a new shield for it in yesterday and got it all mounted in there and it looks the same, minus the crack in the screen LOL

got some diodes I had ordered and still waiting on a few other items for the LED fan control circuits, and still waiting on more connectors for the temp probes and float sensors, once I have all of that stuff, I'll tear it back apart and start snapping pics of everything and hopefully explain it all a little better as I build it back.....

while changing out the LCD screen, I noticed that I have wired my DB9 connectors to the wrong pins, luckily I hadn't connected anything to them and no harm came of anything LOL I redid all of that while I was in there too...

I built all that after staying up all night working with it, mistakes were bound to be made...while soldering my wires to the proto board, I was looking at it upside down and connecting to pins on the opposite side of the board not taken into consideration that the proto board would be flipped over once it was done LOL

few words of advice

don't ever assume you have anything wired correctly with this stuff, check, double check, and triple check everything, make absolutely positive you have everything correct before powering anything up, and it a great idea to check all your circuits for continuity and for shorts, it's easier to fix something while you're building than after it is completely assembled

[fefegarcia1]

Hi!

Here a step by step to install the code.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=462cOcKuG38

Best regards

[redtop03]

Originally Posted by fefegarcia1

Hi!

Here a step by step to install the code.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=462cOcKuG38

Best regards

that is a great video Fernando, I tried several times to load your code and until I watched that video, I couldn't LOL

I had the libraries all in the wrong place but following your video, it's really easy

[redtop03]

I managed to get a few more assembly items finished the last few days, I got my 9 channel power center relays installed, and it wasn't as easy as I hoped it would be.....

instead of having wiring to and from each switch and outlet, they used circuit boards to clean up the design and simplify wiring, I had to remove both circuit boards so the relay pack would fit in there, it's a snug fit but it does fit, and it works great....

I wouldn't recommend this unit for this purpose, and actually wouldn't recommend it for it's intended purpose, it has a 15 amp rating but the few wires it had inside were no more than a 16 gauge, the wiring to power the switch lights was even smaller, it is wired with 14 gauge now and a couple wires are 12 gauge, I ran outta 14ga. and since it's power cord looks like a standard PC cord, I'll add a longer, heavier duty cord to that as well

on with a few pics

the finished project



few of the guts