Hello From France

[Idefixes]

Hi all,
I cam on Robot-tank after searching a way to control a multiled chanel Led diy fixture. I am praticing Reef hobby for a while (30 year with long nothing periode). By the past i use arduino for such project....
I have to move from house to appartement next year so i plane a new tank (about 400L).

Marc

[Rob F]

Hi Marc, that's for stopping in and all the best with your upcoming new tank, that should be fun. This would be similar to your Arduino project except it's using the Raspberry Pi and running the open source reef-pi software. I'm guessing your lights use 0-5v PWM, if so it would connect directly to the controller, as it comes it has 8 channels which can be set for 0-5v or 0-10v PWM or analog signal. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

[Idefixes]

Hi Rob,
I am have poor experience on Raspberry. The less i have is do to 3D printing (Octoprint/Klipper installation), but with all the support i think that'possible. Yes my DIY ligth is base on 0-5V pwm (Meanwell LDD driver). I design my own 8 LDD plate. I amp able to assign any LDD to any off the six channel i want to manage. Thee LED bulb i use are most multichip : 30W 10-15k and 25 custom led on my spec. (picture above)





The latest plate i build....i won't use these as the project change.



First tests i achieve with one module over 4







I will without doubt need your help....So for the new tank, robo-tank deluxe seems to me the best option as it is realy adptable. I have a spare RPI3B. The only concern is the ORP reading (for maybe manage Ozone production), but i read that through one more Pi, atlas I2C module and a script that's possible. I don't know if it can't be put on dash board for direct reading?
Marc

[Rob F]

Hi Marc, wow that is very nice, that's a lot of drivers. :) Those Meanwell LDD's are really nice, I like how low they dim and they seem to last forever. I think you'll be able to manage an Atlas ORP circuit directly from reef-pi as it only outputs one value like their pH circuit. For it you would connect it to the I2C port and in reef-pi set it up the same way as pH, you'll still be able to use the ORP value to control devices and setup a chart for the dashboard. I don't think you'll be able to calibrate it through reef-pi though but you can run the scripts Atlas provides and calibrate it like that. After calibration is complete it's stored on the circuit directly so you won't need to run the script permanently.

[Idefixes]

That's good news . I think i would go for a whiteboxes plate on RPI3 with atlas ORP and one more ph (internal calc reactor may be). I am fan not of mass and quality of work you put on robo-tank project but have the forum and you answer is quite reassuring for noobs as i am.
I like those meanwell driver too. I have so many LLD as i manage on picture 4 modules. Each as 2 multichip leds in serie with 5 chanenels and 2 multichips 10-15k 30w so for one module i need 7 LDD. I=For the new project i reduce to 3 modules as i reduce tanks surface. So i redisgn a new plate for 8 LDD that i could adress to the PWM channel i want through dip switchs



I need to check the routing job and than send to JLCPCB

[Rob F]

Yeah I like the forum, it also keeps things transparent. I typically reply much quicker with email, I always forget to check the forum until the end of the night like now.

That looks very nice, good job! I get my boards from JLCPCB too, they do a good job.