LED Full Spectrum Controller based on Mega2560 board

[kapelan]

v.2.05 update: https://drive.google.com/folderview?...kU&usp=sharing
1. Added Chiller. One sensor can control chiller and heater.
From touch screen we configure Area of Comfort.
If the temperature greater then Alarm Level – chiller turn ON. If less than some level - turn on the heater.
2. Added support for up to 4 temperature sensors.

From this screen Comfort Area set 26 to 29 Celsius

display sensors from touch screen

Select temperature sensors:

[KrazyKuch]

beautiful work....What software did you use to design the screens? Or did you hard code them yourself?

[kapelan]

Originally Posted by KrazyKuch

beautiful work....What software did you use to design the screens? Or did you hard code them yourself?

thanks, Arduino is not exactly friendly environment
There is no any software to do it.
And I think that's right - Arduino was designed to control external devices. What we are doing here is using cheap displays as an input/output device.
So do not think we will see a software specifically for TFT.
Just no needs to anyone except us

[KrazyKuch]

the have software for GUI interfaces on TFT like this http://www.mikroe.com/visualtft/

was just wondering if you found one that would work with Arduino

[jwpadgett]

this is very nice!

[kapelan]

Video how to customize spectrum:
http://youtu.be/zewIPu9LBrQ
It is a first step to set desired spectrum. Then during the day it is changed.
3 hours just blue and UV - since nobody home and no one is watching it
then 4 hours -about 10-30% others colors, that's better for human eyes
Looks pretty cool

[blitz49]

Very nice work. I want to do a project like this eventually.

[kapelan]

When project was started WiFi modules were quite expensive, that's why it was a decision to use touch screen as input/output device.
Now I see prices on WiFi become affordable:
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials...client-example
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CC3000-WiFi-...item2599ebdcd4
It looks like it may make sense to add network to the device.
If last year the price was about a hundred now $20 - I think is affordable.
If anybody wish to join the project and do the code for android please PM.

[zachts]

Originally Posted by kapelan

When project was started WiFi modules were quite expensive, that's why it was a decision to use touch screen as input/output device.
Now I see prices on WiFi become affordable:
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials...client-example
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CC3000-WiFi-...item2599ebdcd4
It looks like it may make sense to add network to the device.
If last year the price was about a hundred now $20 - I think is affordable.
If anybody wish to join the project and do the code for android please PM.

and then there's the nifty nRF24L01 transmitter/reciever boards now all over the net. ($10 for 10 of them if you can wait on the slow boat) not WiFi per say but awesome for wireless programming of devices. I just finished building a doser using them and it was way too cheap and simple (following another thread on RC for the how to) going to be the new user interface device on any projects I build from now on instead of buttons and menus and just leave the LCD screens for at a glance monitoring.

[perkint]

Wireless is now fairly easy and cheap to add. Getting the control software on another device is maybe not so easy, unless you can code for andriod, etc. I am thinking of putting together a wireless arduino controller that can be used to pass commands over nRF24L01 connections, using the same doser thread as inspiration

The controller will be able to find and connect to any other nRF24L01 devices it finds, so one controller will be used for any devices i build, meaning i don't necessarily need a UI or screen on any other devices!

WiFi opens up the option to use phones, tablets, computers, etc so is very good, but the price of the nRF24L01 makes them very inviting!

Tim

[jimbob321]

Originally Posted by dlarmond

Hi Kapelan i really like your controller where i can find the wiring/operating instructions, i.e pin outs for led channels etc. I was also wondering if it can be adapted to be used with meanwell LDD drivers as i have these already.
I was going to use the Stilo 3.0 but after months of frustration with coding /compiling errors (newby to Arduino) i got the code to compile but my display keeps refreshing every 2 seconds and i can,t solve it despite following posts with the same problems i finally gave up on it.
Your upload worked straight away and is displaying on my screen, but i cant find the operation/wiring instructions.
Thank you.

it does work with ldd's
the refresh is because of the rtc Stilo must have a clock

some real cheap wifi
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281462865108...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

i got the latest version loaded my temps are on different pins but my lights are good i only have 4 channel's of ldd's/led's.
i like it so far i don't have it all figured out so i'll play with it for a while

i like the hex file too, no chance compiling errors missing library's ect.

Good Work

[kapelan]

--
video for dosers: http://youtu.be/s4aPX1ch9qk

[rott]

Kaplan are your new dosing pumps controlled wireless now?

[kapelan]

Originally Posted by rott

Kaplan are your new dosing pumps controlled wireless now?

it was added specific doser's timers for those who wants to run a dosser 100 times per day
Wireless is under the question, if it's really needed?
And the next question would be: does it make sense to pay some extra money just configure controller from the couch or do it staying close to aquarium.
To be honest I cannot imagine a situation when I'll change some settings from my home aquarium when I'm in the office which is 20km from house.
So we are coming to answer where User should be close to aquarium when User trying to set it up.
If we think why do we need wireless, the answer would be:
- nice User Interface that we can get from Android or Internet Explorer.
From this project User Interface is already nice, so wireless is optional.

[jimbob321]

i do not think anyone will run a doser 100 time a day.
but if you get an sms or have a webpage telling you something is wrong you could go home or call some one to look at the problem.
i want mine to scrape the web and simulate the weather, while it's online it may as well give some info and or control.
http://reef-tank.duckdns.org/

[kapelan]

Originally Posted by jimbob321

i do not think anyone will run a doser 100 time a day.
but if you get an sms or have a webpage telling you something is wrong you could go home or call some one to look at the problem.
i want mine to scrape the web and simulate the weather, while it's online it may as well give some info and or control.
http://reef-tank.duckdns.org/

I'm afraid I cannot explain what to do to my wife if PH will hit alarm level
That's the point - you have to be close to aquarium to fix anything. And except you nobody knows your tank.

[jimbob321]

i have people that would help me..wife included. and i work for myself and i can get away when ever i want ..so it is good for me..
i do like your work very nice.
i need to make a few screen's for mine..

[rott]

there are some things that would be good to fix or stop if I a calcium doser and ph was low I could use it to raise ph till I got home or back from long weekend trip or some thing or if if some thing that was dosing my tank and got stuck in say a 30 minute loop and was dosing every 30 minutes calcium in to the tank I would want a way to just shut of the whole thing till I could get home don't know if this is good ideas or not but I am also kinda guy that likes gadgets on the net to play with

[kapelan]

Originally Posted by rott

there are some things that would be good to fix or stop if I a calcium doser and ph was low I could use it to raise ph till I got home or back from long weekend trip or some thing or if if some thing that was dosing my tank and got stuck in say a 30 minute loop and was dosing every 30 minutes calcium in to the tank I would want a way to just shut of the whole thing till I could get home don't know if this is good ideas or not but I am also kinda guy that likes gadgets on the net to play with

Basically you are saying that you are ready to make a decision to shutdown/start some process based on some alarm without visual confirmation.
Test case:
1. We are getting low level for temperature - it show the temperature 18C
So we have a choice to start heater or wait.
User make a decision to start heater - when user comes home he see a cat is playing with temperature sensor and it's just outside water. All fish are dead because of overheating.
It's just example that we do not have enough information to make a decision remotely. Each action should be confirmed visually.

[rott]

then add an ip camera to I I don't know just wouldn't want to be on vacation 500 miles away and get an alarm my fish tank is over heating and think wow if I could only turn off the metal halides I bet I could cool my tank by 10 degrees

[rott]

I do see your point but I hope people that would use a remote system would have some kind of camera set up to view in real time what is happening with there tank and not some $20 crape from best buy but at the end of the dy the choice is not mine what goes in to it

[lyman28]

I just found this thread, thanks kapelan. But here's an age old question for you. To integrate the mega with a meanwells eln-60-48p we need to boost the 0-5v pwm to a 0-10v pwm correct? So would this work to do that? https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9816

[kapelan]

Originally Posted by lyman28

I just found this thread, thanks kapelan. But here's an age old question for you. To integrate the mega with a meanwells eln-60-48p we need to boost the 0-5v pwm to a 0-10v pwm correct? So would this work to do that? https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9816

From Meanwell LDD specification:
PWM- Power ON with dimming: DIM ~ -Vin >3.5 ~ 8VDC or open circuit
http://www.meanwell.com/search/LDD-L/LDD-L-spec.pdf
Mega provides 5V.
So no additional board is needed.

[zachts]

Originally Posted by lyman28

I just found this thread, thanks kapelan. But here's an age old question for you. To integrate the mega with a meanwells eln-60-48p we need to boost the 0-5v pwm to a 0-10v pwm correct? So would this work to do that? https://www.sparkfun.com/products/9816

Originally Posted by kapelan

From Meanwell LDD specification:
PWM- Power ON with dimming: DIM ~ -Vin >3.5 ~ 8VDC or open circuit
http://www.meanwell.com/search/LDD-L/LDD-L-spec.pdf
Mega provides 5V.
So no additional board is needed.

Actually I believe an extra circuit is required like the Typhon used since the ELN needs 10V PWM signal AFAIK.

At transistor and 10v source should be all that is needed with a ~10kohm resistor on the output of the mega connecting to the base of the transistor as I recall to switch the 10v dimming signal on/off for the ELN. http://www.meanwell.com/search/eln-60/ELN-60-spec.pdf frequency needs to be between 100 and 3000hz so the arduino should do that fine.

I'm not sure about the Opamp lyman28 posted but it may do the job. Hopefully someone else can chime in on that.

[5yearplan]

This is great.