Re-automating my tank

Donw · 09/27/2006, 10:32 AM

Ive had my tank fully automated for awhile now but have decided to remodel the automation system. I'd like to get rid of alot of wires, relays and the miles of cat5. Ive already spent two weeks removing the old system and am just starting to put parts back together. I'll post some pics as I move along.
The system is controlled by a Applied digital Ocelot and msc. modules.

This should be the answer to removing all 15 of the diy 12v relay boxes.

Don

More Later

Donw · 09/27/2006, 10:56 AM

Controller / brain

Donw · 09/27/2006, 11:19 AM

8 inputs and 8 .5a outputs

Donw · 09/27/2006, 11:26 AM

Two ranco controllers. One normal single stage. The other is a single stage with a 1-10v output.

xinumaster · 09/27/2006, 11:33 AM

keep us updated.

Donw · 09/27/2006, 12:03 PM

Three of these float switches to go in the sump. Not my picture but same switches.

Donw · 09/27/2006, 12:05 PM

One optical switch to monitor display and another for the skimmer.

H20ENG · 09/27/2006, 04:48 PM

Nice Don. So you are keeping the brains, but redoing the outputs?
I like those Madison floats with built-on debris covers!

Oh, and looks like you just hit 500 posts

Donw · 09/27/2006, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by H20ENG
Nice Don. So you are keeping the brains, but redoing the outputs?
I like those Madison floats with built-on debris covers!

Oh, and looks like you just hit 500 posts

500 post

. Yes I'm just tired of all the cat 5 and relay boxes. Now they are all confined to the power module in the first pic I posted. It only needs one db9 cable to operate. Just a bunch of little refinements as I go along.

Don

Donw · 09/27/2006, 10:23 PM

Got a little done.

marm64 · 09/28/2006, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Donw
500 post . Yes I'm just tired of all the cat 5 and relay boxes. Now they are all confined to the power module in the first pic I posted. It only needs one db9 cable to operate. Just a bunch of little refinements as I go along.

Don

What is that power module? Can that thing be run off of anything that has a serial comm? I have been working on automating my tank but like you do not like to have all kinds of relays and crud around and have been looking for something like that.

Mark

Donw · 09/28/2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by marm64
What is that power module? Can that thing be run off of anything that has a serial comm? I have been working on automating my tank but like you do not like to have all kinds of relays and crud around and have been looking for something like that.

Mark

No its not that high tech. The db9 pin connector is just for switching. It eliminates all those diy relay boxes. You could hook 8 float switches directly to it if you wanted, and have a 8 float ATO system.

Don

eameres · 09/28/2006, 09:51 AM

So it's (just) a (really cool looking) box with 8 relays and outlets in it?

Donw · 09/28/2006, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by eameres
So it's (just) a (really cool looking) box with 8 relays and outlets in it?

Yup, just that simple. I hated all those diy ratshack relay boxes so this is my solution.

Don

Donw · 09/28/2006, 01:18 PM

Now I can say good bye to the 5 1000ma wall warts.

TandN · 09/28/2006, 03:18 PM

Im a lil confused about this. What are you automating ? how does it work ? Im interestred in knowing and learning about it
T.

Donw · 09/28/2006, 03:28 PM

[QUOTEIm a lil confused about this. What are you automating ? how does it work ? Im interestred in knowing and learning about it
T. [/B][/QUOTE]

Everything I possibly can. Its actually a remodel of my 99.5% automated system I'm reinstalling the main pieces now so the simple stuff like lighting and top-off will work again by the week-end. After that I'll start doing the more complicated things like temp, ph, salinity.

Don

RobbyG · 09/28/2006, 03:29 PM

What is this exactly and were did you buy it? It looks like something I have been searching for. Please post some info on this optical switch.

Quote:

Originally posted by Donw
One optical switch to monitor display and another for the skimmer.

TandN · 09/28/2006, 03:34 PM

lol but like what ? you say skimmer how do you automate a skimmer im jusyt simple minded lol
T.

Donw · 09/28/2006, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RobbyG
What is this exactly and were did you buy it? It looks like something I have been searching for. Please post some info on this optical switch.

Robby it just a simple electronic switch that can be purchased at Dwyer. You have three wires 12v+ 12- and output that is 12-.
Connect the output to the coil of a relay and you can control a pump or what ever you want. What you can NOT do is use it stand alone for a ATO. There is so hysteris without some sort of controller or latching relay and they are very sensitive. One thing I can tell you is they are much more reliable than any float switch.

Don

Donw · 09/28/2006, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tanya72806
lol but like what ? you say skimmer how do you automate a skimmer im jusyt simple minded lol
T.

The optical switch is mounted in the cup of my asm. So if it get to full it shuts down the skimmer. Also once every three days the ato rodi water is redirected into the skimmer air intake to remove salt creep from inside the rubber hose.

Make sense?
Don

TandN · 09/28/2006, 03:44 PM

Yeah it does never heard of anyone doing things like this in my long life in this hobby

Donw · 09/28/2006, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tanya72806
Yeah it does never heard of anyone doing things like this in my long life in this hobby

I undertand, most try with aquarium controllers but they are very limited.
For me its another hobby and the system is tied to my house that is also very automated. Besides I never forget to clean that darn skimmer air hose.

BeanAnimal · 09/28/2006, 04:16 PM

A lot of the club members laugh at my "system" for a 75 in wall. Like Don, the "system" is as much of a hobby to me as the actual livestock.

Don where did you find the box to house the outlets and relays? I resorted to having an aluminum panel punched for single HUBBELL narrow yokes. The panel fits in the side of my NEMA enclosure that houses the relays and indicator logic.

Still not settled on full PC controll or using a small network of PIC based controllers. I am also still tempted to grab an ocelot and play around with it. I put a lot of time into designing the output circuits and logic (PC boards and all) and am hesitant to backtrack now.

Looks good so far!

Donw · 09/28/2006, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BeanAnimal
.

Don where did you find the box to house the outlets and relays? I resorted to having an aluminum panel punched for single HUBBELL narrow yokes. The panel fits in the side of my NEMA enclosure that houses the relays and indicator logic.

Still not settled on full PC controll or using a small network of PIC based controllers. I am also still tempted to grab an ocelot and play around with it. I put a lot of time into designing the output circuits and logic (PC boards and all) and am hesitant to backtrack now.

Looks good so far!

You dont find them, I have them made, but thats going to be a sideline to help pay for this mess. I figured they would sell easily and pretty cheap. Waiting on the boss (wife) to get time to mess with my patent.
I think I'd stay far away from the whole pc based automation thing. Ive had some bad luck in the past, thats why I went to a stand alone system.

Don

09/27/2006, 10:32 AM	#1
Donw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 2,334	Re-automating my tank Ive had my tank fully automated for awhile now but have decided to remodel the automation system. I'd like to get rid of alot of wires, relays and the miles of cat5. Ive already spent two weeks removing the old system and am just starting to put parts back together. I'll post some pics as I move along. The system is controlled by a Applied digital Ocelot and msc. modules. This should be the answer to removing all 15 of the diy 12v relay boxes. Don More Later

09/27/2006, 11:33 AM	#5
xinumaster reef addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: sj ca Posts: 2,925	keep us updated. __________________ -perry/xinumaster Current Tank Info: 375g tank 8'x30"x30"

09/27/2006, 12:05 PM	#7
Donw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 2,334	One optical switch to monitor display and another for the skimmer. Last edited by Donw; 09/27/2006 at 12:54 PM.

09/27/2006, 10:56 AM	#2
Donw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 2,334	Controller / brain

09/27/2006, 11:19 AM	#3
Donw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 2,334	8 inputs and 8 .5a outputs

09/27/2006, 11:26 AM	#4
Donw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 2,334	Two ranco controllers. One normal single stage. The other is a single stage with a 1-10v output.

09/27/2006, 12:03 PM	#6
Donw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 2,334	Three of these float switches to go in the sump. Not my picture but same switches.

09/27/2006, 04:48 PM	#8
H20ENG Pro builder/aquarist hack Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: NORCAL (Vacaville, CA) Posts: 5,125	Nice Don. So you are keeping the brains, but redoing the outputs? I like those Madison floats with built-on debris covers! Oh, and looks like you just hit 500 posts

09/27/2006, 10:23 PM	#10
Donw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 2,334	Got a little done.

09/28/2006, 09:51 AM	#13
eameres Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 406	So it's (just) a (really cool looking) box with 8 relays and outlets in it?

09/28/2006, 01:18 PM	#15
Donw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 2,334	Now I can say good bye to the 5 1000ma wall warts.

09/28/2006, 03:18 PM	#16
TandN Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 2,009	Im a lil confused about this. What are you automating ? how does it work ? Im interestred in knowing and learning about it T.

09/28/2006, 03:28 PM	#17
Donw Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 2,334	[QUOTEIm a lil confused about this. What are you automating ? how does it work ? Im interestred in knowing and learning about it T. [/B][/QUOTE] Everything I possibly can. Its actually a remodel of my 99.5% automated system I'm reinstalling the main pieces now so the simple stuff like lighting and top-off will work again by the week-end. After that I'll start doing the more complicated things like temp, ph, salinity. Don

09/28/2006, 03:34 PM	#19
TandN Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 2,009	lol but like what ? you say skimmer how do you automate a skimmer im jusyt simple minded lol T.

09/28/2006, 03:44 PM	#22
TandN Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 2,009	Yeah it does never heard of anyone doing things like this in my long life in this hobby

09/28/2006, 04:16 PM	#24
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	A lot of the club members laugh at my "system" for a 75 in wall. Like Don, the "system" is as much of a hobby to me as the actual livestock. Don where did you find the box to house the outlets and relays? I resorted to having an aluminum panel punched for single HUBBELL narrow yokes. The panel fits in the side of my NEMA enclosure that houses the relays and indicator logic. Still not settled on full PC controll or using a small network of PIC based controllers. I am also still tempted to grab an ocelot and play around with it. I put a lot of time into designing the output circuits and logic (PC boards and all) and am hesitant to backtrack now. Looks good so far!