Jon's DIY Arduino Controller

J

jonurban

New member
I'm going to build a DIY Arduino Controller... I know there are tons of build posts for these everywhere but I also know that those threads are very long, have missing pictures, etc. I figured I'd document my build here and hopefully someone finds it useful.

The main purpose of this controller will be to control my 3 meanwell 60-48d drivers. Initially the build will have a daily cycle with a ramp up and ramp down lighting cycle, ultimately I'd like to have a 12 month lighting calendar.

With Future proofing in mind I'd like to consider having a temperature and ph probe on here, as well as a webserver to view temp and ph logs.

General Parts List:
(1) Arduino Uno R3
(1) NPN 2n2222 Transistor
(1) 16 x 2 LCD Black on Green
(1) Prototype Shield
(1) Breadboard
multiple male to female and male to male jumper cables

Arduino UNO Rev 3 (around $30 on amazon... I had this laying around)
View attachment 17392

LCD Module (around $15... I think I got this one at hacktronics, it's a 16x2)
View attachment 17393

Meanwell Driver Controller
(1) NPN 2n2222 Transistor
(1) 1K Resistor
(1) DS1307 Real Time Clock

Webserver
(1) Arduino Ethernet Shield R3

Temperature Probe
(1) DS18B20 Temperature Sensor - Waterproof Digital Thermal Probe Sensor DS18B20

I'll edit this first post when I update the parts list as I continue the build. I'm going to take my time with this, and probably have to order a couple shields probes and parts, but hopefully it wont take too long or get too expensive.
 
So I updated the first post, for those following along I separated the parts list by function. You'll need everything in the general parts list, and you can pick and choose if you want the parts for the webserver, or the temp probe or the driver controller, or all three.

I'm going to use an ethernet shield for the webserver, and run a cat 5 cable to a router and assign a static IP to the webserver, I'm only really concerned with accessing the webserver while i'm at home on my LAN so i'm only going to worry about the internal IP. If you want to access your server from outside your LAN you'll have to map your internal IP to an external IP.

I'm going to use the webserver to setup an hourly log for the temperatures... and ph etc. in the future.

When my parts arrive I'll update again.
 
I post this every time someone brings up an arduino controller but look at the reef angel, its basicaly a mega and is all open source, there is no need to re-invent the wheel on it, and the libraries the community has written there are very robust. Also when you start getting into the complex tasks you are going to need a mega anyway. Then when you look at what the cost of putting all the hardware together vs what a RA costs with an attractive packaging... its a no brainer.
 
FWIW, if someone is interested in a pre-built unit, Tom Schoop (a.k.a. ReefNinja) built me one of these a year or so before I got my Apex. It was essentially a dual channel LED dimmer with manual dimming from the current set point via a couple of potentiometers and a pair of temperature probes all with an LCD display.
He added a bluetooth module for better control of the features and promised to support the the new feature, but I never heard from him again.
I have since replaced my need for it so it's just gathering dust. If someone were interested in a built unit and the original programming (including lots of documentation for easy manipulation) I'm sure we could work something out.
 
I have been reading the hydra thread on cr. It looks cheaper than the ra and they did the hard part. Does anyone here use a hydra?
 
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