Time for additional Ethernet add-on with PWM output

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:23 pm

lnevo wrote:Real NTP you give multiple nodes and both times are compared and sync'd accordingly. Maybe you should adapt that approach rather than primary / backup.

Good plan. I'll see which is easier lol

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:39 pm

NTP primary and failover/backup server implemented. Edited code on page 12 of thread.

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:54 pm

DrewPalmer04 wrote:Then they will just have to adjust the off set for -6, -4 etc

You could just split the difference...

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:07 pm

I'm not sure anyone will even use this code or module. But I figured it was worth posting. I've got the backup NTP server in the code. Which reduces odds of NTP time failure. Might add a few more to completely remove the possibility

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 10:03 am

Roberto: One last thing I would like to do...

Any way for the ethernet module to send a PWM percentage to make the portal "think" it is a Radion value? I would like the percentage to display on the portal under "Red" for PWM pin 9 value and "Green" for pin 6 value.

I've tried to think of ways to accomplish this, but I'm coming up short

Thanks as always!!

P.s. the code has change a bit versus page 12 of the thread..but it's basically still the same as what you see on page 12 at the top.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Wed Feb 13, 2013 12:15 pm

You need to do that in the main unit for it to work.

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 9:27 am

CODE UPDATE:

Corrected code for potentiometers to override PWMParabola to allow for manual dimming of pin 9 and pin 6.
Return both potentiometers to "0" to have PWMParabola take back over...

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:15 am

Also looking for suggestions/improvements/thoughts. If you have implemented this let me know too!!!

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Fri Feb 22, 2013 7:29 am

I've been playing with the idea of how to send info from one arduino to the RA. I'll use the serial communications. I need to send a BYTE and then have the RA receive the byte incomingbyte incomingbyte=Serial.read();
But here is where I'm coming up short. What do I do with the byte once it is read? How do I get this to replace the "0" on RFR and RFG (radian values). of course I'll have different bytes of info for each.

Also, related to this thread:
I've gotten a Chinese version of the Uno/Ethernet combo. It is working great thus far and is a CHEAPER option for everyone at $25 (shipping included) versus $60(+or-) +shipping for the one I've been using so far. Super easy to patch the wifi cable into it FYI.

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Fri Feb 22, 2013 8:24 am

SetChannel(byte channel, byte value) seems to be the function to write your byte to whichever radion channel you want. The rest of the functions in the RF class are for setting slopes.

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Fri Feb 22, 2013 8:47 am

hmmm...so in theory. I write the received byte to SetChannel() and it'll display on the portal? This is me trying to "fool" the portal after all to know my % of brightness off my ethernet module lol...I'd just prefer to know my % values at a glance versus Serial.print() I have to use now.

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Fri Feb 22, 2013 11:07 am

Yeah, it should set the channel even though nothing is written there.. Theoretically, there may be other code in the way that Im not aware of.

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:40 am

Updated page 12 to include the link to the build list/materials needed.

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:43 am

Use this URL instead... http://forum.reefangel.com/viewtopic.php?p=18326#p18326

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:47 am

lnevo wrote:Use this URL instead... http://forum.reefangel.com/viewtopic.php?p=18326#p18326

Hey, thanks...it's been updated!

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:39 am

Sorry losing my mind....

Updated page 12 of thread.

lnevo · Post by **lnevo** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 11:30 am

Which thread? what did you update?

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 11:33 am

EDIT:
I should have been more clear...

Security option issue with the portal and Ethernet module. It must [<--Not 100% true] be disabled. That's all I added

I don't use security....but anyone can add this to the RA side of the code...

Use below for security option (IF needed):
ReefAngel SIDE
"key" must match on code and portal

Code: Select all

ReefAngel.Portal("username","key");

topjimmy · Post by **topjimmy** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 5:07 pm

I have been using this for a few weeks and it really does work well. I am having a problem with the pwm for my Leds. They light up fine, but they flash, it's so fast that I thought it was just glimmer at first. I am using steve's led drivers. They work fine straight off of the RA dimming. Any suggestions?

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 6:10 pm

Sounds like you don't have enough LEDs in the string. The driver is "protecting" itself. Either reduce the mA output from the driver or add more LEDs. That's what it sounds like to me

topjimmy · Post by **topjimmy** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 6:46 pm

can't be that. They work fine off the RA, and the drivers are maxed out as far as capacity.

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 6:52 pm

Could be that you need an opamp to boost from 0-5vdc to 0-10vdc. Roberto posted a circuit for how to do it

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 6:57 pm

Or make sure they don't send more than 40mA to the arduino. I don't use Steve's so I'm not sure.

topjimmy · Post by **topjimmy** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:09 pm

DrewPalmer04 wrote:Could be that you need an opamp to boost from 0-5vdc to 0-10vdc. Roberto posted a circuit for how to do it

That might be it. I wonder what he uses for the relay that makes it work.

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:22 pm

Lm358 opamp. Two 10k resistors make a gain of 1.

topjimmy · Post by **topjimmy** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:09 am

The drivers I am using will work straight off an Arduino pwm. In fact they can even supply +5v to power the board. I think it is either some sort of noise induced from the power supply, or the pwm freq. is too low?

Not sure.

DrewPalmer04 · Post by **DrewPalmer04** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:31 am

Try to remove this line or //comment it out:

Code: Select all

bitSet(TCCR1B, WGM12); //force fast PWM

And check this page out:
http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/SecretsOfArduinoPWM

topjimmy · Post by **topjimmy** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:57 am

Commented out, same problem. There must be something causing it.

rimai · Post by **rimai** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:59 am

If I remember correctly, Steve's drivers accept 0-5V PWM too, doesn't it?
Can you describe or post a video of such flickering effect?
Do you have access to a scope to check the signal?

topjimmy · Post by **topjimmy** » Wed Apr 10, 2013 10:22 am

No, scope available. The drive does except 0 - 5v pwm. I can record it, but it looks like a strobe light a very fast flicker with no perceived off.

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