General questions

Basic / Standard Reef Angel hardware
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enigma32
Posts: 74
Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2013 11:48 am
Location: Los Angeles and NYC

General questions

Post by enigma32 »

Hey Everybody,

I'm new to the community here. ReefAngel is very exciting to me-- Looks like this started about a year or two after I built my own controller from scratch; I'm looking to potentially switch out my controller bit by bit and have some general questions that would help me make some informed decisions. Any insight is much appreciated.

1) Where do I find the source code for all of this?
I see that there are PDE posts in various places around the forum, and some sort of automated PDE generator that comes with the windows installer at least. I'm running linux. Is there something like a stock PDE or are these always custom? Any windows/osx-only tools that will be a problem for me in a linux environment? (obviously the arduino ide is a non-issue)
1a) How about source for the various attachments (the RF module, for instance). Are these sources available somewhere, or is that portion of the design not open source?

2) Unless I missed it, there's no real-time-clock on the main board. Is this true? Does this controller just rely on the AVR's internal time counter?

3) Is this all written in the arduino environment? (i.e., there is no native AVR code in any of these components?)

4) Anyone in the Los Angeles area (preferably near Hollywood/Los Feliz/Glendale) have one of these controllers that I could look at?

5) Is there a bug tracker or feature request tracking system other than the forum?


I'd love to get involved with the community; it looks like there are some great things going on here.


Thanks!
-Matt
Current setup:
60g 24" custom cube (fish and softies right now)
AI Sol Blue, Ecotech MP-10wES
Coralife skimmer
100% customer controller, transitioning to ReefAngel
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lnevo
Posts: 5422
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2012 9:42 am

General questions

Post by lnevo »

The wizard works great on Linux too. No issues there.
rimai
Posts: 12857
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: General questions

Post by rimai »

Welcome!!!
Here are a few answers:
1. https://github.com/reefangel/Libraries
2. Yes, there is an RTC with battery backup built-in.
3. correct
5. https://github.com/reefangel/Libraries/ ... state=open
We would be glad to have another set of hands to help out :)
Roberto.
rimai
Posts: 12857
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: General questions

Post by rimai »

By the way, I just ran the wizard on a Pi :)
Takes forever, but works too... lol
Roberto.
enigma32
Posts: 74
Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2013 11:48 am
Location: Los Angeles and NYC

Re: General questions

Post by enigma32 »

Thanks for the quick responses!

1) Thank you! It would be fantastic to have a link to the github page in the "downloads" section of the site ;)
I see the code for communicating with the various extension pieces, but don't see the code that runs on them specifically.
For example, the RF module, PWM module, etc., have microcontrollers in them as well. Am I just overlooking that source code somewhere?

2) I found the RTC. Not sure how I missed that.
I noticed in the process that the Eagle files page on this site is very confusing, with no sensible order with the various versions of the main board. Not sure who to mention that to....

I'm going to take a look through the code and probably start to pick up some hardware over the next couple weeks.

Some new questions:
6) Where can I find more information about the hardware itself? (such as dimensions of the finished units sold commercially-- I'm particularly worried about the dimensions of the relay box)
7) Do I need a controller plus a relay box? I'm guessing when you buy the controller it comes with the relay box?
8) Looks like the relay box uses traditional mechanical relays rather than SCRs?
9) Is there a way to get only the controller box? (I see the main board and the LCD board, but not with the enclosure...)

My current system is designed differently... with the brain and display/control being separate, so I'm trying to come up with the best way to go about doing this in steps...

-Matt
Current setup:
60g 24" custom cube (fish and softies right now)
AI Sol Blue, Ecotech MP-10wES
Coralife skimmer
100% customer controller, transitioning to ReefAngel
rimai
Posts: 12857
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: General questions

Post by rimai »

It's been posted on the forums, but I never had it uploaded to github.
I'll do that later.
6. Relay box is a little smaller than 9x5x3
7. Yes ,comes with everything
8. Mechanical relays
9. You can get just the head unit. PM me for details.
Roberto.
enigma32
Posts: 74
Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2013 11:48 am
Location: Los Angeles and NYC

Re: General questions

Post by enigma32 »

Thanks rimai.

I'm "not authorized" to send PMs... :-)
Sufficient to write to "info@" email address?
Current setup:
60g 24" custom cube (fish and softies right now)
AI Sol Blue, Ecotech MP-10wES
Coralife skimmer
100% customer controller, transitioning to ReefAngel
rimai
Posts: 12857
Joined: Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:47 pm

Re: General questions

Post by rimai »

few more posts and you should be able to.
Roberto.
enigma32
Posts: 74
Joined: Fri Apr 26, 2013 11:48 am
Location: Los Angeles and NYC

Re: General questions

Post by enigma32 »

Great, works now. Sent you a PM.
Thanks!
Current setup:
60g 24" custom cube (fish and softies right now)
AI Sol Blue, Ecotech MP-10wES
Coralife skimmer
100% customer controller, transitioning to ReefAngel
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