Ph cal

[Chris]

Hi guys. Please feel free to call me stupid. But can someone give me a step by step guide on setting up the ph probe. From plugging it in to putting it in the tank.

Thanks again for all help.

[astralmind]

+1

Would be interested too

[Chris]

Anyone?

[binder]

There's not much to it. You have to attach it to your controller with the connector in the top middle of the controller (see the manual on page 5 to have it point exactly to the connector, but it's the only one that will fit/match). Then you will want to have the part of the probe that is inside the fluid be mounted in the water.
You can mount it however you like just as long as that section is submerged. Some people:

• Create a mounting bracket for it to mount it
• Use a suction mount like a glass thermometer uses
• Poke it through a piece of styrofoam so that it floats

Depending on where you mount it depends on the type of mount you use. I wouldn't hard mount it in an area that the water level fluctuates (like in the return area of your sump). I would mount it where the water level would stay even. If you know the water level fluctuates where you are going to mount it, then the styrofoam example would be best for you. Maybe others have more suggestions.

Once it is mounted, then you can start your controller (plug the power into it). You may have to calibrate the probe and that can be done if needed.

There's not much to it as far as a step by step goes. It's simple as
1. Mount the probe
2. Plug into controller
3. Turn on controller
4. Calibrate software if needed

curt

[Chris]

Hi buddy thanks for the fast reply.
I have done all of that bar the calibrating part. I have just put the whole probe in the water? Is that right or just the bottom have to be in the water??
It's showing readings of -20 to 20 on the reef angel so can't be right. Maybe have to be calibrated.
Can you tell me how to do that?
Sorry to be a pain.

[rimai]

You can dip the whole thing in the water or just the tip. I usually leave at mid way.
You need to calibrate it to show correct readings though.
I'm gonna assume you already have your computer setup and can upload codes to the controller as well as be able to use RAGen.
If not, please follow this thread: http://forum.reefangel.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=60
To get the probe calibrated, you will need pH 7.0 and 10.0 standards (not included). You can find them easily at your LFS.
1. Use RAGen to upload your code.
2. Using the joystick, navigate to: Setup->Calibrate pH.
3. Make sure the probe is clean and dip it on the pH7.0 standard.
4. Let it stabilize. It may take several minutes.
5. Rinse it and place it on pH10.0 standard.
6. Let it stabilize. It may take several minutes.
7. Press OK.
8. The current libraries (version 0.8.5.14) require you to power cycle the controller to take new settings.

[thjoca3]

HI,

I have a hand held PH reader that tests spot on with the calibration solutions, so I know that the reading from the PH probe on the RA is off, I calibrated as stated about, allowing 7-10 min for stabilization and after power cycling it still reads off, a little better but only about .1 higher, in the tank, handheld reads 8.1 where the RA ph probe reads 7.64. Is there something that can be done?

[rimai]

Did you try rebooting the controller after recalibrating?? I recall Curt mentioning the need to reboot to pick up the new calibrated values.

[binder]

yes i believe that rebooting is needed to make use of the new values.

curt

[thjoca3]

Yes, unplugged it, plugged it back in....no difference....I will try it again to be sure.

[rimai]

Just to be sure you are not getting stray voltages, make sure that you have the controller disconnected from the computer.
When you were calibrating, did you take notes of the values shown on the screen?

[thjoca3]

updated see below

[thjoca3]

OK, home....third shifter, re- did the calibration, power cycled, same results.

for the calibration screen numbers

7.0 - 502

10 - 827

I tested these standards which were brand new and sealed the first time I calibrated, against my handheld again, for kicks and they were dead on.

right now the handheld reads the tank at 8.1, while the controller is saying 7.63 - 7.65 moves around between those


thanks,

Tom

[Bryan]

What ph readings do you get with the RA and the calibration solutions?

[thjoca3]

6.8 and 9.7 respectively, the 3rd number bounces around alot

Tom

[rimai]

I forgot to ask, but are you using the preloaded code that came with the RA or a code that you have created with RAGen?

[thjoca3]

Its a RAGen code, it also shipped with the new optiboot bootloader, if that makes any difference

Tom

[rimai]

Load this code:

Code: Select all

#include <ReefAngel_Features.h>
#include <ReefAngel_Globals.h>
#include <ReefAngel_Wifi.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <OneWire.h>
#include <Time.h>
#include <DS1307RTC.h>
#include <ReefAngel_EEPROM.h>
#include <ReefAngel_NokiaLCD.h>
#include <ReefAngel_ATO.h>
#include <ReefAngel_Joystick.h>
#include <ReefAngel_LED.h>
#include <ReefAngel_TempSensor.h>
#include <ReefAngel_Relay.h>
#include <ReefAngel_PWM.h>
#include <ReefAngel_Timer.h>
#include <ReefAngel_Memory.h>
#include <ReefAngel.h>


void setup()
{
  ReefAngel.Init();  //Initialize controller
  ReefAngel.LCD.SetContrast(60);  // Set contrast to 60
  ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText(0,255,10,10,"v"ReefAngel_Version);
  ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText(0,255,10,20,ReefAngel.PHMin);
  ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText(0,255,10,30,ReefAngel.PHMax);
}
void loop()
{
  ReefAngel.Refresh();
  ReefAngel.LCD.Clear(255,10,40,130,50);
  ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText(0,255,10,40,ReefAngel.Params.PH);
  delay(500);
}

1st line is library version
2nd line is pH 7.0 calibrated reading (should be 502, according to numbers above)
3rd line is pH 10.0 calibrated reading (should be 827, according to numbers above)
4th line is actual reading.
If you place the probe back into pH7.0, what is the actual reading?
What about pH10.0?
Now, place it on tank water. What is the reading?

[thjoca3]

ok, loaded code heres what I see/got

1st line is library version
V0.8.5.16

2nd line is pH 7.0 calibrated reading (should be 502, according to numbers above)
550
3rd line is pH 10.0 calibrated reading (should be 827, according to numbers above)
846
4th line is actual reading.
If you place the probe back into pH7.0, what is the actual reading?
683
What about pH10.0?
976
Now, place it on tank water. What is the reading?
780


seems like the 2nd and 3rd lines were not what was found above....

[rimai]

I'm so sorry.
I made a mistake and used the wrong stuff.
Can you do it one more time, please?
Here is the code:

Code: Select all

#include <ReefAngel_Features.h>
#include <ReefAngel_Globals.h>
#include <ReefAngel_Wifi.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <OneWire.h>
#include <Time.h>
#include <DS1307RTC.h>
#include <ReefAngel_EEPROM.h>
#include <ReefAngel_NokiaLCD.h>
#include <ReefAngel_ATO.h>
#include <ReefAngel_Joystick.h>
#include <ReefAngel_LED.h>
#include <ReefAngel_TempSensor.h>
#include <ReefAngel_Relay.h>
#include <ReefAngel_PWM.h>
#include <ReefAngel_Timer.h>
#include <ReefAngel_Memory.h>
#include <ReefAngel.h>


void setup()
{
  ReefAngel.Init();  //Initialize controller
  ReefAngel.LCD.SetContrast(60);  // Set contrast to 60
  ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText(0,255,10,10,"v"ReefAngel_Version);
  ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText(0,255,10,20,ReefAngel.PHMin);
  ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText(0,255,10,30,ReefAngel.PHMax);
}
void loop()
{
  ReefAngel.Refresh();
  ReefAngel.LCD.Clear(255,10,40,130,50);
  ReefAngel.LCD.DrawText(0,255,10,40,analogRead(PHPin));
  delay(500);
}

[thjoca3]

ok, tried to recalibrate, before seeing this, after I loaded a new memory file, as I wanted to make some changes, readings came in as follows, 7.0 - 537 10 - 825, then hit ok, and unpluged the controller, and plugged back in, same thing.

loaded your above code,

same version
550
840
7.0 - 529
10 - 819
tank - 613

[rimai]

That's strange.... It seems that the calibration is not saving the settings.
Let's try something else:
Add these 2 lines to your PDE file, just bellow the ReefAngel.Init()

Code: Select all

ReefAngel.PHMin=529
ReefAngel.PHMax=819

Check the pH of tank water now. Does it look correct?

[thjoca3]

well it was still off but after messing around with the numbers a bit I got it to read the tank and the 10.0 solution correctly , but 7.0 reads at 7.3

ended up with 502 and 817

is it a concern that its not saving the calibration in mem?

Tom

[rimai]

Maybe you are clicking Cancel, instead of Ok?
I'm not sure why it is not saving. Did you try modifying the memory settings with the RAGen Internal Memory tab? Or with the Client 2.2?

[thjoca3]

Im pretty sure im hitting ok, it looks highlighted, unless cancel is default, but ive tried both. I modified the pde, but also did the mem settings in RAGen

[rimai]

This is how RA reads/writes the calibration data:
When you use the calibration function, it will store the data in the memory.
It will use this data for as long as you do not write anything over. If you use the calibration function again, it overwrites the previous data. If you use the Internal Memory sketch from RAGen, it overwrites the previous data. If you push memory settings with Client 2.2, it overwrites the data.
If you add the 2 lines of code mentioned above, it will use the data in the code and disregard any settings stored in the memory, but it will not overwrite anything. If you remove the 2 lines, you go back to use whatever was stored in the memory.
To make sure that it is indeed saving settings on the memory, you can either use the calibration function again and upload the above code right after to check if it is reading the same values as you saw on the screen while calibrating or you can use the internal memory sketch and upload the above code right after, checking for the same data you entered on the RAGen Internal Memory tab.
It should show you the same data.

[binder]

I previously commented that I'd fix the PH calibration to take affect immediately. I just looked at the code more closely and it should take affect immediately. The values get updated when you press the OK button. They actually get written to memory and copied over right away.

curt

[jemw]

I am also having pH calibration issues. After following the procedure here, I test with cal solution and find:
pH 7.0 solution reads 7.0 and stable after 10 minutes
pH 10.0 solution reads 9.76 after 20 minutes and still drifting up and down by 1.

And yes I did power cycle after calibration. Dev Lib Version 0.8.5.19

Readings during calibration (stabilized):
7 - 544/548
10 - 835/851

Any suggestions?

[rimai]

Are you saying it is drifting by 1 whole pH unit? like 9 and 11pH?
If it is just drifiting by 0.01, then you are fine. You will never get lab grade pH readings. Even the probe is not lab grade.
Seems like the PHMin is fine according to your results. Just increase/decrease the PHMax until you get the correct reading.
You can use the Client to change those values too.
The value must be somewhere in the middle of the range you observed.
Or hard code it like this in the setup() section:

Code: Select all

ReefAngel.PHMin=546
ReefAngel.PHMax=835

[jemw]

Are you saying it is drifting by 1 whole pH unit? like 9 and 11pH?
If it is just drifiting by 0.01, then you are fine. You will never get lab grade pH readings. Even the probe is not lab grade.
Seems like the PHMin is fine according to your results. Just increase/decrease the PHMax until you get the correct reading.
You can use the Client to change those values too.
The value must be somewhere in the middle of the range you observed.
Or hard code it like this in the setup() section:

Code: Select all

ReefAngel.PHMin=546
ReefAngel.PHMax=835

Sorry - it's drifting between 9.75 and 9.77 and ReefAngel shows:
pH 7: 544
pH10: 851

So do I increase or decrease pH10 to raise the value measured?