Homemade Controllers?? Can it be done??

[Beckmola24]

Has anyone built their own controller for their tank??? I was thinking about buying several different probes and having my husband write a corresponding program to run them the same as name brand controllers. I would love to buy an Octopus 3k or something like that but if I can acheive the same thing through my husband and save the money I'd be psyched (and so would he) I looked on Aquadirect and found a bunch of stuff that sounds like something I'd need, but I'm not sure exactly what I would need. They have probes but they seem to be super expensive and appear to be for the Octopus controller... Not sure If I could use them for my own creation. Has anyone successfully done this, and is there anything I need to keep in mind or look out for if I try and do this?? Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[reedman]

There are threads where people tried (and may have succeeded) in creating their own controllers. Many use a PC as the brain and X10 technology to control different controllers. There are chips that can monitor and control PH and ORP. It's doable.

All that said, I looked into building my own and came to the conclusion that the savings wasn't enough to offset the piece of mind of knowing that I have a tried and true piece of equipment. It's your call, but I would look into a used model if you really don't want to spend for a new one. The new aquacontrollers are out now and there are AQII's coming up for sale from the tech junkies that want the newest stuff.

Do a search on here for DIY controller and you'll see several threads with links to the hardware. It would be fun, but I don't trust my electrical skills enough.

 

[Kensn]

I do have a PLC running most of the electrical in my tank. It takes care of lighting, pumps, top off, feeding timers and fans and such. I can program all kinds of nifty things for it to do. One that comes to mind is the feeding timer. I push a button and my return pump and skimmer pump turn off for 15 mins, then the return pump starts, It runs for 1 min so the sump is back to its correct level, then the skimmer pump turns back on. The only thing I don't have is any analog input for temp or anything. So things like PH temp, orp must be handled with stand alones. The PLC off Ebay was the same price as about 4 good electronic timers, I knew how to program, and had software so that was a no brainer for me. I always look on Ebay for AB micrologix PLCs, they are always there and I might just want to get a bigger one for my next bigger tank .

Here is a pic during the build. This is looking up into the top of the stand.

Ken

 

[dgasmd]

Doing the controller thing is quite simple actually with already available products. You can get the controlling side done with just a software and aconnect it to your home's computer to control your entire tank and lots of home's things with simple X-10 stuff. The real problem comes with the monitoring side fo it. Very costly and cumbersome to get pH, temp, conductivity/salinity, and ORP to be monitored and connected to the same computer. Then, you would have to custom make some modifications to your program to be able to respond to the monitoring side.

I looked into this and have emailed back and forth with a couple of people in RC that had long threads about it only to come to the conclusion that not only is it more work than benefot, but the cost is likely more than just getting an aquacontroller from neptune. That is not to mention the higher level of electronics and computer knolwdge that would be needed.

 

[reedman]

Also, keep in mind if your computer is running the controller then when the power goes out you better have a battery backup if you intend to run anything on your tank (if you have backup juice for the tank). Similar to the old, if the power goes out the tank will page me, but if there is no power to the modem it aint going to do much. People often overlook that one.

 

[Beckmola24]

Well, Fortunately we have good battery backup for all of our computer stuff.... Can a controller be made to function wirelessly?? Also what makes the monitoring side so expensive?? Is it the money factor (probes, etc..) or the time factor??

 

[Kensn]

It is the probes and the electronics to interface with the probes. Each one has its own way of communicating to the electronics and the electronics are designed to interpet this.

Ken

 

[Beckmola24]

Where is the best place to find the electronics and the probes??