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21-02-2019, 07:09 PM #1
Your ultimate drum / pond controller
Hi All,
I’m just wondering what your ultimate drum / pond controller would do? I have an aqua drum 25 and even with their upgraded control panel, decided that I could possibly make a better version.
Using Arduino I now have a touchscreen drum control panel, that also controls all the pumps, air and water, uvc. It monitors the water temperature as well as filter house and external temperatures. It keeps yesterday’s min / max temperatures and the last 12 cleaning cycle times. It does a few other things besides.
I currently attempting to get some sort of text message control and response from my controller.
I’m completely self taught in programming and just doing this because I was told that I wouldn’t be able to.
Any ideas will give me food for thought about what else I can add. This has been over a year in the making and so far been running continually for over three months since the last update without any issues.
I look forward to your thoughts.
Mark
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21-02-2019, 07:33 PM #2
Hey mark sounds like you got most things coverd I'm just making my first drum from scratch and have lots of ideas flying round my head I'm trying to incorporate most of the things you already have, the only thing I've been thinking about was adding a sen eye unit too
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23-02-2019, 09:25 AM #3
Its impossible to give any real constructive feedback without seeing the code, as with all software there isn't a right way to do things but there are a few wrong ways, I am currently setting up a PLC to run my drum, Siemens LOGO V6, cheap and cheerful but very reliable, ensure you have fail safes like is the drum actually turning, the motor running is not an indication of the drum turning. low water level alarm, you can even look at flow meters and and auto top ups, pressure sensors to check the pump is running etc.
My drum monitors the revolutions when the motor is running and has to see a pulse feedback from the drum, if the drum doesn't turn then it sends an alarm output into the house, letting me know there is a problem
Certainly a step in the right direction.
Roy4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
2 x 18,000 lh pumps
Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
Idealseal MS290
My Pond Build
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john1 Thanked / Liked this Post
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23-02-2019, 01:49 PM #4
I think you could make it more epic by having it connected to a camera inside the waste chute too so you can check up on that without going outside
2016 new 6000 gallon pond
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-construc...ghlight=feline
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23-02-2019, 03:06 PM #5
Thanks for the replies,
Roy,
The codes it’s self is very stable and no bugs have become apparent since first commissioning, I keep updating with new features. The last was in November with the next update to include texts commands. It’s way too long to post at over 4000 lines of code.
It has low water level cut offs, auto top up and can drain a little if it gets too high.
I do like the idea of drum motor monitoring.
Feline,
The Arduino cant process video but could turn a kettle on for when your checking.
Scruffyrat,
It will be interesting to watch the progress when you build your own drum.
I’d upload some pictures if I could work out how to do it from my phone.Last edited by Mark i; 23-02-2019 at 03:11 PM. Reason: Spelling
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23-02-2019, 07:07 PM #6
Another thing you could look at is if you have an automatic feeder, is to cut off the air to bottom drains etc whilst feeding and then back on again after 2 minutes and check air pressure from the air pump and if no air pressure and no signal from the feeder/timer running to bring in a second backup air pump, also rotate air pumps once a week to limit overusing one?
I have air flow meter that I will install eventually, I can set an upper lower limit which will check for burst or blocked pipes.
The other one I was thinking about was valve positions, using a sensor to check that a valve is open
In the future i will be looking at controlling my heating system, it would only come on if the temperature dropped significantly, I have run pipes from the heat exchanger to the house but I haven't connected anything up yet4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
2 x 18,000 lh pumps
Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
Idealseal MS290
My Pond Build
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23-02-2019, 08:14 PM #7
Another way you could probably check on a pumps condition and if it is working or not is a (ct) current transformer, from this you can also work out, by simple calculation the running cost of each pump or piece of equipment, you could put one on the incoming supply and know how much the pond is costing you every minute of the day, ohhhhhh no, scrap that, that may be a bad idea lol
You will need one analogue input for each CT, ive seen CT's on FleeBay for a couple of £Last edited by RoyLittle0; 23-02-2019 at 08:17 PM.
4600 Gallon Concrete Block and Fiberglass
2100 mm x 710 mm Infinity Window 32mm thick glass
2 x Aerated Bottom Drains and Skimmer
Filtreau HiFlow 30 Drum Filter
Bio Chamber - 140 litres K1
Bakki Shower - 30 KG Sakura Far Infrared Media
2 x 18,000 lh pumps
Heated from house boiler through a heat exchanger
Idealseal MS290
My Pond Build
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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04-03-2019, 12:37 AM #8
What about accurate flow rates from each inlet into the drum and automatic purging valves on the inlets?
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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31-03-2019, 07:18 PM #9
Here’s a simple 8ch sms unit. Can be programmmed to NO/NC per Input with custom messages I believe amongst other things. Monitors 0volt contacts so you would just need a relay card for the arduino.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303022965910
whats the design build cost been been so far of your controller if you don’t mind me Asking?
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
Every day feeding container?
Good shout, I'll have a look at Takazumi :)