af5cl
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by af5cl on Jun 2, 2017 13:54:16 GMT -8
First off, love the new forum!
Continuing to design my project around the Groveweatherpi system. Very cool platform.
Thought I would post an update as its been a while.
I have been working on a way to use the INA3221 boards I purchased to monitor my solar, battery, and load. I ran into problems due to the high current requirements. At this point I only have a single solar panel, charger, and battery. I'm estimating I could reach 5A but i hope to double that soon after I get this going. I decided to use 3x ACS712 20A current sense boards. I plan to connect them to the remaining 3 analog inputs on the ADC board (along with the wind vein). For voltage, I have ordered a 0v-25v Voltage sensor board. Basically a voltage divider on a board. I ordered 3 of those as well and am ordering another ADC board to connect those to.
I ended up purchasing the tinytrak4 and cables for my HT radio which I will mount on the same pole as everything else.
Working on board and wiring layout inside my nema 3x box. Terminal blocks fuses, etc.
Lots of fun. Will update when I have more.
Thank you, 73 Mike AF5CL
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Post by SDL on Jun 3, 2017 5:28:50 GMT -8
Mike,
We demand pictures of your progress on this project! I need something to drink beer and watch.
BP
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af5cl
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by af5cl on Jun 3, 2017 17:22:29 GMT -8
Ok, figured out how to insert images So pictures of progress so far: Mounted solar panel on the pole: Panel mount close up: View of the pole in its entirety: That is where everything will end up mounted. Long story short, I purchased the pipe, cut it to size, with the help of my wife, painted it. Hand dug a 2ft x 2ft x 4ft hole in the ground. (Not something I want to do again) Wired up a rebar cage, intersecting with the pole. Lots of concrete later, we have a very solid place to mount the project! Next post I'll add pics of where I'm at with the groveweatherpi wiring. Until then, 73 Mike AF5CL
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Post by SDL on Jun 4, 2017 2:19:43 GMT -8
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af5cl
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by af5cl on Jun 4, 2017 7:09:28 GMT -8
Here's a few pics from my lab: Weather instruments mounted on top of a rack, note the fan simulating wind Inside the nema 3x box : Here's one showing the wiring and tinytrack4 as well as the genasun mppt charge controller: This box was originally designed to be used in oil refineries. I got it at a hamradio swap meet. It came brand new. It has a large master shutoff switch used with PLC industrial applications. After figuring out what it is, I've decided to use it as a master emergency shutoff switch for my application. Notice the large industrial sealed conduit entry points in the second pic. I'm setting it up so that one carries data lines, and the other dc power lines. Next post will include the shutoff switch. Btw: I have been to Curacao! Would love to chat about that one day
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af5cl
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by af5cl on Jun 4, 2017 7:28:18 GMT -8
Here's a couple more pics from inside the box with the terminal blocks, fusing, and master shutoff switch: Another angle: My battery(s) will be in another much larger box mounted on the pole with the controller box mounted above it. The weather instruments mounted at at the top along with radio antenna. So that's where I'm at so far. Questions: What would you consider maximum cable length for grove i2c cable? Same question for grove digital cable. I want to run a digital grove mosfet board down to the battery box to control a 12v fan but would like to tie it into the pi grover board located in the controller box. Thoughts?
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Post by SDL on Jun 4, 2017 14:33:46 GMT -8
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af5cl
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by af5cl on Jun 4, 2017 21:39:40 GMT -8
How is the OLED being enabled when controlled by the power save module. Is it only active on boot or can you manually activate it? Maybe by pressing a momentary switch?
Also, I'm still not clear on how to wire up the dual watchdog board. Can you provide an example drawing or description? I think someone said I should use an arduino tied to the watchdog to monitor the pi zero?
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Post by SDL on Jun 5, 2017 13:49:35 GMT -8
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af5cl
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by af5cl on Jun 6, 2017 7:43:55 GMT -8
Thanks for the reply. As for my questions about the OLED and powersave, let try to ask ir a different way. To me, the purpose of the OLED, in this system is to get a quick status if I happen to be standing in front of the unit, which for me would be rare. Same for you. I guess what I'm asking is, what would trigger the powersave to re-enable the OLED so I could see it if I were to walk out to my box mounted outside? If that is not possible, then why have it connected at all? Does that make sense? If I were to use the power save module with it, how long would I be able to see the OLED on a fresh boot of the system? So, those were my questions. My, idea/suggestion, was to trigger the power save to re-enable the OLED on a moment button press for a set amount of time, or if we get fancy, maybe on motion detection, or even when the box door is opened. See what I'm getting at? Otherwise, for me, I am using this console cable with a terminal in the event I can't access the system: www.adafruit.com/product/954I have considered placing the OLED where it would be visible from outside the box protected from the elements behind plexiglass. The motion sense idea might be useful in that case. Thoughts?
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Post by SDL on Jun 6, 2017 10:41:39 GMT -8
Mike,
What do you use to trigger it? We use a command to the software. By hand in a sense (ssh in and change a variable). You could use a PIR, ultrasonic, or something like that.
How long you would see it is up to you. You would need to change the code to support that.
We mount the OLED behind plexiglass (actually we used quartz because we are also using the sunlight sensor which won't measure UV behind plexiglass).
BP
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af5cl
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by af5cl on Jul 25, 2017 7:49:19 GMT -8
Quick update: this project is still alive and well. For personal reasons, I have paused it for the moment, but will be resuming I estimate in a month. I'll post an update when I resume work.
Thank you,
Mike
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