basic assembly - newbie question | SwitchDoc Labs Product Support

matt
New Member

Posts: 13

basic assembly - newbie question Feb 18, 2018 14:44:28 GMT -8 jorgeg73 likes this

Quote

Post by matt on Feb 18, 2018 14:44:28 GMT -8

I have decided to attempt to build a weather station at home for the kids. I am new to RPi3 and Switchdoc Labs.

I have a RPi3, and then purchased the weatherboard with grove connectors (www.switchdoc.com/weatherboard/).

I quickly learned that this and the RPi3 weren't enough to actually begin my journey. I couldn't figure out how to connect them together. I was attempting to follow this tutorial:

www.switchdoc.com/2016/12/tutorial-part-1-building-a-solar-powered-raspberry-pi-weather-station-groveweatherpi/

I concluded that I needed the Pi2Grover (shop.switchdoc.com/products/pi2grover-raspberry-pi-to-grove-connector-interface-board)

After purchasing the Pi2Grover and trying various connections between it and the weatherboard, I'm thoroughly confused. I just want to dabble to get started, thus I didn't buy all the various sensors. But since the tutorial references everything I'm not sure how to separate out the parts I have versus what I need without buying everything.

I have tried testing various code sets from github (listed below) to test, but none have yielded a positive response from the hardware.
RTC_SDL_DS3231
SDL_Pi_GroveWeatherPi
SDL_Pi_Weather_80422
SDL_Pi_WeatherBoard
SDL_Weather_80422

So do I have enough to make the weatherboard work by itself, i.e. just temperature and humidity?
If not, what do I need to get the most basic system working?
Is there a tutorial for just the most basic system?

Thank you very much in advance, I appreciate any useful help.

SDL
Global Moderator

Posts: 4,778
Raspberry Pi: Yes
Other Device: PC, arduino, beagleBone

basic assembly - newbie question Feb 19, 2018 17:00:28 GMT -8

Quote

Post by SDL on Feb 19, 2018 17:00:28 GMT -8

Happy to help! Most people buy the WeatherBoard in a kit, but you can do a lot with just the board.

First of all, head over to:

shop.switchdoc.com/collections/weather/products/the-weather-board-w-grove-interface-board-for-weather-instruments-for-raspberry-pi-arduino

Especially check out the block diagram to see what is on your board and how to hook it up. Download the Weather Board specification and look at that too.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENABLED THE I2C Interface on the Raspberry Pi (as is talked about in the README.md for SDL_Pi_WeatherBoard).

Once you have, turn off your Pi and hook up a Grove I2C Port on the WeatherBoard and then on the Pi2Grover. Plug in the DS3231 into the socket on the WeatherBoard, making sure to line up the GND pins on the clock and the WeatherBoard.

Now power up your Pi and run the SDL_Pi_WeatherBoard software. Make sure you have installed what you need to listed in the README.md

Once you have done this, you should see the software detect the BMP280 (Barometer, temperature) and the DS3231 (Real Time Clock) and you have started building your Weather Station.

BP

matt
New Member

Posts: 13

basic assembly - newbie question Feb 19, 2018 20:27:37 GMT -8

Quote

Post by matt on Feb 19, 2018 20:27:37 GMT -8

Thank you for the help, I have it working now. However, I went here: github.com/switchdoclabs/SDL_Pi_WeatherBoard/blob/master/README.md, but I couldn't see a section that explicitly said how to enable the i2c interface.

After a little searching I ran across this article learn.adafruit.com/adafruits-raspberry-pi-lesson-4-gpio-setup/configuring-i2c and the configure utility:

sudo raspi-config

So I was able to enable the I2C interface that way. Is that the way the README.md wanted me to do it?

I also verified that I have a single grove cable between WeatherBoard-J7 and one of the Pi2Grover-I2C connections. Now I get:

SDL_Pi_WeatherBoard $ sudo i2cdetect -y 1
     0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  a  b  c  d  e  f
00:          -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
10: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
20: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
30: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
40: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
50: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
60: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
70: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 77


SDL_Pi_WeatherBoard $ sudo python WeatherBoard.py 
Error accessing 0x48: Check your I2C address
Error accessing 0x48: Check your I2C address
Type Error
AM2315 = 0.0

Weather Board Demo / Test Version 1.6 - SwitchDoc Labs


Program Started at:2018-02-19 22:23:28

----------------------
DS3231:   		Not Present
BMP280:   		Present
FRAM:   		Not Present
HTU21DF:   		Not Present
AM2315:   		Not Present
ADS1015:   		Not Present
ADS1115:   		Not Present
AS3935:   		Not Present
OLED:   		Not Present
SunAirPlus:   		Not Present
WXLink:   		Not Present
----------------------
---------------------------------------- 
----------------- 
 DS3231 Real Time Clock Not Present
----------------- 
----------------- 
 WeatherRack Weather Sensors
 WeatherRack Local
----------------- 
----------------- 
 AM2315 Temperature/Humidity  Sensor Not Present
----------------- 
----------------- 
----------------- 
Rain Total=	0.00 in
Wind Speed=	0.00 MPH
MPH wind_gust=	0.00 MPH
----------------- 
----------------- 
 BMP280 Barometer
----------------- 
Temperature = 	24.39 C
Pressure = 	98.87 KPa
Altitude = 	206.76 m
Sealevel Pressure = 	98.87 KPa
----------------- 
----------------- 
 HTU21DF Temp/Hum Not Present
----------------- 
----------------- 
----------------- 
 AS3935 Lightning Detector Not Present
----------------- 
----------------- 
----------------- 
 FRAM Not Present
----------------- 
----------------- 

----------------- 
 SunAirPlus Not Present
----------------- 
Sleeping 10 seconds

SDL Global Moderator Posts: 4,778 Raspberry Pi: Yes Other Device: PC, arduino, beagleBone	basic assembly - newbie question Feb 22, 2018 4:40:16 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by SDL on Feb 22, 2018 4:40:16 GMT -8 You probably have not installed the jumpers on the I2C Mux board. check them. BP

matt
New Member

Posts: 13

basic assembly - newbie question Feb 23, 2018 18:51:50 GMT -8

Quote

Post by matt on Feb 23, 2018 18:51:50 GMT -8

Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't have an I2C Mux board, just the Pi2Grover and the weatherboard. It works, but this error (below) does seem like something I'll have to deal with eventually.

SDL_Pi_WeatherBoard $ sudo python WeatherBoard.py
Error accessing 0x48: Check your I2C address
Error accessing 0x48: Check your I2C address
Type Error
AM2315 = 0.0

SDL
Global Moderator

Posts: 4,778
Raspberry Pi: Yes
Other Device: PC, arduino, beagleBone

basic assembly - newbie question Feb 24, 2018 12:00:06 GMT -8

Quote

Post by SDL on Feb 24, 2018 12:00:06 GMT -8

You can ignore the accessing order. It's looking for an I2C address and detecting that it doesn't find one.

The type error means you don't have an AM2315 plugged in.

It should find the BMP280 if you have it connected in correctly.

Send a picture of your setup and tell us how you have wired it.

BP

matt
New Member

Posts: 13

basic assembly - newbie question Feb 24, 2018 12:48:25 GMT -8

Quote

Post by matt on Feb 24, 2018 12:48:25 GMT -8

The Pi2Grover is connected via the GPIO and then there is one cable between the I2C on the weatherboard and the I2C on the Pi2Grover. This picture shows it inside an enclosure I'll use to mount it outside (headless). I'll expand the sensors as my competence grows.

Last Edit: Feb 24, 2018 13:13:53 GMT -8 by matt

SDL Global Moderator Posts: 4,778 Raspberry Pi: Yes Other Device: PC, arduino, beagleBone	basic assembly - newbie question Feb 24, 2018 13:55:21 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by SDL on Feb 24, 2018 13:55:21 GMT -8 Hmm. Try pulling out the Real time Clock board (turn the power off first.). It looks correct. BP

matt
New Member

Posts: 13

basic assembly - newbie question Feb 25, 2018 20:06:57 GMT -8

Quote

Post by matt on Feb 25, 2018 20:06:57 GMT -8

Here's the result without the Real Time Clock Board. Seems like that did not help.

[email protected]:~/SDL_Pi_WeatherBoard $ sudo i2cdetect -y 1
     0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  a  b  c  d  e  f
00:          -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
10: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
20: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
30: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
40: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
50: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
60: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 
70: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 77                         
[email protected]:~/SDL_Pi_WeatherBoard $ sudo python WeatherBoard.py 
Error accessing 0x48: Check your I2C address
Error accessing 0x48: Check your I2C address
Type Error
AM2315 = 0.0

Weather Board Demo / Test Version 1.6 - SwitchDoc Labs


Program Started at:2018-02-25 22:03:08

----------------------
DS3231:   		Not Present
BMP280:   		Present
FRAM:   		Not Present
HTU21DF:   		Not Present
AM2315:   		Not Present
ADS1015:   		Not Present
ADS1115:   		Not Present
AS3935:   		Not Present
OLED:   		Not Present
SunAirPlus:   		Not Present
WXLink:   		Not Present
----------------------
---------------------------------------- 
----------------- 
 DS3231 Real Time Clock Not Present
----------------- 
----------------- 
 WeatherRack Weather Sensors
 WeatherRack Local
----------------- 
----------------- 
 AM2315 Temperature/Humidity  Sensor Not Present
----------------- 
----------------- 
----------------- 
Rain Total=	0.00 in
Wind Speed=	0.00 MPH
MPH wind_gust=	0.00 MPH
----------------- 
----------------- 
 BMP280 Barometer
----------------- 
Temperature = 	24.75 C
Pressure = 	99.79 KPa
Altitude = 	128.92 m
Sealevel Pressure = 	99.79 KPa
----------------- 
----------------- 
 HTU21DF Temp/Hum Not Present
----------------- 
----------------- 
----------------- 
 AS3935 Lightning Detector Not Present
----------------- 
----------------- 
----------------- 
 FRAM Not Present
----------------- 
----------------- 

----------------- 
 SunAirPlus Not Present
----------------- 
Sleeping 10 seconds

In any event I'm moving on and struggling with creating the databases in MariaDB. I have the same problem as is listed in this post and so will focus my energy on the database problem for now. Thank you for your assistance to this point.

SDL
Global Moderator

Posts: 4,778
Raspberry Pi: Yes
Other Device: PC, arduino, beagleBone

basic assembly - newbie question Feb 26, 2018 7:23:17 GMT -8

Quote

Post by SDL on Feb 26, 2018 7:23:17 GMT -8

Hmmm. Interesting. Your i2cdetect is not picking up the BMP280, but GroveWeatherPi is picking it up.

That means theWeather Board is there and functioning.

When you plug in the clock board, does groveweatherpi pi pick that up?

I'd say you might have a bad clock board, but that doesn't explain why your i2cdetect is not working. Did you do:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

?

BP

matt
New Member

Posts: 13

basic assembly - newbie question Mar 10, 2018 11:13:52 GMT -8

Quote

Post by matt on Mar 10, 2018 11:13:52 GMT -8

Well I'm not sure what specifically I did, but it seems to be working now. I did reseat the RTC and I pulled the battery and checked it's voltage output. Found no problems so reinstalled, and now all is well. At least I don't know enough to not know better. On to my MariaDB problems, thanks for the help.

[email protected]:~/SDL_Pi_WeatherBoard $ sudo i2cdetect -y 1
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 a b c d e f
00: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
10: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
20: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
30: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
40: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
50: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 57 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
60: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 68 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
70: -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 77
[email protected]:~/SDL_Pi_WeatherBoard $ sudo python WeatherBoard.py
Error accessing 0x48: Check your I2C address
Error accessing 0x48: Check your I2C address
Type Error
DS3231= 2018-03-10 13:10:33
-----------------
-----------------
AT24C32 EEPROM
-----------------
writing first 4 addresses with random data
address = 0 writing value=190
address = 1 writing value=167
address = 2 writing value=12
address = 3 writing value=253
-----------------
reading first 4 addresses
address = 0 value = 190
address = 1 value = 167
address = 2 value = 12
address = 3 value = 253
-----------------
AM2315 = 0.0

Weather Board Demo / Test Version 1.6 - SwitchDoc Labs

Program Started at:2018-03-10 13:10:34

----------------------
DS3231: Present
BMP280: Present
FRAM: Not Present
HTU21DF: Not Present
AM2315: Not Present
ADS1015: Not Present
ADS1115: Not Present
AS3935: Not Present
OLED: Not Present
SunAirPlus: Not Present
WXLink: Not Present
----------------------
----------------------------------------
-----------------
DS3231 Real Time Clock
-----------------
Raspberry Pi= 2018-03-10 13:10:34
DS3231= 2018-03-10 13:10:34
DS3231 Temperature= 23.75 C
-----------------
-----------------
WeatherRack Weather Sensors
WeatherRack Local
-----------------
-----------------
AM2315 Temperature/Humidity Sensor Not Present
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
Rain Total= 0.00 in
Wind Speed= 0.00 MPH
MPH wind_gust= 0.00 MPH
-----------------
-----------------
BMP280 Barometer
-----------------
Temperature = 21.66 C
Pressure = 99.74 KPa
Altitude = 132.63 m
Sealevel Pressure = 99.74 KPa
-----------------
-----------------
HTU21DF Temp/Hum Not Present
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
AS3935 Lightning Detector Not Present
-----------------
-----------------
-----------------
FRAM Not Present
-----------------
-----------------

-----------------
SunAirPlus Not Present
-----------------
Sleeping 10 seconds

SDL Global Moderator Posts: 4,778 Raspberry Pi: Yes Other Device: PC, arduino, beagleBone	basic assembly - newbie question Mar 10, 2018 11:43:04 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by SDL on Mar 10, 2018 11:43:04 GMT -8 You have made great progress. Keep us up to date on what you end up building! BP

basic assembly - newbie question

Post by matt on Feb 18, 2018 14:44:28 GMT -8

Post by SDL on Feb 19, 2018 17:00:28 GMT -8

Post by matt on Feb 19, 2018 20:27:37 GMT -8

Post by SDL on Feb 22, 2018 4:40:16 GMT -8

Post by matt on Feb 23, 2018 18:51:50 GMT -8

Post by SDL on Feb 24, 2018 12:00:06 GMT -8

Post by matt on Feb 24, 2018 12:48:25 GMT -8

Post by SDL on Feb 24, 2018 13:55:21 GMT -8

Post by matt on Feb 25, 2018 20:06:57 GMT -8

Post by SDL on Feb 26, 2018 7:23:17 GMT -8

Post by matt on Mar 10, 2018 11:13:52 GMT -8

Post by SDL on Mar 10, 2018 11:43:04 GMT -8

Quick Reply