DIY tank controller....

[PetPirate]

I'm building one. Slowly.

It is modular, with plans for each module to connect to a "base station", which will upload data to a computer, and perhaps send cellular short messages to report problems. The whole thing will be web-enabled for when I am on holiday. The modules mean that one failure should not bring down the whole system. There'll also be a wireless remote control, with an LCD display showing details and status of each part.

At least that's the plan.

The first part is simple.... a top-off and source water controller. One "box" sits in the kitchen and controls my RO unit -- filling and emptying mixing tubs for water changes, and managing heating and aeration when there is a suitable amount of water in the tubs.

It connects to a "satellite unit", over 40m away and located in the tank stand, which controls top-off for evaporation in the tank from a small reservoir (loaded with kalkwasser) located in the stand. When the reservoir becomes low, it requests water be sent form the kitchen through a pipe installed under the carpet.

The system also incorporates a "leak detector", that can even detect a few drops of freshly filtered RO/DI water, using simple DIY leak detectors that are strategically placed next to mixing tubs and under the RO unit.

It also shuts down the main return pump in the event of something going awry (like an overflow failing). In such circumstances, it "cycles" the pump on every 10 minutes or so, to ensure the water still gets moved around. Cool flashing lighs and loud alarms to wake the dead. The same shut off is also used as a user-controlled "feeding timer" -- shutting off the main pump for 2, 3 or 5 minutes (user-selectable).

Lots of fail-safes and redundancy, blah blah blah.

Anyone interested in more details? Want to build one with me?

[RTR]

I played that game too many years in the labs, I made an as-yet unbroken vow to stay low tech at home. But I do admit to local leak alarms... absent-minded folk need some crutches.

But I do admire techy setups, I have to admit that they are cool...

[YBeNormal]

I'm moving somewhat slower and with less ambition at the moment. I hope to begin building an auto topoff system in the next couple of weeks.

Spending my kids' inheritance--one tank at a time!

[RTR]

My son is counting on inheriting my Eheims. The tanks might be an issue - he is West Coast.

[Jager]

hmm am interested jhong however am already running a circuit that detects leaks as well the comp to control leaking that sounds very interesting.

[PetPirate]

Spending my kids' inheritance--one tank at a time!

ROTFLMAO!!!!!

[PetPirate]

Jager, you already saw all this on WWM anyway I think...

Here're the two units being tested, over 40m of ethernet cable. The cable ended up buried under carpet, wrapped with the RO tubing.



Here're the simple leak detectors.... sensitive enough to detect a drop of DI water. I'll position then strategically under and around mixing tubs:



Here are the units installed...

Under-tank (excuse the mess of wired and pipes!):



The thing to the right is the peristaltic pump for top-off. The pump is a dishwasher pump from ebay.

Kitchen:



Still doing a bit of testing and tweaking -- hence the grubby fingerprints on them, and the odd bit of electrical tape!

[PetPirate]

absent-minded folk need some crutches.

EXACTLY the rationale for this module.... let's just say the neighbour downstairs will be pleased if it works.

[YBeNormal]

Wow! It looks like you've already made a fair it of progress on this. Have you done anything with the PC interface and programming yet? I go through spells where I tavel for a few days to two weeks at a time for several months and the family knows little to nothing about the SW routines, so automation is something that I need to consider. I'll be watching this thred for sure!

BTW, nice idea with the dishwasher pump.

[RTR]

My neighbor downstairs is a groundhog, who comes up onto my decks and steals my tomatoes. If I offended him badly enough with overflows, do you think he would move out? - never mind, I already know that the floor holds water.

[Jager]

well rtr if you can find the holes a high powered hose works wonders to flush them out. also a great thing is a bug bomb, pull pin and toss in hole then cover it over. should smoke em out

[RTR]

The entire hillside is one giant groundhog colony. Dealing with one animal is trying to command the tides. I'm hoping that when the coyotes move in, they will balance the equation out a bit, and perhaps reduce the ranging cat population a bit on the side.

[PetPirate]

You're lucky... groundhogs are cute.

I have 24 sets of angry neighbours.

The last time I doused not only the apartment below, but because ti was at night, some also seeped through to their neighbours on the 23rd floor.

That's when I decided: No more filling buckets unattended for me! And built this.

[RTR]

Yup, unfortunately they are cute, especially this time of year when they are fat as bears. But what pests in the garden, and deciding the decks were available as well is over the top.

But I do see your problem - and understand.

[Jager]

rtr why god gave man the varmint rifle or if you arent allowed in MD to have such things a pellet gun. nothign smells better than roasted groundhog... j/k but a pellet gun does thin the ranks a bit.