Collaborative DIY Controller, lets try again

[lakedawgs]

A while back someone suggested we collaborate ideas and skills to design a DIY controller. We would need the skills of software programmer, electrical and mecanical engineers not to mention ideas and idea refinment from anyone interested in this project.
I understand very few of us have a ton of time to devote to a project like this but if everyone understands going in, that time is not an issue, quality of the end product is our goal.
It seems the biggest hurdle the last time this came up was leadership and time. I would be happy to coordinate the project to see the right people are utilizing their particular skillsets best.
Don’t think I want only engineers and programmers on this, ANYONE is welcome. I am hoping to utilize knowledge at many different levels.
This will not be my project, it will be OUR project.
There are many things to hammer out such as stand alone or PC based, platform, controls, etc., all these will be decided by the group. Right now I am more interested in seeing if a handfull of folks are willing to get involved in this project. The particulars will come via a group consensus later.
There is a board at the bottom of the DIY board, just scroll down to it, called "The R3CA Project". I would like to use this board for general project communication. I am just trying to get feedback from the general DIY community on the viability of the project.

Anyone interested go ahead and give me your email address and any specific skills you may have. You can email me off board at the address below or put you info in a reply to this thread.

Lets make this happen!
thanks,
Matt Anderson
lakedawgs

[David MC Lee]

I think you should take the opposite approach. Have a contest for bragging rights on who can build the best controller. Then take the best features from all products. I’ve never seen team project that worked very well which is why I now work for a very small company and love it. I do complete designs hardware, PCB layout, Software, some mechanical (fit it all in a box) etc. Yeas ago I would have just gone and build my own controller because that was my hobby “electronics�. Now my hobby is “reefs�. I have still kicked around about doing my own controller but right now I’m in the middle of building a new large tank and about to hit my busy season at work too.
If someone wants to start a team controller project I would suggest starting with the simple parts. “Sensors� If you can’t get a team of people to design a temperature sensor or agree on how to do it you will never get a controller project off the ground. I did a thread a week ago about ph sensors. This where I was going to start.

[lakedawgs]

HI,
Your idea may have to be the way to go. Unfortunately, I don't have the skills you have. I'm sure most people do not. There seem to be a fair amount of elect., ,mechanical and software engineers on this board. Having all that rolled up into one person is rare. I have basic elect. and software skills, but nothing to get me into development of a project like this.
The biggest problem when this came up a year + ago was someone to organize it. That is my strong suit.
What is the title of your thread about PH sensors so I can take a look.
thanks for the reply.
lakedawgs

[David MC Lee]

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=314305&highlight=ph+AND+ORP

[barebottoms]

1 wire!!!!

1 Personally really like 1 Wire networks. You shouldn't run out of addresses, not prone to Power Line interference and simple to build the networks.

There are ADC's available. Relay controllers, temperature sensors and humidity sensors already.

Lots of libraries out there for Pics, Atmels, and PCs.

[David MC Lee]

barebottoms: Have you used 1 wire like the maxim stuff?

[barebottoms]

David,

Yup. I "put together" the Temperature Sensor to log all my tanks. And since doing that I really like what it can do, so I've been researching everthing else. Since I'm no EE all I have is a collection of schematics and information oh how to make:

Relay controllers
pH probes (which should work with orp)

There are already working Humidity sensors that people use for Weather Stations.

What I'd love to see is a project like Mr. House (http://www.misterhouse.com/)

That is also GPL'd called Mr. Reef.

Just a collection of contributions for different modules.

There is some 1-wire integration in Mr. House for the weather station components already.

The scripting language is easy to pick up that anyone can create nice automation to fit any need. X-10 is already done.

There are Audrey Images for a remote display and controller.

[bleu]

PC connectivity would be very cool, it would allow you to send e-mail alerts, SNMP alerts (true geeks only ;) ), or even dial a phone number to alert you.

If you write it in Java, it will run for Windows, Mac and *nix folks. I could help with the PC part, but couldn't write anything for the ROMs in the actual controller.

[David MC Lee]

Could people start to post direct links to sensors that already use 1 wire. I would like to see what is out their already.

[barebottoms]

Temperature:
http://www.digitemp.com/
http://www.embedtronics.com/ultralog/ultralog.html

Stand alone AVR 8 probe:
http://www.bol.ucla.edu/~frank/2313Temper8.htm


Power Usage:
http://www.smart-watt.com/
http://www.simat.enta.net/1w-rtpm.html

Humidity Sensor:
http://www.maxim-ic.com/appnotes.cfm/appnote_number/758/ln/en

Light Meter:
http://www.i-netcontrol.net/owl.htm

Pressure Sensor (aka Barometer):
http://www.simat.enta.net/barometer.html

Relay Controller:
http://wwwmnmteam.informatik.uni-muenchen.de/~roelle/private/1-wire/relay_controller-1.0/
http://www.simat.enta.net/1wirerelay.jpg

Line Current Detector:
http://www.geocities.com/iecmaster/circuits_msr/cir_msr008.html

Addressable Switches:
http://www.maxim-ic.com/quick_view2.cfm/qv_pk/3818/ln/en