11/6/03
Ok, Ok, I haven't been very good about updating the progress being made...sorry folks. However, progress IS being made nicely on the DIY controller project. My partner in crime Mbelding has been busy with a Haunted House project for this past halloween, but is now back in the groove. Work on the pH and ORP probes is continuing by him, and I am sure progress is being made there. ALSO, a redesign of the interface is underway, the new display will now be a 4x16 LCD so it shows TONS of information. In order to continue development, I had to set out a plan for the comleted controller...in order to plan pin usage on the microprocessor. So for a nice preview of what this controller will do if everything continues to go as planned, here is the list of features:
Real Time Clock with battery backup, Room and tank temperature, pH sensor, ORP sensor, 2 separate float switch modules (3 float switches each), X-10 Interface for output, 8 relay drivers for directly controlled outlets (Modular), Internet capability (Optional), RS232 computer interface through DB9 serial cable
Not bad for a DIY project huh? The controller will be able to control the X-10 interface or the relay controlled outlets based on time, date, day(i.e. Saturday), pH, ORP, Temp of room, Temp of Tank, and floatswitch activity. I also plan to have Tide tables and Day/Night length tables that can be uploaded to the controller by the serial interface so that seasonal tide and lighting changes can be made automatically by the controller.
And what would an update be without some phot proof :) Here is the breadboard as it stands now:
And here is the $22 Internet interface I have decided to offer as an option. I think it is an excellent price! I have not started working on the internet interface yet, it will be the last thing I do on the project, but I thought I would tease everyone..heh
