Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've been thinking of getting a Raspberry Pi too, it has an I2C port so it should be easy to hook a couple of DS18B20 thermal sensors (I plan on one for ambient temp, one waterproof for water temp). Probably add an RTC too since I'd like it know the time even if the network is down.

Also, to save on the monitor, if it is network connected, over wifi for example, you could run a web server and use any device to check the results...

http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=22736

http://codeandlife.com/2012/07/29/arduino-and-raspberry-pi-serial-communication/

Looks easy enough....

I may be missing something, but since the Pi is a little computer with a USB port, couldn't you just plug the Arduino USB cord into it as you would with a PC?

Anyone know if there are any remote desktop (over wifi) applications suitable for the Pi? That would remove the need for a monitor/keyboard after initial setup if you can get in via PC (or even phone).

Luckily my code posted previously echoes everything to serial (unless you tell it not to), so I could probably get away with little to no change on that side. Besides making the photoresistor a bit more functional, I suppose.

I dont know anything about arduino, but i did read on one of the threads someone mentioned using USB. The advantage of using serial though is that almost any microcontroller can use it. So as long as the microcontroller outputs the right data then anything written for the Pi would work.

My imagination taking off here, but you could have a little config file on the Pi that told it how many temp sensors you had for example and it would poll the arduino, picaxe, propeller etc that many times for temp, how many level sensors etc. Then if i wanted 37 temp sensors and you wanted 1 we could both use the same script. More work but it would be cool

The USB is a serial connection, though, and you get the added benefit of uploading code directly from the Pi. Much easier than making extra level shifters or voltage dividers.

Man, this is a cheap little Arduino clone:
http://dx.com/p/arduino-pro-mini-microc ... mhz-178183

If it treats the usb as a serial device it should be fairly trivial to be able to use both. The propeller can be the same thing with a ftdr device.

Well, that escalated quickly. I went ahead and ordered a Pi. I'll update once I've played around with it.

I like the way you work

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Hi all

Still waiting for the extra parts for my Arduino data logger. In the mean time I have a small windows program called Aqua Test Timer. It is setup basically to keep track of the time intervals for water testing.



It is free so just PM me if you would like a copy.

Well, i have been playing around today.

I have my prop sending data to my rpi and displaying via a serial terminal. I also have php reading from a config file.

Just need to get the python script to dump the values into a sql database, get the php generating the python script with the setting in the config file and displaying the data stored in the sql database. Easy peasey :S

The python script generation will be easy. SQL stuff shouldnt be too hard.... Hardest part will be manipulating the sql data into an xml format for the graphing stuff to work

No arduino though

I will be releasing the code onto GIT next week hopefully, under an MIT licence. Any MCU will be able to use it, just needs to be able to spit the data out in the right way.

xml? Does your graphing system support json? It's a one line conversion from an array to json, and I've found json to be way easier/faster/efficienter/reliabler/better than xml.

I'm using extjs + json for my graphs.
Extjs works really well, if you can spend the learning curve time then you get an amazing tool in your arsenal.

And if you use cakephp then it does ALL the database stuff for you...

Good luck with whatever you choose, I'll be interested to see the result :-)

The reason i am thinking xml is to try and reduce the load on the RPi. For example, say i have a graph of averages for 2012, i dont need to recompute the xml to display it later. You can just serve the same xml every time.

Can json work in that way?

Also this is just as much an exercise in coding, so a little challenge is welcome

Hi Everyone.

I finally got my Ardnino and other parts last week.

It is currently in the shed monitoring the temps for the fish tank, sump, outside and dead center of the Grow Bed.

But in my hast to get things ordered I forgot to order the Network shield, such is life. It should now be here in the next few days.(with another Ardnino Mega for the next project)

I have posted my version of a Arduino DataLogger to another thread as it is built on a Mega R3.

Datalogger with Arduino Mega R3
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=15687