This is a project I've always wanted to do due to the high cost of electronic aquarium controllers on the market. First let me say, that I do not knock the high cost, since a company has to make a profit, and due to volumes cost of components and more importantly the tooling cost of enclosures can be quite high. Depending on the design of the enclosure with rafting, knock outs, etc., just the tooling alone for an enclosure can run around $100k. So you can imagine with a low volume finished product why the end cost to the consumer is so high even though the electronics alone that are used are relatively dirt cheap. So the challenge here will be to overcome these obstacles.
Target price should be $150 - $175 for the following base unit.
[*]Ethernet
[*]Multiple USB ports
[*]Up to 32GB SD Card / Application Layer
[*]Enclosure
[*]4-6 Electronically controlled outlets on a power strip
[*]Temperature Probe
The overall goal is to have an application layer that is modular in approach that allows for easy upgrades and scalability. Want to add on o2 probe, there can be an app for that, want to add a PH probe, there can be an app for that. The main application can easily have a calendar/schedule for dosing, water changes, or more in depth historical logging. Controller will be capable of displaying and sending alerts to a smart device.
I’ll be looking at kicking this project off after the first of the year, I have prototype hardware coming in this next month, but due to the holidays and travel will not have much time to get it kicked off until after the New Year. I would think with this large of a community there are some coders out there and with the input (both good and bad ) this could be a fun community project.
Software will be open source under GPU/GPL.
Target price should be $150 - $175 for the following base unit.
- 7” capacitive touchscreen display
- Microcontroller
32 GPIO(s)
- Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
Can have both but will raise the cost about $15
[*]Ethernet
[*]Multiple USB ports
[*]Up to 32GB SD Card / Application Layer
[*]Enclosure
- Can be 3D printed or laser cut
3D printed would be the preferred method but to drive down the cost, laser cutting would be cheaper. The challenge here is to create an enclosure design that is esthetically pleasing and low cost to one off produce.
[*]4-6 Electronically controlled outlets on a power strip
- (1) always on for pump / filter
- (2) on/off controllable either by timer or condition
- (3) on/off controllable either by timer or condition
- (4) on/off controllable either by timer or condition
- (5) on/off controllable either by timer or condition
- (6) on/off controllable either by timer or condition
[*]Temperature Probe
The overall goal is to have an application layer that is modular in approach that allows for easy upgrades and scalability. Want to add on o2 probe, there can be an app for that, want to add a PH probe, there can be an app for that. The main application can easily have a calendar/schedule for dosing, water changes, or more in depth historical logging. Controller will be capable of displaying and sending alerts to a smart device.
I’ll be looking at kicking this project off after the first of the year, I have prototype hardware coming in this next month, but due to the holidays and travel will not have much time to get it kicked off until after the New Year. I would think with this large of a community there are some coders out there and with the input (both good and bad ) this could be a fun community project.
Software will be open source under GPU/GPL.