Thank you.  This same configuration file format has worked out well in my other projects and I find it nice for my own use as well.

On Mon, Jan 20, 2020 at 02:42 AM, koal01 wrote:

Was the weather enough good this week-end to install your sqm ?

Snowing like crazy and/or cold as heck so not this time around :)

Sorry you were right, it was windy when i updated and did not see a gateway ip error.
It is a great update in config.h and easy to get into, i'm using your "Weather.ino.myObsSetup.txt" 
Was the weather enough good this week-end to install your sqm ?

Thanks a lot !
Koal01

Doubt it, NPT works here.  The gateway address, etc. needs to be correct and of course NTP sometimes doesn't answer.

Just checked the updated sketch, it is a lot easier to read and decipher, lots of work on your part,  Also thanks for the example code on sensors.
Thanks again for the changes
Nino

Hi Howard, 
For feedback
I'm testing this version and can't update time.
Downgrading to 1.4f and same ip timeserver and time is now ok

Koal01

On Thu, Jan 16, 2020 at 02:27 PM, koal01 wrote:

I intend to use relay 4 to monitor heating in the box when it's freezing.
This relay was designed for heating an observatory but  i'm not going to use it in the near future.
The relay to be used seems to be this one :
#define HEAT_RELAY 4                // Relay# for heating

Relay 4 isn't specific to anything.  The HEAT_RELAY in this case just happens to be #4, it could be any supported relay.  Observatory or box shouldn't really matter the feature is for thermostatic heat control.

What does the parameter _MEMORY_ON/OFF in the Power panel section means in the config.h ?

The memory setting if enabled preserves the relay state across power cycles.  If you turn the relay on and the power is lost... when the power comes back on it'll be turned on again.

You should take a look with the OCS version 2... the Config.h file is much more intuitive.

// POWER PANEL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#define POWER                          ON //    OFF, ON to enable the OCS website power panel display.                        Option

#define POWER_DEVICE1_RELAY             1 //    OFF, n. Where n=1..14 (Relay#) with _NAME below.                              Option
#define POWER_DEVICE1_MEMORY          OFF //    OFF, ON to enable memory (across power cycles) for this relay state.          Option
#define POWER_DEVICE1_NAME "RELAY 1"

#define POWER_DEVICE2_RELAY             2 //    OFF, n. Where n=1..14 (Relay#) with _NAME below.                              Option
#define POWER_DEVICE2_MEMORY          OFF //    OFF, ON to enable memory (across power cycles) for this relay state.          Option
#define POWER_DEVICE2_NAME "RELAY 2"
.
etc.
.

// THERMOSTAT PANEL ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
// See Thermostat.ino for user inside temperature and humidity sensor functions
#define THERMOSTAT                    OFF //    OFF, ON to enable the OCS website thermostat panel display.                   Option
#define HEAT_RELAY                    OFF //    OFF, n. Where n=1..14 (Relay#) for indoor heat.                               Option
#define COOL_RELAY                    OFF //    OFF, n. Where n=1..14 (Relay#) for cooling/venting.                           Option
#define THERMOSTAT_HUMIDITY           OFF //    OFF, ON displays indoor humidity.                                             Option

// LIGHTING PANEL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#define LIGHT                         OFF //    OFF, ON to enable the OCS website lighting panel display.                     Option
#define LIGHT_WRW_RELAY               OFF //    OFF, n. Where n=1..14 (Relay#) for Warm room white lights.                    Option
#define LIGHT_WRR_RELAY               OFF //    OFF, n. Where n=1..14 (Relay#) for Warm room red lights.                      Option
#define LIGHT_ORW_RELAY               OFF //    OFF, n. Where n=1..14 (Relay#) for Observing room white lights.               Option
#define LIGHT_ORR_RELAY               OFF //    OFF, n. Where n=1..14 (Relay#) for Observing room red lights.                 Option
#define LIGHT_OUTSIDE_RELAY           OFF //    OFF, n. Where n=1..14 (Relay#) for Outside flood.                             Option
#define LIGHT_SW_SENSE                OFF //    OFF, n. Where n=1..6 (Sense#) for switch to turn WRW lights on/off.           Option

Howard,
I intend to use relay 4 to monitor heating in the box when it's freezing.
This relay was designed for heating an observatory but  i'm not going to use it in the near future.
The relay to be used seems to be this one :
#define HEAT_RELAY 4                // Relay# for heating

What does the parameter _MEMORY_ON/OFF in the Power panel section means in the config.h ?

Thanks
Koal01

Fingercrossed ! Hope the weather will change so that you can install it
Sqm sensor is absolutely magic !
Good luck 

Thanks Howard, that was the other thing I was looking at, switching to a higher amp relays
Nino

BTW, this is done and waiting for installation...
I'll be up there (at the observatory) this weekend but I doubt I will have the opportunity to install due to poor weather conditions. :)

On Thu, Jan 16, 2020 at 05:29 AM, koal01 wrote:

i have a basic question for you, can i use the 12 V- wire (from the wind sensor) for another purpose and use the 5V- instead ? can the wind sensor work with a 12V+ and 5V- ? Since all the negative wires are connected together it should be possible ?

I don't have a schematic to see what exactly you have wired to what but generally speaking yes a common ground can be run on one wire.

Thank you for your answers.
The option of using a relay is interesting even manually and easy to implement
In my research how to save one wire (to connect the relay). i have a basic question for you, can i use the 12 V- wire (from the wind sensor) for another purpose and use the 5V- instead ? can the wind sensor work with a 12V+ and 5V- ? Since all the negative wires are connected together it should be possible ?

Koal01

I really don't experience these issues with my cloud detector, guess climate has a role or perhaps the sensor in an small insulating plastic housing helps.

Did you try to set the heater to a low level just a few degrees of temperature rise (like in the 1 to 5°C range)?

On Thu, Jan 16, 2020 at 03:28 AM, koal01 wrote:

Do you thinnk using relay could be used with a kind of temperature ( and humidity ?) threshold in order to open the current only when it's needed ?

Obviously one could add a little MCU to control a relay/heater.

Hi Howard,
Do you thinnk using relay could be used with a kind of temperature ( and humidity ?) threshold in order to open the current only when it's needed ?
Last night heating seemed to having helped IR working constantly all night long, i'm afraid one minute heating every hour would not be sufficient...
During the day it is different, today it is sunny and the temperature in the box is sqewing the temperature and IR readings.

Last night heating helped the sensor allowing a rapid transition in the middle of the night when the sky has become clearer, usually a change during cold night needs hours to be detected until the morning when the sun removes freeze and humidity 



A bad behavior in a clear sunny day with heating in the weather panel, temperature is  6 degreas higher and humidity is too low.
If OCS could stop the current on the heating, appropriate values would come back

 


Thank you 
Koal01

Over the course of working on version 2 of the OCS I've added new features for Garage door opener type observatory roof setups.

The premise of operation is as follows:

• The opener is installed along with its limit switches to control the range of motion.  It is autonomous and can work on its own using the press-button to open/close.
• A second set of limit switches ROR_LIMIT_SENSE_CLOSED and ROR_LIMIT_SENSE_OPENED allows the OCS to determine if the roof is fully opened or fully closed.
• An ROR_OPEN_CLOSE_MOMENTARY relay "presses the button" to either open or close the roof.
• An optional ROR_POWER_RELAY switches power to the opener and an also optional safety interlock sensor.  This relay engages 2 seconds before the "button press" and remains engaged until motion stops (detected by ROR_LIMIT_SENSE_XXX or timeout.)
• If the ROR_CLOSE_INTERLOCK signal is OFF (LOW for instance) motion is stopped (via ROR_POWER_RELAY) if closing the roof.
• If a limit switch doesn't open as it should as the roof moves away from it at the start of motion the motion is stopped (via ROR_POWER_RELAY.)
• If both limit switches are closed an error is thrown.

I just added this feature:

• If the roof is stopped mid-travel and both limit switches are open it's very difficult to take a guess at which direction the roof will move (could be a power outage, user intervention, etc.)  For this reason the OCS will not automatically start the roof again but requires using ROR_USER_SAFETY_OVERRIDE option to show a checkbox that allow you to do a safety override first.

I tested this by simulating the limit switches w/touching jumper wires and watching the relay action/timing and it seems to be working properly.  Test before hand as well as you can and make sure you think through your backup strategy for cutting power when verifying proper operation on the real thing!

i tested 2 hours with the heater stuck on the IR sensor just separated by a plastic piece, readings were not good.
I've just moved the heater sticking it just side by side the component, it gives now a slight heating in the sensor area without perturbating it, since then the readings are more reliable.
I'll need a few days to confirm that it's better espcially when the conditions are extreme keeping an eye on values of course.

Using a relay would be so nice of course but my 8 wires are used :
2 wires used for sla and slc i2c interface (humidity, pressure, temperature,  sqm, ir)
2 wires for 5v+ and 5- (humidity, pressure, temperature, sqm, ir, rain)
2 wires used for 12 v+ and 12 v- (wind)
2 wires for analogic pins  (wind and rain)

I'll need to pull a new cable. If you want to test relay and prepare some code i'll be pleased to test.

A sreenshot of what occurred since i implemented the heater, when i stuck it on the component the values changes about 10 degrees lower, i had to intervene a second time to adjust its position.



Koal01

You don't need a switch to turn the heater on/off... could just use an OCS relay.  If you do that one could even get fancy and, for example, heat for one minute every hour and block taking readings during that time if that tends to keep the sensor clear.

On Wed, Jan 15, 2020 at 11:46 AM, Howard Dutton wrote:

Keep in mind though that motors add another dimension to this (this link isn't special except that it was the first to come up in my google search:)

https://www.functionaldevices.com/about/blog/2018/08/horse-power-hp-what-is-this-contact-rating/

Some Relay's are even marked w/ motor HP ratings:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SLA-05VDC-SL-A-Relay-Module-5V-12V-24V-30A-High-Arduino-AVR-PIC-DSP-ARM-M/172357085519?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160811114145%26meid%3Db24393b46b7346268fec8b6b40b5f43e%26pid%3D100667%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D8%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D282196111056%26itm%3D172357085519%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2334524&_trksid=p2334524.c100667.m2042