Don't forget if you are running PM2 and have cached the startup you will need to shut down the pm2 instance `pm2 stop REM` then run `npm start` from the relayEquipmentManager directory to rebuild the cache the first time.
New OB RPi Set Up
- Thread starter setsailsoon
- Start date
Katodude
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- Aug 22, 2017
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just wanted to chime in to say thanks for posting your experience. It’s been very helpful this far. I am bring my system up now and I am having issues with the second temp sensor - one works the other doesn’t. I haven’t prioritized this yet as I have my hands full.
I am looking forward to seeing how you setup the rest of the setup as far as configuring aux circuits and circuit groups and scheduling. Hopefully you will have time to document this as it can be difficult to find the exact information you need in the sea of information that others have been kind to leave for us.
Will you be using this stand alone or with an intelliCenter or equivalent?
I am looking forward to seeing how you setup the rest of the setup as far as configuring aux circuits and circuit groups and scheduling. Hopefully you will have time to document this as it can be difficult to find the exact information you need in the sea of information that others have been kind to leave for us.
Will you be using this stand alone or with an intelliCenter or equivalent?
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,614
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- 28000
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Bill,
Glad this is helpful. I certainly understand the priority issues. My pool construction was interrupted with several self-inflicted delays that totaled about a month then had additional weather and sub-contractor issues. But we finally added water 30 May after starting in Feb. In Jun we re-configured plumbing and had numerous weather delays. So that reduced priority of the RPi installation as well as time available. Now really down to tweaking things and starting to focus on getting the RPi up and running again. I've reloaded the system and having some problems with the npm command that seem to come from the fact that nvm wasn't installed properly. If I can't get it to run today I'll do a fresh install again. Happy to say that's getting pretty easy to do. I'll keep you posted.
I'm using it stand-alone. In my opinion Intellicenter is the best automation system out there but incredibly expensive for the control it does and they were pretty late/unresponsive to customers needs for updates when I did my own install at the previous house/pool. On top of that I'm a DIY'er and that's just not their business focus. So everything I buy has very limited warranty.
Chris
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,614
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06 July Update.
I've been distracted with several unrelated activities past week so I've only had an hour or two here and there to work on this. During that time I've reprogrammed the memory card several times. I know that doesn't sound good but it's actually been very good for me. Each time I made more progress and I've sort of learned the hard way how details matter when it comes to the RPi and loading node-red based software... kind of the modern version of programming that I learned decades ago. A misplaced space or forgotten adder is really important. I can't find any really simple command that will load everything. But I can say it really works well if I follow meticulously these instructions and be sure to do every one of the software prerequisites:
github.com
I still have a minor issue with the PM2 software referred to in the Wiki link but I can manually start using this command:
pm2 start ecosystem.config.js
The problem I'm having is saving the file ecosystem.config.js in the "home" directory... error comes up that I don't have access... typical aggravating programming message that I'll Google and find an answer to. If that doesn't work I always have my "phone a friend option with @Katodude ". But I'm really trying to learn a little more than what line to type by leaning on his generous offer of help only when I really am stuck is helping me learn and gain some confidence. For example: I had no idea how to create the file in the first place as described in the instructions 'till I learned the hard way that there's an editor program already on the Pi and this makes it really easy to copy and paste using the instructions... this gives you an idea of what my level of capability is. If I can do this anybody can!
One last tip for the SIPP's (super ignorant programming people) like me. I found that once I get the Pi software loaded on the card it is way easier to do everything on the Pi machine doing the following:
***EDIT I have to say "everything works well" means I've got the software (pool controller, dashboard, Remote Equipment Manager) functioning fully... still struggling a lot with configuration but making a lot of progress also (temp probe is correctly displaying voltage in the inputs tab in the REM):
I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get this fully functioning soon when I have time again... hopefully later today.
I hope this is helpful.
Chris
I've been distracted with several unrelated activities past week so I've only had an hour or two here and there to work on this. During that time I've reprogrammed the memory card several times. I know that doesn't sound good but it's actually been very good for me. Each time I made more progress and I've sort of learned the hard way how details matter when it comes to the RPi and loading node-red based software... kind of the modern version of programming that I learned decades ago. A misplaced space or forgotten adder is really important. I can't find any really simple command that will load everything. But I can say it really works well if I follow meticulously these instructions and be sure to do every one of the software prerequisites:
DIY Standalone Nixie Pool Controller
An application to control pool equipment from various manufacturers. - tagyoureit/nodejs-poolController
github.com
I still have a minor issue with the PM2 software referred to in the Wiki link but I can manually start using this command:
pm2 start ecosystem.config.js
The problem I'm having is saving the file ecosystem.config.js in the "home" directory... error comes up that I don't have access... typical aggravating programming message that I'll Google and find an answer to. If that doesn't work I always have my "phone a friend option with @Katodude ". But I'm really trying to learn a little more than what line to type by leaning on his generous offer of help only when I really am stuck is helping me learn and gain some confidence. For example: I had no idea how to create the file in the first place as described in the instructions 'till I learned the hard way that there's an editor program already on the Pi and this makes it really easy to copy and paste using the instructions... this gives you an idea of what my level of capability is. If I can do this anybody can!
One last tip for the SIPP's (super ignorant programming people) like me. I found that once I get the Pi software loaded on the card it is way easier to do everything on the Pi machine doing the following:
- Open a chrome window on that machine (Chrome comes with the Pi image installation).
- Go to the TFP site and log in.
- Go to this thread.
- Right-click on the instructions link and select "open in a new tab" or copy past it to a new chrome window.
- Then it become easy to copy instructions and open a new terminal window to paste them into and press enter.
- I found it was best for me to open a new window for each basic software package
- If you want to terminate a program just go to the window it's working in and enter "cntr-c"
***EDIT I have to say "everything works well" means I've got the software (pool controller, dashboard, Remote Equipment Manager) functioning fully... still struggling a lot with configuration but making a lot of progress also (temp probe is correctly displaying voltage in the inputs tab in the REM):
I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get this fully functioning soon when I have time again... hopefully later today.
I hope this is helpful.
Chris
Last edited:
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,614
- Pool Size
- 28000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
******PLEASE IGNORE THIS POST*******
Important links:
pm2 start ecosystem.config.js
github.com
Important links:
pm2 start ecosystem.config.js
Sequent Microsystems Boards
A hardware controller for GPIO, I2c, SPI, and generic devices. - rstrouse/relayEquipmentManager
github.com
Last edited:
Based on your screenshot above, it looks like you do not have the input configured to 10k thermistor. Click on the gears and change it. This should be displaying in KOhms.06 July Update.
I've been distracted with several unrelated activities past week so I've only had an hour or two here and there to work on this. During that time I've reprogrammed the memory card several times. I know that doesn't sound good but it's actually been very good for me. Each time I made more progress and I've sort of learned the hard way how details matter when it comes to the RPi and loading node-red based software... kind of the modern version of programming that I learned decades ago. A misplaced space or forgotten adder is really important. I can't find any really simple command that will load everything. But I can say it really works well if I follow meticulously these instructions and be sure to do every one of the software prerequisites:
DIY Standalone Nixie Pool Controller
An application to control pool equipment from various manufacturers. - tagyoureit/nodejs-poolController
I still have a minor issue with the PM2 software referred to in the Wiki link but I can manually start using this command:
pm2 start ecosystem.config.js
The problem I'm having is saving the file ecosystem.config.js in the "home" directory... error comes up that I don't have access... typical aggravating programming message that I'll Google and find an answer to. If that doesn't work I always have my "phone a friend option with @Katodude ". But I'm really trying to learn a little more than what line to type by leaning on his generous offer of help only when I really am stuck is helping me learn and gain some confidence. For example: I had no idea how to create the file in the first place as described in the instructions 'till I learned the hard way that there's an editor program already on the Pi and this makes it really easy to copy and paste using the instructions... this gives you an idea of what my level of capability is. If I can do this anybody can!
One last tip for the SIPP's (super ignorant programming people) like me. I found that once I get the Pi software loaded on the card it is way easier to do everything on the Pi machine doing the following:
This saved me a TON of typing errors!
- Open a chrome window on that machine (Chrome comes with the Pi image installation).
- Go to the TFP site and log in.
- Go to this thread.
- Right-click on the instructions link and select "open in a new tab" or copy past it to a new chrome window.
- Then it become easy to copy instructions and open a new terminal window to paste them into and press enter.
- I found it was best for me to open a new window for each basic software package
- If you want to terminate a program just go to the window it's working in and enter "cntr-c"
***EDIT I have to say "everything works well" means I've got the software (pool controller, dashboard, Remote Equipment Manager) functioning fully... still struggling a lot with configuration but making a lot of progress also (temp probe is correctly displaying voltage in the inputs tab in the REM):
View attachment 593176
I'm pretty sure I'll be able to get this fully functioning soon when I have time again... hopefully later today.
I hope this is helpful.
Chris
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,614
- Pool Size
- 28000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
rstrouse,
Thanks. I made the change and did get the REM to update with temp readings inside the REM tabs but nothing was reported from there to the Dashboard. How do I get that to work and/or what can I have done wrong that is causing this? @Katodude has walked me through all the settings for temp and all seem to work fine except they don't show up in the Dashboard. I also reformatted the card and loaded RPi software/updated then re-performed loading from the link you supplied above. Still having issues getting the PM2 config file to the home directory so I'm running it manually from a terminal window after rebooting. REM seems to work fine with tiles reporting voltage. I've done this 3 times and still can't get readings ported over to the Dashboard... I feel like I'm very close but doing something basic wrong.
I did have some success with the RS 485 analysis. Couple weeks ago it was working well and displaying pump speed in the Dashboard plus I was able to make speed control changes in the Dashboard. Then all of a sudden it quit working. We had real bad storms in the are with a close lightning strike and I was concerned I may have incurred a power surge that damaged it. I have surge protection but these things seem to have been sensitive to surge. So in parallel with the RPi work I've resurrected an old ESP 32 board that I had software for that tests RS 485 devices. I have a very simple routine that lets it send commands using Pentair Protocol to put the pump in remote mode momentarily then report back. Happy to say both pumps are behaving as they should so both RS 485's are working fine. I wire to the pumps using the same test wire I had set up as @Katodude suggested so I also proved the wire was right and I had correctly wire up A and B terminals.
Any comments/suggestions are much appreciated. I'll post screen shots of the temp and RS485 settings later today.
Chris
Thanks. I made the change and did get the REM to update with temp readings inside the REM tabs but nothing was reported from there to the Dashboard. How do I get that to work and/or what can I have done wrong that is causing this? @Katodude has walked me through all the settings for temp and all seem to work fine except they don't show up in the Dashboard. I also reformatted the card and loaded RPi software/updated then re-performed loading from the link you supplied above. Still having issues getting the PM2 config file to the home directory so I'm running it manually from a terminal window after rebooting. REM seems to work fine with tiles reporting voltage. I've done this 3 times and still can't get readings ported over to the Dashboard... I feel like I'm very close but doing something basic wrong.
I did have some success with the RS 485 analysis. Couple weeks ago it was working well and displaying pump speed in the Dashboard plus I was able to make speed control changes in the Dashboard. Then all of a sudden it quit working. We had real bad storms in the are with a close lightning strike and I was concerned I may have incurred a power surge that damaged it. I have surge protection but these things seem to have been sensitive to surge. So in parallel with the RPi work I've resurrected an old ESP 32 board that I had software for that tests RS 485 devices. I have a very simple routine that lets it send commands using Pentair Protocol to put the pump in remote mode momentarily then report back. Happy to say both pumps are behaving as they should so both RS 485's are working fine. I wire to the pumps using the same test wire I had set up as @Katodude suggested so I also proved the wire was right and I had correctly wire up A and B terminals.
Any comments/suggestions are much appreciated. I'll post screen shots of the temp and RS485 settings later today.
Chris
wayner
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Thanks for posting all of this, and keep it coming. I do a bit of DIY automation with Sonoff switches flashed with Tasmota that are controlled by my Control4 Home Automation system, but I would like to move to more of what you are doing here.
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,614
- Pool Size
- 28000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
More validation the RS 485 is working well. Was able to change the filter pump ID to "2" which changes the pump ID from 60 to 61 in the status string. Here's the pump response from the status command after I made the ID change:
I know I'm going to get the Pi running sooner or later but at least as a back up I can at least use this board to do simple manual control... the esp32 can broadcast a web page to interface and it's very simple to do. I've set up a page to do this that's sort of like putting the Intellicenter in service mode. Have to travel next 2 days so won't make much progress. I'm going to give the Pi another try this Friday and hopefully get most of the functionality back. No idea why the RS485 even quit but I am 100% certain it was operator error... learning is so painful! I was so pumped when I got the 485 running on the Pi! Now can't even get it running.
Chris
I know I'm going to get the Pi running sooner or later but at least as a back up I can at least use this board to do simple manual control... the esp32 can broadcast a web page to interface and it's very simple to do. I've set up a page to do this that's sort of like putting the Intellicenter in service mode. Have to travel next 2 days so won't make much progress. I'm going to give the Pi another try this Friday and hopefully get most of the functionality back. No idea why the RS485 even quit but I am 100% certain it was operator error... learning is so painful! I was so pumped when I got the 485 running on the Pi! Now can't even get it running.
Chris
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,614
- Pool Size
- 28000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Folks,
OK my Raspberry Pi install is taking a LOT of time. I'm still going to work on it separately after a pause just to get some kind of manual control that works from phone or tablet without having to go to the pump. Planning to do this quick and easy with the esp32 board that I used to test the RS 485 comms on both pumps. Working fine on both pumps simultaneously. Already have it working similar to "service mode" on a standard control system only using a local web page generated from the esp32. I'm having a little trouble with the RS 485 commands for the Superflo VS pump. It doesn't work like the Intelliflo pumps. Does anybody know where I can get the commands that work for this pump in RS 485 control. I'm getting status and verifying it's reading correctly speed and power. I can stop the pump but using Intelliflo commands to "start speed 1" don't seem to work. Does the Superflo VS pump only work with digital inputs? Any help on this would be much appreciated. I'm reading temps with no issues. Will test outputs tomorrow so I can start things like the LED's, SWG manually.
I really like the Nodejs and Raspberry Pi solution in the long run. But it feels like I'm learning a NASA lunar module control system to try to just do "on off" commands for a pool... a little frustrating and I am at the point I'm gonna make it work and feel pretty good when I do. But in the meantime wife, kids, grand-kids just need some basic results. @MyAZPool , @Katodude , @rstrouse any ideas?
Chris
OK my Raspberry Pi install is taking a LOT of time. I'm still going to work on it separately after a pause just to get some kind of manual control that works from phone or tablet without having to go to the pump. Planning to do this quick and easy with the esp32 board that I used to test the RS 485 comms on both pumps. Working fine on both pumps simultaneously. Already have it working similar to "service mode" on a standard control system only using a local web page generated from the esp32. I'm having a little trouble with the RS 485 commands for the Superflo VS pump. It doesn't work like the Intelliflo pumps. Does anybody know where I can get the commands that work for this pump in RS 485 control. I'm getting status and verifying it's reading correctly speed and power. I can stop the pump but using Intelliflo commands to "start speed 1" don't seem to work. Does the Superflo VS pump only work with digital inputs? Any help on this would be much appreciated. I'm reading temps with no issues. Will test outputs tomorrow so I can start things like the LED's, SWG manually.
I really like the Nodejs and Raspberry Pi solution in the long run. But it feels like I'm learning a NASA lunar module control system to try to just do "on off" commands for a pool... a little frustrating and I am at the point I'm gonna make it work and feel pretty good when I do. But in the meantime wife, kids, grand-kids just need some basic results. @MyAZPool , @Katodude , @rstrouse any ideas?
Chris
I don’t understand why you are having issues. You should probably post on the repo where folks that have the same equipment as you can help. Anyhow there are two command sets for the Superflo just like there is for IntelliFlo and yes the commands are the same. You must constantly send the run command periodically or the pump will shut off.
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,614
- Pool Size
- 28000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Thanks much for the quick reply. I don't understand why I'm having issues either. I will post in the repository for help as you suggest. Also want to post here for the people like me that are trying to use the RPi that are not knowledgeable in software may be able to do so. I think there could be quite a few pool owners intimidated by the technology that could benefit greatly by documenting here. Since so many are running this system successfully and I'm very much a novice, I'm quite certain it's operator error. I just can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I've done two new installations starting with formatting the card and I've replaced the card. The main problems I seem to have are:
- I can get the REM to "see" my temp sensor. I know this because I can see it installed as a generic device and when I look at the input devices in the IC2 tab. I have also set up the sensors following your extremely helpful guides. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the level of detail. It must have taken a lot of effort on your part. I can get the sensor to show up and display resistance that appears to be accurate (a little less than 10 Kohms). But I can't see the temp or resistance displayed in the Nixie dashboard.
- I don't seem to be able to reliably get the RS 485 to work. When I look at the comms tab I can see a lot of failed communication attempts. At first, I thought this was due damage to my pump from a lightning strike close by. But I've tested this using an old esp 32 test program and the RS 485 coms are working fine. I can interogate and get response via this very simple device so I'm pretty sure there's nothing wrong with the hardware on either pump. I get flow rate and wattage from both pumps that match the local display. I'm also able to send a few commands I've learned that turn off both pumps reliably. But this device is really designed to test RS 485's and isn't adequate to really do full pool control. As hard as nodejs is for this novice it's a far superior solution that I'd like to learn how to install and run.
Thanks again!
Chris
- Oct 25, 2015
- 5,614
- Pool Size
- 28000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Sorry for the long delay folks. Life happened and I ended up with a lot of unplanned travel and interruptions. Here's the plan now:
Here's some other info people may want to know about:
Chris
- Keep the pool working with my interim esp32 solution that in place. Maybe tweak a little as needed.
- In parallel get my RPi solution reloaded from the start by reprogramming the card with RPi operating system and a new version of nodejs. This time, if I get to a point I'm not sure about I "phone a friend" instead of guessing. I think this may be the source of problems for me. I've probably made mistakes in set up that caused a flawed installation. Now that I have a temporary system in place I can take the time to do the install right.
Here's some other info people may want to know about:
- Pentair Superflo RS 485 implementations vary by pump and have limited capability.
- Here's what I know so far:
- Neither the Pentair Superflow VS nor the Superflow XF VS seem to have full, real RS 485 control.
- All I can get to work reliably on either pump is a report of status on the RS 485 wires (green/yellow) from the automation cable.
- Both pumps have a "power out" signal but it's a very low amperage signal (5-20 ma).
- The Superflow VS red power out wire is +5v
- The Superflow XF red power out wire is +24v
- I can very reliably use the digital I/O wires to select speeds 1-4 on the Superflow VS using almost any signal that is stated in the manual (5-30VAC or DC)
- The superflow XF VS seems to only work using it's power out wire (+24v). The manual clearly states that any signal in the 5-30 V AC or DC will work. But there's also this paragraph that seems to contradict this saying that the digital I/O must use the power out "trigger signal". I can't find any information about how this works. All I can say is that I can use the red power out to control any of the digital inputs to change speed but no other external signal seems to work.
- Implementing the digital I/O for both pumps seems to work much more reliably using Ext Control enabled and Auto Prime off.
- I can display the speed, and wattage using simple software to decode the status command. None of the other Pentair RS 485 commands work.
- Given these issues I'm reverting to use of the Speed settings for my automation using the digital inputs.
- This will consume up to 4 DI/O's for each pump for speed 1, 2, 3, 4
- This only works reliably using the red wire for a "trigger source" on the commercial 5 hp pump
- This also requires I turn off "auto prime" and put the pump in "ext control only" mode.
- To avoid running a pump dry I'm going to need to take output from the flow switch to shut down pumps after a period of no flow after pump is started. This is what newer Pentair pumps do automatically. Another great reason to put out the $ for them.
- The other residential 1.5 hp pump can use the red output wire or 5-30v ac/dc. So I'm using the 24vac power easily available in my control box since I use it to control the valve actuators.
- I've gotten the esp 32 solution to work pretty well but it's sort of like using "service mode" on a commercial pool automation and not anywhere near as capable as the node red solution so I'm going to keep working on the Pi4 solution till I get it right.
Chris
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