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Reef Angel Controller / Arduino

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Bud, Feb 17, 2011.

  1. Feb 17, 2011 #1
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

    8,890
    West Des Moines, IA
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    Is anyone out there using a Reef Angel controller?  This seems like a great value.  I'm wondering what the downside is.
    I was reading up on an Arduino unit for dimming a DIY LED setup and came across this unit and now I totally want it.  Mainly via search on this site.  I also read Bluefool’s Apex nightmare.  In case you read this Bluefool, I am also an engineer and when I looked at their website I was pretty much sold in about 10 seconds.


    This looks to me like it does everything I want and comes with this:


    • Head Unit

    • Relay Box (8 outlets)

    • HDDB15 Communication Cable

    • PH Probe

    • Waterproof Temperature Probe

    • 2x Float Switch

    • 2x Float Switch Connectors

    • TTL level serial converter cable


    And the features are


    • Color LCD screen

    • Thumb joystick for easy menu navigation

    • 8 Controllable outlets

    • 2 Digital inputs

    • 1 pH input

    • 2 Digital/PWM outputs

    • 3 Temperature probe ports

    • Easily configurable to all common functions:
        
    o Auto Top Off
        
    o Heater
        
    o Fan/Chiller
        
    o Light schedule
        
    o PWM dimming for sunrise and sunset effect
        
    o Feeding/Water change mode
         o Wavemakers
        
    o Dosing pumps

    So it seems to me that this does everything that you want a controller to do, it’s $200 all inclusive.  Plus I read on here somewhere that all the code you could ever want is posted on Reef Central.


    So what’s the catch?
    Unless there's a big one, this unit will soon be mine.  All I really wanted to learn about was LED dimming via Arduino, which I will still probably do.  Look what I got myself into!!
     
  2. Feb 17, 2011 #2
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    The only thing that I can think of is having the know how to support everything on your own. And I know there is a user community out there to help with your questions and all, but I know that there's also more ability to do customizations and things like that...which is where it's easy to get into trouble. If you have the capability to support the electronics and controller code, the time to troubleshoot things and the patience for everything just listed, then it sounds like it might be just the controller for you.

    I know Bluefool had an unfortunate experience with his Apex. He's had the worst string of bad luck with his controller than anyone I've ever heard of. Not sure what to attribute that to, but I would guess that the ratio of people that have bad experiences with Apex vs those that have good are probably closer to 10 to 20 good to every 1 bad. I really feel bad for his string of bad luck. I'm not trying to tell you that everything is perfect with Apex (heck, just ask PotRoast about the complexities he's dealing with trying to upgrade his firmware using a Mac) but I am saying that for the general population, it's a pretty darn good device.

    I'm not an engineer, so the Reef Angel is not for me. Heck, I don't even know how to use all of the Apex capabilities, so trying to support a DIY open source controller like that is just out of my league. Additionally, I've yet to meet a single person successfully running that controller. Not to say they don't exist, because I've read about them online (I've read about Yeti too...but I digress...hehe), I've just never known anyone myself. Maybe you'll be the first. Best of luck with your research and potential acquisition of the Reef Angel. Keep us in the loop and let you know how it works for you!

    --AJ
     
  3. Feb 17, 2011 #3
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    Two other things to add...I think that new controllers like this coming into the market and gaining traction is a good thing for all of us. Why? It's going to force the other controllers to attempt to keep up. It's going to force more innovation and speed time to market on enhancements. We've seen Neptune System, Digital Aquatics and GHL doing this stuff to a degree for years, but something like the Reef Angel, being open source vs. proprietary, could really shake things up. They next year will be interesting to watch for the main controllers out there.

    Also, a newcomer like Reef Angel has only been on the market for a year. It's difficult to gauge stability and reliability in that amount of time. You have a lot of $$ invested in your tank. Worth it to save some $$ on a controller whose track record for reliability is unknown?

    Food for thought.

    --AJ
     
  4. Feb 17, 2011 #4
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

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    West Des Moines, IA
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    Well I don't mind being the first one around. It's going to be a while before this all comes to fruition anyways - Tank fill won't happen until the end of summer most likely. But here's what I'm looking at:

    120 2x2x4

    sump - unknown

    Overflow: internal/external box w/bulkheads and 3-pipe "beananimal" full siphon design

    Filtration - ATS, possibly LED but likely T5HO

    Lighting - DIY LED 96 lamp (36 XP-G Cool White, 60 XP-E Royal Blue, Cutter from RC group buy) with 3x DIY driver boards for up to 144 lights and up to 12 PWM controllable strings (or actually 18 with a few solder jumpers) and an Arduino controller

    Reef Angel Controller

    What I'll probably do it set up all the controls and then run a long-term simulation and see how it handles everything. Of course, the tank will sit devoid of life for the first 3 months while it cycles and ages anyways, so there will be no corals only CUC for quite a while, so there will be plenty of time to play and work bugs out. I'll be doing a thread on this build too I think...

    Getting off the subject though...

    Anyone using a Reef Angel Controller...chime in!

    Or an Arduino for that matter.
     
  5. Feb 17, 2011 #5
    Shaun

    Shaun Inactive User

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    The reef angel has good reviews from those that use, mainly on nano reefs. They seem to be simple to setup and seem to be dependable. The problem comes from there suply end. I was going to order one and found out that the relay boxes were on backorder for 2 months. That makes me wonder if they can not keep up with standard demand how can they repair anything that has to be sent in for repair.
    Just trying to show "both sides of the coin" Shaun
     
  6. Feb 17, 2011 #6
    jtesdall Ames/Des Moines

    jtesdall Expert Reefkeeper

    3,193
    Ames/Des Moines
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    I didn't see a TCP/IP interface mentioned?? If you can't hook a Cat 5 to it that is a HUGE negative to me these days. Serial is like going back to the DOS days. But maybe it does have it, I am just going by your list.
     
  7. Feb 17, 2011 #7
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    TCP/IP is there along with a stack of supported encryption methods. This is not built in, but via a separate module like RK does it, however, it supports full wifi network vs just local ethernet. Not sure about the interface whether it's LED display only, web server, or something like telnet. It indicates firmware upgrades are done via FTP

    --AJ
     

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