Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
@automate: OK, I see what you mean. As Samer said, the user manual is self-contained and so the ‘Advanced Topics’ section it’s referring to is in the manual itself.
Did you read Advanced Topics — part 1, entitled “Installing a microSD card”?? The last sentence specifically says the firmware is configured to automatically use microSD card for logging.
OK, just so you can take a look at the new user manual, I have attached it here. Some video links are missing but the textual content is pretty much complete. As soon as the user manual is officially released I will delete this attachment so we don’t have multiple copies floating around.
Yes, you are right, the relays are slightly different. Even though they are rated 120VAC, it’s really meant for low-voltage devices like low-voltage landscape light (<36V) and garage door opener. The PCB traces are not designed to handle powerline voltage. So because of that the two relays don't make that much difference.
What’s your weather settings: are you using automatic weather adjustment method or manual adjustment?
If you set the program’s odd/even restriction to none, does the preview show schedules for Oct 20th?
The user manual online is outdated (based on firmware 1.8). We will be releasing an updated user manual for firmware 2.1.0 very soon within a couple of days.
This depends on the electric spec of the lights. Just quickly glancing over the link you provided, it seems this is using E12 light bulb, and I suppose it means it requires 110V powerline voltage, so you can’t directly light it up with OSPi, because OSPi outputs 24V AC which is far below 110V. There are several options
1. use OSPi to drive a relay and use relay to switch the lights. OSPi does have a built-in relay, but that’s only rated 3 Amp contact current, so likely you need an external relay.
2. use OSPi combined with an RF remote power socket to switch powerline devices. I have a blog post about it: http://rayshobby.net/?p=3381 (note that the blog post uses OpenSprinkler as example, but the same functionality can be implemented for OSPi).
3. instead of using 110V light bulb, use 12V LED lights. 12V LED lights can be directly connected to 24V AC output (because LED is intrinsically diode, it blocks half of the AC waves, making the effective voltage 12V).Yes, development is under way to enable cloud-based management. This is likely going to take a while until we figure out all the technical details in the firmware. I can’t provide an accurate estimate of when this will be available, but we are definitely working towards it.
Is there any reason you want to use ULN2803 to drive the triac? The triac functions like a transistor (except it’s switching AC current instead of DC). It can be switched by logic level signals. If you want isolation you can use an opto-isolator, but I don’t know why you need ULN2803 (which is typically used to drive steppers and motors) to drive it.
Fair enough, advice taken. Note has been added to the assembly instructions. To be honest, I think you really screwed it too tight. Obviously this is an issue I didn’t anticipate before.
@rwp: First of all, please, when posting multiple questions, split them in bullets so it’s easy for us to track all the questions you asked. Putting all questions in one paragraph with no space in between makes it really hard to keep track.
how can I specify what weather station to use?
You can specify a Wunderground PWS station as your location. For example, the one closest to me is pws:KMAAMHER2. For specifics, please check Wunderground.com.
Is there any way to know if the api is using specific data?
Whichever location you set in OpenSprinkler, you can type in the same location in Wunderground.com and you will see the data it’s using. Also, in the web interface, on the side bar (click on the upper-left corner icon will bring out the side bar), ‘Wunderground Diagnostics’ tells you the data it’s using.
Is the weather adjustment off in manual mode?
Yes, weather adjustment is always ignored in manual or run-once program, because you typically want to specify the exact amount of water time in manual and run-once program mode.
Extra start times is unusual compared to industry standards most all controllers have 3 to 8 start times numbered and set by time like open’s first start time
I do not understand what you mean. This firmware allows up to 4 start times. In addition, you can specify repeating start times, which is similar to the ‘interval’ start times in the old firmware. Would you like more start times or less start times?
Thanks for the update still looking for a run once button for any scheduled program.
There is a run-once program button right on the homepage.
It’s in the OpenSprinkler Github repository: https://github.com/rayshobby/opensprinkler/tree/master/OpenSprinkler%20Pi/hardware
The PCB design has a top keepout layer around the support pillars, but I think forgot to add bottom keepout, so there are traces running close by the hole on the bottom side. This normally isn’t an issue, unless perhaps you screwed it too tight?
Also I can’t get out of boston in location
Can you provide more specifics? Do you mean you can’t change the location?
I am pretty sure this is not a firmware problem — I have a test OS 2.2u with firmware 2.1.0 beta, and I can enter Setup Options by pressing B3 on start. So it has to be either a soldering issue or a component problem with your button B3.
Thanks for sharing the tip. Sorry to hear that the system was not reliable before. Out of curiosity: do you have a microcontroller-based OpenSprinkler or OpenSprinkler Pi?
Please follow the steps:
1. Turn of controller
2. Press and hold B3 while turning the controller on (just keep pressing B3 until you see the LCD displays something)
Let me know if you still can’t get into setup options.@sprinklesprinklelittlestar: I found the problem: when WUnderground API key is not provided, the firmware is looking for weather0.py, which is a symbolic link. During the server migration a few days ago, the symbolic link was lost so weather0.py did not exist any more. It’s now added back and should work now.
OK, so clearly the time zone is not being set for some reason. I will need to investigate further to see if this is 2.2 specific. For now you can use the buttons to go to Setup Options, and change the time zone manually. To do so, turn off controller, press and hold button B3 while turning the controller on. You will see Setup Options. Then click B3 until you are at the TZone option, and use B1 and B2 to adjust the time zone, finally press and hold B3 again to save the changes.
@sprinklesprinklelittlestar: can you open a browser and type in http://x.x.x.x/jo?pw=**** where x.x.x.x is your OpenSprinkler’s IP address and **** is your password. Check the value of ‘tz’ and see if it’s 20 or 32?
The firmware update instructions now include a video tutorial:
https://opensprinkler.freshdesk.com/solution/categories/5000022938/folders/5000083380/articles/5000123042-how-to-upgrade-opensprinkler
In particular the second half of the video is about how to install USBasp driver on Windows 8.1.@sprinklesprinklelittlestar: the time update relies on NTP sync. If you turned NTP sync off, or for some reason it’s taking a long time to sync, then it may cause the issue you are seeing. Can you try to restart the controller and see if the time gets synced correctly?
