Sprinkler system project
#1
Posted 06 January 2012 - 06:18 PM
#3
Posted 10 January 2012 - 02:14 AM
#4
Posted 10 January 2012 - 02:48 AM
#5
Posted 10 January 2012 - 09:54 PM
Hi giuliano,
Not sure how much expertise we have with relays and water sprinklers.
Would standard DC relays work? It's just a current which tells the sprinkler valve to open...correct?
Chris
Thanks Chris,
I believe so, I am not familiar with them. I think the current valves I have in my backyard are either 12v or 24v, I'll double check one of these evenings. So, from what I understand, I just hook one standard DC relay up to the digital outputs on the board to control valve1 with lets say digital output 1 and 2 and then another standard DC relay to control valve2 with digital outputs 3 and 4. Am I in the right path?
#6
Posted 10 January 2012 - 09:56 PM
Stick to using standard solenoid valves - the same ones that commercially available timers use. They work very well - like the Hunter ones. http://www.hunterind...s/srvintro.html
Thanks ColinR,
I am probably not asking the right question. I currenty have 4 valves in my backyard and would like to control them with the Netduino Plus, what's the best way to do so?
#7
Posted 10 January 2012 - 10:54 PM
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#8
Posted 11 January 2012 - 02:32 AM
Hi Guiliano
You need to tell us the electrical requirements of the valves in your backyard.
Do you know?
If you dont know then look for a model number and or manufacturer written on them somewhere.
They may be controlled by relays using either Low voltage AC, like mine are, or by low voltage DC or by mains voltage.
They may be also be actuator valves controlled by a motor, which would be more complicated.
First I would find out the specs of your valves.
You may then need some sort of relay output board or shield, but these are cheap so don't worry.
Tell us what type of valves you have and then I could suggest a circuit/sheild for you.
Thank you Magpie, I will find out one of these evenings and let you know about it. Too bad it gets dark so early nowadays after I get back from work. I'll keep you posted.
#9
Posted 12 January 2012 - 09:25 PM
Hi Guiliano
You need to tell us the electrical requirements of the valves in your backyard.
Do you know?
If you dont know then look for a model number and or manufacturer written on them somewhere.
They may be controlled by relays using either Low voltage AC, like mine are, or by low voltage DC or by mains voltage.
They may be also be actuator valves controlled by a motor, which would be more complicated.
First I would find out the specs of your valves.
You may then need some sort of relay output board or shield, but these are cheap so don't worry.
Tell us what type of valves you have and then I could suggest a circuit/sheild for you.
Hello Magpie,
I went in my backyard and took pictures of the valves and current valve controler.
These are the valves: (I couldn't find a label on them, maybe they got destroyed by the weather over the years)
Here is the current valve controller, rear and front pics:
Please advise
#10
Posted 12 January 2012 - 11:58 PM
I can see Rainbird written on some bit of equipment and Weathermatic is on your controller. Your valve looks a bit like this one http://www.weatherma...11000FCR Series
It seems there are only 2 wires going to the valves and so they probably don't have flow control.
I am guessing that they are 24 volt AC which is an industry standard.
I think if you look a the lid which has 6 silver screws you should be able to see some writing, it may give a further clue.
If you are 100% sure you have 24VAC valves without flow control:
You will need a 24 volt ac transformer capable of about 3 amps continuous. (You might be able to salvage this from the weathermatic controller.)
WARNING
If you dont know much about electricity then you will need a safe version of the transformer, one with the mains power completely isolated, like a plug pack.
Mains power wiring can be lethal don't do it unless you know what you are doing.
Any mains wiring needs to be done safely, not just for you but for somebody who touches your box in 10 years time when you are not there.
You will also need a 3.3 volt relay board. I think the Seeeduino has one that works with netduino see the Netduino wiki.
The circuit will control the four valves separately. Short one side of each valve together and run them to one side of the transformers secondary wiring. We will call this side positive.
Run the other side of each valve to the NO or normally open terminal of a relay on the relay board. short the common side of all the relays and wire that to the other side of the transformers secondary winding.
Too easy, I hope it all goes well.
Tell me if you have any more questions.
#11
Posted 13 January 2012 - 01:36 AM
Hi Guiliano
I can see Rainbird written on some bit of equipment and Weathermatic is on your controller. Your valve looks a bit like this one http://www.weatherma...11000FCR Series
It seems there are only 2 wires going to the valves and so they probably don't have flow control.
I am guessing that they are 24 volt AC which is an industry standard.
I think if you look a the lid which has 6 silver screws you should be able to see some writing, it may give a further clue.
If you are 100% sure you have 24VAC valves without flow control:
You will need a 24 volt ac transformer capable of about 3 amps continuous. (You might be able to salvage this from the weathermatic controller.)
WARNING
If you dont know much about electricity then you will need a safe version of the transformer, one with the mains power completely isolated, like a plug pack.
Mains power wiring can be lethal don't do it unless you know what you are doing.
Any mains wiring needs to be done safely, not just for you but for somebody who touches your box in 10 years time when you are not there.
You will also need a 3.3 volt relay board. I think the Seeeduino has one that works with netduino see the Netduino wiki.
The circuit will control the four valves separately. Short one side of each valve together and run them to one side of the transformers secondary wiring. We will call this side positive.
Run the other side of each valve to the NO or normally open terminal of a relay on the relay board. short the common side of all the relays and wire that to the other side of the transformers secondary winding.
Too easy, I hope it all goes well.
Tell me if you have any more questions.
Thanks again Magpie for the info.
I was checking the PDF below of my current valve controler and everything indicates that the valves works @ 24volts AC
http://www.weatherma...rols/SL1600.pdf
I'll double check the voltage measuring with my multimeter.
I'll keep you posted on how the project comes along.
#12
Posted 23 May 2012 - 11:54 PM
Thank you
Hi Guiliano
I can see Rainbird written on some bit of equipment and Weathermatic is on your controller. Your valve looks a bit like this one http://www.weatherma...11000FCR Series
It seems there are only 2 wires going to the valves and so they probably don't have flow control.
I am guessing that they are 24 volt AC which is an industry standard.
I think if you look a the lid which has 6 silver screws you should be able to see some writing, it may give a further clue.
If you are 100% sure you have 24VAC valves without flow control:
You will need a 24 volt ac transformer capable of about 3 amps continuous. (You might be able to salvage this from the weathermatic controller.)
WARNING
If you dont know much about electricity then you will need a safe version of the transformer, one with the mains power completely isolated, like a plug pack.
Mains power wiring can be lethal don't do it unless you know what you are doing.
Any mains wiring needs to be done safely, not just for you but for somebody who touches your box in 10 years time when you are not there.
You will also need a 3.3 volt relay board. I think the Seeeduino has one that works with netduino see the Netduino wiki.
The circuit will control the four valves separately. Short one side of each valve together and run them to one side of the transformers secondary wiring. We will call this side positive.
Run the other side of each valve to the NO or normally open terminal of a relay on the relay board. short the common side of all the relays and wire that to the other side of the transformers secondary winding.
Too easy, I hope it all goes well.
Tell me if you have any more questions.
#13
Posted 24 May 2012 - 05:57 PM
Hi Guiliano
I can see Rainbird written on some bit of equipment and Weathermatic is on your controller. Your valve looks a bit like this one http://www.weatherma...11000FCR Series
It seems there are only 2 wires going to the valves and so they probably don't have flow control.
I am guessing that they are 24 volt AC which is an industry standard.
I think if you look a the lid which has 6 silver screws you should be able to see some writing, it may give a further clue.
If you are 100% sure you have 24VAC valves without flow control:
You will need a 24 volt ac transformer capable of about 3 amps continuous. (You might be able to salvage this from the weathermatic controller.)
WARNING
If you dont know much about electricity then you will need a safe version of the transformer, one with the mains power completely isolated, like a plug pack.
Mains power wiring can be lethal don't do it unless you know what you are doing.
Any mains wiring needs to be done safely, not just for you but for somebody who touches your box in 10 years time when you are not there.
You will also need a 3.3 volt relay board. I think the Seeeduino has one that works with netduino see the Netduino wiki.
The circuit will control the four valves separately. Short one side of each valve together and run them to one side of the transformers secondary wiring. We will call this side positive.
Run the other side of each valve to the NO or normally open terminal of a relay on the relay board. short the common side of all the relays and wire that to the other side of the transformers secondary winding.
Too easy, I hope it all goes well.
Tell me if you have any more questions.
#14
Posted 24 May 2012 - 10:00 PM
Hi Guiliano,One question? Why a 3.3v relay board? Is this a Netduino requirement? I found some 5v relay boards in google but not sure if I can use them? Please advise.
I think that he was talking about the voltage need to drive the transistor that operates the relay. Most of the relays that I have worked with are available in
5, 12 or 24vdc, this is the relay coil voltage. Most have a transistor that controls the current to the coil. Take a look at this link. It includes a schematic
of his boards.
Denkovi Relay Board
I have used the 12vdc relays but drive them from the Netduino Go shield base. I use a separate 12vdc power supply to the relay board and connect the
AIO output to the transistor base and tie the relay board and shield base grounds together.
Thread using a 4 relay board form Shield Base
The transistor that operates the relay only pulls 0.3 milli amps from the analog IO.
Good luck,
Chuck
#15
Posted 25 May 2012 - 01:02 AM
Thank you in advance.
Hi Guiliano,
I think that he was talking about the voltage need to drive the transistor that operates the relay. Most of the relays that I have worked with are available in
5, 12 or 24vdc, this is the relay coil voltage. Most have a transistor that controls the current to the coil. Take a look at this link. It includes a schematic
of his boards.
Denkovi Relay Board
I have used the 12vdc relays but drive them from the Netduino Go shield base. I use a separate 12vdc power supply to the relay board and connect the
AIO output to the transistor base and tie the relay board and shield base grounds together.
Thread using a 4 relay board form Shield Base
The transistor that operates the relay only pulls 0.3 milli amps from the analog IO.
Good luck,
Chuck
#16
Posted 25 May 2012 - 02:01 AM
Hi Chuck, thanks for your response. So just to confirm, can I use the Denkovi Relay Board for my sprinkler project to be use with my Netduino Plus? Do you know where to get a cheap 12v adapter for the Netduino Plus? Also you mentioned that the Denkovi Relay Board requires a 12v source, can I use the same one that I am planning to use for the Netduino Plus?
Thank you in advance.
Yes, I have used it with a Netduino Go and it worked great. As for the power supply I used a 12vdc regulated power supply that I had for some IP cameras. Just make sure that connect the polarity correctly. I purchased barrel connector to wire leads from ebay.
Pigtail
Power Supply
The links above are just to show the items simular to what I used, Most anything close to these should work. I know that the power supplies that I have cost me only about $5.00.
By the way Giuliano where are you from, I know I will try to recommend sources in your area. At least so you will know what to ask for.
Chuck
#17
Posted 25 May 2012 - 04:32 AM
#18
Posted 29 May 2012 - 05:44 PM
#19
Posted 01 June 2012 - 06:55 AM
Yes, I have used it with a Netduino Go and it worked great. As for the power supply I used a 12vdc regulated power supply that I had for some IP cameras. Just make sure that connect the polarity correctly. I purchased barrel connector to wire leads from ebay.
Pigtail
Power Supply
The links above are just to show the items simular to what I used, Most anything close to these should work. I know that the power supplies that I have cost me only about $5.00.
By the way Giuliano where are you from, I know I will try to recommend sources in your area. At least so you will know what to ask for.
Chuck
I am planning to get a Netduino Go for this project, so I can keep my Netduino Plus for other projects. My relay is on the way, I ended up buying the 6 relay board, so I can control the backyard lights as well.
#20
Posted 03 June 2012 - 06:39 PM
I am planning to get a Netduino Go for this project, so I can keep my Netduino Plus for other projects. My relay is on the way, I ended up buying the 6 relay board, so I can control the backyard lights as well.
Giuliano,
I think you will be happy with the relays.
Sorry for the delay on getting back to you, just got home from a 7 day cruise in the Caribbean.
I have also used my charger for the HTC Droid Incredible II, it puts out 5vdc and upto 2 amps. I found some OEMs that are in the 5 to 6 dollar range.
Chuck
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