RaspiPool (Pool Automation System with Raspberry pi + Home Assistant)

[MyAZPool]

mcqwerty
I know you are aware of most of the home-brew threads, but just wanted to see if you had eyes on this thread. Dovetails a bit with our project somewhat. Especially the use of the Raspberry Pi.
r.

 

[segalion]

4.1 bypass pipes.
A photo of the building...

bypass.jpg

• segalion
• Jul 29, 2019

 

[MyAZPool]

4.1 bypass pipes.
A photo of the building...

bypass.jpg

• segalion
• Jul 29, 2019

Nice

 

[Katodude]

Hats are definitely the way to go for a project like this. You might want to check out CMC0619 project. He is using the hats from Sequentmicrosystems. I just ordered two of those. They also make a DIN rail mounting system that looks really cool too. I will start messing around with them later this week.

 

[segalion]

Hats are definitely the way to go for a project like this. You might want to check out CMC0619 project. He is using the hats from Sequentmicrosystems. I just ordered two of those. They also make a DIN rail mounting system that looks really cool too. I will start messing around with them later this week.

Thanks Katodude. It is better than my proposal. They are 8 relays, stackable and rated to 10A, so you can run it up to every pump...

https://www.sequentmicrosystems.com/8relays.html

 

[Katodude]

I am not sure I would run one of those relays directly to a pump. I would use it to fire off a separate bigger relay.

My first test will be to use those relays to drive some valve actuators.

Also you might want to consider the IO card. It has the 8 relays and some additional GPIO as well as ADC. Might be useful for temp and PH measurements.

 

[segalion]

Helo Katodude. I have revised the 8 relays hat from

Sequentmicrosystems​

(

https://www.sequentmicrosystems.com/8relays.html ​

), and first problem is that control is with I2C protocol, so integration in Home Assistant can be more dificult. My proposals relays are directly gpio so they are directly integrated as switches in HA. Furthermore, seems a more profesional board than chinesse boards...

About aditional card for ADC, i think I could get it as simple as possible… so maybe with ezo Carrier board and DS18D20 one-wire can be enough.

 

[jonpcar]

Thanks for the update segalion...I'm watching and am really interested to see how the ORP/pH data gathering goes from the probes. I'm with Katodude, I only like the small relays to drive larger relays for the AC pump. I don't trust the ratings on any of them and had a bad experience with a relay on a central home vacuum cleaner. "Arcing" due to the high current caused that relay to stick closed...something I would definitely not want to happen on my main pool pump or my chemical injection pumps.

 

[segalion]

mcqwerty
I know you are aware of most of the home-brew threads, but just wanted to see if you had eyes on this thread. Dovetails a bit with our project somewhat. Especially the use of the Raspberry Pi.
r.

Thanks MyAZPool for your indications. I have seen the IntelliCenter integration project. Sadly in Spain there aren't those Pentair equipment so this project can't go in same direction. This project is more a very basic replacement DIY for IntelliCenter more than integrate with it.
I have seen that people are exploring Home Assistant as core automation tool, so possibly some things can be collaborative ( I am writing lot of automations and I am learning a lot of the way the things can be done programing HA).

I am preparing a first alfa github version showing all of this (all the yaml config files in a separate package, and a custom python component to create a sensor from ezo boards).

 

[MyAZPool]

Thanks MyAZPool for your indications. I have seen the IntelliCenter integration project. Sadly in Spain there aren't those Pentair equipment so this project can't go in same direction. This project is more a very basic replacement DIY for IntelliCenter more than integrate with it.
I have seen that people are exploring Home Assistant as core automation tool, so possibly some things can be collaborative ( I am writing lot of automations and I am learning a lot of the way the things can be done programing HA).
I am preparing a first alfa github version showing all of this (all the yaml config files in a separate package, and a custom python component to create a sensor from ezo boards).

segalion
I was merely just letting one of our members (mcqwerty), who plans on integrating home/brew with IntelliCenter about this particular thread.
No problem.
I have a lot of respect for what you are doing. Very cool.
Thanks much and all the best...
r..

 

[segalion]

Thanks for the update segalion...I'm watching and am really interested to see how the ORP/pH data gathering goes from the probes. I'm with Katodude, I only like the small relays to drive larger relays for the AC pump. I don't trust the ratings on any of them and had a bad experience with a relay on a central home vacuum cleaner. "Arcing" due to the high current caused that relay to stick closed...something I would definitely not want to happen on my main pool pump or my chemical injection pumps.

Hello jonpcar.
Now I have the pH probe connected and seems to work really fine. ORP is connected to other RPI in testing lab. I suppose i will connect next week, because now I am on holidays (600km from the pool). I am seen pH every night and see how it is growing 0.4 every day.

About relays I am curiuos about "larger" relays and how to atach one relay to other... I have bad experiences with chinnese low quaklity relays too, but with relative quality I am satisfied. I am wathing my proposal hat and seem to work fine in more than 2 moths with zero fail up to now.

Finally, about get a ultra-secure but cost-efective system, I was thinking on a ultracheap sonnoff pow r2 to test the power comsuption of the pump, and see if relay is working, if pump is working, and even the charge of the system (if filter needs to be clean, hidraulic charge up, so amperage in the pump up too). It can works too as a "engine guard". I have some experience with integrate sonoff devices in HA with tasmota firm, and I was thinking in test ESPHOME too.

 

[Katodude]

Hi Segalion,

So I saw the link to Atlas for the pH probes. Which pH probe did you end up going with, they seem to have several options. Also where did you end up putting the probe since a requirement seems to be that it be in the water at all times. I would love to see some pictures of how you set up the pH probe, since that is one of the items I would really like to add.

I forgot to order an SD card so I am waiting for Amazon to deliver that today and I will start bench testing my set up. I should be able to post my stuff in a few days.

Hopefully we are building quite a little community of pool automation folks that can build on each other’s ideas.

 

[segalion]

Hello Katodude.
The pH and ORP:
There are 3 parts:
1. the ezo circuit. Is a micro-card with 6 pins, 3 to conect to a probe with a BNC conector, and 3 to connect to PC with serial or I2C protocol, and 3.3V or 5V. Can be pH (red) or ORP (blue).
example: EZO pH Circuit | Atlas Scientific

2. the carrier board, where the ezo board is inserted. There are at least 3 posibilities:
2.1. Non isolated carrier board

EZO™ Carrier Board *non-isolated* | Atlas Scientific

This carrier board is a great way to connect to an Atlas Scientific circuit neatly, eliminating the need of a bread board.

www.atlas-scientific.com

Cheapest but need some weld. Can be conencted to raspberry GPIO UART. Take into account that raspberry pi 2 and 3 has 2 uarts and rpi 4 has 4 uarts. I have created a custom component sensor for HA

2.2. Full isolated USB carrier board

Gen 2 Electrically Isolated USB EZO™ Carrier Board | Atlas Scientific

The Gen 2 Electrically Isolated USB EZO™ Carrier Board Allows you to connect your Atlas Scientific circuit directly to your computer or Raspberry Pi.

www.atlas-scientific.com

No weld needed. Can be connected to RPI or other PC with USB. Only one circuit support. My component for HA works too with usb.

2.3 Whitebox Labs Tentacle T3.

Whitebox T3 | Atlas Scientific

The T3 for Raspberry Pi isolates sensors and eliminates issues with noise and ground loops that can arise using the Atlas Sensors in closed-loop systems.

www.atlas-scientific.com

Its a hat for rpi. No weld. Up to 2 circuit. Only I2C protocol, so my sensor component for HA dont work. I have not one so I cannot program one.

3. The probe itself (called electrode). They has to be replaced every 1-2-3 years... Can be from 10€ to 300€ depending on quality. Examples of the cheapest:
3.1 € 8.18 13% de DESCUENTO|Conector BNC de sonda de electrodo de PH de alta calidad para Sensor de medidor de PH de acuario sensor digital gib Sensor de ph-in Medidores de PH from Herramientas on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group
3.2 € 20.96 30% de DESCUENTO|Electrodo Redox de ORP 1 ORP, sonda de repuesto de conector BNC para controlador de Monitor de medidor de probador Cable Extra largo de 300 cm-in Medidores de PH from Herramientas on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

I hope I have explained all.

Katodude. I encourage you with your rpi start. Please advance in the ssh conection from the PC (with putty program) because is the most powerful kind of control your raspberry pi remotely.

 

[Dethpickle]

Hey Segalion,

This looks awesome. I've been doodling with pool control items in HA for awhile now. I have wanted to do something on the sensor side for chemicals, so I'm really interested in what you're doing and looking forward to your TBC.

There are some simple wins on the control side, if you haven't already done it. See my post over on the home assistant forum about the RS485 serial interface for Jandy systems. The HA tie-ins are all MQTT, so pretty simple.


Also, the fun part of HA is bringing together multiple systems of info. Since our electrical utility uses zigbee meters, I can read the current use into HA as well. It makes it easy to correlate actions back to costs. We have different power rates throughout the day, so I run full speed at the lowest cost tier and run low speed during the day to finish out my circulations and to just enjoy the water flowing out of the spa into the pool. But seeing that I'm pulling a full kW at high speed as compared to about 400W at the lower speed is helpful in picking durations and times. Plus you can see my poor refrigerator is cycling often - it's getting ready to die.


Looking forward to your next post and I'll be researching the sensor info you've posted. I'd be curious about expected probe longevity as well.

Thanks for posting!

Dave

 

[segalion]

Hello. I have not time now and only on mobile.
I send a few screenshots from mobile gui..

Some history stats (3 days)

Screenshot_2019-08-03-14-53-18.png

• segalion
• Aug 3, 2019

The "alexa, turn pump on" example from HA mobile, for those who like command voice...

Screenshot_2019-08-03-14-58-00.png

• segalion
• Aug 3, 2019

 

[segalion]

... See my post over on the home assistant forum about the RS485 serial interface for Jandy systems. The HA tie-ins are all MQTT, so pretty simple....

Hello Dethpickle. Thanks for your support. I have seen your post an link about RS-485 integration with Jandy (AquaLink RS | Jandy Pro Series Equipos ) systems in sfeakes/AqualinkD

As you can see, I am not focus on any type on integration with industry-automation system but in replace them with basic DIY components.
About your sonnof relays... I have the same 4 channel pending to integrate in a two garage door.
About Home Assistant, I´m totally agree with you: no industry pool automation system can compete with the powerful integration of this kind of systems. I.e. things like integrate presence (persons) in the pool, integration with google calendar, cameras and microphones, etc. are almost impossible in professional branding systems.

About your monitoring comsumption, I agree with you about great information. Its remember me my actual gas boiler automation: its only a xiaomi aqara smart socket (include real-time power consuption monitoring), that I can switch on an off remotely to start the heating some hours before, when I am outside for some days... and that I use to monitoring the heating time just seen watts:
- about 5-6 watts => boiler in stand-by
- 60-65 watts => boiler heating watter (i.e. showering)
- 120-125 watts => boiler heating system
... and this in Home Assistant it is so simple as create a custom template sensor (7 lines of yaml configuration)

I am thinking in include a sonoff pow that let me see power comsuption. It could show me if the pump is really working, but I suspect that indirectly I could get information about the the cleaner state of filters, becouse at fixed RPM, power comsuption depend on the charge inside the pipes... Aditionally, I could stop the pump if power comsuption is over some rate to act as safe-engine. I will integrate this item in my proposal system because I considere it as "basic" for this kind of automation, with very low increasing cost.

 

[segalion]

I have put my eyes on this great Sequent mega-io board because it is really ingenious and amazing full of great things as the most perfect complement of a raspberry pi (8 full relays,8 12bit ACD, 1 12 bit DAC, optos, stackable...).

I have been revised the python code and seems realative easy to implement a full set of components to integrate in Home Assistant.

I would like to include this as a basic for my project instead of the actual direct gpio relays. I have to buy one card (please i cant find resellers in europe?), and create proper components for Home Assistant, so meanwhile is only a TODO thing.

 

[Katodude]

I am excited that you decided to use the Megaio. The more people that use the same technology the better we can all make it.

I just came back from a trip to Europe, I would have brought one over and just shipped to you while I was there. Otherwise don’t have any good ideas on how to get you one.

 

[segalion]

Thanks for your offer, Katodude. I havent found Megaio in EU. Only two german webs, that has temporary out-of-stock and a romanian that dont send to Spain. I am going to wait for availability because I have bad experiences with custom buying from USA.

About progress project...

I think that perfect automation system is really dificult if not impossible for all
If you search for a perfect auto-regulated system, probably fails, because the real enviroment is not mathematical (water is not allways the same, probes fails, baths are not allways the same, etc...)

So my intention is to has a common basic functions (regulated) that people can configure in their real experiences with the pool, and "lot of notifications" for every possible event that need your attention. So, as notification is for me the most important of all the system, i am going to report here some of them. Please, suggestions are welcome.

Notifications (alerts):
1. Exceed sensor limits: (more than 2 days (because not automatically corrected):
1.1. Temperature limits:
1.1.1. less than 7ºC: frozzen risk [temp> temp_low]
1.1.2. more than 32ºC [temp> temp_high]
1.2. pH limits:
1.2.1. less than 6.9: acid [ph> ph_low]
1.2.2. more than 7.5: deficient sanitization [ph> ph_high] (7.9 in case of bromine)
1.3. ORP limits:
1.3.1. less than 600mV: desinfección deficiente
1.3.2. more than 900mV: desinfección excesiva
2. Limits of cummulated filter cycles (i.e. to warning about dose tablets reposition) [flow>notify_cummulated_flow]
3. For inconsistences in probes:
3.1. Unstable temperature (revisión)
3.2. Unstable ph (calibrate/replace) [ph> ph_bad], and block the injection
3.3. Unestable orp values (calibrado/sustitución), and block the injection
4. Change of cycle:
4.1. winter to summer (más de 5 días en modo filtración diaria) [notifications> summer_session]
4.2. summer to winter (más de 5 días en modo filtración alterna) [notifications> winter_session]
5. Injection limits:
5.1. More than x liters of bleach in last 48 hours
5.2. More than x liters of muriatic in 48 hours
6. Limits in tanks:
6.1. Less than x liter bleach remain [bleach> bleach_every_hour]
6.2. Less than x litro de reserva de ácido [muriatic> muriatic_every_hour]
7. Filtering limits (oversights and forgetfulness in manual operations...)
7.1. Filtering deficit (cumulated more than 1 day in summer).
7.2. Filtering exceed (more than 1 day sobre-filtrado).

It is not a fully or static list
When those events are fired, a message is sended to mobile (pushbullet, hangout, telegram... ot what you want...). Morover, the notifications can be enabled/disabled.

 

[segalion]

Today, I plann to put the ORP probe inside pipe (cross finger).

I am beggining to upload code to github.