cheap reefer 175 Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 Anyone ever try to diy a par meter..is there any electronic s junkies like me here?..i have the parts and programming knowledge to build it arduino based..but as far as the photocell module, what would work best and does it need filtered lens...this site is my stating point start.http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/20-diy/120109-diy-par-meter-yeah-you-heard-me.html#/topics/120109?page=1&_k=whfruu Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reefnuts(419) 43 Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 Check out afafruit.com they have a couple lux type sensor components for microcontrollers. They have a couple that have double sensors. One for the visble specrrum and one for non visible uv. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reefnuts(419) 43 Posted March 2, 2017 Share Posted March 2, 2017 Oops ... mispelled .. adafruit.com Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cheap reefer 175 Posted March 2, 2017 Author Share Posted March 2, 2017 1 hour ago, Reefnuts(419) said: Check out afafruit.com they have a couple lux type sensor components for microcontrollers. They have a couple that have double sensors. One for the visble specrrum and one for non visible uv. Im very familiar with adafruit...ive given them a large portion of my salary..lol...im just confused on the photo sensor needed...im not that educated of light spectrums and waveforms...does it need to be a uv negative cell?...i thought the ultra violet wave cant penetrate water. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Muttley000 3,681 Posted March 3, 2017 Share Posted March 3, 2017 I always thought the pigment in a coral's symbiotic algae was a evolutionary reaction to UV rays? At any rate I'm following this to see how it works. Kudos for giving it a shot! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reefnuts(419) 43 Posted March 3, 2017 Share Posted March 3, 2017 I kinda like the idea of a RGB color sensor due to the fact you can output the intesity level for each channel. (Lux value of the red green and blue ) and total lux. Rather than a single photosensor monitoring all visible light. Due to in reefing we favor low par producing blue than high par whites. Taosinc.com produces light and color sensors sold thru sparkfun.com and adafruit. Coulple of their data sheets showed a fairly linear output curve thru the color spectrum to a little below 400 nm. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jesse 1,567 Posted March 3, 2017 Share Posted March 3, 2017 This sounds very interesting. I can't wait to see what you come up with @cheap reefer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ach6175 71 Posted March 3, 2017 Share Posted March 3, 2017 If you make one, when done you can use the club's PAR meter to compare numbers, if you're a supporting member. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cheap reefer 175 Posted March 6, 2017 Author Share Posted March 6, 2017 Ok..soo...i got the sketch code set up...and ive got everything wired...but im confused on which photo-sensor to get....anybody?. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cptnspanky 419 Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 I believe we have a member who has made his own par meter already lets see if we can get him into the thread as i havent seen him around much lately. @rott Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jesse 1,567 Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 9 minutes ago, cptnspanky said: I believe we have a member who has made his own par meter already lets see if we can get him into the thread as i havent seen him around much lately. @rott I agree with @cptnspanky, that you and @rott need to get together on this. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rott 44 Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 Hi the one from planted tank.net is the same one I made my friend 02 is who made the boards there where a few different optics that was looked at but it does say in that thread what the part was and where to buy itSent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cheap reefer 175 Posted March 6, 2017 Author Share Posted March 6, 2017 2 hours ago, rott said: Hi the one from planted tank.net is the same one I made my friend 02 is who made the boards there where a few different optics that was looked at but it does say in that thread what the part was and where to buy it Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk Yes know..ive searched up and down on the net and cant find an optical sensor..all i can find are photo-cells and thats not gonna cut it..i thought about emailing the user on that plantedtank.net, but that thread is kind of old...im acually suprised that is the only par meter build anywhere on the www....i also an gonna mod the code to read it to the serial monitor somehow..iv never had and luck getting lcds to work right...but till i can find this optic sensor, its on hold. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cheap reefer 175 Posted March 6, 2017 Author Share Posted March 6, 2017 https://bitknitting.wordpress.com/2016/06/19/making-a-par-and-dli-meter-using-an-arduino/ I did find this though...but the guy paid 200$ for the optics!!!!!...thats insanity!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rott 44 Posted March 6, 2017 Share Posted March 6, 2017 I will look mine up just got to be able to sit down and do it and no where near 200$ closer to $ 30 for 2 I think Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cheap reefer 175 Posted March 6, 2017 Author Share Posted March 6, 2017 2 hours ago, rott said: I will look mine up just got to be able to sit down and do it and no where near 200$ closer to $ 30 for 2 I think Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk Oh nice...if i could find it for that price, im in!!!..every place i look, is a pre-built optic with lens and usb tail...i just need the optical eye. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cheap reefer 175 Posted March 6, 2017 Author Share Posted March 6, 2017 Btw...what did u use as a lens?...im wanting to use a normal glass baby food jar..but im seeing that the glass lens may deflect the rays and give you false readings..just curious how u built yours.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rott 44 Posted March 7, 2017 Share Posted March 7, 2017 cant use glass you will have reading all over the place most of the group was using little plastic bottles with snap on lids I got mine from JoAnn fabrics got 8 for $3.50 they are about 3 inches tall 1 and a half around you did read the planted tank thread where it talks about needing the 3 different colored lens right 1 rose 1 clear and 1 blueish you will need these to help filter out unwanted color rays and white wash so it doesn't slam your probe like I did and I also have 2 white walls next to my tank I am in a corner so all the light bounced back poor little par meter never stood a chance till I got the filters in it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cheap reefer 175 Posted March 7, 2017 Author Share Posted March 7, 2017 Makes sense about using glass...the filters i didnt even think about..ive made photo filters out of colored plasic wrap..i may try that..plastic bottles, no problem...im sure i can find something laying about to necessitate this...its just findind this damn optic sensor!!!.....ggrrrr..getting frustrated on this one...i emailed sparkfun.com to see what they have. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cheap reefer 175 Posted March 7, 2017 Author Share Posted March 7, 2017 1 hour ago, rott said: cant use glass you will have reading all over the place most of the group was using little plastic bottles with snap on lids I got mine from JoAnn fabrics got 8 for $3.50 they are about 3 inches tall 1 and a half around you did read the planted tank thread where it talks about needing the 3 different colored lens right 1 rose 1 clear and 1 blueish you will need these to help filter out unwanted color rays and white wash so it doesn't slam your probe like I did and I also have 2 white walls next to my tank I am in a corner so all the light bounced back poor little par meter never stood a chance till I got the filters in it @rott..did you have a build thread for this or did you just wing it?..btw ive modded the (plantedtank.com) code to read the parameters in the serial monitor...now i have to get this going! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rott 44 Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 I used the screen to se the readings I didn't have a personal thread I was on the one at planted tank. sorry about taking so long to find the paper work on the sensor I have the sensors just have a hard time finding the price for them but I will have it soon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rott 44 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 sorry it took so long but here is what I use for mine a lot of used them said it was on the money mine didn't turn out as well my readings are stable but wrong I think I used the club apogee meter to test it was a big difference but I was not sure I was using the apogee correctly either http://www.alliedelec.com/excelitas-technologies-sensors-vtb8441bh/70219652/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rott 44 Posted March 12, 2017 Share Posted March 12, 2017 Cosine diffuser: 1/8" thickness, 2447 white plexiglass price: varies, get the sample or buy a big sheet of it.http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/Ple...lack_and_Whitehttp://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=23681 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jesse 1,567 Posted April 14, 2017 Share Posted April 14, 2017 You guys have this built yet? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cheap reefer 175 Posted April 17, 2017 Author Share Posted April 17, 2017 No...kinda set this project aside for the time being, may come back to it sooner or later...problem being is the optics are so expensive that it would bring the build cost close to buying a cheap new unit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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