Soothing Shrimp Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 My ideal dream is to have lots of cheap wireless ph probes in multiple tanks transmitting to one monitor. Maybe they already have something like this I don't know about? If so, let me know!!! If not, I'm trying to find a cheap way to have wireless ph probes send to my computer. My ideal plan would be to have *multiple tanks* send wirelessly the info to my computer, hence why I need it so cheap. (I just hate to pay $88 a pop if I don't have to for lots of Marine pinpoints.) I have almost no knowledge of electronics, so will this work, or am I missing something? http://www.amazon.com/DFRobot-Analog-pH-Meter-Kit/dp/B00R5CCI92/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&m=A3O3SSGGJLKX15 connected to one of these http://www.amazon.com/nRF24L01-Wireless-Transceiver-Arduino-Compatible/dp/B00E594ZX0/ref=pd_sim_indust_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=02NSFVW02THPC3Z2W4CY with the other one connected to a USB adapter for my computer? Something tells me it's not this easy. Like I need some sort of power supply and some kind of aduino controller or something...(?) Would the total cost be more than a pinpoint? I'd love to use this, but I know it would set me over the $88 limit: http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Scientific-CIRCUIT-FOR-ARDUINO/dp/B00641R1PQ/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426303327&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=%22wireless+ph+sensor%22 EricM, CiaraHono, Shrimple minded and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimple minded Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 WOW if you pull this off you're my hero, more than you are already. Very interested if this can happen, unfortunately I'm no electronics/computer whiz either. I'll ask around though to see if I can find anyone to help out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chibikaie Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 First one says you will need an Arduino controller, which I do not think is the same as the transmitter you indicated. I have a feeling that the Pinpoint is the least expensive option already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metageologist Posted March 14, 2015 Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 I think in the long run the pre-built controller is the better option. Based on a quick review it would appears you still need to code software that would interpret the data transmitted and display the pH value. Or was this software included and I missed it. have a gneiss day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted March 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 Here's a link that shows some coding and a DIY ph controller. This guy is very open source and sells ph interfaces as well for the $9 probes you can buy from Ebay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted March 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2015 Oh, he gives coding for each of his ph interfaces, and it is on his page per interface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpy Daddy Posted March 15, 2015 Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 Reading the pH value is just the tip of the ice-berg. You also need the following: Develop a program to read the value and display on your computer (be it connect via USB or Wifi) Develop a device driver for your probe controller (USB) Develop a transmitting protocol to send the data or leverage existing protocol to send the data packet (Wifi) Develop a snippet for your controller to connect to Wifi network (Wifi) All these will take you months. If you are proficient with cutting code, you will just need a month to write the coding. And the designing of the circuit portion, will take you a couple of months. Based on my experience (I used to study Electronics and Computer Engineer), this is not an easy task for people who are not from this field. As such, I will suggest you forget about it. Currently, I am achieving what you are trying to do with GHL-Profilux controller. They are expensive though. I think there are quite a few American brand's controllers are able to achieve what you want to. Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted March 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 Shrimp, I'll look up the ghl-profilux. Any other suggestions of brands to look at are appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpy Daddy Posted March 15, 2015 Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 I think there are some American brands too. If I don't remember wrongly, it is called something like Apex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forumsnow Posted March 15, 2015 Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 Yes I believe apex sells a system that sends all data wireless to computer. I think you would need to buy one controller and then multiple probes. I would imagine it could be anywhere from $500-$1000 depending on number of tanks and how many probes each controller can read. Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted March 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 Thanks, I'll check out Apex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted March 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 So with the Apex pH / ORP Probe Modules costing the same as a pinpoint, I'd still be better off with pinpoints. Man, this isn't easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpy Daddy Posted March 15, 2015 Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 Personally, I don't like Pinpoints probe. They don't last more than 1.5 years. If you want cheap and good probe, go for Hanna. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted March 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 *shrugs* My Pinpoint so far has lasted me 2 yrs so far. Perhaps this is an exception? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpy Daddy Posted March 15, 2015 Report Share Posted March 15, 2015 Is your Pinpoint 24x7 in the tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r45t4m4n Posted March 16, 2015 Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 If I were to DIY this, I would lean towards a raspberry pi. Run a web server on it to display the readings on a web page, no need to worry about transmitting data over wifi/bluetooth. You could use any sensor with linux support.. Write to a log file and have the web page consume it, or if you want to get fancy and run trend reports etc, write to a database. Looks like pH probes are really expensive though, so this would get pricey quick. Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted March 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2015 yes. Does this make it last longer? Is your Pinpoint 24x7 in the tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpy Daddy Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 No... It will be shorter life-span. When a pH probe fails, it is very hard to detect. Unless you have another pH probe to measure and counter compare. Also, taking longer to calibrate is another symptom of it started to fail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimple minded Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 BTW, Dr's Foster and Smith has Pinpoint pH replacement probes currently on sale @ $29.99 (normally $37.99), this is via the email newsletter thing. Soothing Shrimp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimpy Daddy Posted March 17, 2015 Report Share Posted March 17, 2015 Beware of pH probe that is on sale. pH probe will dry up (even sealed type and dual terminal type) after sometime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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