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TIME TO STEP UP TO A BETTER TESTER March 21, 2021

Posted by rik94566 in aquaponic systems, aquaponics, Controlled Environment Agriculture, DIY aquaponics, general, Internet-of-Farming, IoT aquaponics, pH, rik kretzinger, rik.diy.IOT, rik94566.
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Bluelab pHPEN

For about 3 years I have been using a cheap pH tester. The main reason for using cheap units has been that I did not know the type and configuration that I wanted to purchase for the main unit that I would be using for many years to come. After the purchase of another testing probe made by Bluelab I started researching the pH options the Bluelab offered. As I found many different units that could be purchased for this purpose. So after some time and reading many reviews I selected the pH-PEN. Life has gotten much simpler with this purchase. More expensive YES – but I now save so much time as the calibration holds for a month and is very accurate every time I use the unit. So happy I selected this unit of very high quality and perfect for all my needs. I purchased the unit from Amazon.

DS18B20 – Resistor Module – parts defined November 4, 2019

Posted by rik94566 in 1-wire, agponics.com, aquaponic devices, aquaponics electronics, auqaponics automation, DIY aquaponics, DS18B20, ds18b20, Electronic Componets, indoor aquaponics, internet of farming, Internet-of-Farming, IoT aquaponics, One-wire, rik kretzinger, rik.diy.IOT, rik94566.
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Working with the resistor module is making things much easier and a lot less work on my part.  I am liking what I am seeing from a development standpoint and can see a real time savings that will deliver consistent results.  First step is understanding what is found on the board and which end goes with which connection.

DS18B20-RESISTOR MODULE-BREAKOUT-led2

Been looking for a better way – DS18B20 October 15, 2019

Posted by rik94566 in 1-wire, agponics.com, aquaponic devices, aquaponics electronics, arduino, auqaponics automation, Balcony aquaponics, Balcony Garden, Controlled Environment Agriculture, DIY aquaponics, DS18B20, ds18b20, Electronic Componets, internet of farming, Internet-of-Farming, IoT aquaponics, rik kretzinger, rik.diy.IOT, rik94566, sensor, Stainless Steel Temp Probe, Temperature Probe.
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I was doing some research on a totally different subject and this popped up.

Sensor Module – DS18B20

ds18b20 -resistor board

Why this one?

Well easy answer – I have been making my own 4.7 pull-up resistor connectors for sometime now.  Problem for me is that they take a lot of time and are very bulky and hard to work with.  For a little more cost a dollar or so I get a board that will allow easy connections to many (so I think) DS18B20 sensors using one resistor.  The order came and now I can start testing my idea.  Having a solution this turn key will save a lot of time and perform better, time will tell now.

I will be posting how the testing goes and what will be needed to get top performance out of this module.

Miniature Test Leads – which ones work best for my projects July 20, 2019

Posted by rik94566 in adafruit, agponics.com, aquaponic automation, aquaponic systems, DIY aquaponics, indoor aquaponics, Instructables, internet of farming, Internet-of-Farming, IoT aquaponics, rik kretzinger, rik.diy.IOT, rik94566.
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I wanted to move away from alligator clips because they were much large when working with small gauge wire.  They did not work for me in very small areas.  So was looking for a better solution.  Found this miniature test leads at Jameco Electronics when I was picking up an order, they were a good solution for me.

TEST LEADS - JAMECO

When first using these miniature test leads they worked very well.  But after a little time using these leads and problems surfaced.  The problem was that they were cheaply made.  The connection of the wire and the metal insert probe would break off without much stress placed on them.  One or two is understandable, but 5 out of 10 was not the experience I was looking for.

When doing a search for a new product on the Adafruit site I found these test leads

Test Leads – Adafruit

TEST LEADS - adafruit

These leads are a little larger than the Jameco test leads, but still were small enough for my use.  Construction and connections were of high quality and work perfectly and held up with repeated use.  So these are my new go to test leads for my development efforts.  They will be seen in a number of up coming Instructables that I am working on and all my testing of sensors and connectors.