[Version 2 Release] RaspberryPints - Digital Taplist Solution

[kxavier_23]

8V? Where is that coming from? No bueno.
Do you have pull-ups on the meter data lines to your Uno 5V or are you relying on internal pull-ups? Which I assume are enabled - but maybe they're not? @RandR+ ?

Cheers!

Well I am clearly missing something here. I initially thought I could go Red --> 5V, Black --> GND and the signal wires to the digital input pins of the R3.

If there is some other instructions out there for the R3, I will follow them first, without taking up anyone's time.

 

[day_trippr]

Assuming Red and Black are Power and GND, that much would be fine, then connecting the data lead(s) to your chosen digital IO pin(s) would follow.

My first point was there is no "8V" on an UNO. Second point is there has to be a resistive pull-up connected to the meter's data line, which usually is a discrete resistor to 5V, though apparently some have relied on invoking the internal AVR pull-up capability on the UNO, which is not something I would want to hang my hat on...

Cheers!

 

[kxavier_23]

Assuming Red and Black are Power and GND, that much would be fine, then connecting the data lead(s) to your chosen digital IO pin(s) would follow.

My first point was there is no "8V" on an UNO. Second point is there has to be a resistive pull-up connected to the meter's data line, which usually is a discrete resistor to 5V, though apparently some have relied on invoking the internal AVR pull-up capability on the UNO, which is not something I would want to hang my hat on...

Cheers!

What does, 'Second point is there has to be a resistive pull-up connected to the meter's data line, which usually is a discrete resistor to 5V, though apparently some have relied on invoking the internal AVR pull-up capability on the UNO, which is not something I would want to hang my hat on...' mean?

 

[day_trippr]

Sorry, I've been doing this for many years now and sometimes don't consider the current context

Flow meters only know how to "pull a signal LOW". They can't "push a signal HIGH". So the circuit they're connected to needs to have some kind of resistive element that "pulls" the signal to a "high" level, but also allows the meter to drag that signal "low" when a pulse train is created as beer flows through the meter. For each tick of the meter it "pulls" the signal wire level to near ground (0 volts) then releases it to the influence of the "pull-up resistor" to re-establish the high level needed for the Arduino to see actual pulses on the wire.

For the Swissflow SF800 meters I've been running for many years, the recommended pull-up resistance is 2.2K ohms, for this application to 5V (if the meters were connected to a Raspberry Pi or any of the ESP microcontrollers, that voltage would be 3.3V). That means phyically placing and connecting discrete 2.2K ohm resistors on each meter data line, somewhere in your kit.

There are available "pull-up" elements inside the AVR chip in an UNO that can be invoked, but the effective resistance is in the 30K ohm range. That can work, but might not, especially with longer meter wiring...

Cheers!

 

[kxavier_23]

Sorry, I've been doing this for many years now and sometimes don't consider the current context

Flow meters only know how to "pull a signal LOW". They can't "push a signal HIGH". So the circuit they're connected to needs to have some kind of resistive element that "pulls" the signal to a "high" level, but also allows the meter to drag that signal "low" when a pulse train is created as beer flows through the meter. For each tick of the meter it "pulls" the signal wire level to near ground (0 volts) then releases it to the influence of the "pull-up resistor" to re-establish the high level needed for the Arduino to see actual pulses on the wire.

For the Swissflow SF800 meters I've been running for many years, the recommended pull-up resistance is 2.2K ohms, for this application to 5V (if the meters were connected to a Raspberry Pi or any of the ESP microcontrollers, that voltage would be 3.3V). That means phyically placing and connecting discrete 2.2K ohm resistors on each meter data line, somewhere in your kit.

There are available "pull-up" elements inside the AVR chip in an UNO that can be invoked, but the effective resistance is in the 30K ohm range. That can work, but might not, especially with longer meter wiring...

Cheers!

So I believe I have this

I would need to add some resistance to the signal wires in my setup. I am not using Swissflows, but these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RD4JXLY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
Not sure if anyone else is using those, but how did you find the recommended pull-up resistance, or can I start with 2.2k and see if that works?

 

[garzlok]

I use similar Meters, and I do not need the pull-ups (again, with my build/my meters).

The one thing I noticed in your pictures, it looks like you have a data line going to Pin 1 which is the Tx line. I'll leave to those in the know, if this can cause some of the anomalies you're experiencing.

 

[day_trippr]

You can try 2.2K to 5V with no worries, that's barely a couple of milliamps draw. 2.2K is specifically recommended for the Swissflow meters - which are IR detectors beamed through a paddle wheel, while most flow meters are using Hall Effect rotors. But at the end of the day they work the same: the outputs can only "pull low" and rely on external influence to provide a "high" level.

And, again, if @RandR+'s Arduino sketch is turning on pull-ups, meters might well work...

Cheers!

 

[RandR+]

Which I assume are enabled - but maybe they're not? @RandR+ ?

it should enable pull-ups in the arduino. this happens after the arduino responds to the Python with the config

 

[kxavier_23]

If using the automated intall (curl -L install.rpints.com | sudo bash)

Do you need to modify the raspberrypints.ino file as directed here: Step 9: Configure Pi Hardware For Flow Meters W/Flow Meters - RaspberryPints ?

 

[day_trippr]

I'm not running @RandR+'s kit (yet) but you should not refer to the original raspberrypints.com installation procedure - at all - at this point, as it's utterly obsolete wrt available package support on the Raspberry Pi platform.

Keep an eye on the installation as it progresses and I believe you may be asked if you want to enable flow meters. Otherwise, you can do that post-install via the management gui...

Cheers!

 

[kxavier_23]

I gave up and am trying a full reinstall of RPints RandR+ kit.

Does anyone know how to change the default port? I assume it defaults to :80

 

[kxavier_23]

I just don't know if this is for me. After a clean install and 2 reinstalls, no beers will show up on my screen now.

Flow meters still aren't working either.

I turned the logging level up and this is what I have:

Raspberry Pints Log
Date Process Category Text Occurances
2020-11-24 20:47:50 FlowMonitor D Sending Status;N;-1;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;| 1072
2020-11-24 20:43:08 FlowMonitor D listening to Arduino 1
2020-11-24 20:43:08 FlowMonitor D Arduino says: C:6:3:5:7:9:0:0:0:300:200:30:250:0:0:1| 1
2020-11-24 20:43:08 FlowMonitor D Waiting for Config Response 1
2020-11-24 20:43:08 FlowMonitor D Arduino config, about to send: C:6:3:5:7:9:0:0:0:300:200:30:250:0:0:1| 1
2020-11-24 20:43:08 FlowMonitor D getting config data for Arduino 1
2020-11-24 20:43:08 FlowMonitor D Arduino alive... 1
2020-11-24 20:43:07 FlowMonitor D Adding 28-011927f10bdc Temp[6.9] low:0.0 high:212.0 1
2020-11-24 20:43:06 FlowMonitor D waiting for Arduino to come alive 1
2020-11-24 20:43:06 FlowMonitor I 1Wire Temperature Thread 1 is Running 1
2020-11-24 20:43:05 PintDispatch I Not Configured to run Fan 1
2020-11-24 20:43:05 PintDispatch I Fan Control fanControl1 is Running 1
2020-11-24 20:43:05 FlowMonitor D Creating Serial Listener 1
2020-11-24 20:43:05 FlowMonitor D resetting Arduino 1
2020-11-24 20:43:05 PintDispatch I starting fan control 1
2020-11-24 20:43:05 PintDispatch I starting command server 1
2020-11-24 20:43:05 PintDispatch I starting device monitors... 1
2020-11-24 20:43:05 PintDispatch I starting WS server 1

I suppose I can try adding the resistors to the meters although @garzlok is using the same meters and they seem to work without them.

Is there anything else I can do to troubleshoot this?

 

[kxavier_23]

This is the error I get on the main page.

This is with a freshly formatted SD card and fresh install.

 

[RandR+]

Do you need to modify the raspberrypints.ino file as directed here

no the pin settings are now on the tap page

Does anyone know how to change the default port? I assume it defaults to :80

you have to modify the Apache config How to Change Apache HTTP Port in Linux

2020-11-24 20:47:50 FlowMonitor D Sending Status;N;-1;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;| 1072
….
2020-11-24 20:43:08 FlowMonitor D Arduino config, about to send: C:6:3:5:7:9:0:0:0:300:200:30:250:0:0:1| 1
...
Is there anything else I can do to troubleshoot this?

the good news is that there is communication between the pi and the Arduino. That is why you see Status;N with 1072 (1072 is a count of the messages that happened in a row), from this log I see you have 6 taps, but are only using pins 3,5,7,9 are those the correct pins the flow meters are attached to?

This is the error I get on the main page.

can you look at the end of /var/log/apache2/error.log to see if there is any obvious errors preventing the main display from loading

 

[RandR+]

This is the error I get on the main page.

Try updating, I missed a file on my last commit

 

[kxavier_23]

Try updating, I missed a file on my last commit

Updating fixed the taps not showing up

Thanks

 

[kxavier_23]

it should enable pull-ups in the arduino. this happens after the arduino responds to the Python with the config
View attachment 707680

Since I can't seem to get my meters to properly read, I bought a breadboard and resistors to try that type of pulldown.

Does the R3 Uno pull down code need to be disabled?

 

[day_trippr]

PULL UP! Not Pull Down.
And the Arduino code doesn't need to be changed...

Cheers!

 

[kxavier_23]

Sorry on the terms...

I added the 2.2k resistors, restarted and still no pours. Actually, nothing has changed.

Log is now:

2020-11-29 13:15:26 FlowMonitor D resetting Arduino 1
2020-11-29 13:15:26 PintDispatch I starting command server 1
2020-11-29 13:15:24 PintDispatch I starting device monitors... 1
2020-11-29 13:15:22 PintDispatch I starting WS server 1
2020-11-29 13:15:22 FlowMonitor D avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.00s avrdude: Device signature = 0x1e950f avrdude: reading input file "/var/www/html//arduino/raspberrypints/raspberrypints.cpp.hex" avrdude: writing flash (12180 bytes): Writing | ################################################## | 100% 2.37s avrdude: 12180 bytes of flash written avrdude: verifying flash memory against /var/www/html//arduino/raspberrypints/raspberrypints.cpp.hex: avrdude: load data flash data from input file /var/www/html//arduino/raspberrypints/raspberrypints.cpp.hex: avrdude: input file /var/www/html//arduino/raspberrypints/raspberrypints.cpp.hex contains 12180 bytes avrdude: reading on-chip flash data: Reading | ################################################## | 100% 1.88s avrdude: verifying ... avrdude: 12180 bytes of flash verified avrdude done. Thank you. 1
2020-11-29 13:15:15 FlowMonitor D reflashing Arduino via: /usr/share/arduino/hardware/tools/avrdude -C/usr/share/arduino/hardware/tools/avrdude.conf -patmega328p -calamode -P/dev/ttyACM0 -b115200 -D -Uflash:w:/var/www/html//arduino/raspberrypints/raspberrypints.cpp.hex:i 1
2020-11-29 13:15:12 FlowMonitor D giving it a short break to wake up again... 1
2020-11-29 13:15:10 FlowMonitor D resetting alamode to try to force it to listen to us... 1
2020-11-29 13:15:10 PintDispatch D starting setup... 1
2020-11-29 13:15:05 FlowMonitor I Could not import RFID Reader, RFID disabled. Assuming SPI not installed/configured 1
2020-11-29 13:14:47 PintDispatch D valve update: RPU:VALVE:5=0 1
2020-11-29 13:14:46 PintDispatch D valve update: RPU:VALVE:4=0 1
2020-11-29 13:14:34 PintDispatch D valve update: RPU:VALVE:3=0 1
2020-11-29 13:14:31 PintDispatch D valve update: RPU:VALVE:2=0 1
2020-11-29 13:14:31 PintDispatch D valve update: RPU:VALVE:1=0 1
2020-11-29 13:14:31 PintDispatch D valve update: RPU:VALVE:0=0 1
2020-11-29 13:14:01 FlowMonitor D Sending Status;N;-1;0;0;0;0;0;0;0;| 285
2020-11-29 13:08:39 FlowMonitor D listening to Arduino

I started the Serial Monitor before I attempted the first pour and this is what I am seeing:

ttttt;
ttttttttuttttttttttttCtse;tttttttttttttttktttutt
ttttttttttttttatusCheck;

StatusCheck;

StatusCheck;

tttttutuatettaaaaaaCttttaatatusCheck;

StatusCheck;

StatusCheck;

tttaatttttttttaaaatatatusCheck;

StatusCheck;

StatusCheck;

aatusCheck;

StatusCheck;

StatusCheck;

ttsheck;

StatusCheck;

StatusCheck;

tatatusCheck;

StatusCheck;

StatusCheck;

ttatatttttatutseataattaatattta

 

[kxavier_23]

Via a X-mas miracle, everything started working

One thing I have been playing with next was adding a 'Drinker Account'. When you try to 'add user', the page http://XXX.XXX.XX.XX/admin/user_form.php is just blank.

 

[RandR+]

is just blank.

should be fixed now if you update to latest or at least add

if($user==null)$user = new User();

to line 39 of
admin/user_form.php

 

[kxavier_23]

should be fixed now if you update to latest or at least add

if($user==null)$user = new User();

to line 39 of
admin/user_form.php

Ran the update but it didn't work. I did add that line manually though to the form and it did work.

 

[barrooze]

I've been out of the loop for about a year and a half, after my SD card took a crap and I failed to have a backup. I had fairly heavily modified my RPints install to include QR codes for users to log their drinks in Untappd, and also extended the SRM range to much darker than the 35 SRM that was in the 2017-2018 installs.

I've just did a fresh install of Raspbian, and intend to use RandR+'s install for a fresh install of RPints in the morning. It looks like you guys have really done a lot of work on this project! I'm super excited to see the new options and features! Did I really see that 'motion sensors' are now an option? No more autostart updating and pir_xxx.py troubleshooting? Do I just say "yes" and tell it what pin it's on?

I'll update you with how the progress goes later this weekend! Thanks for all the continued support on this awesome project! Cheers!

 

[RandR+]

Do I just say "yes" and tell it what pin it's on?

yep that's the idea of it

 

[barrooze]

I just ran the install command and got this:

VIM just installed correctly, but when it tried to install "kompare", it errored out. I tried installing kompare on it's own, and got an error saying the url is not found... thoughts?


EDIT: I found another user having kompare issues back in August, you suggested 'sudo apt-get install kompare', which I tried, but still getting errors:

Thanks in advance!


2nd EDIT: I ended up doing a 'sudo apt update' and 'sudo apt upgrade', then tried the 'sudo apt-get install kompare' and it's installing now! I'll rerun the RPints install after this is done and see if I encounter any other issues.

 

[RandR+]

I ended up doing a 'sudo apt update' and 'sudo apt upgrade', then tried the 'sudo apt-get install kompare' and it's installing now! I'll rerun the RPints install after this is done and see if I encounter any other issues.

hmm that's interesting. the script should run update and upgrade first, in fact when I load a VM of Raspbian I skip its update in favor of the script.

My first thought was that they released a new Raspberry OS and that was causing Kompare to error, but that doesn't sound like the case now.

 

[barrooze]

My first thought was that they released a new Raspberry OS and that was causing Kompare to error, but that doesn't sound like the case now.

No clue, but the method I used to install Raspbian was the Raspberry Pi Imager. Might that have done something?

Anyways, I did get RPints up and running. I'm now trying to tweak the index.php to match what I had on my old install.

I had added some qr code images for users to scan with their phones to check in to the beers on Untappd. I had modified the tables in the database and the beers form to allow for entry of the qr file name. Now I can't find the database... I went to phpmyadmin and didn't see the RPints database for this install. Is it somewhere else now?

Also, are people just editing the index.php to add custom tap numbers or is there an option for loading those in the settings?

Thanks! I'm super impressed with how far along this has come. You've done an incredible job getting this thing super functional and easy to setup! And amazing support as well! Thank you!!

 

[RandR+]

Is it somewhere else now?

Also, are people just editing the index.php to add custom tap numbers or is there an option for loading those in the settings?

the database should be in phpmyadmin.
you can verify its name using the terminal commands
sudo mysql
show databases;

You could also run the sql you need from that terminal, but that requires a bit of knowledge vs the graphic interface of phpmyadmin



You can put custom tap numbers or images through the taps admin page (the up arrow is to upload an image)

 

[barrooze]

Thanks! I found the databases from console, but when I access phpMyAdmin from a browser, they're missing. Thoughts?

I was able to load the images for my taps! Thank you!

 

[RandR+]

I access phpMyAdmin from a browser, they're missing. Thoughts?

It may have to do with the login you use for phpmyadmin. it may not have rights to rpints database

if you are not using Rpints user you may need to run this command after sudo MySQL (change <User Name> to the one you use
GRANT ALL ON raspberrypints.* TO '<User Name>'@'localhost';