Reef Central Online Community - View Single Post - Remote Screen for AC3 (WIN/MAC/*NIX) ::WIP::

JB NY · 10/02/2007, 09:31 AM

I was going to create a new thread but since Marco already has this thread. I hope he does not mind me posting how I do this on the windows platform.

First you need the LCD screen. The one I am using is from CrystalFontz. http://www.crystalfontz.com you need the LCD.I am using the USB LCD available here

http://www.crystalfontz.com/products/634usb/index.html

The unit I am using is the CFA634-TMC-KU but any on that page will work. Also you need to buy their USB connector WRUSBY03.

You will also need their USB drivers

http://www.crystalfontz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5301

and their software available here

http://www.crystalfontz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5384

Once you have that installed and working, you need to get the data from the AC3 to the LCD screen. Unfortunately the CrystalControl2 software, while allowing you to pull info directly from a website, does not support websites that require a username/password to view. So we need to find an alternate solution.

I run a lot of home automation, as well as scripting on my server. So I found it easier to just create a script that pulls all the data I need into an ini file. Once the ini file has data, it is pretty easy to have the CrystalControl2 software read the file. So here is what you need to do.

Download this file.

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/bin/AC_Script.zip

It consists of 3 files.

ACGD.exe is the main script compiled to an exe. I re-wrote for it for public consumption and tried to make it user friendly. It logs everything that happens as well as should error out correctly if there is a problem.

ACGD.ini is the ini file used by the program. Put in the IP addy of the AC3 as well as the username and password for the controller. Also put in the timer name you are using for the Alarm.

ACTank.txt is were the script dumps the values from the AC. This is what the CrystalControl2 software uses to read the data and display it on the screen.

So take those files and put them into a directory. Open the ini file and put in values for your AquaController.

Then run the ACGD program. If everything works correctly it should only take about 2-3 seconds. If not, it should time out in about 60 seconds, check the log file that is created in the dir you ran the program and see what the error was.

Assuming it runs correctly, check out the ACTank.txt, it should now contain the vales form your AC.

Now that you have data from your AC3 in a file, the next part is to set up the Crystal Control Software to read the txt file. I'll cover that in my next post.

I am sure there are other ways to get the data from the AC3, but this worked the easiest for me.

10/02/2007, 09:31 AM	#7
JB NY Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 9,207	How to Create a remote LCD for the AC3 (Windows) I was going to create a new thread but since Marco already has this thread. I hope he does not mind me posting how I do this on the windows platform. First you need the LCD screen. The one I am using is from CrystalFontz. http://www.crystalfontz.com you need the LCD.I am using the USB LCD available here http://www.crystalfontz.com/products/634usb/index.html The unit I am using is the CFA634-TMC-KU but any on that page will work. Also you need to buy their USB connector WRUSBY03. You will also need their USB drivers http://www.crystalfontz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5301 and their software available here http://www.crystalfontz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5384 Once you have that installed and working, you need to get the data from the AC3 to the LCD screen. Unfortunately the CrystalControl2 software, while allowing you to pull info directly from a website, does not support websites that require a username/password to view. So we need to find an alternate solution. I run a lot of home automation, as well as scripting on my server. So I found it easier to just create a script that pulls all the data I need into an ini file. Once the ini file has data, it is pretty easy to have the CrystalControl2 software read the file. So here is what you need to do. Download this file. http://www.cnidarianreef.com/bin/AC_Script.zip It consists of 3 files. ACGD.exe is the main script compiled to an exe. I re-wrote for it for public consumption and tried to make it user friendly. It logs everything that happens as well as should error out correctly if there is a problem. ACGD.ini is the ini file used by the program. Put in the IP addy of the AC3 as well as the username and password for the controller. Also put in the timer name you are using for the Alarm. ACTank.txt is were the script dumps the values from the AC. This is what the CrystalControl2 software uses to read the data and display it on the screen. So take those files and put them into a directory. Open the ini file and put in values for your AquaController. Then run the ACGD program. If everything works correctly it should only take about 2-3 seconds. If not, it should time out in about 60 seconds, check the log file that is created in the dir you ran the program and see what the error was. Assuming it runs correctly, check out the ACTank.txt, it should now contain the vales form your AC. Now that you have data from your AC3 in a file, the next part is to set up the Crystal Control Software to read the txt file. I'll cover that in my next post. I am sure there are other ways to get the data from the AC3, but this worked the easiest for me. __________________ -Joe TOTM Sept 2002 \| Reefland April 2004 \| CORAL Magazine Nov 2007 Featured Tank "Coral Reef Aquarium" 2011 \| Reef Spotlight 2018 Current Tank Info: 270G SPS Tank, 140G sumps, 35G Frag Tank, Ultra Reef Akula UKS-200 Skimmer, Apex, Giesemann Spectra 3x250W MH 4x80W T5, 2xReefbrite Tech 72" Blue LED, Triton Dosing, ARID C30 Algae Reactor, Maxspect Gyre Last edited by JB NY; 10/02/2007 at 09:49 AM.