Project: Feeder System

Palli Steina

Hello everyone.

I'm working on a project that sounds simple, but I feel like I'm doing a good job of complicating it.

We are making a feeder system that is suppose to feed fish at 100m depth at regular intervals. The plan is to have a BS2 control a solenoid valve and open it for a "X" period of time, close and wait for "Y" period of time, loop. The BS2 will be connected to a PC via RS232.

The problem:

I want to be able to change "X" and "Y" through the RS232, but I'm having hard time figuring out the best way. I dont want the BS2 to be dependant on the PC, so when the data is sent, it should feed at that interval.

How would I "listen" for a serial string sent from a PC while still looping the feeder?

Regards,
Palli

Unsoundcode

Hi Palli , several ways of doing this . Maybe you could use the "Y" time of your loop as part of a SERIN command that waits for any update to the timing values . If there is no update the program just continues it's loop , if there is a signal to update then it would direct you to a sub routine that waits for your new timing values

SERIN Rx,baud,Y_time,No_update,[noparse][[/noparse]WAIT("!")]
DEBUG "Enter Y time..."
SERIN Rx,baud,[noparse][[/noparse]DEC3 Y_time]
DEBUG "Enter X time..."
SERIN Rx,baud,[noparse][[/noparse]DEC3 X_time]
No_update:
''Continue your LOOP here

Typing in an exlamation signals you want to update and the debug statements prompt you to enter the new values .

Jeff T.

Palli Steina

Hello Jeff, thanks for your reply.

Its good to have someone to point your way when you have been running in circles. This had crossed my mind, but the code I had already written was in the way.

I'll finish this up and post my code when its done.

Regards,
Palli

Palli Steina

Here is what I came up with:
[code]

' {$STAMP BS2}
' {$PBASIC 2.5}

' Fastar
relay PIN 0 ' Relay
timi CON 60000 ' 1 min

' Breytur
bid VAR Word ' Lengd p

Unsoundcode

Looks well laid out Palli .

I would change the Debugs to SEROUT too. The previous was only pseudo type code for example which you seem to have adapted quite well.

Only other thing I might do is run at 4800 baud or less , speed is not that critical , but if it's working leave it as it is

Jeff T.