Less than $50 for AutoDosing? Oh YEA!

[Optix]

I see some DIY peristaltic pump threads and think
DEER GEEZUS! you all spend alotta money

go the cheap route..I did

Pump Head w/ motor ($20)
Ebay: 281010726171

12v 1a power supply ($5)
Ebay: 261110138053

Enclosure ($6)
Radioshack: 2062281

Digital Timer ($10)
Walmart: 16816087

Total: $41

some tubing, some solder and some basic tools (a drill and screwdriver essentially) and VOILA! cheap autodosing

I actually went a little further and connected a speed control to fine tune the pump flow BUT I realize that at full speed, I get about 20mL (and could easily adjust my concentrations to dose everyday for about 2.5 months before refilling)

[NatCh]

Sounds interesting ... got any pictures?

[Optix]

YYYYYUP



had to disconnect it...so the front is a little wet

[Darkblade48]

Looks good; I was thinking of purchasing the same pump motors and building it myself.

I am curious as to what you used for your speed control (linear potentiometer)?

[Optix]

standard potentiometer w/ capacitor setup
...in the end, pretty useless so save the $$$$$

[Darkblade48]

Originally Posted by Optix

standard potentiometer w/ capacitor setup
...in the end, pretty useless so save the $$$$$

Why is it useless?

Though I can probably scrounge up a few...there's treasure in the trash pile that is known as my basement

[biogenetic40379]

any more details about this? I saw solder in the post and am interested, just never played with electronics before

[Optix]

Originally Posted by Darkblade48

Why is it useless?

Though I can probably scrounge up a few...there's treasure in the trash pile that is known as my basement

because with the timer I get 20mLs injected (or multiples of 20 thereof)

w/ the timer and the speed control, theoretically I get 1-20mLs (and any multiple)

...but with some simple math and some simple dilutions...theres really no need...I guess if you were really really into nano tanks it would be useful (1mL of ferts daily)...and a huge tank (something weird like 91 mLs of ferts daily)

Originally Posted by biogenetic40379

any more details about this? I saw solder in the post and am interested, just never played with electronics before

its really simple so no extra detail is really needed

the pump has two leads on the bottom...2 wires from there to the power supply wires (soldered to the leads) and you have a pump that works

[DaTrueDave]

Originally Posted by Optix

its really simple so no extra detail is really needed

the pump has two leads on the bottom...2 wires from there to the power supply wires (soldered to the leads) and you have a pump that works

Well, your single photo gives almost zero indication of what you've got there (to someone who doesn't know what those parts are), or how you built it, so obviously more detail is needed if you want to help people do the same thing.

If you don't want to help anyone else, then you're right, no extra detail is really needed.

What may be obvious to you has me perplexed and I would appreciate some more details on how you did this.

Thanks!

[Darkblade48]

Originally Posted by DaTrueDave

Well, your single photo gives almost zero indication of what you've got there (to someone who doesn't know what those parts are), or how you built it, so obviously more detail is needed if you want to help people do the same thing.

If you don't want to help anyone else, then you're right, no extra detail is really needed.

What may be obvious to you has me perplexed and I would appreciate some more details on how you did this.

Thanks!

I think all the details have already been explained myself; is there something in particular that you don't understand?

The peristaltic pump has two leads that you connect to the AC to DC adapter (solder the wires together). After that, you just hook up some tubing and feed one end into (say) a fertilizer solution and the other into your aquarium. When the pump is plugged in, it will pump up to 20 mL per minute. Thus, if you put it on a timer for 1 minute, it will pump 20 mL.

Optix just went one step further and put the whole thing into a nice enclosure for presentation. The potentiometer was also put in to control speed, but that's just optional.

[DaTrueDave]

Originally Posted by Darkblade48

I think all the details have already been explained myself; is there something in particular that you don't understand?

Ah, is there another thread where this is discussed? I see only one pic here and just can't grasp what is going on at all.

[Wicket_lfe]

I am totally sold on this. awesome job!

[m00se]

Peristaltic pump:

[AaronT]

BRS had their brand of doser on sale for $50 on black Friday. You might look around Christmas time to see if they have another sale.

[scbrooks87]

Also, for those who are even as electronically challenged as I am (when it comes to DIY projects) you can use twist-on wire nuts to connect the wires together if you're not comfortable trying to solder.

They can be found at Home Depot online under this number 203708200.

Basically, the pump has 2 wires coming from it, and the power supply has two wires. The two wires on the power supply are just connected together by a rubber "sheath" and end at the part that plugs into an electronic device.

What you'd do is cut off the end that you'd plug into the electronic device, then using a razor or sharp knife slice the rubber sheath down the center between the two wires, separating them, then using wire strippers you can strip about an inch or so of the sheath off, exposing the wire inside.

Once done, you'd either use the wire nuts, or solder to connect one wire from the power supply to one wire from the pump, then do the same with the remaining wire on each.

I am assuming that the enclosure you buy from Radio Shack has to be modified a bit, seems a hole was made in it for the pump head to stick out of, and the wiring was all fitted inside of it, close up the enclosure, and done.

If you need more details about a specific part of that, I'm sure people can describe in further detail from there.

Hope that helps! And if I was wrong on any part, let me know so I can edit the post.

-Scott