AgOpenGPS How to build Section Control

[e3120]

I had kind of thought I could just T in thr output from the relays into the wires in the fusebox marked 5,6,7 and 8 in my photo,along with a master on/off switch for section control.

But perhaps that doesn't let the delta34 know if the sections are on...I'm not sure where it gets the signal from...unless its from one of the other wires at the fusebox heading back up the way. I should test.

You should be able to that - it's the same principle as the first option I described and would still let you turn on a section manually. The screen won't know that you've sprayed that area, though. I'm not familiar with the delta 34 - I guess it adjusts flow depending on the sections that are live.

Sometimes the ability to turn a section off 'by feel' (inside corners, buffers etc) is useful. You wouldn't be able to use your joystick for this, but could on the tablet.

 

[S.Jamieson]

You should be able to that - it's the same principle as the first option I described and would still let you turn on a section manually. The screen won't know that you've sprayed that area, though. I'm not familiar with the delta 34 - I guess it adjusts flow depending on the sections that are live.

Sometimes the ability to turn a section off 'by feel' (inside corners, buffers etc) is useful. You wouldn't be able to use your joystick for this, but could on the tablet.

You mean AOG won't know if ive over-ridden the section control?

 

[S.Jamieson]

I've no basis for guessing this, but I'm hoping 1. Is 12v feed from joystick switch, 2. is 12v going to delta34 to tell it section is on, and 3. is off to the valve.

 

[e3120]

You mean AOG won't know if ive over-ridden the section control?

Yeah. If you do it on the tablet, no problem, just difficult because it's always when your eyes are elsewhere.

 

[S.Jamieson]

Is connecting machine board by USB reliable enough, or should I look at connecting by UDP from the outset?

 

[Andy26]

View attachment 1175532

I've no basis for guessing this, but I'm hoping 1. Is 12v feed from joystick switch, 2. is 12v going to delta34 to tell it section is on, and 3. is off to the valve.

Turn all sections on, then remove wire 2 and see if the icon on the Delta screen goes off for that section.
The problem with just Tee-ing into wires 1 and 3 with your relays is that you could energise wires 1 and 3 at the same time, if you have the mechanical switch in one position and the relay in the other.

 

[S.Jamieson]

Turn all sections on, then remove wire 2 and see if the icon on the Delta screen goes off for that section.
The problem with just Tee-ing into wires 1 and 3 with your relays is that you could energise wires 1 and 3 at the same time, if you have the mechanical switch in one position and the relay in the other.

Hmm yes I understand.

Safest option is changing the switches. Which would be a pain, toggles aren't so nice to use on a joystick.

 

[Andy26]

Hmm yes I understand.

Safest option is changing the switches. Which would be a pain, toggles aren't so nice to use on a joystick.

Section control works well on AOG, you can manually operate the sections by touching the screen, I'd be tempted in your case, to use one of your joystick buttons to operate the 'Work' switch in AOG (Pin 9 on the Ampseal on the AIO PCB), this in effect turns the sprayer on and off. Disconnect the other buttons, leave wires in place, disconnected (but insulated) and just use auto section control to control sprayer sections.

 

[Andy26]

Have you tried the un modified sketch with just one relay board wired up?

Try this.

You've used different Nanos, different relay boards, so use stock ino code, just to eliminate it.

Really cannot understand what's going on.

 

[Tim G]

Section control works well on AOG, you can manually operate the sections by touching the screen, I'd be tempted in your case, to use one of your joystick buttons to operate the 'Work' switch in AOG (Pin 9 on the Ampseal on the AIO PCB), this in effect turns the sprayer on and off. Disconnect the other buttons, leave wires in place, disconnected (but insulated) and just use auto section control to control sprayer sections.

When I get my one wired up on the sprayer, I think I will do without the section switches too and just use the touch screen. My valves need to reverse the polarity to turn on and off and I can't get my head around how to have manual switches in the circuit too. I do have a separate main valve that will shut the whole thing off and I'll keep that on a switch.

 

[del_boy]

Try this.

You've used different Nanos, different relay boards, so use stock ino code, just to eliminate it.

Really cannot understand what's going on.

My next step when i get a minute is to flash another nano with the original code and connect the nano to a blank relay board to test .
How can something so simple turn into a headache

 

[S.Jamieson]

Section control works well on AOG, you can manually operate the sections by touching the screen, I'd be tempted in your case, to use one of your joystick buttons to operate the 'Work' switch in AOG (Pin 9 on the Ampseal on the AIO PCB), this in effect turns the sprayer on and off. Disconnect the other buttons, leave wires in place, disconnected (but insulated) and just use auto section control to control sprayer sections.

But that doesn't let me operate sections if for some reason I don't have aog operating.

Could I not have 2 sets of 4 relays, when master section control switch is on, 1 set of relays disconnect circuit from joystick switches, to leave section control relays operating on the rest of the circuit....if you see what I mean?

 

[del_boy]

Well ive made some progress. Got the 2nd 5v relay board fired up home and connected it all up and everything works. Had all 8 sections switching tidy in any combination.
Tested the rest of the nano pins and ive now got 10 outputs auto section controlling.
The last problem i now have is the 2 extra pins that i assigned dont actually function. Ive altered some coding to be able to use pins A0 and A1 as my 2 extra ( to give me 12 ). They both test and switch 0v to 4.6v at the pins but when connected they dont actually switch a relay, possibly not producing any amps maybe.
Tried 2nd nano and different wires but still the same. I edited some code but maybe thinking theres something extra i need to edit aswell


Any ideas

 

[Tim G]

Have you defined the analogy pins as outputs?

 

[del_boy]

Have you defined the analogy pins as outputs?

All ive done is altered in the code to use pins A0 and A1 (as the 1st picture) Im thinking theres something else i need to alter possibly. (Possibly in the section picture) While at home testing with a multimeter the pins are switching 0v to 4.6v but not actually triggering a relay

 

[Tim G]

I think you need to add to the code at the beginning then.

pinMode (A0, OUTPUT);
pinMode (A1, OUTPUT);

 

[del_boy]

I think you need to add to the code at the beginning then.

pinMode (A0, OUTPUT);
pinMode (A1, OUTPUT);

At the start above the 1st line for pinmode 1

 

[Tim G]

View attachment 1175935
At the start above the 1st line for pinmode 1

I don't think they necessarily need to be in order, but neater if they are, so try putting it in there.

 

[del_boy]

I don't think they necessarily need to be in order, but neater if they are, so try putting it in there.

I wasn't sure about which pins are what. In the code they are just numbered but on the nano pin D4 is the 1st usuable pin but i believe nano pin D10 is actually pin 1.
Was expecting the coding to say something like d4 output d5 output A1 input A0 input etc
The picture of the coding is showing 12 output pins but i can only find 10. Nano pins d2 and d3 dont switch to 5v
I'll give it a whirl. Definitely feel like we're making progress now

 

[del_boy]

Bit of an update.
I edited the code on 1 nano to say use pins 14 and 15 to output and on the other nano i edited to say use pins A0 and A1 to output. I can confirm that both these codes work and i now have 12 switchable pins and they all activate a relay now.
Ive bench tested a 8 relay board at home and all appears good from all 12 pins.
I'll hook up to the other relay board on the drill next and see where im at with that next but certainly feeling more hopeful now.
I'll put up some pictures when i get it all working
Thanks alot to @Andy26 and @Tim G for all your help so far