Can it be done? (Countdown timer that survives wait or sleep)



  • Hi Guys,

    I'm trying to add a simple countdown timer into my sketch. the logic is, if x is true, reset the timer, if it isn't start the timer.

    Basically, if rain is detected, reset the timer. If it isn't countdown from 4 hours.

    I tried a library that I found but it didn't seem to work with the wait or sleep command (which I expected).

    Any ideas?


  • Mod

    The number you get from millis() is increased all the time. It wraps around after a few days, but as long as you don't sleep longer than that you should be able to just use the value returned.

    Edit: I was wrong. Millis is stoppen when the mcu is sleeping.


  • Contest Winner

    @Mark-Swift When an Arduino sleeps. it sleeps. Meaning that the internal timer sleeps also. Thus millis() continues when woken up. But pauses when sleeping. In my opnion, intelligence like this should be handled by your home automation system.

    But it can be done, but not in combination with sleep-mode.



  • Hi again @mfalkvidd 🙂

    I've not used that before, I don't intend to wait or sleep (depending on if the node's a repeater) longer that a few minutes. Could you give me an example of how I could achieve this?

    This is what I'm working on:

    // Enable debug prints
    #define MY_DEBUG
    
    // Required for MQTT as gateway does not automagically assign ID's
    #define MY_NODE_ID 3
    
    // Set parent node ID manually
    // #define MY_PARENT_NODE_ID
    
    // Enable and select radio type attached
    #define MY_RADIO_NRF24
    // #define MY_RADIO_RFM69
    
    // Set RF24L01 channel number
    #define MY_RF24_CHANNEL 125
    
    #include <SPI.h>
    #include <MySensor.h>
    #include <BH1750.h>
    #include <NewPing.h>
    #include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
    
    #define NEO_PIN 2
    Adafruit_NeoPixel strip1 = Adafruit_NeoPixel(60, NEO_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
    
    // Power pin moisture sensor
    #define MOISTURE_POWER_PIN 5
    // Digital input pin moisture sensor
    #define DIGITAL_INPUT_MOISTURE 6
    
    // Power pin rain sensor
    #define RAIN_POWER_PIN 7
    // Digital input pin rain sensor
    #define DIGITAL_INPUT_RAIN 8
    
    // Ultrasonic trigger pin
    #define TRIGGER_PIN 4
    // Ultrasonic echo pin
    #define ECHO_PIN 3
    // Maximum distance we want to ping for (in cms), maximum sensor distance is rated at 400-500cm
    #define MAX_DISTANCE 300
    // NewPing setup of pins and maximum distance
    NewPing sonar(TRIGGER_PIN, ECHO_PIN, MAX_DISTANCE);
    
    // Set BH1750 name
    BH1750 lightSensor;
    
    // Define end of loop pause time
    #define LOOP_PAUSE 30000
    
    // Define radio wait time between sends
    #define RADIO_PAUSE 125  // This allows for radio to come back to power after a transmission, ideally 0..
    
    // Define time between sensors blocks
    #define SENSORS_DELAY 125  // This allows for radio to come back to power after a transmission, ideally 0..
    
    // Define delay set on Landroid
    #define MOWER_DELAY (4UL*60UL*60UL*1000UL)  // Hours (4)
    boolean MowerWaiting = false; // If false, send relay command
    boolean MowerHome = true; // If false, send relay command
    
    // unsigned long LOOP_PAUSE = 10000; // Sleep or wait time between reads (in milliseconds) 30000
    int lastMoistureValue = -1;
    int lastRainValue = -1;
    uint16_t lastlux;
    int lastDist;
    boolean metric = true;
    
    #define CHILD_ID1 1 // ID of the sensor child
    #define CHILD_ID2 2 // ID of the sensor child
    #define CHILD_ID3 3 // ID of the sensor child
    #define CHILD_ID4 4 // ID of the sensor child
    
    MyMessage msg1(CHILD_ID1, V_TRIPPED); // Setup message
    MyMessage msg2(CHILD_ID2, V_TRIPPED); // Setup message
    MyMessage msg3(CHILD_ID3, V_LEVEL); // Setup message
    MyMessage msg4(CHILD_ID4, V_DISTANCE); // Setup message
    
    void setup()
    {
      // Send the sketch version information to the gateway and Controller
      sendSketchInfo("R+M+T+H+L+D+U", "1.0");
      wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
      // Register all sensors to gw (they will be created as child devices)
      present(CHILD_ID1, S_MOTION);
      wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
      present(CHILD_ID2, S_MOTION);
      wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
      present(CHILD_ID3, S_LIGHT_LEVEL);
      wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
      present(CHILD_ID4, S_DISTANCE);
      wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
      // Set the moisture sensor digital pin as input
      pinMode(DIGITAL_INPUT_MOISTURE, INPUT);
      // Set the rain sensor digital pin as input
      pinMode(DIGITAL_INPUT_RAIN, INPUT);
      // Set the moisture sensor power pin as output
      pinMode(MOISTURE_POWER_PIN, OUTPUT);
      // Set the rain sensor power pin as output
      pinMode(RAIN_POWER_PIN, OUTPUT);
      // Set to LOW so no power is flowing through the moisture sensor
      digitalWrite(MOISTURE_POWER_PIN, LOW);
      // Set to LOW so no power is flowing through the rain sensor
      digitalWrite(RAIN_POWER_PIN, LOW);
      // Check gateway for metric setting
      boolean metric = getConfig().isMetric;
      // Start BH1750 light sensor
      lightSensor.begin();
      // Start NeoPixel
      strip1.begin();
      // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
      strip1.show();
    }
    
    void loop()
    {
      {
        //--- Moisture sensor ---//
        digitalWrite(MOISTURE_POWER_PIN, HIGH); // Turn moisture power pin on
        wait(200); // Set a delay to ensure the moisture sensor has powered up
        int moistureValue = digitalRead(DIGITAL_INPUT_MOISTURE); // Read digital moisture value
        digitalWrite(MOISTURE_POWER_PIN, LOW); // Turn moisture power pin off
        if (moistureValue != lastMoistureValue)
        {
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
          Serial.print("Moisture Sensor: ");
          Serial.println(moistureValue == 0 ? 1 : 0);
    #endif
          send(msg1.set(moistureValue == 0 ? 1 : 0)); // Send the inverse
          wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
          lastMoistureValue = moistureValue; // For testing can be 0 or 1 or back to moistureValue
        }
      }
    
      wait(SENSORS_DELAY); // Wait between sensor readings, seems to help reliability of second reading
      {
        //--- Rain sensor ---//
        digitalWrite(RAIN_POWER_PIN, HIGH); // Turn rain power pin on
        wait(200); // Set a delay to ensure the moisture sensor has powered up
        int rainValue = digitalRead(DIGITAL_INPUT_RAIN); // Read digital rain value
        digitalWrite(RAIN_POWER_PIN, LOW); // Turn rain power pin off
        if (rainValue != lastRainValue) // Check value against saved value
        {
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
          Serial.print("Rain Sensor: ");
          Serial.println(rainValue == 0 ? 1 : 0);
    #endif
          send(msg2.set(rainValue == 0 ? 1 : 0)); // Send the inverse
          wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
          lastRainValue = rainValue; // For testing can be 0 or 1 or back to rainValue
        }
      }
    
      wait(SENSORS_DELAY); // Wait between sensor readings, seems to help reliability of second reading
      {
        //--- Light sensor ---//
        uint16_t lux = lightSensor.readLightLevel(); // Get Lux value
        if (lux != lastlux)
        {
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
          Serial.print("LUX: ");
          Serial.println(lux);
    #endif
          send(msg3.set(lux));
          wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
          lastlux = lux;
        }
      }
    
      wait(SENSORS_DELAY); // Wait between sensor readings, seems to help reliability of second reading
      {
        //--- Distance sensor ---//
        int dist = metric ? sonar.ping_cm() : sonar.ping_in();
        if (dist != lastDist)
        {
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
          Serial.print("Distance: ");
          Serial.print(dist); // Convert ping time to distance in cm and print result (0 = outside set distance range)
          Serial.println(metric ? " cm" : " in");
    #endif
          send(msg4.set(dist));
          wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
          lastDist = dist;
        }
      }
    
      //--- Analyse readings and set neopixel & booleans ---//
      if (lastMoistureValue == 0 ? 1 : 0 == 1 || lastRainValue == 0 ? 1 : 0 == 1)
      {
        MowerWaiting = true;
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
        Serial.print("Mower Waiting: ");
        Serial.println(MowerWaiting);
        strip1.setPixelColor(0, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(1, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(2, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(3, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.show();
    #endif
      }
      else
      {
        MowerWaiting = false;
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
        Serial.print("Mower Waiting: ");
        Serial.println(MowerWaiting);
        strip1.setPixelColor(0, 0, 255, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(1, 0, 255, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(2, 0, 255, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(3, 0, 255, 0);
        strip1.show();
    #endif
      }
    
      if (lastDist < 60)
      {
        MowerHome = true;
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
        Serial.print("Mower Home: ");
        Serial.println(MowerHome);
        strip1.setPixelColor(4, 0, 255, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(5, 0, 255, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(6, 0, 255, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(7, 0, 255, 0);
        strip1.show();
    #endif
      }
      else
      {
        MowerHome = false;
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
        Serial.print("Mower Home: ");
        Serial.println(MowerHome);
        strip1.setPixelColor(4, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(5, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(6, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(7, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.show();
    #endif
      }
    
      wait(LOOP_PAUSE); // Sleep or wait (repeater)
    }
    

    Basically

     if (lastMoistureValue == 0 ? 1 : 0 == 1 || lastRainValue == 0 ? 1 : 0 == 1)
    

    then reset the timer, else countdown from 4 hours and display the countdown....?



  • @TheoL I thought as much, I've posted an example of what I'm trying to achieve above, this particular node with only wait (using the MySensors wait) will this make it easier?



  • You can use in addition a real time clock like the DS1307.


  • Contest Winner

    @Mark-Swift I'll look at your code later on. I'm just having a short lunch break. Since you'e using MQTT, things are much easier. You can implement the timing stuff completely in NoeRed. I love MQTT and node red.



  • @TheoL Thank you!


  • Hero Member

    @Mark-Swift The easiest way to implement a time during sleep (independent from a controller) is count the number of sleep and multiply by the sleep time.

    or a more straightforward example:

    unsigned long loopTimer ; 
    
    void setup()
    {
    loopTimer  = 0 ;
    }
    
    void loop(){
    unsigned long now = millis() ;
    // whatever 
    
    // end whatever
    loopTimer += now ; 
    gw.sleep(sleepTime);
    loopTimer += sleepTime ;
    }
    


  • @AWI That's very interesting. I had considered something like that but couldn't figure out how I'd do it.

    Basically, what I'd like to do is have the Arduino light up the neopixel with the remaining hours, i.e. 4 hours, show 4 red LEDS. Not having to reply on a controller for such a simple task seems a bonus. If possible I'll also send the remaining time back to the controller also.

    Now I just need to figure out how to apply your timer example to my code, oh dear.

    @AWI If you're feeling generous 😉


  • Hero Member

    @Mark-Swift I'm feeling generous... but the challenge is yours...😆 .

    If a precision of a few milliseconds is not essential then my idea would be to implement a counter which increments every loop.
    If the counter reaches 1 hour (3600 s equals ? times the loopDelay) light up the first, etc.



  • This post is deleted!


  • Well, I've been trying and haven't come up with anything that works so far... Crap.


  • Hardware Contributor

    It looks like you don't need to sleep, i.e. the node isn't battery powered. Then it should be very easy by using the basic millis() counter method. http://forum.mysensors.org/topic/630/gateway-sensor-range-advice/12



  • @m26872 Would you perhaps be able to point me in the right direction with regards my sketch?

    Basically, if

    if (lastMoistureValue == 0 ? 1 : 0 == 1 || lastRainValue == 0 ? 1 : 0 == 1)
    

    reset timer and set MowerWaiting to true (I guess?)

    else

    after 1 hour light led 1, after 2 hours light led 2, after 3 hours light led 3, after 4 hours light led 4 (and ideally switch MowerWaiting to false)

    Cheers, Mark


  • Contest Winner

    @Mark-Swift Why not make things simple (I love simple things).

    if (lastMoistureValue == 0 ? 1 : 0 == 1 || lastMoistureValue == 0 ? 1 : 0 == 1)
    

    Is something that I would code differently. What you are saying is:
    if ( inverted value of lastMoistureValue == 1 <-- meaning moisturevalue = 0

    or

    if ( inverted value of lastMoisterValue == 1 <-- meaning moistureValue = 0

    Which basically is a double check for the same. If you'd want to do something when the lastMoistureValue = 0 it would be more logic and simple to say

    if ( lastMoistureValue == 0 ) {
    

    But I don't have the time to read this complete thread. To me it always help to write things in pseudo code first. Especially when I have to code a complex algorithm. Like

    1. if the lastMoistureValue is off (I presume 0 is off) then do
    2. ....

    And then I translate the pseudo code to C code.

    An algorithm for handling timers could be:

    1. If something/sensor value starts a timer.
    2. store current time in timerStartVariable
    3. if firstTimerElapsed
    4. light up led1
    5. if secondTimerElapsed
    6. light up led2
    7. ...... and so on
    8. if timer needs reset
    9. disable timer mechanism

    This gives me lots of insights in what I'd need to code. And there are a lot of different ways you can accomplish this. But for the sake of simplicity I'm not going to use arrays and stuff like that. That is something you can do later on - I'd do immediately, but I wrote my first program 36 years ago on a commodore 64. So I have some experience with software development.

    #define firstTimer 36000000 // 60 minutes * 60 seconds * 1000 millis
    #define secondTimer 7200000 // 2 times first timer is 2 hours
    .... // and so on
    
    
    bool timerActive =  false; // state for timer active
    unsigned long timerStart = 0; // variable for remembering when the timer was triggered
    bool timer1Handled = false;
    bool timer2Handled = false;
    ....
    ....
    void loop() {
        if ( timerActive == false && timerNeedsToBeActivated ) { // don't know how you want to trigger it
            timerActive = true;
            timerStart = millis();
            timer1Handled = false;
            timer2Handled = false;
        }
        if ( timerActive == true ) { // check whether a timer has ellapsed
            unsigned long cm = millis();
            if ( timerStart + firstTimer > cm && timer1Handled == false ) {
                timer1Handled = true;
                // light up led1
            }
            if ( timerStart + secondTimer > cm && timer2Handled == false ) {
                timer2Handled = true;
                // light up led1
            }
            if ( timerNeedsToBeStopped ) {
                timerActive = false;
            }
        }
    }
    

    Now this might not be the best way to code this algorithm. And I haven't checked if it compiles. But I hope this is what you're looking for. And if so I hope it helped the way I translate an algorithm to a piece of software.

    Also there might be some small errors in the code. But I just did some development in Python for a course I'm following. And Python has a different syntax.



  • @Mark-Swift said:

    @TheoL I'll take a look at that and digest it, thank you so much for taking the time to reply.

    BTW, spot the typo! It was meant to read:

    if (lastMoistureValue == 0 ? 1 : 0 == 1 || lastRainValue == 0 ? 1 : 0 == 1)
    

  • Contest Winner

    @Mark-Swift My mistake sorry. But it would also make the code more readable by not doing the invert and just compare for the value.



  • @TheoL I've just tried implementing the code you gave into my sketch, strangely it seems to light all 3 LEDS on the first loop, even though checking the value of 'cm' it's obviously less than timerStarted + TIMERX, any ideas?

    Code:

    // Enable debug prints
    #define MY_DEBUG
    
    // Required for MQTT as gateway does not automagically assign ID's
    #define MY_NODE_ID 3
    
    // Set parent node ID manually
    // #define MY_PARENT_NODE_ID
    
    // Enable and select radio type attached
    #define MY_RADIO_NRF24
    // #define MY_RADIO_RFM69
    
    // Set RF24L01 channel number
    #define MY_RF24_CHANNEL 125
    
    #include <SPI.h>
    #include <MySensor.h>
    #include <BH1750.h>
    #include <NewPing.h>
    #include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
    
    #define NEO_PIN 2
    #define NUM_LEDS 8
    Adafruit_NeoPixel strip1 = Adafruit_NeoPixel(NUM_LEDS, NEO_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);
    
    // Power pin moisture sensor
    #define MOISTURE_POWER_PIN 5
    // Digital input pin moisture sensor
    #define DIGITAL_INPUT_MOISTURE 6
    
    // Power pin rain sensor
    #define RAIN_POWER_PIN 7
    // Digital input pin rain sensor
    #define DIGITAL_INPUT_RAIN 8
    
    // Ultrasonic trigger pin
    #define TRIGGER_PIN 4
    // Ultrasonic echo pin
    #define ECHO_PIN 3
    // Maximum distance we want to ping for (in cms), maximum sensor distance is rated at 400-500cm
    #define MAX_DISTANCE 400
    // NewPing setup of pins and maximum distance
    NewPing sonar(TRIGGER_PIN, ECHO_PIN, MAX_DISTANCE);
    
    // Set BH1750 name
    BH1750 lightSensor;
    
    // Define end of loop pause time
    #define LOOP_PAUSE 10000
    
    // Define radio wait time between sends
    #define RADIO_PAUSE 100  // This allows for radio to come back to power after a transmission, ideally 0..
    
    // Define time between sensors blocks
    #define SENSORS_DELAY 100  // This allows for radio to come back to power after a transmission, ideally 0..
    
    // Define delay set on Landroid
    #define MOWER_DELAY (4UL*60UL*60UL*1000UL)  // Hours (4)
    boolean MowerWaiting = false; // If false, send relay command
    boolean MowerHome = false; // If false, send relay command
    
    // unsigned long LOOP_PAUSE = 10000; // Sleep or wait time between reads (in milliseconds) 30000
    int lastMoistureValue = -1;
    int lastRainValue = -1;
    uint16_t lastlux;
    int lastDist;
    boolean metric = true;
    
    // Trial timer variables
    
    #define TIMER1 3200000 // 60 minutes * 60 seconds * 1000 millis
    #define TIMER2 7200000 // 120 minutes * 60 seconds * 1000 millis
    #define TIMER3 10800000 // 180 minutes * 60 seconds * 1000 millis
    
    bool timerActive =  false; // State for timer active
    unsigned long timerStarted = 0; // Variable for remembering when the timer was last triggered
    bool timer1Activated = false;
    bool timer2Activated = false;
    bool timer3Activated = false;
    
    // Define sensor children for MySensors
    
    #define CHILD_ID1 1 // ID of the sensor child
    #define CHILD_ID2 2 // ID of the sensor child
    #define CHILD_ID3 3 // ID of the sensor child
    #define CHILD_ID4 4 // ID of the sensor child
    
    // Define MySensors message formats
    
    MyMessage msg1(CHILD_ID1, V_TRIPPED); // Setup message
    MyMessage msg2(CHILD_ID2, V_TRIPPED); // Setup message
    MyMessage msg3(CHILD_ID3, V_LEVEL); // Setup message
    MyMessage msg4(CHILD_ID4, V_DISTANCE); // Setup message
    
    void setup()
    {
      // Send the sketch version information to the gateway and Controller
      sendSketchInfo("R+M+T+H+L+D+U", "1.0");
      wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
      // Register all sensors to gw (they will be created as child devices)
      present(CHILD_ID1, S_MOTION);
      wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
      present(CHILD_ID2, S_MOTION);
      wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
      present(CHILD_ID3, S_LIGHT_LEVEL);
      wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
      present(CHILD_ID4, S_DISTANCE);
      wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
      // Set the moisture sensor digital pin as input
      pinMode(DIGITAL_INPUT_MOISTURE, INPUT);
      // Set the rain sensor digital pin as input
      pinMode(DIGITAL_INPUT_RAIN, INPUT);
      // Set the moisture sensor power pin as output
      pinMode(MOISTURE_POWER_PIN, OUTPUT);
      // Set the rain sensor power pin as output
      pinMode(RAIN_POWER_PIN, OUTPUT);
      // Set to LOW so no power is flowing through the moisture sensor
      digitalWrite(MOISTURE_POWER_PIN, LOW);
      // Set to LOW so no power is flowing through the rain sensor
      digitalWrite(RAIN_POWER_PIN, LOW);
      // Check gateway for metric setting
      boolean metric = getConfig().isMetric;
      // Start BH1750 light sensor
      lightSensor.begin();
      // Start NeoPixel
      strip1.begin();
      // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
      strip1.show();
    }
    
    void loop()
    {
      {
        //--- Moisture sensor ---//
        digitalWrite(MOISTURE_POWER_PIN, HIGH); // Turn moisture power pin on
        wait(200); // Set a delay to ensure the moisture sensor has powered up
        int moistureValue = digitalRead(DIGITAL_INPUT_MOISTURE); // Read digital moisture value
        digitalWrite(MOISTURE_POWER_PIN, LOW); // Turn moisture power pin off
        if (moistureValue != lastMoistureValue)
        {
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
          Serial.print("Moisture Sensor: ");
          Serial.println(moistureValue == 0 ? 1 : 0);
    #endif
          send(msg1.set(moistureValue == 0 ? 1 : 0)); // Send the inverse
          wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
          lastMoistureValue = moistureValue; // For testing can be 0 or 1 or back to moistureValue
        }
      }
    
      wait(SENSORS_DELAY); // Wait between sensor readings, seems to help reliability of second reading
      {
        //--- Rain sensor ---//
        digitalWrite(RAIN_POWER_PIN, HIGH); // Turn rain power pin on
        wait(200); // Set a delay to ensure the moisture sensor has powered up
        int rainValue = digitalRead(DIGITAL_INPUT_RAIN); // Read digital rain value
        digitalWrite(RAIN_POWER_PIN, LOW); // Turn rain power pin off
        if (rainValue != lastRainValue) // Check value against saved value
        {
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
          Serial.print("Rain Sensor: ");
          Serial.println(rainValue == 0 ? 1 : 0);
    #endif
          send(msg2.set(rainValue == 0 ? 1 : 0)); // Send the inverse
          wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
          lastRainValue = rainValue; // For testing can be 0 or 1 or back to rainValue
        }
      }
    
      wait(SENSORS_DELAY); // Wait between sensor readings, seems to help reliability of second reading
      {
        //--- Light sensor ---//
        uint16_t lux = lightSensor.readLightLevel(); // Get Lux value
        if (lux != lastlux)
        {
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
          Serial.print("LUX: ");
          Serial.println(lux);
    #endif
          send(msg3.set(lux));
          wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
          lastlux = lux;
        }
      }
    
      wait(SENSORS_DELAY); // Wait between sensor readings, seems to help reliability of second reading
      {
        //--- Distance sensor ---//
        int dist = metric ? sonar.ping_cm() : sonar.ping_in();
        if (dist != lastDist)
        {
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
          Serial.print("Distance: ");
          Serial.print(dist); // Convert ping time to distance in cm and print result (0 = outside set distance range)
          Serial.println(metric ? " cm" : " in");
    #endif
          send(msg4.set(dist));
          wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
          lastDist = dist;
        }
      }
    
      //--- Analyse readings and set neopixel & booleans ---//
      if (lastMoistureValue == 0 || lastRainValue == 0)
      {
        MowerWaiting = true;
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
        Serial.print("Mower Waiting: ");
        Serial.println(MowerWaiting);
    #endif
      }
    
      if ( timerActive == false && MowerWaiting == true ) // Logic for timer trigger
      {
        timerActive = true;
        timerStarted = millis();
        timer1Activated = false;
        timer2Activated = false;
        timer3Activated = false;
        strip1.setPixelColor(0, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(1, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(2, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(3, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.show();
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
        Serial.print("Mower Is Waiting: ");
        Serial.println("Activating Countdown");
    #endif
      }
    
      if ( timerActive == true )
      {
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
        Serial.print("Countdown: ");
        Serial.println("Active");
    #endif
        unsigned long cm = millis();
        if ( timerStarted + TIMER1 < cm && timer1Activated == false )
        {
          timer1Activated = true;
          strip1.setPixelColor(0, 255, 0, 0);
          strip1.setPixelColor(1, 255, 0, 0);
          strip1.setPixelColor(2, 255, 0, 0);
          strip1.setPixelColor(3, 0, 0, 0);
          strip1.show();
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
          Serial.print("3 Hours Left: ");
          Serial.println("");
    #endif
        }
        if ( timerStarted + TIMER2 < cm && timer2Activated == false )
        {
          timer2Activated = true;
          strip1.setPixelColor(0, 255, 0, 0);
          strip1.setPixelColor(1, 255, 0, 0);
          strip1.setPixelColor(2, 0, 0, 0);
          strip1.setPixelColor(3, 0, 0, 0);
          strip1.show();
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
          Serial.print("2 Hours Left: ");
          Serial.println("");
    #endif
        }
        if ( timerStarted + TIMER3 < cm && timer3Activated == false )
        {
          timer3Activated = true;
          strip1.setPixelColor(0, 255, 0, 0);
          strip1.setPixelColor(1, 0, 0, 0);
          strip1.setPixelColor(2, 0, 0, 0);
          strip1.setPixelColor(3, 0, 0, 0);
          strip1.show();
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
          Serial.print("1 Hours Left");
          Serial.println("");
    #endif
        }
        if ( cm > 14400000 )
        {
          timerActive = false;
          strip1.setPixelColor(0, 0, 255, 0);
          strip1.setPixelColor(1, 0, 255, 0);
          strip1.setPixelColor(2, 0, 255, 0);
          strip1.setPixelColor(3, 0, 255, 0);
          strip1.show();
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
          Serial.print("Mower Is No Longer Waiting: ");
          Serial.println("Stopping Timer");
    #endif
        }
      }
    
      if (lastDist < 60)
      {
        MowerHome = true;
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
        Serial.print("Mower Home: ");
        Serial.println(MowerHome);
        strip1.setPixelColor(4, 0, 127, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(5, 0, 127, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(6, 0, 127, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(7, 0, 127, 0);
        strip1.show();
    #endif
      }
    
      else
      {
        MowerHome = false;
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
        Serial.print("Mower Home: ");
        Serial.println(MowerHome);
        strip1.setPixelColor(4, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(5, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(6, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.setPixelColor(7, 255, 0, 0);
        strip1.show();
    #endif
      }
    
      wait(LOOP_PAUSE); // Sleep or wait (repeater)
    }
    

    Edit: I'm guessing the IF command should be "<" rather than ">" , fixed that. Check the code above for what I'm working on.

    The issue I see right now is that if either moisture or rain is detected the mower timer will be reset each loop (that's okay), how can I also reset the countdown timer you created that I've implemented so they're in sync?


  • Contest Winner

    @Mark-Swift It's hard to help, sence the sketch is getting large. But From what I'm seeing, you do not store the lastvalues. You allways assing 0 to them

       if (rainValue != lastRainValue) // Check value against saved value
        {
    #ifdef MY_DEBUG
          Serial.print("Rain Sensor: ");
          Serial.println(rainValue == 0 ? 1 : 0);
    #endif
          send(msg2.set(rainValue == 0 ? 1 : 0)); // Send the inverse
          wait(RADIO_PAUSE);
    //      lastRainValue = 0; // For testing can be 0 or 1 or back to rainValue 
            lastRainValue = rainValue; // remember the last value we've read
        }
      }
    

    That would be my first step. If you don't change it, then the sketch will only respond to the sensor's reporting 1.

    Also, when the timer is being started you set all led's with a max of 255 for the RED led. If I'm not mistaken, you wanted them to be off. So set the RED value also to 0.

    We'll get there step by step.



  • @TheoL With regards the LED's, I slightly changed the logic so they count down, rather than up, i.e. they extinguish as each hour passes until the 4th hour.

    I don't see an issue with the current rain sensor / moisture sensor logic, I'm ensuring a reading is taken, but not seeing it unless they've changed? The number you see there now is only because I was testing, normally they're either

    lastMoistureValue = moistureValue OR lastRainValue = rainValue

    The main issue I see is that I need to countdown to be in sync with

    if (lastMoistureValue == 0 || lastRainValue == 0)

    so if (lastMoistureValue == 0 || lastRainValue == 0) is true on each loop, then the countdown LED's are reset also.

    I'll no doubt change the loop wait to much longer once deployed.


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