Plasmatronics - Plasmatronics PL regulator controller
use Device::Regulator::Plasmatronic; my $r = Device::Regulator::Plasmatronic; print "Current state of charge = " . $r->pl_dsoc . "\n";
This is an interface library via the serial port to a Plasmatronics Regulator. (http://www.plasmatronics.com.au/)
I have to replace the serial port driver - currently I use the unix only version, but I have written
The multiplier used for voltages etc is hard coded (currently 4 = 48 Volt system). This can be read from the system, so I will have to do that as part of the initialisation.
Load and other things combine values from multiple locations to allow for larger numbers. I know that I have got this wrong in a number of places. Work to be done to test these for large numbers (eg: > 25 Amps etc).
As above, look at each limitation and try and fix it up.
Write a number of example CGI scripts
Include a graph of the history, or even daily history of the system.
Put together the whole kit of files above so that it can be used in learning environments etc to demonstrate logging, power use etc.
My house has most lights and equipment controlled by the computer, which means combined with current load we get a really good idea how much power is used when things are switched on. This also means we can work out how much power is used by which piece of equipment (over time), and monitor the standard load (eg: what is on all the time like the Fridge).
I have documented here the tools that come with this, although they are not part of this library, it is a convenient place to put them.
This allows you to backup all the data currently in the regulator. This is very handy if you want to work on the regulator which involves disconnecting the power. You then loose all the data for the current day. This allows you to keep that information, not even loosing any data (except for the period it is off).
Display the history.
A simple example of some load variables displayed. A good one to look at on how you would write your own code.
This writes all daily entries to a log file, good for long term logging accross long periods. You could adapt this to log any data in the system at any interval.
Just test the loopback. You can run this to make sure the unit and code is working. Handy to put in a test script, you could for example trigger an alarm if the systems goes down.
Read and write to any variable in the system. Your raw access tool.
Another test code - not really necessary but I use it mostly to generally test my changes.
Read and write the time on the system. You can setup a job to set the time correctly from your server on regular basis, or call it after a plrestore.
my $pl = Plasmatronics->new(); if ($pl->pl_loopback) { print "Cool\n"; } else { print "Not so cool\n"; }
# Init above print "Current load = " . $pl->pl_load . "\n";
# Change the hour print "New hour = " . $pl->pl_hour(15) . "\n";
# This example could be used for an app, cgi or remote display use Plasmatronics; my $pl = Plasmatronics->new() || die "Can't connect to PL"; my $soc = $pl->pl_dsoc; print $soc . "%\n"; my $load = $pl->pl_load; my $charge = $pl->pl_charge; print "OUT $load, IN $charge\n";
The data file (plasmatronics.dat) contains all the clever information.
So why a data file and not hard coded. Well theoretically I want to be able to write alternate versions of this software in other languages (eg: Java, Python, or even a windows DLL/OLE). By keeping any of the non language specific intelligence in the data file, this can be shared, it is also a much neater way of doing development.
- Short Name - Number - Full description - Divide by (number) - Multiply by (number or BM) - Unit - ShiftLeft by (other name or NA) - Write flag - Non NV Backup/Restore (should it be backed up)
The combination of these allows us to do most of the intelligent calculations in the data file.
Each of the short names maps to the equivellent method starting with 'pl_'. The nice part about this is it means you can write code with that name that is used in place of the generic code. This is kind of useful when you want to do more complicated calculations which can not be covered in the data file.
Here are the methods...
Read or write to a processor or nvram location.
Returned values are always adjusted to make your life easier, but that is not so easy for writting, so that has not yet been implemented.
To install Device::Regulator::Plasmatronic, copy and paste the appropriate command in to your terminal.
cpanm
cpanm Device::Regulator::Plasmatronic
CPAN shell
perl -MCPAN -e shell install Device::Regulator::Plasmatronic
For more information on module installation, please visit the detailed CPAN module installation guide.