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FADU F-stop Enlarger Timer App for Android
FADU F-stop Enlarger Timer App for Android
Published by Bob
20th August 2018
Default FADU F-stop Enlarger Timer App for Android

FADU F-STOP ENLARGER TIMER



The project files for the FADU F-stop Enlarger Timer have now been moved to GitHub as that is a more appropriate place to maintain the project - but read on for an overview and release notes etc...


INFO

Current Version: 1.5.0 released to the Google Play Store.

Of note for version 1.5.0 is the ability to use Sonoff Basic R3 and Mini devices without the need to reprogram them.

Project files: https://github.com/filmanddarkroom/FADU_Timer

Manual: https://github.com/filmanddarkroom/F.../documentation

Play Store entry: https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...omTimerWeb_0_1

Direct link to the current live version manual: https://github.com/filmanddarkroom/F...l%20V1_5_0.pdf


OVERVIEW

The FADU F-Stop Enlarger Timer is an enlarger timer which can optionally drive a reprogrammed WiFi smart switch or relay module to power the enlarger's lamp on and off. It has f-stop timing adjustments for either single-exposures or exposure test-strips, including a manual-switch-friendly mode for those unable to connect the app to a WiFi enabled switch.

The app is designed to work on phones, but will run well on tablets. I suggest you always restart your phone before a session and put the phone into Aeroplane mode to prevent sluggish response by the WiFi switch as the phone needs to concentrate on talking to the WiFi and not do any of the 100 other things it can do. If it does get sluggish, toggling out and back in to Aeroplane mode seems to fix it.

Free and open source, the source code is available on GitHub (https://github.com/filmanddarkroom/FADU_Timer). User instructions and details of the optional hardware interface are also in the manual on GitHub and as an attachment to this article.

The timer can be used as a stand-alone timer to calculate f-stop timing for manual on/off switching of the enlarger, but can also be used to drive the enlarger lamp via a commonly available WiFi smart switch (Sonoff S20 or Sonoff Basic) that you reprogram to work with the timer. Alternately, an LC Technologies WiFi relay board module may be driven without the need to reprogramming (but as a bare pcb, it wlll need a box and a 5V power supply).

New for version 1.5.0 and above is the ability to use Sonoff Basic R3 and Mini devices without the need to reprogram them - simply put them into DIY mode and the timer app can drive them via your local WiFi router. All that is required in this case is simple DIY skills to wire them in and put them in a box.

Reprogramming the Sonoff devices requires some basic electronics knowledge, but if you have experimented with the Arduino system it should not present any difficulties. The reason for this annoying extra technical step is that I have been unable to find an off the
shelf smart socket that can be driven directly from an Android device or web page. All the smart sockets I have found have to go through a Cloud-based service and the undefined time delays caused by this round-trip makes them unusable in this application where we need to define the on/off time with precision.

If you know of a smart socket that can be driven by a web browser on your local network ***without going through the internet first*** please let me know as it would be great to avoid this reprogramming step!

The LC Tech board does not require any programming but should only be used on the low-voltage side of an enlarger's transformer/stabilizer due to poor separation on the pcb between the terminal tracks and the low-voltage circuitry.




RELEASE NOTES


Version 1.5.0:

1. Added [PULSE R3] mode: uses a Sonoff Basic R3 or Mini device in the "Inching" mode of the R3 DIY mode API (http://developers.sonoff.tech/basicr...-http-api.html) to send fixed duration lamp-on commands to the Basic R3 or Mini in DIY mode. See Appendix 1 for details.

2. Added [BASIC R3] mode: uses a Sonoff Basic R3 or Mini device in DIY mode. The downside of this mode is that all the lamp-on and lamp-off signals go via your Wi-Fi router which adds random delays of typically 5 - 100ms on my network - and occasionally much more. See Appendix 1 for details.

3. Added the ability to use the camera's flash LED. Can be used for flashing paper if you add a diffuser over the LED and use the Delay setting to give you time to raise it to the right height after setting the time. Light activated relay boards do exist but keeping the bright light out of the rest of the darkroom may prove difficult. Could also be useful for testing or demo purposes.

4. Added individual volume controls for the various beeps and buzzes (scroll down the SETTINGS tab if you do not see them). A bit tricky to use due to being small (I could find no way to enlarge them in App Inventor) - I find that touching the slider button for a second before sliding it is helpful. The settings are reloaded the next time the app is launched.

5. You no longer need to use the [SET] button on the STRIPS tab. The strip's times automatically update when changing the base time or opening the tab. The [SET] button is retained although it is now believed to be redundant.




Version 1.4.0:

1. Single strip mode [SINGLE] added for when you are using individual strips of paper instead of making multiple strips across a sheet of paper. Each strip-time is for the whole f-stop calculated exposure.

2. The Memories now display their contents.

3. Now scales (mostly) correctly for tablets.

4. Main tab's F-stop Mode now reduced as all it's functionality now moved to the Strips tab.


Space was made for displaying the memory's contents by shoving the now largely obsolete f-stop calculation section on the Main tab to the right of the display.

I have updated the manual to include the changes since 1.3.0 and the instructions now include the Sonoff Basic Wi-Fi switch. I may make a reprogrammed version of this available on Tindie - TBA.

Some small tweaks:

Changed the Strips tab left side config title to "SET MODE" (still don't like it, but will have to do for now).

Changing strip Mode to [SINGLE] now updates the strip-time list - other selections already did this but adding the SINGLE mode means this button should do so too now.


Version 1.3.0:

1. STRIPS mode tab added: This mode allows the easy creation of f-stop incremented test strips. Three methods are included - see Strips Mode chapter below for details.
a. Continuous mode [CONT]: intended for users with no lamp switching hardware. Sounds a beep 0.5 seconds before the end of each strip’s time before starting the next strip time.
b. Auto mode [AUTO] : pauses the timer and switches off the lamp between each strip for a settable delay time.
c. Manual mode [MANUAL] : pauses the timer and switches off the lamp between each strip until the user taps [START] to move to the next strip.
2. Auto-Reset option added on the Settings tab. If set ON, resets the timer at the end of the exposure time to the previous time.

3. Delay time is now variable on the Settings tab from 0 to 10 seconds. An enhanced form of the previous “Count-in” setting.

4. About screen added to provide some basic info and links.


Version 1.2.0:

1. Stay Awake: Screen no longer goes to sleep (assuming your phone allows sleeping to be overridden).

2. Manual Link: added a button in the Settings menu to open this user manual on the FADU forum site using the phone’s default web browser. [obsolete in 1.3.0 – now a link to GitHub on the About screen]

3. Wi-Fi Relay Driver: Can now optionally drive an LC Technologies Wi-Fi relay module for low-voltage use. No reprograming required for this module but it should only be used on the low voltage side of a colour enlarger’s transformer/voltage stabiliser. It will also need a box and a 5V dc power supply.

4. Count-in Option: an optional 3-second delay to the count start added to allow time to prepare before the count starts. [upgraded to 0-10s selection in 1.3.0]


Version 1.1.0:

1. 1/10th Second Timing: Added ability to time in 0.1 second increments.

2. Up/Down buttons removed. Setting the exposure time is now performed by tapping the top (increment) or bottom (decrement) half of the required display number.
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File Type: pdf FADU Enlarger Timer Manual V1_5_0.pdf (1.39 MB, 1711 views)
  #1  
By Bob on 20th August 2018, 08:55 PM
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To answer some common questions:

1) Uploading the new firmware to the Sonoff S20 wi-fi socket uses the Arduino IDE so can be performed with Windows, Linux and Mac operating systems. I only have experience of the IDE used in Windows so cannot assist in setting up the Arduino IDE for other systems but I am certain this is well documented online.

2) You may need to check that the FTDI board you wish to buy will work with your operating system but I believe the FTDI adaptor boards can be used with any OS assuming the correct drivers are available.


Cheers, Bob.
Last edited by Bob; 1st February 2019 at 08:03 PM..
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  #2  
By Bob on 21st August 2018, 12:21 AM
Default FADU F-stop Enlarger Timer Source Code

The App Inventor 2 project code and manuals are now at: https://github.com/filmanddarkroom/FADU_Timer

The main branch holds the current release as available from the google Play store and the wip branch holds the latest development version - this may be unstable - check the notes.
Last edited by Bob; 23rd March 2019 at 06:38 PM..
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  #3  
By Barry on 21st August 2018, 10:48 AM
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Great stuff Bob, thanks for your work on this excellent app.
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  #4  
By ianbarber on 21st August 2018, 10:21 PM
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Thanks for the project Bob. I shall be ordering the FTDI adaptor tomorrow to have a play with it.

This takes me back to my Radio Ham days when I used to build all my own receivers and transmitters. It will be nice to get the soldering iron warmed up again and the AVO out of its case.
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  #5  
By Bob on 22nd August 2018, 08:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ianbarber View Post
Thanks for the project Bob. I shall be ordering the FTDI adaptor tomorrow to have a play with it.

This takes me back to my Radio Ham days when I used to build all my own receivers and transmitters. It will be nice to get the soldering iron warmed up again and the AVO out of its case.
It does have the advantage that really complex stuff is much cheaper than it used to be. The Sonoff S20 is under a tenner and the FTDI adaptor is about £3. You also need the pin-header and female-to-female "Dupont" connector ended wires (or you can just solder flying leads temporarily to the FTDI and Sonoff boards - but buying them will also cost next to nothing).

Have fun, Bob.
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  #6  
By Bob on 26th August 2018, 06:56 PM
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FADU F-stop Enlarger Timer App for Android

26-Aug-2018 update:

* Updated Appendix 3 which now has most of the necessary details (probably too much detail) to reprogram the Sonoff S20 firmware.

* Attached a PDF version of the manual to the article.

Still some stuff to add.
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  #7  
By tillari on 9th September 2018, 01:36 PM
Default Sound at the end

Thanks Bob for this job!

I’m using the app, but not for the enlarger. I’m using it to control the time for the developer, stop and fixer baths. For this case, it would be very useful to have a louder sound when the timer finishes.

Thanks a lot!

Ariel
Last edited by Bob; 1st October 2018 at 05:11 PM..
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  #8  
By Bob on 1st October 2018, 05:11 PM
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App updated to work to 1/10th of a second increments.

Fro the next update I am working on a better & faster way to do test strips so it beeps at you to move the mask to cover the next strip instead of you having to manually advance the timer to the next step.

Also need to add a 3-second count-in to give users a chance to get ready before the countdown starts.
Last edited by Bob; 2nd October 2018 at 08:47 AM..
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  #9  
By Bob on 2nd October 2018, 08:46 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tillari View Post
Thanks Bob for this job!

I’m using the app, but not for the enlarger. I’m using it to control the time for the developer, stop and fixer baths. For this case, it would be very useful to have a louder sound when the timer finishes.

Thanks a lot!

Ariel
Hi Ariel.

Interesting observation. I find the final beep a little too loud if I have the ticks at the right volume for me - but my hearing is not great so it may be my poor hearing at fault. If anyone else has the same issue, please let me know. I will investigate the options.

Yes, good point - the memories in the FADU timer will let you preset times for paper processing. It will not auto-step to the next process step like a proper process timer but it's definitely an option.

Cheers, Bob.
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