CraftBeerPi Reliability

[Brewdiggity]

Hey Brewers,

I'm in the process of a HERMS Electric Brewery build and am looking at either PID or CraftBeerPi controller build to run the show.

Was interested in others experiences setting up CBPi and also how reliable its been once setup. Although I understand the possibilities in terms of full brewing automation and data storage and potentially fermentation control integrating Tilt once setup, I've found in the past with opensource software, you just about need to be a software developer to resolve issues quickly. I've read another user of CBPi's response stating the if you have some experience of developing plugin's you can develop your own solutions to bugs which sounds at bit like too hard basket to me. I am reasonably tech savvy but certainly not skilled at creating plugins.

Although I'm somewhat tempted by the potential benefits with CBPi I'm inclined forgo these and go with the less headachey option of PID controller.

Am very interested to hear about others experiences with CBPi are which might help me decide on the best option for me.

 

[gusterminator]

I currently use Craftbeerpi and think it's great. I added a Tilthydrometer for internal fermentation temp. I also added a flow sensor for measuring my water transfers.
I'm currently going to make it so I can flick a switch between using robobrew controller and craftbeerpi.

There are quite a few different PID examples to choose from within the program as well.

Hope this helps,

 

[Meddo]

I've found it reasonably unstable unfortunately. On my last brew it stopped responding during a mash step, I had to reboot the raspberry pi. I'm not sure whether the elements were on full power at that point but it could have ended in disaster if they were and I hadn't noticed.

Ardbir was much more stable, although not as customisable. And yeah potentially you can build or tweak plugins but I suspect some of the instability is in the core component which is not as easy to pull apart.

One major issue I have with the functionality is there doesn't seem to be any way to modify boil power on the fly while running an automated mash/boil program. I've looked at modifying one of the plugins but the element power doesn't seem to be exposed to the user interface outside the manual function, and I'm buggered if I can find that component in the code. Otherwise the features are great, just a bit unreliable.

 

[Dunk]

Mine works well, it can be a little laggy from the control interface at times (I'm using a pi2) but had no issues on brew day, I've brewed well over a dozen beers on a RIMS system.

Just got an iSpindel up and running, next step trip with CBPi...

 

[Dunk]

It turns out my reliability issues were due to the GPIO buttons. I stopped using them and upgraded to a pi3 and it works well!

 

[Truman42]

Can you use a Pi zero wifi to run a Guten or Robobrew? If so any ideas on where to start? i just managed to get Craftbeerpi installed on my raspberry pi zero with wifi but thats as far as I got.

 

[mickeytee]

I've found it reasonably unstable unfortunately. On my last brew it stopped responding during a mash step, I had to reboot the raspberry pi. I'm not sure whether the elements were on full power at that point but it could have ended in disaster if they were and I hadn't noticed.

Ardbir was much more stable, although not as customisable. And yeah potentially you can build or tweak plugins but I suspect some of the instability is in the core component which is not as easy to pull apart.

One major issue I have with the functionality is there doesn't seem to be any way to modify boil power on the fly while running an automated mash/boil program. I've looked at modifying one of the plugins but the element power doesn't seem to be exposed to the user interface outside the manual function, and I'm buggered if I can find that component in the code. Otherwise the features are great, just a bit unreliable.

Meddo,

I found all reliability issues with CBPi and my RPi 3+ were solved by upgrading powersupply to the Pi. Instead of using the OEM Pi power supply I went to a dedicated Mean Well 5v 3A Switching PSU from Jaycar and hasnt missed a beat since.

Just run 240v AC in and then get an old MicroUSB charging cable, cut the end off it and run the +/- "power" wires of the cable into the +/- output of the power supply.

You can power the RPi directly thru the GPIO pins however you will no longer have circuit protection like you do with the USB power side.

https://www.jaycar.com.au/15w-5v-3a-enclosed-power-supply/p/MP3295

I was having reliability issues with wifi dropouts and also CBPi crashing when using BoilPID plugin. I didn't think the PSU would fix the software issues but it has.

Hope this helps.

 

[Meddo]

Hey Mickey, thanks but I don't think power is an issue as it's being supplied by a 5V / 3A converter output from a craftbeerpi shield (itself powered by 12V / 6A Mean Well PSU). But worth investigating further I guess.

I've been playing with a raspberry pi 4B the last few nights and it's night and day - responsive, stable, just a much better experience. Will hook it up to the brewery at some point over the next few weeks.

 

[mickeytee]

I've been contemplating ordering a 4B for my entertainment unit Pi - Would you be able to post and update on how it goes on the Brewery front?

Also were you running CBPi 2 or 3 when you were having stability issues?

 

[Meddo]

Will do Mickey.

Have only run CBPi 3, never tried 2.

 

[Wayne ROBERTSON]

Running CBPI4 and had it all set up - then I changed the name of the Brewery and now it boots to a blank screen - so much work down the drain at this stage

 

[The Hook]

Hi there! It's great to hear that you're working on a HERMS Electric Brewery build. When it comes to choosing between a PID controller and CraftBeerPi (CBPi) for your setup, it ultimately depends on your preferences and technical expertise.

PID controllers are a tried and true solution for temperature control in brewing systems. They are reliable and relatively straightforward to set up. With a PID controller, you can achieve precise temperature control, which is crucial for brewing consistency.

On the other hand, CraftBeerPi offers a more advanced and feature-rich solution. It provides the potential for full brewing automation, data storage, and even integration with devices like Tilt for fermentation control. CBPi allows you to create custom workflows and control various aspects of your brewing process through a user-friendly interface.

In terms of reliability, CBPi can be a stable and reliable solution once properly set up. However, it's worth noting that with any open-source software, occasional issues or bugs may arise. Resolving these issues might require some technical troubleshooting skills or familiarity with developing plugins, as you mentioned.

If you're not comfortable with software development or troubleshooting, sticking with a PID controller might be a more straightforward and less demanding option. It will still provide you with reliable temperature control for your brewing system.

Ultimately, the decision between a PID controller and CBPi depends on your goals, technical skills, and willingness to invest time and effort into setting up and potentially troubleshooting a more advanced system like CBPi. Assessing your comfort level with software and your desire for automation and additional features should guide your choice.

It's also helpful to seek advice from others who have experience with CBPi to gain further insights and learn from their experiences. Hopefully, some users with first-hand experience with CBPi can share their thoughts and help you make an informed decision.
TheHook