angus_grant
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Hey everybody,
I have been posting my updates in the "Arduino development thread" and the "Braumiser" thread, but it is probably about time to start my own thread seeing as I am not using an Arduino anymore, and Matho has enough people posting in his thread. he he
So I am not using a micro-controller to control the system. I found the NetDuino too constricting with regards to memory usage, network interface, and graphical output. And I am an IT manager with extensive experience in developing Windows applications so didn't really have the spare time to learn all these new skills.
I have purchased a USB data acquisition device. Once plugged into my little Windows laptop it creates a virtual com port. The manufacturer provides a list of constants to send through the com port to work with the 8 pins. These pins can be analogue or digital inputs or outputs. One of the constants tells the device to read the temp from a Dallas-compatible DS18B20 temp probe. The device returns the temperature in Celsius so no need to mess around 1 pin communication.
I have now wired up the rough prototype for the control box and the Windows console matches the control box in that it is rough as well. So the equipment I have purchased:
Two pots (Big W and a S/S pot from an eBay store):
The inner pot with the lifting points installed:
The two pots:
Control box with the heat sinks for 25A solid state relays:
Control box with electrical input and output plugs. If you have keen eyes, the left set of plugs is 15A for the heating element and the right-side are 10A. At this stage I think I will use a 2400W heating element which ends up being 10A. I figured I may as well wire up the control box to handle 15A in case I end up with a higher rated heating element.
Inside the control box:
And a later shot of the inside. This has the prototyping breadboard with the wiring for the temp probe and the relay hooked up to the USB device. You can just see the USB device in the left of the photo. It has the red wire going into it:
And a shot of the Windows application which controls everything:
As you can see from the application image I have a temp over-shoot problem. I have a PID library which will help with that problem. It also comes with a neat little graphing library which will help the appearance of the control application which looks a little sparse.
At the moment the relay is driving a normal kitchen kettle. I wonder whether the over-shoot would be larger if heating up the full kettle as there is a lot more thermal mass.
So things to do:
Thanks,
Angus.
P.S: Here is a link to a spreadsheet I posted in the "Braumeister" thread on calculating pot sizes, water volumes, heating element height, etc.
Volume calculations
P.P.S: The name comes from an 80's cartoon called Astroboy. I did toy with Mashtroboy, but thought it sounded a bit lame. Then I remembered the fighting robot series with Brewton, the 1 million horsepower robot. I suppose I should really install a pool heating recirculating system to tie in with the million horse-power thing.. I think that is enough exposing of my nerdiness on the Internet....
I have been posting my updates in the "Arduino development thread" and the "Braumiser" thread, but it is probably about time to start my own thread seeing as I am not using an Arduino anymore, and Matho has enough people posting in his thread. he he
So I am not using a micro-controller to control the system. I found the NetDuino too constricting with regards to memory usage, network interface, and graphical output. And I am an IT manager with extensive experience in developing Windows applications so didn't really have the spare time to learn all these new skills.
I have purchased a USB data acquisition device. Once plugged into my little Windows laptop it creates a virtual com port. The manufacturer provides a list of constants to send through the com port to work with the 8 pins. These pins can be analogue or digital inputs or outputs. One of the constants tells the device to read the temp from a Dallas-compatible DS18B20 temp probe. The device returns the temperature in Celsius so no need to mess around 1 pin communication.
I have now wired up the rough prototype for the control box and the Windows console matches the control box in that it is rough as well. So the equipment I have purchased:
Two pots (Big W and a S/S pot from an eBay store):
The inner pot with the lifting points installed:
The two pots:
Control box with the heat sinks for 25A solid state relays:
Control box with electrical input and output plugs. If you have keen eyes, the left set of plugs is 15A for the heating element and the right-side are 10A. At this stage I think I will use a 2400W heating element which ends up being 10A. I figured I may as well wire up the control box to handle 15A in case I end up with a higher rated heating element.
Inside the control box:
And a later shot of the inside. This has the prototyping breadboard with the wiring for the temp probe and the relay hooked up to the USB device. You can just see the USB device in the left of the photo. It has the red wire going into it:
And a shot of the Windows application which controls everything:
As you can see from the application image I have a temp over-shoot problem. I have a PID library which will help with that problem. It also comes with a neat little graphing library which will help the appearance of the control application which looks a little sparse.
At the moment the relay is driving a normal kitchen kettle. I wonder whether the over-shoot would be larger if heating up the full kettle as there is a lot more thermal mass.
So things to do:
- Install wiring board inside control box for temp probe and USB device
- purchase heating element and install into main vessel
- chop out bottom of inner pot and seal
- purchase filter plates and install
- install brown pump and all plumbing required
- re-tune PID library for the main vessel
- lots of swearing
Thanks,
Angus.
P.S: Here is a link to a spreadsheet I posted in the "Braumeister" thread on calculating pot sizes, water volumes, heating element height, etc.
Volume calculations
P.P.S: The name comes from an 80's cartoon called Astroboy. I did toy with Mashtroboy, but thought it sounded a bit lame. Then I remembered the fighting robot series with Brewton, the 1 million horsepower robot. I suppose I should really install a pool heating recirculating system to tie in with the million horse-power thing.. I think that is enough exposing of my nerdiness on the Internet....