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Adeering · 02-17-2013, 01:19 AM

Nice Looking setup. Im doing a 2 vessel RIMS as well. Ive got the system programmed for the most part. The Android aspect just needs some finishing touches. The basic system is done.

On another note, did a complete test run with water today and the PID code worked great, the displayed temp seemed to stay 1-2 degrees below but when tested with my Infrared Thermometer it was dead on +-0.7 degrees. Brewing tomorrow morning for real on the first batch. Ill take pictures and let everyone know the results

Adeering · 02-17-2013, 08:42 PM

Did a brew today and with the few exceptions of using a new rig and making mistakes it went really well.

First heres the control box, with my tablet running BrewAide (seperate not connected)

The Complete Setup

After the Mash In

Mashing Running through the Pump

Pic of my control box and BrewAide with the MashTimer

Cleaning my Carboy and turning my Fermenter on

MISTAKE #1:
Half way through the mash a few grains started clogging the pump, so I need to come up with a secondary screen for the inlet before my next brew. Had to quickly detach the pump and clean it and go back half way through the mash.

MISTAKE#2:
After the mash was complete I started the transfer to the Brew Kettle but didnt have all the valves set up right. The inlet valve to the Brew Kettle was oriented wrong and there was no way to close the back flow from the kettle. That plus I forgot to close the outflow from the Kettle so half my wort ended up in a keg I was using as runoff while cleaning. Luckily the keg was empty but still spilled some made a mess. Collected all of the wort and started the boil but not sure how it is going to turn out.

Even with the mistakes that was caused by me not being fully comfortable with the new system the first brew was a success. The control box and wiring all worked perfectly. Other than the valves being oriented wrong all the tubing and connections were leak proof and worked good.

Now all I have to do is solve a couple small problems and it will be good to go. This batch had some errors, but I still finished it and well see how it turns out. Then I just need to figure out the loss I lose due to the RIMS tube and tubing as to allow BeerSmith to calculate properly

came2meca · 04-04-2013, 05:09 PM

Hi Adeering,

That is a nice setup you have there.

I am roughly onto the same path like you: an android controlled one vessel brewing system.

I am hoping to do a program that can control the pump(s) and heating element after a scheduled either manually with some on screen buttons or automatic from the temp reading of a ds18b20 probe displayed on a gauge.

I did some research and I thought that arduino is the way to go with this until I run into this little devil.

It's made to work with android and I also found some interesting project controlled by android. They offer open source libraries for android developers to make their own app.

Here comes my problem, I have no experience what so ever with android development. I want the program also to have incorporated a receipt reader and to get the timers and all the controls needed from receipt. I hope I made myself understood (English is not my first language as you might tell)

I would like to hear you opinion on this and maybe you can point me in the right direction.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

mcstout · 04-16-2013, 02:16 AM

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Adeering · 04-16-2013, 12:14 PM

Sorry for the slow response @Came2meca

I have seen that device and considered it as well, however I had a bunch of arduinos laying around as I like to build a bunch of projects so for me I wanted to work with something I already knew. But Here are my major lessons learned and advice on doing something like this:

1. Go with the arduino and use either bluetooth or wifi to talk to it via the android. I have it hard wired and it is kinda a pain (as I currently havent completed the android side of it cause I have 3 other android projects Im working on that are more important). For bluetooth here is a good starting Tutorial

2. Make the system work with or without the android. This was important to allow it to still work even though I havent finished the android. Plus most the time it is easy to change the temp or pump manually. Also I didnt want it to be fully automatic as I enjoy the brewing process and wanted to be involved, just wanted to have better control for more repeat-ability.

3. For the Android side of things there are some app buildings for basic apps if you want to just control everything. For things more complex like reading recipes and control it from there is going to be a big undertaking. I have an app made to read recipes already and its still a big task to make it function off of that (which is my ultimate goal with mine). I would start basic with simple control of the elements and pumps and as you learn more increase the features. Also for learning, google is your friend, tons of tutorials/examples for every aspect of android and stackoverflow.com is a wonderful community to get specific questions answered, when I was learning (and still now) I used it constantly. They handle all types of programming as well not just android

My biggest advice to anyone tackling any kind of project like this that involves programming is to get a good design and flow chart of what they want it to do. I use excel to create diagrams and maps of what I want it to do and get a giant overview picture figured out first before I even start programming. It helps you to stay focused and know what you need to do.

alien · 04-16-2013, 04:34 PM

In the first instance I would use a serial cable same you. But looks like most of the microcontroller interfaces that I have seen use some kind of web connection to the outside world. Is Bluetooth really that much easier/cheaper to get up and running?

Adeering · 04-16-2013, 06:22 PM

If you have the know-how to do web interface then that is an option and a wifi shield for arduino is relatively cheap as well. I like bluetooth as everything is self contained. Im not a fan of web based interfaces myself, mainly cause I havent done much with it

alien · 04-16-2013, 06:48 PM

Fair enough, it seems the Bluetooth modules have come down quite a lot in price since I last looked too.