Vesku

Recipes 

Vesku

Recipes 

Adeering

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Im assuming you are using the Arduino PID library in your code, Im doing the same and about to finalize my build. Ive heard people have had trouble setting the parameters for the PID, any chance you can post what your coefficients are.

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Vesku

Recipes 

I don't use the PID-library. I've my own simple algorithm that calculates the heating power (pump ON-time, I've a counter-flow HERMS) based on the wort and mash temperatures. I like it this way, I can set the heating ramp what ever way I want. I've another script that takes control when the mash temperature is in "range".

The ramp is done like this:
// offset < 5C
if (setTemp/10 - mash < 5)
{wortOffSet = 5;} ... and so on, as many offsets as is needed, I've 5.

The pump-ON time limiter:

if (onOff == 1 && lastPumpRun > 0 && (millis() - lastPumpRun) > 3000 && (setTemp/10 - mash) < 0.5) // after X sec pump off
{
bigPumpOff();
onOff = 2;
pumpRun = millis();
}
if (onOff == 2 && (millis() - pumpRun > 30000)) // after X sec pump back on
{
onOff = 0;
pumpRun = 0;
}

crane

Recipes 

This code doesn't make sense, most likely because your not showing enough of it. Lets break it down.

It looks like you have different offsets depending on how far your actual temp is from the setpoint? What do you do with wortOffSet? What are your other offset values? Is it 4 when you are within 4 degrees?

Ok here you show part of a functional state machine except this on isn't functional because you are missing a state. Somehow you start with onOff = 1 but you never show how it gets set to 1. Similarly you don't show your state where onOff = 0. I'm assuming that you set onOff to 1 at the end of that state, but what else do you do in that state?

Step back and give us a higher level description of how your system works. Are you keeping your heating element on 100% of the time and regulating your mash temp by turning on/Off a pump that circulates wort through a HERMS coil?

The videos you posted are a little hard to follow. You show a lot of stuff really close up but you never show how things are connected or even a clear shot of your control panel to see what you are using for input. Are you using a rotary encoder like the brewtroller or a set if discrete buttons? How is your system plumbed, number of pumps, valves, etc?

BenS

Recipes 

I agree that after watching the videos I don't particularly understand how your system software works, but they do a good job of showing that it works very well. I particularly like your setup of a hood that fits directly over your boil kettle. It's a very good idea that I might steal.....

Vesku

Recipes 

This is my 1st ever software that I've done ... there's about 2000 rows of code, I'm not going to share that here, but I hope that even a part that doesn't make any sense makes someone think better ways to do it

I use 2 sensors to control the mash temp ... The wort off set depends how close to the setpoint the mash is.

Here's more, this should be easy enough to understand?

Vesku

Recipes 

The actual control is done by wort and mash temperatures. This one controls how much hotter than the setpoint (for the mash) the wort can be.

It's a counter flow HX herms. I'm using pump to control the heating. Of course there's a basic ON/OFF control for the heat source too (HLT).

Sorry, I suck with the camera / editing.

I've small array of buttons, UP/DOWN/OK/LEFT/RIGHT. It's under the display. They are all behind one interrupt.

There's going to be a 3rd pump dedicated to the whirlpool as soon as my scrapyard dealer gets one that is suitable.

Vesku

Recipes 

A plot of the latest mash. One of the temp probes is playing up and dropping to zero once in a while, I need to replace that.