Arduino, PID, or other?

[trigger]

me too

 

[Islandboy85]

The Uno will bring some resource constraints in both I/O and memory depending on what you're trying to do. Add in Ethernet and you have even less pins available to you. On the Arduino platform, the Mega is more robust in this area. Resource constraint is part of the reason why the Brewtroller started on the Sanguino in the beginning.

There are always other options like using some mux options and using things like I2C.

You probably want to sit down and make the list of the "must have" requirements and "would like" options and select your hardware from there.

So, do I need a MUX circuit before the Arduino I/o pin like I've seen online for thermostat systems or is it written into the code?

 

[trigger]

Like jpalarchio said, make your list of requirements first, then find hardware that fulfills those requirements. Once you have decided on the display, sensors, input devices (buttons/rotary encoders/switches), and outputs (pumps/elements/valves) You can see how many I/O pins are going to be required. From there you can decide on if you need to change your components or implement some muxing circuitry.

 

[tenbricks]

I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned, but if you're thinking of using an arduino as a pid controller, there's an easy solution:

osPID,

an arduino-based pid controller. I just got mine, and thanks to the kind people at Rocketscream, have it working with the J thermocouples I'm going to use in my fermenter.

 

[jpalarchio]

Not knowing how to get a "Brewing Automation" forum, I threw a post out there.

If you're interested, perhaps it's worth a minute to drop a post of support in the thread: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f22/brewing-automation-forum-315643/

 

[Spintab]

I've used an Arduino for my chest freezer and HLT for a while now. You're going to get waaay more flexibility out of using that over a prebuilt PID. It takes being a decent programmer to begin with though or it may end up being more trouble than it's worth. I code for a living so it's second nature.

I have a Fez Panda too that currently controls my telescope but, having moved to the city recently I may move that to the brew rig since I normally program in c# anyway. Next step is a Netduino Plus to host a web server so I can watch my temps and adjust from halfway around the world

 

[Islandboy85]

Well, I guess what I NEED is pins for 3 heating element SSRs, one for a pump, four temp sensors, alarm output, I'm not sure how many pins I'd need for a touch screen display or a regular LCD display with button controls or an encoder. Now, the EXTRAS would be room for at least two more RTD probes, another pump in case I move to a single tier system. I'd be happy with that.

 

[matho]

you don't need 4 pins for temperature sensors, if your going to use ds18B20 then you only need one pin and they are all connected to that pin, you then use there unique ID to communicate with each one. You can use serial LCD's that use only 2 pins and I think a rotary encoder use only 3 pins http://www.circuitsathome.com/mcu/programming/reading-rotary-encoder-on-arduino or you could copy how this shield http://www.freetronics.com/products/lcd-keypad-shielduses only one analog pin for 5 buttons. You have 14 digital I/O as well as 6 analog I/O which can be used digital I/O as well. You should be able find a solution

cheers steve

 

[Islandboy85]

you don't need 4 pins for temperature sensors, if your going to use ds18B20 then you only need one pin and they are all connected to that pin, you then use there unique ID to communicate with each one. You can use serial LCD's that use only 2 pins and I think a rotary encoder use only 3 pins http://www.circuitsathome.com/mcu/programming/reading-rotary-encoder-on-arduino or you could copy how this shield http://www.freetronics.com/products/lcd-keypad-shielduses only one analog pin for 5 buttons. You have 14 digital I/O as well as 6 analog I/O which can be used digital I/O as well. You should be able find a solution

cheers steve

Sorry, what I meant is four sensors...one for he BK, one for the HLT, one for the MLT, and one in the RIMS.

 

[SimBrew]

A graphic LCD is cool but don't forget that it will take you about 2-3 evening to program the arduino to be able to basically run your brewery but it will take you about 30-60 evening to program the LCD part. I understand that it will be a hobby but I advise you to get an 20x4 LCD and start with that, once the brewery part is runing, then start playing with the graphic LCD.

I fire my HLT arduino driven on the first night with basic PID, serial dataloggin and I didn't prog anything in the last 10 years.

Other advice, don't order 2$ ds18b20 from ebay, it's nice to test but you will need to put that sensor fast in the keg, order some probe already builded from brewerhardware, at 16$ it will save you a lot of research for the prob end and time to build, that's the not fun part of the arduino.

 

[Islandboy85]

A graphic LCD is cool but don't forget that it will take you about 2-3 evening to program the arduino to be able to basically run your brewery but it will take you about 30-60 evening to program the LCD part. I understand that it will be a hobby but I advise you to get an 20x4 LCD and start with that, once the brewery part is runing, then start playing with the graphic LCD.

I fire my HLT arduino driven on the first night with basic PID, serial dataloggin and I didn't prog anything in the last 10 years.

Other advice, don't order 2$ ds18b20 from ebay, it's nice to test but you will need to put that sensor fast in the keg, order some probe already builded from brewerhardware, at 16$ it will save you a lot of research for the prob end and time to build, that's the not fun part of the arduino.

Good to know. Thanks.

 

[Islandboy85]

A graphic LCD is cool but don't forget that it will take you about 2-3 evening to program the arduino to be able to basically run your brewery but it will take you about 30-60 evening to program the LCD part. I understand that it will be a hobby but I advise you to get an 20x4 LCD and start with that, once the brewery part is runing, then start playing with the graphic LCD.

I fire my HLT arduino driven on the first night with basic PID, serial dataloggin and I didn't prog anything in the last 10 years.

Other advice, don't order 2$ ds18b20 from ebay, it's nice to test but you will need to put that sensor fast in the keg, order some probe already builded from brewerhardware, at 16$ it will save you a lot of research for the prob end and time to build, that's the not fun part of the arduino.

If I had an individual display for each vessel be it a LCD or brew-troller PID style is it possible to run a separate rotary encoder with each display? I understand that with i2c displays they have an address, but I'm not sure if the rotary encoders do. So, would the encoders each need a pin on the Arduino or could they all go into one pin?

 

[jpalarchio]

If I had an individual display for each vessel be it a LCD or brew-troller PID style is it possible to run a separate rotary encoder with each display? I understand that with i2c displays they have an address, but I'm not sure if the rotary encoders do. So, would the encoders each need a pin on the Arduino or could they all go into one pin?

What do you think you need the rotary encoder for?

On the Brewtroller, the rotary encoder (I thought an I2C version may be coming) is used to navigate the menu on the main LCD. The PID display LCDs just provide target temp and current temp information.

I don't see how you would use multiple encoders or why you would need them.

I2C basically uses up two pins for all devices.

 

[Islandboy85]

What do you think you need the rotary encoder for?

On the Brewtroller, the rotary encoder (I thought an I2C version may be coming) is used to navigate the menu on the main LCD. The PID display LCDs just provide target temp and current temp information.

I don't see how you would use multiple encoders or why you would need them.

I2C basically uses up two pins for all devices.

Use an encoder beside each display to set the temp or time interval.

 

[Islandboy85]

Wow...I think I'll have to go this route. $10 for a 6 x 2 4-number display

http://bringyourself.in/?p=122#more-122

 

[Rbeckett]

What happened to this discussion. It was going pretty good and kind of stalled. I was following it kind of. Getting good input and stuff, plus some new ideas to add to mine. interest?
Bob

 

[Islandboy85]

What happened to this discussion. It was going pretty good and kind of stalled. I was following it kind of. Getting good input and stuff, plus some new ideas to add to mine. interest?
Bob

I was out of the country for a few weeks on my honeymoon/first anniversary. I've just been super busy.

 

[CaptainHooligan]

I'm working on a build currently where an arudino will automate pumping liquid into all of the kettles, manage recirculating mash temperature with PID (as well as HLT, and BK temps just not necessarily with PID), monitor liquid levels in kettles, and interface with an android device via bluetooth where software is running to monitor the entire process. At the moment I have a PID controller setup but I don't have the elements, relays, temp probes. The liquid level monitor is commpleted but I need to figure out how I want to implement it.