BrewPi@ESP8266, no need of RPI and Arduino.

[DuncB]

@day_trippr and @pocketmon

Developments,

I plugged in a separate 5 V to the JVCC and ground.
Plugged 3.3 V into the VCC on the 4 connectors and grounded that.

Turned on the power supplies and not much happened. Then after waiting to cool I heard a click and then a red light came on the Relay.
Tested the outputs and no joy, felt pretty disappointed. Then tested with voltmeter and found no live power at all on that side of the relay.
The penny dropped and I plugged in the Mains and bingo I had power at the cool plug.

Thanks for your help, the issue was insufficient volts to the relay.

The next one I build will be much easier!!

 

[day_trippr]

I love easy solutions!

 

[DuncB]

Just as a tweak could i wire it so one 5V psu powered the relay and the ESP ( ie not use the usb socket on it for power but that 5V in) or would that be tantamount to crossing the streams as in Ghostbusters?

 

[day_trippr]

That would actually be how most folks have used Arduinos to control the same relay modules over the years, so yes, that should work...

Cheers!

 

[troyp42]

So today my device started going into a reboot mode where it restarts and says initializing wifi then displays the current temp etc. If I try to open its GUI in my browser I can see the main page but if I try to change the temperature it just hangs and causes the unit to reboot again but I cant get it to accept and keep the temperature change. Could this be a power supply issue or a problem with the ESP?

 

[troyp42]

So today my device started going into a reboot mode where it restarts and says initializing wifi then displays the current temp etc. If I try to open its GUI in my browser I can see the main page but if I try to change the temperature it just hangs and causes the unit to reboot again but I cant get it to accept and keep the temperature change. Could this be a power supply issue or a problem with the ESP?

Anyone? @Thorrak

 

[LBussy]

This would be @pocketmon's gig. (I blame Thorrak enough as it is.)

 

[troyp42]

This would be @pocketmon's gig. (I blame Thorrak enough as it is.)

Ahh ok yeh I realise that now.. But I thought maybe @Thorrak might know...lol

 

[pocketmon]

So today my device started going into a reboot mode where it restarts and says initializing wifi then displays the current temp etc. If I try to open its GUI in my browser I can see the main page but if I try to change the temperature it just hangs and causes the unit to reboot again but I cant get it to accept and keep the temperature change. Could this be a power supply issue or a problem with the ESP?

Both could be possible. WiFi operation drains more power and might crash the system when power supply is not enough.
Try formatting the filesystem if you can. It might help on software's issue.

 

[troyp42]

Both could be possible. WiFi operation drains more power and might crash the system when power supply is not enough.
Try formatting the filesystem if you can. It might help on software's issue.

How do I format the file system?

Also a few months back I posted about my screen showing scrambled digits every so often. Lbussy said it may need a refserh script built into the software? Is this something you can add? Am I the only one getting this issue etc? Thanks for the help.

 

[troyp42]

How do I format the file system?

Also a few months back I posted about my screen showing scrambled digits every so often. Lbussy said it may need a refserh script built into the software? Is this something you can add? Am I the only one getting this issue etc? Thanks for the help.

@pocketmon ??

 

[pocketmon]

@pocketmon ??

https://github.com/vitotai/BrewPiLess/blob/master/doc/OtherURL.md
The LCD refreshing code has been there since the beginning. However, it didn't work because of a typo. It's fixed in 4.2pre, which is currently under test.
https://github.com/vitotai/BrewPiLess/tree/4.2pre

 

[JesNielsen]

Hi All, Absolutely love BrewPiLess and have manage to get everything up running, only missing adding a couple of control buttons and a lcd screen. My question is, are there anyway you can make BrewPiLess control both heating and cooling? My scenario is this: Whenever temperature is below some given setpoint, say 20C then start heating, until 20C, but if temperature raise to above 22C then start cooling? I brew Belgian beers and they can potentially go crazy and temperature can raise to 27-30C if you dont do something about it. I know that to have certain esters in the beer you need high temperature fermentation, but being able to control the temperature then its possible to stop the yeast killing itself.

 

[DuncB]

Definitely yes is my answer.

Do you have the cooling relay and heating relay wired on?
I have the fridge as the cool and use a heating belt on the fermenter as my heat source.

This website explains it pretty well.
https://thehoppyvalley.com/set-up-brewpiless-temperature-control-profile/
I have not been using mine long and have only used it on Beer constant ie set it to 20 and it keeps it at 20. It uses an algorithm so it isn't as on and off as an STC 1000 so there is less / nil over or undershoot.

I have brewpiless with a screen but don't have the buttons I just use the webpage method. I have put two temp probes on it one for beer ( which is blu tacked to the side of fermenter ) and one for fridge temp. I did have ispindel as an external temp probe but signalling every 15 minutes or so it didn't seem to add much as I got this info thru brewspy anyway. Although you can set up brewpiless to actually send temp probe data to brewspy which gives you offsite oversight of temp if you want.
I really should get the screen working as I went to the trouble of getting it and wiring it on.

However I have built one of these

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/ispindle-concentrators-repeaters-bridges-hubs.693125/
but the software is early in development and it doesn't yet relay onto any other sites such as brewspy but the display is much better.

 

[JesNielsen]

Definitely yes is my answer.

Do you have the cooling relay and heating relay wired on?
I have the fridge as the cool and use a heating belt on the fermenter as my heat source.

This website explains it pretty well.
https://thehoppyvalley.com/set-up-brewpiless-temperature-control-profile/
I have not been using mine long and have only used it on Beer constant ie set it to 20 and it keeps it at 20. It uses an algorithm so it isn't as on and off as an STC 1000 so there is less / nil over or undershoot.

I have brewpiless with a screen but don't have the buttons I just use the webpage method. I have put two temp probes on it one for beer ( which is blu tacked to the side of fermenter ) and one for fridge temp. I did have ispindel as an external temp probe but signalling every 15 minutes or so it didn't seem to add much as I got this info thru brewspy anyway. Although you can set up brewpiless to actually send temp probe data to brewspy which gives you offsite oversight of temp if you want.
I really should get the screen working as I went to the trouble of getting it and wiring it on.

However I have built one of these

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/ispindle-concentrators-repeaters-bridges-hubs.693125/
but the software is early in development and it doesn't yet relay onto any other sites such as brewspy but the display is much better.

Thanks @DuncB

So what you actually do is to add to Will try to play around with it.

I have actually 4 relays wired on such that I am able to control a pump also and a fan. I am skal plan to use a fridge as fermentation chamber and have installled a heating cartridge in the stainless fermentation bucket. I plan to use an iSpindle for gravity readings and push readings til BrewPiLess.

Definitely yes is my answer.

Do you have the cooling relay and heating relay wired on?
I have the fridge as the cool and use a heating belt on the fermenter as my heat source.

This website explains it pretty well.
https://thehoppyvalley.com/set-up-brewpiless-temperature-control-profile/
I have not been using mine long and have only used it on Beer constant ie set it to 20 and it keeps it at 20. It uses an algorithm so it isn't as on and off as an STC 1000 so there is less / nil over or undershoot.

I have brewpiless with a screen but don't have the buttons I just use the webpage method. I have put two temp probes on it one for beer ( which is blu tacked to the side of fermenter ) and one for fridge temp. I did have ispindel as an external temp probe but signalling every 15 minutes or so it didn't seem to add much as I got this info thru brewspy anyway. Although you can set up brewpiless to actually send temp probe data to brewspy which gives you offsite oversight of temp if you want.
I really should get the screen working as I went to the trouble of getting it and wiring it on.

However I have built one of these

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/ispindle-concentrators-repeaters-bridges-hubs.693125/
but the software is early in development and it doesn't yet relay onto any other sites such as brewspy but the display is much better.

HI @DuncB

Thanks for the fast reply.

I have the cooling relay and heating relay wired on an plan to use a fridge as the cool and use a heating cartridge in the fermenter as my heat source.

Have been reading the page you linked on how yo setup fermentation control with ramp stages, but stil in doubt if its possible to setup a max/min level, such that if temperature rise above ie 22C then it should start cooling, but if it drops under 20c then it should start heating at the same time?

TIA

Thunderheart

 

[JesNielsen]

Thanks @DuncB

So what you actually do is to add to Will try to play around with it.

I have actually 4 relays wired on such that I am able to control a pump also and a fan. I am skal plan to use a fridge as fermentation chamber and have installled a heating cartridge in the stainless fermentation bucket. I plan to use an iSpindle for gravity readings and push readings til BrewPiLess.


HI @DuncB

Thanks for the fast reply.

I have the cooling relay and heating relay wired on an plan to use a fridge as the cool and use a heating cartridge in the fermenter as my heat source.

Have been reading the page you linked on how yo setup fermentation control with ramp stages, but stil in doubt if its possible to setup a max/min level, such that if temperature rise above ie 22C then it should start cooling, but if it drops under 20c then it should start heating at the same time?

TIA

Thunderheart

Wups two replies. That was unplanned though the first one was deleted

 

[DuncB]

@JesNielsen
Worth reading this page

https://github.com/vitotai/BrewPiLess/blob/master/doc/JsonCommand.md
This might allow you to tinker with the PID algorithm to set a range that is a bit looser.

I certainly find that if I set beer to 20 for example it cycles as needed, not sure why you want such a range ie from 20 to 22?
Why not set it to 20 for a time frame or another temp of your choice.

You'll actually find that during the active ferment the heat isn't used anyway and it's only as the ferment slows down ( which you'll see on Ispindel ) that some heat might need injecting.

Does that help?

 

[alexlark]

I've flashed the latest bin to a Wemos D1 Mini and quickly realised it wasn't playing nice. I then noticed on Git there is an issue open and that a board with a larger flash is recommended. So... what is the recommended board to use with the latest firmware?

D1 Mini Pro
or some other ESP32 board?

If another ESP32 board can you link to it, I've searched ebay but I'm a bit confused as to what is compatible.

Cheers!

 

[DuncB]

I haven't built either of mine on D1 mini.
Both have been built on the Lolin ESP 8266 development board, Node MCU V3 CH340

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001726558843.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.21ef1802UZKlqJ
Have to admit I thought that a D1 Mini should do it, is your PSU good ? should be 1.0 amp I believe according to Vitotai.

 

[alexlark]

PSU is good, I'm using the official RPI PSU. Doing some more searching, I've been looking at the WROOM ESP32 as a step up from the D1 mini:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20358032...0Y9MtTkRDO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[DuncB]

You don't need bluetooth. The CH340 will do the job fine.

 

[alexlark]

Are you running the latest Brewpiless on that CH340?

EDIT: Looks like I was getting confused with the D1 R2 Arduino on Git !

 

[pocketmon]

I just retired my 5-years-old ESP8266 controller and "upgraded" to an ESP32 one.
Having the rotary encoder is nice, but I found ESP32 isn't as stable as ESP8266.
Maybe the libraries or framework of ESP32 is not as stable as those of ESP8266.

My first fermentation seems fine, but the second doesn't. The log could not be loaded after 2 weeks and even control by rotary encoder was jumpy. Formatting SPIFFS seems to solve the issue. So, I blame SPIFFS, so I am trying to get rid of it and switch to LittleFS. I've got some progress, but it takes time to verify it.

If you are going to build an ESP32 controller, think twice. (And do it.)

 

[alexlark]

Thanks for the reply. Follows what I've been reading on Git about the ESP32. I've just retired a Pi Zero W Fermentrack build as it's no longer supported, and with RPIs in very short supply I'm revisiting this project.

I'll be more than happy to stick with an ESP8266. Maybe this is not an ESP8266 issue but a bug in the code, and I wrongfully assumed the ESP8266 at fault. Basically I've got the latest BrewPiLess flashed to the ESP8266, BrewPiLess.v4.2p3.4m2m.bin, and the only issue I'm seeing so far is when saving a Beer Profile I'm unable to re-load it. The popup window shows the beer profile name but truncated, and clicking on the profile (hyperlink) does nothing. Have you got this issue too?

This is supposed to say "Ale"

 

[DuncB]

@alexlark
I'm not sure of the version at work at the moment, I loaded it in last year sometime.

I haven't done a lot of programmed ferments and certainly not tried to reload a profile, didn't know I could do that. Although every beer is different that I brew so I'm not sure that would help me.

I'll update when I get home. I do relay the temp info to Brewspy which is a handy double check on the status of things on top of the ispindel info when I'm away from home. But I can't adjust anything offsite with my setup as I can't access the brewpiless. It works a lot better than the stc1000 I had before.

 

[pocketmon]

Thanks for the reply. Follows what I've been reading on Git about the ESP32. I've just retired a Pi Zero W Fermentrack build as it's no longer supported, and with RPIs in very short supply I'm revisiting this project.

I'll be more than happy to stick with an ESP8266. Maybe this is not an ESP8266 issue but a bug in the code, and I wrongfully assumed the ESP8266 at fault. Basically I've got the latest BrewPiLess flashed to the ESP8266, BrewPiLess.v4.2p3.4m2m.bin, and the only issue I'm seeing so far is when saving a Beer Profile I'm unable to re-load it. The popup window shows the beer profile name but truncated, and clicking on the profile (hyperlink) does nothing. Have you got this issue too?

This is supposed to say "Ale"

It's a function that I don't use, but It seems to work for me.
Are you accessing it on your phone? I think it's something related to HTML layout.

 

[alexlark]

@DuncB Yep, I started with the STC1000 too, seems to be natural progression I still use an STC on my beer fridge.

@pocketmon I thought it may have been the browser on my phone but it's the same on the PC. I've got more than 1 ESP8266 so I'm about to step back through the versions to see when the bug was introduced.

Profiles save and re-load OK with BrewPiLess.v3.6r3.4m2m.bin so it's between that version and BrewPiLess.v4.2p3.4m2m.bin

I don't use any gravity based device so my 1 fermenter setup is pretty basic. Although I do re-use the profiles quite a lot. I'm amazed how far this project has come since the start though, last time I tried it the interface was verrrrry basic.


EDIT: So.... the previous version (BrewPiLess.v4.1r4.4m2m.bin) stores profiles without issue

 

[t1m1]

hm, there is something new in system update, what to choose to update from 4.1 to 4.2?

EDIT: did it, it is Firmware option.

 

[LBussy]

It is both.

 

[t1m1]

wasn't for me but the most important is that it's updated now and works!