BrewPi@ESP8266, no need of RPI and Arduino.

[ShaneB]

I'm confused, so you have Fermentrack (raspi) that controls BewPiLess(esp32). Why can't you just use Fermentrack (raspi) or some other software to control smart switches (tp-kasa) and pull data from a remote sensor. I've dome something similar with home assistant running on a mac mini server.

I'm in the processing of building a esp32 BrewPiLess and it's about $50 in hardware + raspi $35+ if you can find one in stock (luckily I have one laying around). There should be a way to do everything with just a raspi and not need the esp32.

 

[cgriffith]

You can power the relay with 5V and the input with three. Take a look at the schematics. You need to remove the jumper and use both power inputs, one for logic and one for power.

Yes that is what I am doing. I use the 5V out of ESP8266 as relay VCC and Digital pin out of ESP8266 (@ 3.3V) to turn relay on/off. I was trying to settle a myth that I found prevalent online that said the on/off signal must be 5V (not 3.3V) in order to work properly.

 

[cgriffith]

I'm confused, so you have Fermentrack (raspi) that controls BewPiLess(esp32). Why can't you just use Fermentrack (raspi) or some other software to control smart switches (tp-kasa) and pull data from a remote sensor. I've dome something similar with home assistant running on a mac mini server.

I'm in the processing of building a esp32 BrewPiLess and it's about $50 in hardware + raspi $35+ if you can find one in stock (luckily I have one laying around). There should be a way to do everything with just a raspi and not need the esp32.

Are you questioning the purpose of this thread? If so, the purpose is to not use a raspi. In case you have not noticed, over the last two years, the price of a Rpi has gotten crazy, if you can even find them. I have no spare Pis (but a few ESP8266 laying around) and found this project very useful because of that.

 

[ShaneB]

Are you questioning the purpose of this thread? If so, the purpose is to not use a raspi. In case you have not noticed, over the last two years, the price of a Rpi has gotten crazy, if you can even find them. I have no spare Pis (but a few ESP8266 laying around) and found this project very useful because of that.

I guess you aren't using Fermentrack with BrewPiLess, I was planning to go that route to push data to brew father.

I can fork fermentrack and have it directly control smart switches and use a smart thermometer (or even ispindel) as a sensor to drive a time stepped PID algo if it doesn't already do that without an ESP8266/32. I'll have to dig in more this weekend.

 

[DuncB]

I guess you aren't using Fermentrack with BrewPiLess, I was planning to go that route to push data to brew father.

I can fork fermentrack and have it directly control smart switches and use a smart thermometer (or even ispindel) as a sensor to drive a time stepped PID algo if it doesn't already do that without an ESP8266/32. I'll have to dig in more this weekend.

Correct we are using this

https://github.com/vitotai/BrewPiLess
Use an ESP8266 ( or ESP32) to replace RPI and Arduino. Running BrewPi without Pi, therefore, BrewPi-Less

 

[Lalo_uy]

I guess you aren't using Fermentrack with BrewPiLess, I was planning to go that route to push data to brew father.

I can fork fermentrack and have it directly control smart switches and use a smart thermometer (or even ispindel) as a sensor to drive a time stepped PID algo if it doesn't already do that without an ESP8266/32. I'll have to dig in more this weekend.

Yes, you can. But then take a look at CraftBierPi. Do not reinvent the weel

 

[LBussy]

I think you all are missing connecting point that he's confused about.

• BrewPiLess (this project) is a BrewPi-inspired project that needs no Pi or computer or anything - it is completely self-contained.
• BrewPi-ESP8266 (a different project) is a firmware made to use an ESP-8266 with Ferrmentrack or BrewPi, replacing the Arduino
• BrewPi and Fermentrack (two other projects) serve the user interface from a more powerful web/Python server while retaining a controller for its stability

You can control whatever you like with a Pi, but a dedicated microcontroller will be more reliable.

 

[ShaneB]

I think you all are missing connecting point that he's confused about.

• BrewPiLess (this project) is a BrewPi-inspired project that needs no Pi or computer or anything - it is completely self-contained.
• BrewPi-ESP8266 (a different project_ is a firmware made to use an ESP-8266 with Ferrmentrack or BrewPi, replacing the Arduino
• BrewPi and Fermentrack (two other projects) serve the user interface from a more powerful web/Python server while retaining a controller for it's stability

You can control whatever you like with a Pi, but a dedicated microcontroller will be more reliable.

Thanks! this is exactly the info I needed to clear things up. Do you know if there are any open source projects for tracking keg weight to determine how full it is, I've seen some beer places have a screen with all the beers on tap with a graphic of a keg that shows how full it is.

Edit: GitHub - RaspberryPints/RaspberryPints: A digital signage version of the common chalkboard-based taplist. Based on the kegerface/kegerface git. I think this is the exact software I saw

 

[Thorrak]

Thanks! this is exactly the info I needed to clear things up. Do you know if there are any open source projects for tracking keg weight to determine how full it is, I've seen some beer places have a screen with all the beers on tap with a graphic of a keg that shows how full it is.

Edit: GitHub - RaspberryPints/RaspberryPints: A digital signage version of the common chalkboard-based taplist. Based on the kegerface/kegerface git. I think this is the exact software I saw

@mper has his kegmon project which is an open source scale, similar to the Plaato Keg. @LBussy has his Keg Cop project which is an open source flow meter. Raspberry Pints you already know about, which is an open source tap list. I've got my own version which is KegScreen which is coming... eventually.

I guess you aren't using Fermentrack with BrewPiLess, I was planning to go that route to push data to brew father.

I can fork fermentrack and have it directly control smart switches and use a smart thermometer (or even ispindel) as a sensor to drive a time stepped PID algo if it doesn't already do that without an ESP8266/32. I'll have to dig in more this weekend.

Fermentrack doesn't do this, as you noted, but you're welcome to try to get it working. As it's a separate project from BrewPiLess I'd request we chat in the Fermentrack thread but I'm happy to provide some guidance if you'd like as to what I think you might need to do to get it working. Additionally, you might want to take a look at Fuscus, which is an implementation of BrewPi in Python, designed to run on a Raspberry Pi. I used to use it, but found that the SD cards that are typically used in RPis don't really last that long, and when your Pi dies and permanently locks your fridge "on" that results in beer slushies!

 

[DuncB]

@ShaneB

Raspberry pints is a display program but can monitor keg volume by using flowmeters.
You have found the GitHub for rpints, this thread has a" bit" of information at 196 pages so far.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/thread...spberrypints-digital-taplist-solution.487694/

 

[DuncB]

@ShaneB
This post has link to @day_trippr copy of the raspberry pints webpage and install guide.
Post in thread '[Version 2 Release] RaspberryPints - Digital Taplist Solution' [Version 2 Release] RaspberryPints - Digital Taplist Solution

 

[day_trippr]

Note, however, that that is an archive of the original RaspberryPints support page, and iirc the application will not work on any Raspberry Pi OS newer than Stretch...which is a few versions ago and not so easily resourced now.

The current forked version developed by HBT member @RandR+ has taken over the original R'Pints thread and if one works back from the tail pointers to the installation script can be found...

Cheers!

 

[DuncB]

Note, however, that that is an archive of the original RaspberryPints support page, and iirc the application will not work on any Raspberry Pi OS newer than Stretch...which is a few versions ago and not so easily resourced now.

The current forked version developed by HBT member @RandR+ has taken over the original R'Pints thread and if one works back from the tail pointers to the installation script can be found...

Cheers!

Just found that it was the original.
The raspberry pints webpage that now doesn't work was idiot ( or me) proof.

 

[day_trippr]

Truth be told my keezer still sports the original version, while I'm slowly getting around to tailoring the newest version to get it close to what I have now...

Cheers!

 

[DuncB]

Truth be told my keezer still sports the original version, while I'm slowly getting around to tailoring the newest version to get it close to what I have now...

Cheers!

Yes been watching your tribulations.
I've got a couple of flow meters now so next steps are headache laden I expect.

 

[day_trippr]

To be clear, once we got some bugs out of the way I've been keeping one of test beds running continuously for stability testing and haven't had any crash or even application halt in over a month. What's slowing adoption is - just as I did with the classic version - going through the fonts and changing literally all of them and likely going through the main html to add a class or two as well. I'm easily distracted to play with things that don't require much mental effort these days

Cheers!

 

[DuncB]

Good to know, going through the main html would take a lot of learning and mental effort for me I reckon. But we all have our skills and I know you are standing by.

 

[rkhanso]

I bought some of the PCBs at PCB Way and am wondering if it's better practice to put Female pin headers on the PCB or Male pin headers.
Arduino has female, Raspberry Pi has male.

Male is what I see on the example on PCB Way's website, but wondering if it's better for female since there might be less chance of shorting the pins together.

https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/BrewPiLess_ESP32_Rev_00.html

 

[Thorrak]

I mean… you’re going to be soldering both, so you have the same risk either way. I prefer male pins on the controller as it makes it easier to plug directly into a breadboard, but I think you’re welcome to use whatever you prefer.

 

[rkhanso]

I flashed a different ESP32 (of the same type) and it worked OK. Device Manager said it was on COM2 and I used that when building and uploading to the ESP32. No trouble.
I connected that other ESP that I was having trouble with to the same cable, same port in the hub and this ESP shows up as COM11 instead of 2. Shouldn't the COM port be the same as the ESP that was just flashed?

Edit - Got the "bad" ESP32 working. I manually changed the COM port in Windows Device Manager to COM1 first, then changed VSCode to reflect the same COM port in the PlatformIO config and it worked that time.

 

[rkhanso]

If your ESP8266 has the ip 192.168.1.152, browse to
http://192.168.1.152/testcmd.htm


Enter the following string, and "send". Then you have it.

j{"tempFormat":"F"}

Every time I lose power, this returns back to Celsius.
Is there a way to have this saved to stay on Fahrenheit after a reboot or power loss?

 

[pocketmon]

Every time I lose power, this returns back to Celsius.
Is there a way to have this saved to stay on Fahrenheit after a reboot or power loss?

The setting was not saved correctly.
Try formatting the file system by visiting
http://[address of your controller]:8008/format-spiffs

 

[rkhanso]

Thanks @pocketmon - that worked perfect.

I noticed that the temperature graph for one of my Dallas sensors appears to have a different behavior than the others. It's like it doesn't have as fine a granularity of precision. Notice how the gray line is flat for longer periods, while the blue and green temperatures are more analog looking. It's gotta be the sensor, right?

 

[pocketmon]

Thanks @pocketmon - that worked perfect.

I noticed that the temperature graph for one of my Dallas sensors appears to have a different behavior than the others. It's like it doesn't have as fine a granularity of precision. Notice how the gray line is flat for longer periods, while the blue and green temperatures are more analog looking. It's gotta be the sensor, right?


View attachment 820182

As far as I could remember, only fridge and beer temperature readings are filtered. The gray line is room temperature, which is not filtered.

 

[rkhanso]

I've been able to adjust the calibration / offset for only one Dallas sensor on the Device Page, but trying to later go in and change another sensor offset isn't sticking. It always goes back to 0 after refreshing the web page. Do I need to erase it all and set them up again but adjust all offsets the first time since it doesn't seem to be changeable after that?


EDIT -
This started working OK after a while (and futzing with the dallas wiring)

 

[rkhanso]

Would it be possible (or difficult to add) flow-meter capability to BrewPiLess? There's enough input/outputs. I'm not a programmer and wouldn't be able to do it myself.

I'd like to be able to take the pulses from a flow meter and calibrate to beer flow volume. Then subtract that from a starting value to calculate the remaining beer in the keg (like Keg Cop does).

One other thing I'd like to add is a temp control for a tower fan. I have a temp probe stuck up in the tower and I'd like to be able to have BPL be able to control the relay it's connected to similar to the compressor - have a set temp and turn on/off based on the temp reading. An alternative I suppose would be to just get a quieter tower fan and have it run all the time.

Or can BPL do all this already? I see on the Device configuration page other functions (doors, lights, fans, capper, humidifier, etc), but don't elsewhere in the GUI how to control those devices.

 

[waynerob11]

What bin file can I use with a ESP8266 or an ESP32, to run BrewpiLess, with glycol cooling , wire heating and fermenting under pressure

 

[DuncB]

What bin file can I use with a ESP8266 or an ESP32, to run BrewpiLess, with glycol cooling , wire heating and fermenting under pressure

I use my brewpiless with fridge for cooling and heating belt.
Measuring pressure I'm able to do.
The auto spunding is a work in progress, some appear to have managed it on the Reddit.
Issue is the solenoid control to release pressure.
But I've worked out a solution just waiting for a different auto valve to arrive from AliExpress then I'm confident that I will be able to use brewpiless for temp control and auto spunding without solenoids overheating etc.
The latest brewpiless bin has the code for it it's the hardware that's tricky.

 

[pocketmon]

What bin file can I use with a ESP8266 or an ESP32, to run BrewpiLess, with glycol cooling , wire heating and fermenting under pressure

Before 4.2.1, glycol cooling is supported by default. You just need to "unplug" fridge sensor and adjust the minimum cooling/idel time.
After 4.2.2, there is a dedicated version for glycol, like
https://github.com/vitotai/BrewPiLess/releases/download/4.3/BrewPiLess.v4.3.glycol.bin
There is no binary of ESP32 that supports glycol cooling. It can be created easily by editing the platformio.ini.

 

[waynerob11]

Thanks for that - what if I were to replace the two buttons with a PCF8754 and Rotary Encoder - would I have to amend the config.h file or is there a bin file that covers it.
So, my desired setup is ESP8266, ILI9341 LCD, and Rotary Encoder - I have downloaded BrewPiLess-master.zip and have Visual Studio.
Fermenter cooling is relay controlled.
Fermenter Heating is relay controlled.
Pressure is relay controlled.