BrewPi Remix – What’s Old is New Again

[kmllr315]

What kind of volume were you cooling compared to what you intend to cool?

This is a graph of my fermenter filled with 5.5-6 gallons of water, very similar to the batch sizes I typically brew.

 

[LBussy]

Well, there’s no PID gain in the Glycol controller firmware, so I’m going to flat out guess that the glycol needs to be colder (since it worked up to a point). I’d crank it down a bit and see what happens.

 

[kmllr315]

Well, there’s no PID gain in the Glycol controller firmware, so I’m going to flat out guess that the glycol needs to be colder (since it worked up to a point). I’d crank it down a bit and see what happens.

Got it. Do most people running glycol run at a specific temperature and keep it there? Or do you bump it down as needed? I started it low at first but it seemed to cool too much so I adjusted it up. This however is also problematic during a lager ramp down as seen above. I ended up changing the BrewPi settings to plus or minus 0.3 degrees for heating and cooling. Any other thoughts or recommendations? Especially in the BrewPi settings?

 

[day_trippr]

I ended up changing the BrewPi settings to plus or minus 0.3 degrees for heating and cooling.

I had thought the same, even grabbed a screen image of the pertinent Advanced Settings section. But there's already quite a bit of bouncing between Cool and Heat modes extant at the temperature approached the target in that plot. Cutting the differential down will likely increase the frequency though also likely will decrease the amplitude. Eventually it'll run into the compressor delay...

Cheers!

 

[LBussy]

There’s no compressor delay in glycol either. If you have a heater in there, I would definitely turn it off if you are cold crashing and it’s not sitting in your garage in 0° weather. I don’t own a glycol system, I stole the settings from brewpiless. If somebody wants to buy me a glycol, I’d be happy to test it.

 

[kmllr315]

There’s no compressor delay in glycol either. If you have a heater in there, I would definitely turn it off if you are cold crashing and it’s not sitting in your garage in 0° weather. I don’t own a glycol system, I stole the settings from brewpiless. If somebody wants to buy me a glycol, I’d be happy to test it.

Lee, I actually just made a glycol chiller with a window air conditioner. It’s been working like a champ.

I thought about turning off the heater wrap as well, but I was trying to minimize cooling overshoots to keep with the Tasty McDole lager cool down after the diacetyl rest.

 

[LBussy]

I’ve read where people have done that. I have enough projects right now.

What’s weird to me is you had a nice ramp down and then had issues after you reset your chiller.

While what Dave shared is a concern for most people, not you though. You can safely reduce that differential since you are not controlling a compressor.

 

[day_trippr]

Does that mean the compressor runs 24/7 and you're just switching a solenoid valve and a heat mat or something like that?

 

[LBussy]

Does that mean the compressor runs 24/7 and you're just switching a solenoid valve and a heat mat or something like that?

The "cool" solenoid is either the pump or a valve. The glycol system should have its own thermostat.

 

[day_trippr]

Gotcha

 

[kmllr315]

Does that mean the compressor runs 24/7 and you're just switching a solenoid valve and a heat mat or something like that?

The BrewPi in this instance is controlling a small pump submerged in glycol in a cooler. There is a separate controller for the chiller itself, in my case, an Inkbird.

 

[duncan.brown]

@kmllr315 for my unitanks, I set my glycol temp at 23F and just leave it there. I let BrewPi handle the cooling with fixed glycol temp. The ramp that happens halfway between Jan 26 and 27 looks like your glycol was not cold enough to cool, then the temperature drops once your lower the glycol temperature.

If your temperature probe is not at the bottom of your fermenter, you may have discovered this

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/ssbrewtech-unitank-and-maximum-density-of-water.728352/

As @Deadalus reminded me, ice floats...

 

[kmllr315]

Okay. Here is my 2nd go around with my lager ramping. All went well, but I again had some larger than expected oscillation towards the end of ramp down (additional pic zoomed for greater detail). For the entirety, the glycol remained at least 10 degrees cooler than the corresponding BrewPi set point. Thinking about taking off the heat during the ramp down. Thoughts?

 

[day_trippr]

I run three fridge chambers using the classic BrewPi with controllers that have override switches, and when I cold crash I shut off the heater. No point in allowing any bouncing between heat and cool modes...

Cheers!

 

[balrog]

@day_trippr 's method is what I have to do; both ways. When ramping up, I only plug in the heater, when ramping down, only plug in cool.

 

[interalia]

Yet another install question.

I'm finally getting around to migrating from Legacy BrewPi to BrewPi Remix primarily because of the hope of better glycol support.

I'm attempting a clean, multi-chamber install on a Pi 3B+ (ARMV71) with 32-bit Buster Lite thinking that legacy OS is better tested with BPR than Bullseye or Bookworm. Everything is running fine until I getting an Error message halting the install because the script is looking for a distribution version of Numpy 1.26.2 from requirements.txt that doesn't seem to exist in the pypi.org repository. Attached is the boostrap.log file.

Have scanned but don't see this issue in past posts in this topic. Any suggestions on how to address?

 

[interalia]

...

That did seem to run through all of the scripts and install things I didn't notice when running the installer in the previous 2 attempts, so perhaps the shortened curl URL is linking to an older install script? Regardless, I was still getting the same error with numpy and the script wouldn't start, but this time, I installed one of the packages that I saw recommended before (that I had installed on the previous 2 attempts as well) and IT WORKED!! Here is the package that ended up fixing it for me: sudo apt-get install libopenblas-dev

Sorry for the novel, just wanted to be as detailed as possible so that others don't bang their head against the wall for 2 days like I did.

After trying multiple things on Buster, I abandoned that approach and followed your path. The numpy distribution requirement for the install is not compatible with Python3.7 and I didn't want to get involved in manual upgrades to 3.9.

With Bullseye, I encountered the same numpy install issues you identified in bootstrap.log until I installed the additional apt package you also identified. Thank you! Life saver.

 

[balrog]

I installed the additional apt package you also identified.

Which was what, exactly? Just curious.

 

[interalia]

Which was what, exactly? Just curious.

libopenblas-dev

 

[VictorBrew]

All, my BrewPi solution has been working great for many years, but I just had one of my SainSmart Arduino UNO's fail. It does not seem that the SainSmarts are available anymore, so just inquiring which UNO's folks are buying now and have had good luck with.

 

[day_trippr]

I went through my AMZ history - apparently Sainsmart stopped selling UNO R3 clones in 2014, and the alternatives I'd bought since then are also no longer listed.

Aaanyway...as long as the item includes an Atmel "Atmega 16U2" to go along with the Atmel 328P (the classic socketed DIP controller version) you can't really go wrong. The 16U2 is the USB-Serial bridge chip for true R3 designs, where there are also "half-clones" that rely on a CH340/CH341 bridge chip that can have issues with software that doesn't know how to talk to it.

So, looking at AMZ, I'd be comfortable going with this listing...or pretty much any of the $11-12 listings that address that bridge chip issue...

https://www.amazon.com/ePalZoneXP-ATmega328P-Atmega16U2-Arduino-Compatible-Arduino/dp/B0CRF4NC7Y/

Cheers!

 

[colic]

I think this is the right place to post a brewpi remix question


Ive installed brewpi-arduino-uno-revC-0_2_10 onto an Uno and the web software on Ubuntu 20.04. Everything seems fine, no errors in the logs. I realise using non-raspberry hardware is potentially troublesome. Its just I appear to have everything working, and there are no errors. So close yet .....

Ive attached two DS18B20 probes complete with pullup resistor. In devices I refresh and the probes appear as expected. I assign Chamber 1, Chamber device, chamber temp to slot 0 and apply. Likewise for beer device and temp in slot 2, Apply.

But on APPLYing the device config display reverts to "function none" and likewise on refreshing devices with read values checked.

But each of the probes show two correct temperatures (22c), slightly different from eachother which Id expect. If I hold one of them and refresh, the temperature goes up towards 30c which I also expect. So they appear to be working.

But the beer and chamber temperatures are missing from the main display, as are their respective plots. Obviously related to the above.

There is nothing in the apache logs, except gettiltinfo entries (unrelated, right). And nothing in stderror stdout except the data flow on read and save (see below).

Something is obviously amiss, but Im stuck without any error message or other clue. Can anyone please help me diagnose this, or even give me a hint what might be wrong?

I have spent the obligatory few hours trying to sort it out myself, but now hope for the assistance of someone who knows more than me

Ive tried both chrome and firefox, but I realise Im clutching at straws.

Here is the output from stdout for what its worth:

2024-05-10 13:56:15 [N] Available devices received: [{"i": -1, "t": 0, "c": 1, "b": 0, "f": 0, "h": 2, "d": 0, "p": 18, "v": 22.0, "a": "28FD6C5704E13D24", "j": 0.0}, {"i": -1, "t": 0, "c": 1, "b": 0, "f": 0, "h": 2, "d": 0, "p": 18, "v": 22.125, "a": "28D3F95704E13DE4", "j": 0.0}, {"i": -1, "t": 0, "c": 1, "b": 0, "f": 0, "h": 1, "d": 0, "p": 2, "x": 1}, {"i": -1, "t": 0, "c": 1, "b": 0, "f": 0, "h": 1, "d": 0, "p": 5, "x": 1}, {"i": -1, "t": 0, "c": 1, "b": 0, "f": 0, "h": 1, "d": 0, "p": 6, "x": 1}, {"i": -1, "t": 0, "c": 1, "b": 0, "f": 0, "h": 1, "d": 0, "p": 19, "x": 1}, {"i": -1, "t": 0, "c": 1, "b": 0, "f": 0, "h": 1, "d": 0, "p": 4, "x": 1}]
2024-05-10 13:56:39 [N] Installed devices received: []
2024-05-10 13:56:39 [N] Available devices received: [{"i": -1, "t": 0, "c": 1, "b": 0, "f": 0, "h": 2, "d": 0, "p": 18, "a": "28FD6C5704E13D24", "j": 0.0}, {"i": -1, "t": 0, "c": 1, "b": 0, "f": 0, "h": 2, "d": 0, "p": 18, "a": "28D3F95704E13DE4", "j": 0.0}, {"i": -1, "t": 0, "c": 1, "b": 0, "f": 0, "h": 1, "d": 0, "p": 2, "x": 1}, {"i": -1, "t": 0, "c": 1, "b": 0, "f": 0, "h": 1, "d": 0, "p": 5, "x": 1}, {"i": -1, "t": 0, "c": 1, "b": 0, "f": 0, "h": 1, "d": 0, "p": 6, "x": 1}, {"i": -1, "t": 0, "c": 1, "b": 0, "f": 0, "h": 1, "d": 0, "p": 19, "x": 1}, {"i": -1, "t": 0, "c": 1, "b": 0, "f": 0, "h": 1, "d": 0, "p": 4, "x": 1}
2024-05-10 13:56:53 [N] New JSON received from controller.]

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, I've been running the classic BrewPi Arduino version using a Rev C shield clone we developed right here on HomebrewTalk since (checks logs) 2014 and generally when there are issues assigning devices it's due to a corrupt eeprom on the Uno module. Just as generally, wiping the eeprom invariably led to a successful configuration. The last version of the BrewPi Arduino web gui had a "clear eeprom" function built into the Maintenance panel pages, but failing that you can find a sketch for the UNO that will do that via the Arduino IDE...

Cheers!

 

[LBussy]

Traveling but yet, clearing EEPROM is the first thing to try.

 

[day_trippr]

Does BPR have that eeprom clear function? I'm not home to look...

 

[LBussy]

It’s funny since moving I have not brewed but I am 99.99% sure. I did not remove any features .

 

[Barry_Duffman]

Another BrewPi Remix question...

I have been interested since Elco first came out with brewpi but had a big break from brewing so I'm a few years late. Read through the old and new forums which lead me to piecing things together using LBussy's amazing website. My Raspbian knowledge is zero as my only other project is setting up a Kodi media server for the house.

I am running a genuine raspberry Pi 2 model B in headless mode, genuine Arduino Uno connected by serial port, two DS18B20 with the pullup resistor, and 5v for the probes coming from a mean well RS 15-5 (everything on my table using a breadboard and dupont wires until I can be sure everything works). My first attempt the install completed but I'm guessing the Arduino Uno didn't flash correctly because the webpage couldn't run the script which I thought I fixed by replacing a bad power cable not giving 5v to the Raspberry Pi. With stable 5v I then reformatted my micro SD card, used the Raspberry Pi imager from their website, then followed the instructions in the user documentation from LBussy's website and while installing using the automated installation I encountered the following error. Thank you for any insights you can share.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
File "/home/brewpi/venv/lib/python3.11/site-packages/pip/_vendor/urllib3/respo nse.py", line 560, in read
with self._error_catcher():
File "/usr/lib/python3.11/contextlib.py", line 155, in __exit__
self.gen.throw(typ, value, traceback)
File "/home/brewpi/venv/lib/python3.11/site-packages/pip/_vendor/urllib3/respo nse.py", line 449, in _error_catcher
raise SSLError(e)
pip._vendor.urllib3.exceptions.SSLError: [SSL: DECRYPTION_FAILED_OR_BAD_RECORD_M AC] decryption failed or bad record mac (_ssl.c:2546)



*** ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ***
-------------------------------------
See above lines for error message.
Setup NOT completed.


*** ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ERROR ***


-------------------------------------

See above lines for error message.
Setup NOT completed.

 

[colic]

fwiw, I've been running the classic BrewPi Arduino version using a Rev C shield clone we developed right here on HomebrewTalk since (checks logs) 2014 and generally when there are issues assigning devices it's due to a corrupt eeprom on the Uno module. Just as generally, wiping the eeprom invariably led to a successful configuration. The last version of the BrewPi Arduino web gui had a "clear eeprom" function built into the Maintenance panel pages, but failing that you can find a sketch for the UNO that will do that via the Arduino IDE...

Cheers!

Thankyou for the replies. Im not sure whats going on. I ran the clear eprom empty code program from the IDE. Then uploaded brewpi again, no change. I also read post suggesting a reset immediately prior to upload, which also didnt work. I tried the combination of the two, no change. About to give up I powered off the board yet again and re-downloaded. This time it worked and I can now update the devices. I didnt do anything different I aware of.

I wish I knew what fixed it, all I can say is it wasnt as simple as clearing eprom and re-downloading. I do dislike fixes that I dont understand, but the beer produced thereafter will help me forget.

Thanks again for the help, indirectly it did fix the problem. Whatever it was lol

 

[LBussy]

I wish I knew what fixed it, all I can say is it wasnt as simple as clearing eprom and re-downloading

The Uno can be finicky but if it’s running it’s running. I understand the sideways glances you give the system now, but I’m glad it’s going.

 

[LBussy]

while installing using the automated installation I encountered the following error.

I have an error (thanks, Python) for which I need to push a fix. I’m traveling today but I might be able to get that today/tomorrow. Sorry for the trouble.