CraftBeerPi - Raspberry Pi Software

[jtrainer]

I did pick up the used Kegerator. A Danby brand, 5lb CO2 tank (with some gas, not sure how much), 2 regulators, empty 16gal Sanke keg, D-Coupler, single faucet tower, extra beer line, all for $150.
I think the Inkbird controller is working OK, as I used my CraftbeerPi to monitor temps and they fluctuated about 5-6F around the set point consistently for a day. The next time I brew and Keg, I'll put the CraftbeerPi probes in the kegerator to monitor temps and make sure the Inkbird is working OK. If not, I'll just use the CraftbeerPi controller to run the kegerator.

I bought 2 used Pin-lock kegs and fittings/hose/extra o-rings and transfer hose for $100.

So, for maybe around $175 ($250 minus the Sanke keg deposit return and sale of all my old bottling equipment) I'm set up for kegging and dispensing a cold 10 gallons of beer.

With the CBP, you can not only manage that power but also report on beer temp, cold plate temp, tower temp.... also you can kick on fans for recirculating or cooling the compressor. With some additional mods, you can read beer flow or weight to manage a tap list with available beer to predict beer outages.

 

[Mike Howard]

Does CBPi need an internet connection to run? I read that timers won't work if you don't have a conneciton to the outside world.

 

[Mike Howard]

Where are the methods for the module cbpi? Is there source code? Can't seem to locate it other than a reference on pypi

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

Hey - any advice on this? I tried to use the SD Card Copier utility today and kept getting a couple errors. After I initiated the copy, first I'd see a popup that said that the device had been disconnected without ejecting, then right after I get an error that it is unable to create a partition.

I googled, found a few people who asked for help with this, but no resolution. Thoughts?

Just an update. On a hunch (since others don't seem to be running into this issue) I picked up a different USB adapter for the micro SD and tried again. Everything worked perfectly. I guess the adapter they sent with my pi (from canakit) was flaky.

Too bad I can't get a craftbeerpi interface board. I got an email saying he had some in stock, but when I ordered, it for payment the only option was to be invoiced on paypal. I haven't heard anything since (that was about 2 weeks ago). Now, of course, they don't have any in stock again.

I'm just going to move on with a different option I think.

 

[rkhanso]

I'm trying to get a new CraftbeerPi setup working to control my Kegerator.
It seems like every time I do this months or years later, I run into problems. Maybe because of the new ways that RaspPi gets installed and new versions of the RaspPi OS?

I've installed Raspberry Pi and CraftbeerPi3. When i go to 192.168.2.251:5000, I get a "connection refused" error. Even when I try from a web browser on the Raspberry Pi itself, I get error - refused to connect.

I can ping the Raspberry Pi from my Windows Desktop, and I can VNC to the Raspberry Pi with no trouble. The CraftbeerPi web page just doesn't load.

Not sure what to do. I did not start over altogether. Maybe I'll try that --- Re-install everything.

 

[dyqik]

The problem is that CraftBeerPi is unmaintained, but Raspbian/Raspberry Pi OS and the python libraries it relies on are being updated.

You have to manually intervene to install the outdated versions of libraries. There are various guides around on how to do that.

 

[Brian Parfitt]

I have a question about the CraftBeerPi KettleController. I see you can set the power level of the heater element. I'm wondering how this works. Is the pi just modulating the duty cycle of the heating element to achieve different power levels? Do you have to have the SSR attached to a PWM pin on the Pi i.e. pin 12? Do you simply use the GPIOPWM actor on the PWM pin? I couldn't really find a definitive explanation of how to set this up.

I'd like to be able to ramp my element power up to 100% to bring to boil and then ramp down afterwards to a level sufficient to keep boil rolling.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[ZeSlammy]

Anyone used the GroupActors plugin ? I installed it, restarted my system a couple time and still can't see "GroupActor" as an actor

 

[kcinpdx]

Hi all - I’m a long time cbpi3 user but I’m completely stuck. CBPI was acting up yesterday to the point where it would no longer reboot. I scrapped the brew day and decided to buy a new SD, and downloaded a fresh raspbian OS. I reinstalled the card into the pi and downloaded a new copy of cbpi 3 successfully. Here’s the kicker. When trying to open cbpi using the Chromium browser, I get the server IP address could not be found error. Any clues to troubleshoot this?

 

[Lalo_uy]

May be the instalation do not finish. Check if
Python run.py
Is running, if port 5000 is listening ( netstat -lnpt ).
If not, go to craftbeerpi3 folder and run
sudo ./run.pi
And see the messages

 

[kcinpdx]

May be the instalation do not finish. Check if
Python run.py
Is running, if port 5000 is listening ( netstat -lnpt ).
If not, go to craftbeerpi3 folder and run
sudo ./run.pi
And see the messages

Thanks for the info. Run.py is the command to check this?

 

[kcinpdx]

 

[kcinpdx]

Also looks like port 5000 is not listed.

 

[kcinpdx]

Ports in pic

 

[rkhanso]

I'm trying to get the GPIOCompressor Add-on working in Craftbeerpi 3. No new items are showing up in the drop-down list in the actors.
All I did was Install the add-on from the Add-on page. Is there anything else that needs to be done to get it to show up in the system settings?
I'm trying to use CraftbeerPi to control a Kegerator, and the temp fluctuations around the transition time from compressor on/off are causing the compressor to cycle quickly.
Thanks.

 

[rkhanso]

The Compressor Add-On suddenly started working after about the 5th-6th reboot of the Pi.
I'll test it out.

 

[jtrainer]

I'm starting a POC build for Node-Red and Fermtrack use, but wondering if there are other promising projects to replace CBP3. I've been using CBP3 for a couple of years with no issue on my Ferment and Keg Mgnt, but just looking for a supported platform.

With CBP4 stalled and no commits for a very long time, and Manuel's lack of responses, what other projects are ones we should be looking at?

 

[rkhanso]

I think the only other project I'd move to isn't cheap/free. Check out Bru Control
I don't know what Node-Red or Fermtrack is, or if it's compatible with Bru Control.
Once I can't get CraftbeerPi working for my needs any longer, I'm going to Bru Control.

 

[Lalo_uy]

There are a few recent PR from Juan Pablo Giménez that made ir run on Python 3.5
Will tray them asap.

 

[stbernts]

There are a few recent PR from Juan Pablo Giménez that made ir run on Python 3.5
Will tray them asap.

Yes, but it is a license violation, hence it shows how bad the whole CBP3 thing is -

 

[Alt]

I don't know what Node-Red or Fermtrack is, or if it's compatible with Bru Control.

For anyone interested in what Node-Red is and how it can be used in a brewing application, I suggest starting here.

 

[jtrainer]

For anyone interested in what Node-Red is and how it can be used in a brewing application, I suggest starting here.

Yup read that, I think my first question on Node Red is if we have CBP2/3 controllers, do we need to make changes in the hardware/wiring/expansion boards, etc, or can we continue with existing designs and hardware choices?

 

[jangevaa]

Yup read that, I think my first question on Node Red is if we have CBP2/3 controllers, do we need to make changes in the hardware/wiring/expansion boards, etc, or can we continue with existing designs and hardware choices?

No, you should be able to use all the same hardware. Just a matter of know which GPIO you're using for each process. DS18B20 temperature sensors are well supported.

 

[golfindia]

Meanwhile, I just keep on using strange brew elsinore.

 

[BrunDog]

Hi CBPi users. We've received some inquiries lately about the differences between CBPi and BruControl and what switching would entail. We put together an FAQ to help address any comparisons, questions, and concerns. Link is here: Transition to BruControl FAQ.

 

[LBussy]

I'd suggest that the thread about CBPi is not the place for discussions about Strangebrew nor BruControl.

 

[doug293cz]

I'd suggest that the thread about CBPi is not the place for discussions about Strangebrew nor BruControl.

Agreed. Those applications have threads of their own for discussion, and should not have extended discussions, nor questions asked about them in this thread. Occasional references to alternative apps is acceptable, but do not use those to trigger an off topic discussion.

doug293cz
HBT Moderator

 

[Curly55]

So here's my problem, I'm running a direct fired 3 burner herms system and trying to get the alarm clock plug-in to work for my initial heat up of the MLT and HLT. The GPIOtoggle plug-in allows me to turn the pumps on but thats where my luck stops. I can only get my HLT or MLT to heat up with a mash in step. What I am trying to do is fire the burners for both of my pots with the appropriate set Temps and the way the alarm plug-in works sets both Temps to zero. There's no step that allows me to regain my target Temps and turn both burners on. Any and all help is welcome. PS I'm no wiz with computers, I'm a mechanic my trade.

 

[Lalo_uy]

What you need is a SetTargetTemp step.
It could be done as a copy of the MashIn step by just delet the “if” line in the execute section.
Will set the target and end right away.

 

[Curly55]

Thanks for the help. Took me a second to find the file and I had to replace the "if" line with a "self.next()" but after that it works just like i need it to.