iSpindle - DIY Electronic Hydrometer

[DaniFilth]

The suggestion is to adjust it so that it sits as close to 20° as possible in plain water



This is typically a symptom of the Diode being in backwards. Did you use the Diode or a resistor for the deep sleep?

Pictures always help.

So 20° when in plain water? Ok, what i read i thought it was supposed to read close to zero when lying 90° right after calibrating :/

I'm not using a diode, i have a 330 resistor

 

[gromitdj]

My guess is that there is a problem with your connection for waking from deep sleep. Did you use a shield? If so, which one. If not... again, pictures would help.

 

[DaniFilth]

My guess is that there is a problem with your connection for waking from deep sleep. Did you use a shield? If so, which one. If not... again, pictures would help.

I can get pictures uploaded if needed soon, but right now i changed it from 900s to 10s and it's now working I'll but it back to 900s and check after 15 mins to see if it's updating.

 

[Lalo_uy]

We in Uruguay have problems with the periodic report that was caused by the ZTE router that the official ISP provides.
It takes to long to set up the WiFi connection, raising the timeout or changing to a good brand router was the solution.

 

[DaniFilth]

What's the best method you guys have found to be the best for calibrating? Considering it'll need calibrating after everytime i charge it (opening the lid, turning it on and off could move the inside a bit?) I guess the sugar water fermentation method isn't the best as it'll take 3-4 days evey time :/

 

[gromitdj]

I don't calibrate it every time. I put it in plain water and let it register a couple of data points with Ubidots before I sanitize it. Then when I put it in the wort I adjust the gravity equation in ubidots using just the plain and O.G. tilt numbers. There is a website or spreadsheet to generate the equation on the github page.

Its not the most accurate way, but works for my purposes.

 

[DaniFilth]

Ok, i'll do that

Does it matter if after i put the weights in it's rolled ever so slightly, so the circuit boards aren't exactly straight or will this be taken into account after the numbers are added?

 

[gromitdj]

I'd just roll with it and see...

 

[gingerneil]

I put some sugru moldable glue in the bottom and stuck the board in place. It shouldn't move now when charging, and that acts as the ballast too.
I calibrated in sugar water initially, but then too regular proper SG readings the first time I used it in beer. I'll not use those readings to recalibrate.
The ispindel is a handy guide, and good temp controller, but I don't rely on the SG numbers.

 

[BreeBrew]

I put some sugru moldable glue in the bottom and stuck the board in place. It shouldn't move now when charging, and that acts as the ballast too.
I calibrated in sugar water initially, but then too regular proper SG readings the first time I used it in beer. I'll not use those readings to recalibrate.
The ispindel is a handy guide, and good temp controller, but I don't rely on the SG numbers.

I did something similar with epoxy to fixate the sled in the tube. Calibration only 1. on a flat surface(should be giving a tilt of 89-90 degrees)
and 2. in plain water(should give a tilt of between 15 and 25 degrees), that is your SG of 1.000 and 3. in a brew I measure the tilt of the iSpindel and measure the SG with a refractometer. Put it in the excel and put the outcome in brewspy. I also don't need to know the SG exactly, I just want to know when the fermentation is done.

 

[takatski]

I'm taking a second stab at building this device using a wemos, accelerometer and charger. I'm double checking to make sure that the wemos is working. It flashes properly, but I can't seem to get it to send data to craftbrewpi. Since it's not connected to either temperature sensor or accelerometer should I expect any data to be sent?

 

[BreeBrew]

I'm taking a second stab at building this device using a wemos, accelerometer and charger. I'm double checking to make sure that the wemos is working. It flashes properly, but I can't seem to get it to send data to craftbrewpi. Since it's not connected to either temperature sensor or accelerometer should I expect any data to be sent?

It will only work once fully build.

 

[Bane]

So, I have a spindel that reads 1.0 SG in plain water, but when I use it in my fermenter (stainless conical) it reads 1.064, my regular hydrometer reads 1.020 with the same beer. Anyone know what could be wrong?

 

[gromitdj]

If you haven't already... you need to use the tilt numbers @ 1.000 and 1.020 to get the equation from the online tool and put the resulting equation in the ispindle or ubidots configuration.

So, I have a spindel that reads 1.0 SG in plain water, but when I use it in my fermenter (stainless conical) it reads 1.064, my regular hydrometer reads 1.020 with the same beer. Anyone know what could be wrong?

 

[Bane]

If you haven't already... you need to use the tilt numbers @ 1.000 and 1.020 to get the equation from the online tool and put the resulting equation in the ispindle or ubidots configuration.

Is there a good tutorial video on calibration you can recommend? Nothing seems to be in one place.

 

[gromitdj]

I don't know of a video, but I can tell you what I did.

1. I added weight to the bottom of the device to get it to tilt as close to 20° in 1.000 as possible.
2. Then you can take readings of the tilt at a couple of different densities. (e.g. 1.030, 1.060, and 1.090)
3. Enter those numbers into the website that I linked like below:
   
4. The resultant equation should be entered into the device configuration or Ubidots derived value field per the images below.

Edited to add: As I've mentioned previously, I just place the iSpindel in water while I'm Brewing and take note of the tilt @ 1.000, then I'll note the tilt when I place it in the fermenter and I'll use those to numbers to get a new equation and edit the derived expression in Ubidots. I believe fermentrack has a calibration procedure built in.

Is there a good tutorial video on calibration you can recommend? Nothing seems to be in one place.

 

[takatski]

I've changed my post a few times today, because I'm slowly making progress.. However right now I have the issue that I can't get the device to actually push any data to my influxdb

 

[chesterweirdo]

So I think I nearly have this working. However, the formula from iSpindle calibration page. The Degree 3 one.

Do you just paste that in as it is. The images show tilt in the formula but that does not show on the Degree 3 part.

Sorry I'm confused.

 

[gromitdj]

If you are using ubidots you need to insert the tilt variable wherever the "x" is in the formula. have you already tried to create a derived value? It might make more sense when you do.

I don't know if I've ever gotten the degree 3 function to work. I typically use the Degree 2.

 

[TheDutchBrewdragon]

Hi guys,

I've got two Ispindels. One of them is working fine but I've got a unknown problem with the other one.
I can save wifisettings, ubidots token and interval time but then it just sends data once to ubidots (I can see it appearing there) but then immediatly reverts to its configuration status. When I try again, exactly the same. I've reflashed but that doesn't work. Anyone have a clue what could be the issue?

 

[LBussy]

Have you erased flash (different ways depending on how you are flashing)? Re-flashing does not erase EEPROM areas.

 

[TheDutchBrewdragon]

Have you erased flash (different ways depending on how you are flashing)? Re-flashing does not erase EEPROM areas.

I managed to pull the log from the iSpindel today. I'm guessing it's something corrupt on there.
The relevant excerpt:
Worker run!mounting FS... ERROR: failed to mount FS!ERROR config corruptedscanning for OW device on pin: 5No devices found!scanning for OW device on pin: 12Found device with ROM = 28 5D 4F 6F B 0 0 37 Chip = DS18B20

Looking up how to erase the flash now and I'll try again after that.

 

[LBussy]

Yeah that’s corrupt flash more than likely. Google up esptool and erase flash. That should get you going.

 

[Naesstrom]

I've got a strange issue today on the new brew!
Im using the cherryphillips v4 board, worked perfectly last brew when I connected it to my brewpiless system controlling the fridge! This batch I wanted to use it directly to web.brewfather.app but it just gets 1 reading. Tried googling but only suggestion I've found is that there should be something wrong with the wemos?

The SGISPINDEL000 is when I tried it last night and then I picked it out this morning and renamed it to 001 just to try and that to just sent one time?

 

[BreeBrew]

What is your update interval? Because this is what I found on the web.brewfather.app site regarding iSpindel:
"Never log more than once every 15 minutes, request logged more often than that will be ignored. It is very important that your update intervall is 900 or higher, otherwise your logging will be ignored."

 

[private4587]

Well, I'm pretty surprised, it all seems to work, I've soldered 2 boards and no issues so far, battery charges, wemos works, I declare it a success :hs:

if anyone is interested in ordering a board, you can get them from here. it's about $7 for 4 with free shipping -> https://PCBs.io/share/8gbKR

I've tried to mark everything up, my process for soldering was.

I'm assuming you've soldered the gyro onto the wemos already.

Resistors
Switch (which works )
Flip over and insert solder the temp probe
lipo charger next (you'll need to tilt the probe out of the way slightly)
battery charger pins (you can just solder wires directly into this if you choose)
then the headers for the wemos.

it's pretty simple to knock together. the switch and the lipo I had to make footprints for which are based on this Wishlist form Aliexpress -> https://my.aliexpress.com/wishlist/shared.htm?groupId=3110754426

although as you might see from the photo of the lipo board the one of used in the picture is recycled and not the one ordered so there is a chance other lipo boards would work, I found on my breadboard version the drill holes didn't line up perfectly.

I've got to say I'm pretty happy with it, it's much neater and easier to solder than the breadboard version.

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do you happen to have the .stl file or location for the sled that you used

 

[gromitdj]

do you happen to have the .stl file or location for the sled that you used

I believe this is the sled that we both used: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2225597

But this one works equally as well and the tension springs are a little less prone to breaking, I believe.
https://github.com/universam1/iSpindel/blob/master/drawer/iSpindel mechatronics.stl

They are both sized for the XXL PETling.

 

[private4587]

I believe this is the sled that we both used: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2225597

But this one works equally as well and the tension springs are a little less prone to breaking, I believe.
https://github.com/universam1/iSpindel/blob/master/drawer/iSpindel mechatronics.stl

They are both sized for the XXL PETling.

Thanks for your quick reply groitdj, i will have a go at printing that sled. Can you tell me where and how weights are attached?

 

[gromitdj]

I used the tire weights from amazon and put them towards the bottom, opposite the battery. See the image below.

 

[private4587]

I used the tire weights from amazon and put them towards the bottom, opposite the battery. See the image below.

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Thanks again gromitdj, may be a pain and ask how they are stuck on with?

 

[gromitdj]

Thanks again gromitdj, may be a pain and ask how they are stuck on with?

Not a pain at all. They come with an adhesive already. Peel and stick.

I have a bunch of extra. If you are in the U.S. I can send you some for the price of a USPS envelope if you'd like to PM me.

Edit: It may be close to the same price as the Amazon link, if you're a Prime member...

 

[private4587]

Thanks for your kind off gromitdj but i live in the UK

 

[day_trippr]

I'm sure sticky wheel weights are used in the UK - some rims can't use clip-ons.
Go to a tire store with a work bay and I bet they'll give you a handful...

Cheers!

 

[gromitdj]

Yeah, I'm fairly certain I got the idea for the wheel weights from @Mikmonken and he is based in the U.K. as well.

 

[private4587]

hi everyone hope this is the correct place to post this, I am very interested in using the software Brewfather and its integration with ispindel. My question is I like the look of this but wonder if my setup is too simple for the likes of this. I have a brew fridge where the heat and cooling is controlled via a STC -1000, at the moment the probe is against the fermenter which is fine. When I eventually build my ispindel this would show both beer temp and gravity. Then if the temp probe was free air in fridge how could I display all temps in this programme and also could it be ran from rasp pi

 

[Kiernan]

Does anyone know where i can find most of these parts that offer shipping to Canada?
Especially having trouble finding the Plastic Cylinder

 

[private4587]

Does anyone know where i can find most of these parts that offer shipping to Canada?
Especially having trouble finding the Plastic Cylinder

I have just purchased this item from uk eBay (
132379354252) it states he posts to Canada

 

[Bane]

Is the iSpindel charging circuit supposed to automatically stop charging? I bought 4 pre built spindles from a guy on e-bay and one of them had the battery explode and start on fire. It reminds me of old fast chargers that did not automatically turn off, very thankful for fire detectors for sure.

 

[gromitdj]

They should. At least all of mine do.

Glad everything is alright for you!

I hope this was not built off of my (and mikmonken's) PCB design. If it was, it's the first time I am hearing of such an incident.

 

[Bane]

Since I bought them off of ebay. I am not sure. I'll look at this thread some more and see if I can determine that based upon the parts used.