iSpindle - DIY Electronic Hydrometer

[onetea]

Has anyone used this version of ISPINDEL PCB? Is this circuit board working properly?
有人使用过这个版本的 ISPINDEL PCB 吗? 它工作吗？

 

[DuncB]

View attachment 758343

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Has anyone used this version of ISPINDEL PCB? Is this circuit board working properly?
有人使用过这个版本的 ISPINDEL PCB 吗? 它工作吗？

I have not seen that one before. Don't like the fact the WiFi module and hence antenna is nearly the middle of the board.
This means antenna will be below wort / beer level signal will be reduced.
Early stacked type ispindel motherboard and 3d sled had WiFi at top but upside down so antenna away from surface. Signal was poor with that design and this boars you show is " deeper". Signal with Jeffrey 2.0 is significantly better.

 

[ChrisThomas]

@onetea I'd look at the OpenSourceDistilling or maybe the CherryPhillip PCBs. They use D1mini's rather than the ESP12F, that makes the PCB simpler and much easier to assemble. As @DuncB said the signal on the ESP12F PCB is likely to lower due to the positioning of the WiFi antena. Plus you can plug program the D1Mini's direct from USB, no need for a serial converter.

My personal favourite PCB is the OpenSourceDistilling version, the ones I used are an earlier version than current, the major components are all in the same place though.

 

[DuncB]

I agree with @ChrisThomas the open source distilling ( jeffery 2.0 ) works very well for me. Easy to build and well supported.

@ChrisThomas Getting some real bristol weather here in our midsummer 146mm of rain in the last 36 hours. More rain than we normally get in January, feb, march and april. It's wet.

 

[ChrisThomas]

@DuncB I'm glad you're enjoying our recent export then, we do like to share Would you like the cold as well as the wet?

 

[Brewdog80]

My apartment isn't very big and I also have a MESH setup, so maybe it would just work. I have excellent WiFi reception throughout my apartment. I would assume that only if the signal from the iSpindle is super faint there would be any need to extend/amplify it.

I've just got one that was built by the member here in the classified listings. Testing it inside my Anvi stainless steel fermenter, it reports great. No issues. My wifi is decent not super, but absolutely issues.

 

[rkhanso]

I'm planning to ferment in a stainless steel pot with the lid on and am looking for a way to find when fermentation has ended. The iSpindel looks like it could work well for this, except for the issue of blocking the signal. Is a range extender a reliable solution? It's really simple and doesn't require tinkering, so would be my preferred option.

I had the same question/worry. I just made a WiFi repeater out of an ESP8266 D1 Mini. It works perfect and only costs the few dollars of the D1 Mini.
It works perfect with the iSpindel inside the corny keg and the D1 Mini just outside the corny. Solid connection and data shows up in Fermentrack without missing anything.
Here's the link if you need it: Homemade WiFi exender using the ESP8266

If you have any trouble or questions, let me know.

 

[scubatech]

Having an issue creating my iSpindel formula. Calibrated it to 89.9 on a level surface, then calibrated it to 23.05 in pure water. Made a wash and dropped it in and it appears that as gravity goes down, the tilt angle does up as in the picture. If 89.9 is horizontal to the wash and the tube becomes more vertical as gravity drops, then wouldn't the angle go down as well?

 

[BreeBrew]

Yes the angle should go down. Did you calibrate on a flat surface with the battery facing down? What model of iSpindel do you have?

 

[DuncB]

Wondering did you have the Ispindel the wrong way round when you set it level on the table. Hence the angles will be backwards / reversed.

 

[scubatech]

Yes, battery was facing down when calibrated. Using the Jeffrey 2.69

 

[DuncB]

I'm pretty sure I had this problem once. I use the jeffrey 2.69 as well. What firmware are you using? latest update?

 

[DuncB]

Did you build it yourself? How one of mine looks for comparison in case a component is in the wrong way round.

 

[scubatech]

Latest release which I believe was 7.1.4

 

[ChrisThomas]

Did you build it yourself? How one of mine looks for comparison in case a component is in the wrong way round.
View attachment 763621View attachment 763622

Is that a tilt or reed switch I see for the reset?

 

[DuncB]

Is that a tilt or reed switch I see for the reset?

Yes it is a reed switch, means that I can trigger it or adjust it when in the fermenter. ie change interval / turn off. Still works as normal. Useful if I've got something that's a real slow burner such as a Brett Saison. First few weeks had it hourly then as activity slowed turned it to 12 hourly. Slight fiddle to install but managed it fine.

 

[DuncB]

@ChrisThomas
These were the ones I got
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32963409953.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.21ef1802IK5cN8
These are the normally open type that are needed. They are fragile beasties so be careful when you bend the wires, gently support the wire with a clip and then bend the wire. Don't use the glass bit as support and then bend from there as it risks breaking the glass.

I did have a long discussion earlier in this thread about tilt switches and it was felt that not a good idea, also they are quite bulky. At the time I wanted to fit an induction charger onto the ispindel and have a completely sealed container. I did achieve it but the container was not robust enough to cope with any pressure and calibrating was a nightmare with glue to seal the lid etc. I still keep my eyes peeled for the perfect container or someone who could make me an all glass container with some expert glass blowing. Dreams.

 

[ChrisThomas]

I experimented a while back but I couldn't source a NO type at the time but I did get a change over reed switch instead to play around with. This worked quite well with a magnet to switch on/off without opening the lid. I hoped this would work with a wireless charger but as you mentioned it REALLY threw off the calibration and I felt it wasn't worth the benefit, at least with the gear I had. The reed switch modification worked very well though.

I agree that I don't think a tilt switch is as simple a solution as a reed switch, in reality just doesn't seem robust enough.

If you find a smaller container in your travels let me know the details. I have a working "mini iSpindel" based on a ESP12F and appart from being more difficult to program initially works just like an iSpindel. I was looking for a solution for narrower necked FVs just hope that if I do find a suitable container that I can calibrate "nicely".

 

[DuncB]

I will send you a picture of a smaller container that I have measured for keykeg openings.
I reckon that a magnet on the inside and a piece of metal or plastic covered metal on the outside might be the way to go for calibrating / recalibrating. Just slide it up and down then it could be sealed.
Have you looked at lab supplies and test tubes for your narrower container?

 

[ChrisThomas]

Have you looked at lab supplies and test tubes for your narrower container?

Yes, I've tried a few screwtop test tubes but they're either too big or too small. The thought I had to make a mini iSpndel, is based on a ESP12F and that governs the PCB size and the minimum tube size. I'm not sure what the float angle is going to be like compared to the Petling but I'm going to continue to hunt for a suitable container. I have the PCB down to just over 20mm, although I haven't yet got any made, waiting for a container...

 

[DuncB]

how long is this going to be? I will have a look at the internal diameters of a 30ml syringe. They have special needle end seals for threaded needle ends and the plunger part forms a perfect seal. The seal would just need restraining.

 

[ChrisThomas]

As I said this is a work in progress... The PCB isn't optimised yet and I was thinking of 18350 battery, at current size the PCB is 20.5 x 45.0 mm and the 18350 is 18 x 35mm, so I'm hoping to get the overall length about 80mm. I recon I can shave a bit more of the PCB "diameter" but not enough to match the 18mm diameter of the 18350. I've got more I can shave of the PCB length.

 

[DuncB]

@ChrisThomas
Wondering about this as an option. Not sure internal diameter but if the end was tapped and a piece of the solid bar of correct size was cut to screw in with an O ring it would be very solid so wouldn't be effected by pressure. The other end could be glued in place. Or even just sealed up and " weld " plastic on to fine tune the calibration.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...98dd23e41859eb1d0cf7dcf08c2&afSmartRedirect=y
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...%3B-1%40salePrice%3BNZD%3Brecommend-recommend

 

[DuncB]

These might do?
https://www.etsy.com/nz/listing/100...aa23&ref=internal_similar_listing_bot-3&sts=1
https://www.etsy.com/nz/listing/837...ef=internal_similar_listing_bot-2&pro=1&frs=1
But a bit longer than your design. However might mean they could stay well away from the krausen effect.

 

[ChrisThomas]

@DuncB Thanks, I'd looked at tubes similar to your link in an attempt to end up with a similar solution to the tilt. Gives me different problems and not a simple solution as I was hoping for. I'm going to be having more time on my hands in a few weeks, I'm retiring, so was going to contact local suppliers/manufacturers to see if they can come up with and neat solutions.

Keep the ideas coming though, an existing solutionor from a global supply would be better.

 

[Liero]

Hi,
What about using the Kegland rapt pill case? This pressure tight, sanitary and has always the same dimension, compared to an pet preform. I suggested this also in the german forum.
Maybe somebody can update the pcb?

Lukas

 

[ChrisThomas]

@Liero That's too big for what I'm attempting. I'm looking for a tube no bigger than 20mm diameter.

 

[scubatech]

Finally got around to calibrating. Is it ok or normal if the curve is a slope instead of a curve?

 

[DuncB]

Calculations and graph for a couple of mine.

 

[Lalo_uy]

@Liero That's too big for what I'm attempting. I'm looking for a tube no bigger than 20mm diameter.

If you go for a slim device, consider ESP-03, it is only 13mm wide. Have a few less pins, but enough for iSpindle