Mash Monitor

[Jester369]

some seriously sexy brewing going on!

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Source code is now posted here.

I still don't like the program very much, but I haven't had time to write more autonomy into the Arduino code. For now, the host computer does most of the calculating. Later, I hope to make the Arduino almost stand-alone, using the host computer only to change parameters and display values.

A digital pH sensor (part #14775T22) should arrive Weds from McMaster - will be incorporated ASAP!

 

[Jester369]

Source code is now posted here.

I still don't like the program very much, but I haven't had time to write more autonomy into the Arduino code. For now, the host computer does most of the calculating. Later, I hope to make the Arduino almost stand-alone, using the host computer only to change parameters and display values.

A digital pH sensor (part #14775T22) should arrive Weds from McMaster - will be incorporated ASAP!

Most excellent.

 

[Cede]

It's kinda like I want to do.
Let the microprocessor do all the regulation and send to the computer all the sensors data and change the parameters on the fly

 

[kladue]

Yuri,
Did you just purchase the probe or did you also purchase the ph transmitter needed to make use of the PH probe?

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Yuri,
Did you just purchase the probe or did you also purchase the ph transmitter needed to make use of the PH probe?

I just bought the probe. After it arrived, I realized I had no idea how to hook it up (the pamphlet that came with it was almost completely useless). Turns out I probably need an amplifier circuit. Guess I won't be using it for this weekend's brew...

What's even more frustrating - it was advertised as having ATC. The temperature correction isn't automatic unless you have the unit that the probe was designed for. For my purposes, I have to figure out the correction factor via another two leads that come from a thermistor in the probe.

I should've done my homework a little better before jumping in. I thought the probe was going to be a bit "smarter" than it really is.

 

[TheFlyingBeer]

Turns out I probably need an amplifier circuit.

I've only partially looked into pH metering but I found a good document on a ultra low current amplifier (National Semi. LMC6001) that should work great for pH measurements. Here is the data sheet, scroll down to page 10 and it gives an example of pH measuring with that amplifier. You can also browse around at circuitscout.com there are a few examples on there as well.

Just looks like it will be a little more work than expected, but isn't everything?

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Just looks like it will be a little more work than expected, but isn't everything?

Thanks, man. I appreciate the links. The LMC6001/LMC6041 circuit appears to be a pretty simple solution, at a glance.

I'm just a little disappointed. So far, every component I've seen with the word, "sensor," attached can either be read directly via a digital signal or a converted analog signal. The Arduino has onboard DAC conversion, so it works well in such applications. I was just mistaken in thinking that I could reference the pH probe to 5V and read a temperature corrected analog signal from it.

 

[kladue]

you will be better off to look for a ph transmitter to interface the ph probe with as you would need the amplifier circuitry for the high impeadence cell and resistive temperature sensor. Might have been a bit easier if you had purchased a probe with built in preamp, then you could work with the .9 - 1.73 VDC signal from the cell. You might take a look on Ebay for PH transmitters, saw a couple of Foxboro loop powered units that would use a 24Vdc supply and a 250 ohm resistor in series to develop a 1-5VDC signal for the analog input to the board. If you have questions about the foxboro transmitters will share my information on connecting and calibration of the ph probe you purchased.

 

[BlackZX3]

I guess the next logical step would be a D.O. sensor controlled o2 wort airator:rockin:

 

[Yuri_Rage]

As some of you know, I recently made the switch to Linux (not dual boot, not Live CD...I dove right in with 100% Linux).

So, I decided to give my Mash Monitor software a try today. After a bit of gnashing and fiddling with Java libraries and defaults (not too terribly painful), I got a successful build. I only needed to change a single line of code (which could easily be done dynamically...and probably should be). My Ubuntu installation even automatically detected the Arduino board and set it up on /dev/ttyUSB0.

The single line of code that changed:
Old: private static final String PORT = "COM3";
New: private static final String PORT = "/dev/ttyUSB0";

Another gratuitous screenshot including some of the cool 3D effects available with Compiz:

 

[Cede]

Yep, linux is cool. I use debian at work and I'm waiting for all my stuff to arrive to be able to do a full backup of my laptop and reinstall my beloved desktop bsd.

 

[brewman !]

I've been 100% Linux (servers and workstation) since RH 8 came out. I think that was 2002 ? I can't remember anymore, its been so long.

The great thing about Java is that its almost platform independent.

 

[xalu]

I know this is an old post but I was curious if anyone could offer some advice.

I want to build a board that can read temperatures in my wort during fermentation with a thermistor and possibly when I switch to AG read the mash temps. I am suppose to be learning java this summer for my computer science major so I also want to work on a program that reads the temp. for now it's just a learning project.

Does anyone have a schematic I could use for thermistor to a USB that I can then connect to a computer. I would like to build the board my self if it isn't too complicated. I do think that would be an awesome learning experience.

Any tips or help would be greatly appreciates

 

[aphid_rancher]

Look up the LM34 and LM35 datasheets for temperature sensing and how to wire them up. Check out the "DIY Submersible Temperature Probe" thread for how to make something okay to dip in your beer.
You can use an Aurdino in between the sensors and you computer. Or, even cheaper you can buy a SiliconLabs Toolstick with the F321 daughter card. Glom together some C code that is downloaded to the microprocessor to interpret commands from the USB or simply read the ADC, maybe scale it, and spew it to the USB.