POSSIBLE NEW PRODUCT FOR CORNY KEGS

[jack13]

What type of laser module are you suggesting? Do you have a picture of the type your talking about?

Just something like this, but in a different configuration:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Bosch-B...P_DjUvgp6HjGn945UH4aAt3zEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Kyle12536745]

I would have to try it out but I’m not sure if it would work or not.

 

[lablover]

I think, as others have said, the www.ballandkeg.com is your competition. The Plaato unit seems to be quite a bit higher tech and quite a bit more expensive. It's also unproven and only in the crowdfunding phase. My ballandkeg units have been in constant operation for 2 years and there is nothing that I can see that will go wrong with them.

 

[Pkrd]

What type of laser module are you suggesting? Do you have a picture of the type your talking about?

My one is about the size of a matchbox. Works great on people, not sure how it performs on beer.
https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW030PL-Lightweight-Distance-Measurer/dp/B072NF73DS

DIY:
https://www.dfrobot.com/product-1706.html

 

[jack13]

Several have said ball and keg is the competition. I'm sure that fits the needs and wants of most but wouldn't the more direct competition be another product that can integrate with something like raspberry pints, ie allow you to have a screen that displays your keg levels? Like flow meters such as these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/swiss-flow...rg=20140602152332&rk=1&rkt=10&sd=121111223550

 

[day_trippr]

lol! That ebay seller is whom most of us RaspberryPints first-adopters (aka "test subjects" ) sourced for our SF800 meters.
But that sale lasted for only a few weeks - he had roughly 120 flow meters and as soon as the community found out about it we wiped him right the eff out. I bought 10 of them.

The SF800 retails for $60 plus shipping...

Cheers!

 

[kh54s10]

I would say I am an average brewer. I have a 3 keg system. I am on a budget. If the price point of a RaspberryPints system is able to be brought down to $60 each you are talking $180. + whatever you are seeing the levels on. Or by opening the door and taking a look - Ballandkeg - $60. I guess that there are enough Tech hounds out there that would get it, I am not one of them.

How do I tell the level in my kegs? - When nothing comes out but co2 - it is empty!!!

 

[jack13]

I would say I am an average brewer. I have a 3 keg system. I am on a budget. If the price point of a RaspberryPints system is able to be brought down to $60 each you are talking $180. + whatever you are seeing the levels on. Or by opening the door and taking a look - Ballandkeg - $60. I guess that there are enough Tech hounds out there that would get it, I am not one of them.

How do I tell the level in my kegs? - When nothing comes out but co2 - it is empty!!!

It's yet another homebrewing item on a long list that makes some say "WOW, COOL!" and others say "What's the point?".

 

[kh54s10]

It's yet another homebrewing item on a long list that makes some say "WOW, COOL!" and others say "What's the point?".

I say ""WOW, COOL" - costs too much, besides I don't really need to know exactly how much is left." If I run out it is on me for not having another one in the wings.

 

[jack13]

I say ""WOW, COOL" - costs too much

haha. Yeah, there's another response...maybe the most common!

 

[Vale71]

I switched designs so it’s going to use ultra sonic sensors to determine the level of the liquid I’m not sure about a laser the reason I chose the ultrasonic sensor is because it can be reflected off the surface of the beer. I’m worried the laser won’t do that.

Laser does work, at least on wort and beer. I imagine in water it would just go through and make measurement impossible. It's actually how I measure the level on my Unitank through a sight glass.

Have you already tested the technology or is this still in the design phase? The reason I ask is because AFAIK utrasound doesn't work well in tight spaces, because of the secondary echos. In large vessels it works just fine, in a tiny keg I'm afraid you won't get it to provide a reliable readout even if your life depended on it.

 

[lump42]

The Plaato unit seems to be quite a bit higher tech and quite a bit more expensive. It's also unproven and only in the crowdfunding phase.

I think the Plaato units are farther along. The crowdfunding was for production not development. I've seen on social media test units floating around for at least six months. I won one in a giveaway, but I was told they wouldn't be rolling out till mid-Nov-early-Dec.
The principle is sound. I use it all the time when I do blends, only I'm using a postal scale. There's is a sleek digital postal scale attached to wifi and flood alarm.

 

[Snowblind258]

https://www.ballandkeg.com/ - $20

I recently bought this, it reads and inch or so lower than the actual beer level but it is a nice gauge to know when you are about to blow foam.

 

[BadNewsBrewery]

Did you ever finish the design on your keg level indicator?