Stc-1000+

[stpug]

Update: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/stc-1000-a-464348/index140.html#post6462140

 

[stpug]

I've just updated the hex generator webpage linked above, and have verified it's outputting correct hex values by flashing my own unit. If anyone else uses this hex generator for customized profiles and flashes their unit, it would be good to get some feedback. I have only tested the °F hex code, but the °C should also output correct values.

alphaomega:
I've noticed the webpage output of the hex data is preceded by a tab character. The original arduino code hex section is preceded by three spaces. In my successful testing, I replaced the tab characters with three spaces. Do you think this tab-vs-3spaces has any effect once flashed to the STC?

 

[Bigdaddyale]

Ok I just flashed I will report back after I play around with the menu.

 

[stpug]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/stc-1000-a-464348/index140.html#post6462140

 

[Bigdaddyale]

I've begun implementation of tabbed view (they just don't quite look like tabs yet ):

Tabbed View: http://justfortesting.byethost12.com/hextabbed.html

(2 new dependencies for this)

Looks good -nice and clean

 

[des]

Great wok everyone! one thing I've noticed, the default profiles are in C values (17~22 or so) but the default working mode is F, so going to C makes the go to ~60

 

[RocketBrewer]

Awesome work guys! Just when I think this thing can't get any better :rockin:

 

[stpug]

Great wok everyone! one thing I've noticed, the default profiles are in C values (17~22 or so) but the default working mode is F, so going to C makes the go to ~60

I've just made some changes which I think help with this issue, but please let me know if you continue to experience the issue you mentioned above.

 

[FowlBall]

Hey...just wanted to mention I picked up one of the pre-built controllers from BrewsBySmith. He's done a really nice job in putting this all together, and the dual-color LED is a nice touch. Quick shipping too.

Just in time for my Imperial Pumpkin Ale...

 

[smithabusa]

Precisely that! Just shoot me a pm let me know how much to paypal you! Could probably drop it in a standard mail envelope and it would get here by the end of the week.

Just checking if you received the controller and temp sensor I sent? Did the temp sensor alone fix it or was it the controller? Just curious of the failing part.

Greg

 

[stpug]

Just put together my controller. I think I prefer javascript to fitting lots of wires into a small space . BTW, the hex output by the hex creation Web page worked a charm.

 

[adam01]

On the hex generation web page;

How about a name for the profile. It is easier to be able to name
the profiles, even though it doesn't go into the STC input (yet?).

A legend for the parameters would be helpful. I've been following this, but don't recall each parameter.

It does look good.

 

[nab911]

Just checking if you received the controller and temp sensor I sent? Did the temp sensor alone fix it or was it the controller? Just curious of the failing part.

Greg

Got the new sensor in and it worked like a charm. The sensor you sent had a smaller thermistor that was black and sealed well. The one I had was a longer, thermowell looking tube that was supposedly sealed on the end but I guess leaving it submerged caused it to short. Is it safe to leave the new one submerged or should I just leave it out in the open?

 

[satph]

I have an STC-1000+ running a closet, in "th" mode set to 55°F with 0.5°F hysteresis and a 20 minute cooling delay. I have the temperature probe in a 1/2 liter bottle of water. It is cycling every 5 minutes or so. I don't get the blinking cooling light, it just switches on, turning on the compressor on the wine fridge unit I have. I think the STC-1000+ is ignoring the cooling delay. I don't understand why. I'm thinking the first thing I should do is take out the STC and re-flash it. I also have a spare I could swap out. But I figured I'd ask to see if anyone knew what else I could be doing wrong.

 

[des]

I've just made some changes which I think help with this issue, but please let me know if you continue to experience the issue you mentioned above.

It's fine now, awesome!

Just put together my controller. I think I prefer javascript to fitting lots of wires into a small space . BTW, the hex output by the hex creation Web page worked a charm.

View attachment 231980
View attachment 231981

That looks niice! Congrats on both works!

 

[alphaomega]

Hi!
StPug, I made some changes now that are more in line with what I envisioned. It is pretty much only layout changes. I kind of like having the settings collected and in the order they're laid out in eeprom. Hope you think this is ok.
Check it out : HEX editor tabbed

Edit: Oh, yeah... I haven't had a lot of time for this, so it is kind of rushed... No default values makes a kind of uninteresting starting point..

 

[craigmw]

I have an STC-1000+ running a closet, in "th" mode set to 55°F with 0.5°F hysteresis and a 20 minute cooling delay. I have the temperature probe in a 1/2 liter bottle of water. It is cycling every 5 minutes or so. I don't get the blinking cooling light, it just switches on, turning on the compressor on the wine fridge unit I have. I think the STC-1000+ is ignoring the cooling delay. I don't understand why. I'm thinking the first thing I should do is take out the STC and re-flash it. I also have a spare I could swap out. But I figured I'd ask to see if anyone knew what else I could be doing wrong.

I'm also planning to use an STC1000+ for the same purpose, e.g. to control my 600 bottle wine cabinet. Thus far, I've just been using its built in mechanical thermostat, but I'd like to have a digital confirmation of temp. BTW, do you have the probe in a wine bottle, or is this in the open air in the wine fridge?

 

[stpug]

Hi!
StPug, I made some changes now that are more in line with what I envisioned. It is pretty much only layout changes. I kind of like having the settings collected and in the order they're laid out in eeprom. Hope you think this is ok.
Check it out : HEX editor tabbed

Edit: Oh, yeah... I haven't had a lot of time for this, so it is kind of rushed... No default values makes a kind of uninteresting starting point..

Your layout changes all look good to me, and I completely understand having the layout flow match the actual STC process flow. It makes intuitive sense to me.

In my hacked version I ended up having to use ' autocomplete="off" ' on nearly every input field to avoid a bug (at least with Firefox) when switching scales and then refreshing the page. The bug leaves the °F values after the refresh as the °C values - clicking 'switch scales' again moves the °F values into the 100s of degrees. Try it in FF if you have it:
-Load the page
-Click 'switch scale'
-Click refresh on page using browsers refresh button/icon, or right-click refresh
-Click 'switch scale' again

Iron (chrome) seems unaffected by this bug, fwiw. Don't know about other browsers.

 

[balrog]

Any chance you made a windows update?
FTDI has apparently made an indcredible a-hole move and in their driver that is pushed out with windows update, actually brick non genuine chips without ANY notification or anything! See this.

I really hope they bite the dust. I do understand they want to protect their IP, but this is so not the way to do it.
Anyway, if your arduino stopped working, it might well be due to a non genuine FTDI USB to serial chip.

If you have the choice, I'd strongly suggest avoiding FTDI (and windows for that matter).

Interesting. Just tried to flash a unit with a newly acquired SainSmart Arduino clone and got Java io communication issues out the wazoo. However, the programming console can see the SainSmart, and can load the sketch and the opening text shows up on the terminal window requesting the pressing of 'd', but when I do that, no lights flash, nothing comes on the terminal, the programming console window under the sketch code shows Java io communication errors and the COM9 disappears. I'm not going to panic yet, I'm trying to hold pin contacts by hand; will solder and try again tonight.

 

[stpug]

I have an STC-1000+ running a closet, in "th" mode set to 55°F with 0.5°F hysteresis and a 20 minute cooling delay. I have the temperature probe in a 1/2 liter bottle of water. It is cycling every 5 minutes or so. I don't get the blinking cooling light, it just switches on, turning on the compressor on the wine fridge unit I have. I think the STC-1000+ is ignoring the cooling delay. I don't understand why. I'm thinking the first thing I should do is take out the STC and re-flash it. I also have a spare I could swap out. But I figured I'd ask to see if anyone knew what else I could be doing wrong.

I cannot confirm for certain but experience has been this:
With a stock STC-1000, the cooling delay is only applicable immediately after turning on the unit for the duration that is set. After that, the cooling delay is either ignored or my cooling refresh cycle has been longer than the 10min delay I have set. I have only seen the cooling delay to be effective after turning on the device from the hard off state. It may be that I've just never had a refresh cooling cycle take place sooner than 10 minutes (i.e. my set delay).

As for the 1000+, I cannot say. I've only just built my first unit and haven't swapped it in for my old stock controller.

 

[satph]

I'm also planning to use an STC1000+ for the same purpose, e.g. to control my 600 bottle wine cabinet. Thus far, I've just been using its built in mechanical thermostat, but I'd like to have a digital confirmation of temp. BTW, do you have the probe in a wine bottle, or is this in the open air in the wine fridge?

I turned the setting screw on the wine fridge to the lowest setting. I put the probe in a water bottle like this one:

Here are two pictures of my setup.

For now I set the hysteresis at 1°F to force a longer cycle time, but I'm going to swap out the STC-1000+ and reflash the unit to see if I can get the delay to work again.

 

[stpug]

Not a Bug Report

Follow-up to my post here:
I can confirm that the cooling delay and heating delay settings don't appear to have any effect in the STC-1000+ firmware. I have just tested my new unit and set both delays to 10 minutes manually. Despite these settings, both heating and cooling outlets are (individually) activated after about 55 seconds.

See explanation of cooling/heating delay below:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/stc-1000-a-464348/index141.html#post6462932

 

[satph]

Thank you St. Pug. For now I'll set the hysteresis to lengthen the cycle time. I have to check out the one in my keezer too.

 

[alphaomega]

Your layout changes all look good to me, and I completely understand having the layout flow match the actual STC process flow. It makes intuitive sense to me.

In my hacked version I ended up having to use ' autocomplete="off" ' on nearly every input field to avoid a bug (at least with Firefox) when switching scales and then refreshing the page. The bug leaves the °F values after the refresh as the °C values - clicking 'switch scales' again moves the °F values into the 100s of degrees. Try it in FF if you have it:
-Load the page
-Click 'switch scale'
-Click refresh on page using browsers refresh button/icon, or right-click refresh
-Click 'switch scale' again

Iron (chrome) seems unaffected by this bug, fwiw. Don't know about other browsers.

Thanks!
I'll be sure to include the autocomplete='off' as soon as get the chance then.
I'm glad you're ok with the changes I made as well. I don't want to upset anyone, especially anyone that contributes code
Thanks for your effort on this. I'll be sure to add your name to the preamble as well!

Bug Report

Follow-up to my post here:
I can confirm that the cooling delay and heating delay settings don't appear to have any effect in the STC-1000+ firmware. I have just tested my new unit and set both delays to 10 minutes manually. Despite these settings, both heating and cooling outlets are (individually) activated after about 55 seconds.

This is the initial heating/cooling delay. It is always approx 1 minute. This is documented (at least I think it is, otherwise it should be).
After that the cooling delay should be the selected value. The reason being that on fluctuations in power supply (ie outage), you don't want rapid compressor cycling even if delay is set to zero. In the same manner if you have the delay set at half an hour, you want it to turn on faster than that initially when you first plug it in. The initial one minute is the tradeoff made.
If cooling/heating delay don't work as expected after the first cycle, then it is a bug or an error somewhere else. I haven't had any bugreports on this, but that does not mean that it can't be a bug, might just be no one has caught it yet.

 

[satph]

Alpha,

The cooling delay doesn't work as expected after the first cycle for me:

I have an STC-1000+ running a closet, in "th" mode set to 55°F with 0.5°F hysteresis and a 20 minute cooling delay. I have the temperature probe in a 1/2 liter bottle of water. It is cycling every 5 minutes or so. I don't get the blinking cooling light, it just switches on, turning on the compressor on the wine fridge unit I have. I think the STC-1000+ is ignoring the cooling delay. I don't understand why. For now I have uped the hysteresis to 1°F, but I'm thinking I should take out the STC and re-flash it. I also have a spare I could swap out. But I figured I'd ask to see if anyone knew what else I could be doing wrong.

 

[stpug]

Thanks!
I'll be sure to include the autocomplete='off' as soon as get the chance then.
I'm glad you're ok with the changes I made as well. I don't want to upset anyone, especially anyone that contributes code
Thanks for your effort on this. I'll be sure to add your name to the preamble as well!

I am always happy to help where and when I can. This project takes what was a simple but effective basic device to a much higher advanced level. Thanks for your hard work and time, and for sharing with us all. Cheers!

This is the initial heating/cooling delay. It is always approx 1 minute. This is documented (at least I think it is, otherwise it should be).
After that the cooling delay should be the selected value. The reason being that on fluctuations in power supply (ie outage), you don't want rapid compressor cycling even if delay is set to zero. In the same manner if you have the delay set at half an hour, you want it to turn on faster than that initially when you first plug it in. The initial one minute is the tradeoff made.
If cooling/heating delay don't work as expected after the first cycle, then it is a bug or an error somewhere else. I haven't had any bugreports on this, but that does not mean that it can't be a bug, might just be no one has caught it yet.

Thank you for explaining this, and you are absolutely correct. The initial 1 minute delay is just experienced when initially powering on the device, afterwards the user set delay is adhered to (in my case 10 minutes). Thanks for clarifying this point. Once you explained it, this was easy enough for me to test by picking a cooler than ambient set temp; waiting the minute for the cooling relay to turn on; put probe in ice water to reach set temp and deactivate cooling relay; pull probe and warm up in hand to initiate user set cooling delay.

 

[alphaomega]

Alpha,

The cooling delay doesn't work as expected after the first cycle for me:

I have an STC-1000+ running a closet, in "th" mode set to 55°F with 0.5°F hysteresis and a 20 minute cooling delay. I have the temperature probe in a 1/2 liter bottle of water. It is cycling every 5 minutes or so. I don't get the blinking cooling light, it just switches on, turning on the compressor on the wine fridge unit I have. I think the STC-1000+ is ignoring the cooling delay. I don't understand why. For now I have uped the hysteresis to 1°F, but I'm thinking I should take out the STC and re-flash it. I also have a spare I could swap out. But I figured I'd ask to see if anyone knew what else I could be doing wrong.

Yeah, it is hard to tell what is wrong here. What version are you running?
Flashing it again could be a good idea. Trying another unit could also be a good idea.
It sounds much like a software issue, but it is hard to say what the cause could be.

I am always happy to help where and when I can. This project takes what was a simple but effective basic device to a much higher advanced level. Thanks for your hard work and time, and for sharing with us all. Cheers!

Thank you for explaining this, and you are absolutely correct. The initial 1 minute delay is just experienced when initially powering on the device, afterwards the user set delay is adhered to (in my case 10 minutes). Thanks for clarifying this point. Once you explained it, this was easy enough for me to test by picking a cooler than ambient set temp; waiting the minute for the cooling relay to turn on; put probe in ice water to reach set temp and deactivate cooling relay; pull probe and warm up in hand to initiate user set cooling delay.

Thanks!
This would also suggest that the issue satph is having isn't a software bug per se, but something else is wonky with that unit. Again a new upload might be the first attempt at correcting the issue.

 

[TastyAdventure]

I just used my STC for the first time. It's temp control was on point.
One problem: I did not think to tape the thermometer to the bucket. I had it set to 63, but the sticky thermometer on the bucket read 70...
**** balls.

 

[satph]

I'm using 1.05. I have the problem with two different units. I re-flashed the unit and still have the problem.
Let's say the water is 57°. I set the STC to 55° and get it to start cooling, it usually takes about a minute to turn on. Then I raise the set point to 57° to get the STC to shut off. If I lower the STC to 55°, it starts cooling again within a few minutes (I've timed 1:30 and 3 minutes). I have the cd set to 20 minutes. I can make the hysteresis larger to mitigate the issue, but I don't think it should be operating this way.

 

[craigmw]

I turned the setting screw on the wine fridge to the lowest setting. I put the probe in a water bottle like this one:

For now I set the hysteresis at 1°F to force a longer cycle time, but I'm going to swap out the STC-1000+ and reflash the unit to see if I can get the delay to work again.

Okay, this is quite similar to my setup. Instead of a water bottle, I use a wine bottle willed with water with a thermowell inserted through the cork. The mechanical thermostat cycles pretty frequently and I'm hoping to reduce the amount of cycling by giving it larger hysteresis. I've had it running for a couple of months, but need to put more of my wine into it, which should also reduce cycling (due to thermal capacitance of all the bottles in there).