Test run with home made Brew controller (Braumeister clone?)

[Tytonegro]

Hi there,

Some time ago I posted on my plan to make a brew controller for a single pot RIMS setup.

That post lives here:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f235/single-pot-small-automated-brewing-system-design-475811/

My prototype is coming together and recently I did a test run. I made a 10 liter batch of beer with a multi-step mashing scheme. At this stage my controller is basically a temperature controller (PID controller) with pump control, but the final version will be programmable so you can use it/adapt it for various recipes or applications.
The total outline of the controller is now being converted from paper to a C-program for the controller. The hardware works fine and so far everything looks good I think.

Have a look for yourself on my blog or on YouTube where I posted a 16 minute video on this test brew.
If you don't have time to watch that, my blog summarizes it mostly.


My blog lives here: http://www.merlinmakes.cato-projects.org/?x=entry:entry140912-140325

And my video report on YouTube : [ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks4rXn1Ay84[/ame]

Curious to hear you comments/ideas.

 

[mattd2]

Very nicely done. I like how you have used the PCB as the front panel!
Do you have any information on the build - specifically how the buttons are done, the triacs and the circuit schematic?

 

[Tytonegro]

Very nicely done. I like how you have used the PCB as the front panel!
Do you have any information on the build - specifically how the buttons are done, the triacs and the circuit schematic?

I have used a Microchip PIC processor which has standard dedicated hardware for making capacitive touch switches. As you can see ;-) they work also through the 2-3 mm thick plastic cover.

I use two BT139 triacs for heater and pump. They are rated for 16 Amp and controlled via opto-couplers. The triac for the heater has cooling and is probably OK for 10-12 Amp. The pump triac has no cooling, but that's ok for at least 1 Amp. I also made a FET output for a 12 Volt pump (the one I'm using in my set up).

The schematic is nothing special, a minimalistic set up for what is needed. The intelligence has to come from the software of course.

I'm still looking/thinking what would be the best/nicest way of sharing. Selling the complete controller, complete or as a kit, or making everything open-source, and maybe just selling the PCB boards.

Are you brewing electric? what's your set up?

 

[mattd2]

I have used a Microchip PIC processor which has standard dedicated hardware for making capacitive touch switches. As you can see ;-) they work also through the 2-3 mm thick plastic cover.

I use two BT139 triacs for heater and pump. They are rated for 16 Amp and controlled via opto-couplers. The triac for the heater has cooling and is probably OK for 10-12 Amp. The pump triac has no cooling, but that's ok for at least 1 Amp. I also made a FET output for a 12 Volt pump (the one I'm using in my set up).

The schematic is nothing special, a minimalistic set up for what is needed. The intelligence has to come from the software of course.

I'm still looking/thinking what would be the best/nicest way of sharing. Selling the complete controller, complete or as a kit, or making everything open-source, and maybe just selling the PCB boards.

Are you brewing electric? what's your set up?

That is really interesting - so have you placed the "button" pads on the back side of the PCB and it still senses through the PCB and the clear acrylic?

I am currently electric brewing using a 230V ac pump, and a 2x2000W element. One element is off/on the other is controlled from a Sestos PID. I have 2 vessels - kettle & MLT / no HLT. So my brew day is typically heat strike water in kettle, mash, heat sparge water in kettle and transfer on top of mash, recirc mash, pump wort over to kettle to boil.

I am keen on automation, but mostly just dabbling with Arduino. I would like to get more into embedded controls, most likely using the AVR MCUs. Been looking at reflow soldering and stuff an one day I'd like to be there. Currently I am (slowly) working on a cheap RIMS tube + controller.

I have a bit of a story on the development of my setup here