SmartPID - smart temperature controller

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Kev888
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Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by Kev888 » Tue Nov 01, 2016 9:16 pm

Looks like a very interesting design! I wish you good luck with this.

I have a couple of questions:

The SmartPID appears to have heating AND cooling capability, but it has only one SSR/PWM (PID) output. Does this mean that the other output must be a simple thermostatic (on/off) output, or can the 12v/2A output also be PWM?

Is development of the autotune capability going to be complete by the release date?

thanks,
Kev

brew like a dog

Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by brew like a dog » Tue Nov 01, 2016 9:29 pm

I have just checked the smartpid website and it says it is under development and no price is given. However, there is an open source project for something similar. It is called Brew pi and it uses a Raspbery pi micro processor and an audino. http://www.brewpi.com/

arzaman

Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by arzaman » Tue Nov 01, 2016 9:39 pm

Kev888 wrote:Looks like a very interesting design! I wish you good luck with this.

I have a couple of questions:
Happy to answer any questions
The SmartPID appears to have heating AND cooling capability, but it has only one SSR/PWM (PID) output. Does this mean that the other output must be a simple thermostatic (on/off) output, or can the 12v/2A output also be PWM?
both independent channels can be configured in PID mode (or ON/OFF) so when you select control mode thermostatic you have PID both for the heating element AND for the cooling element and you can tune the KpKiKd parameter independently. The only common point is PWM frequency (perdiod)
Is development of the autotune capability going to be complete by the release date?
thanks,
I woudl say yes, is in the top riority feature list. Anyway SW will be upgradable in an easy and simple way

arzaman

arzaman

Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by arzaman » Tue Nov 01, 2016 9:44 pm

brew like a dog wrote:I have just checked the smartpid website and it says it is under development and no price is given. However, there is an open source project for something similar. It is called Brew pi and it uses a Raspbery pi micro processor and an audino. http://www.brewpi.com/

working very hard to close all manufacturing points...I would prefer announce availability date when I'm sure supplier will commit on delivery. If you register website newsletter you will receive early bird offer

there are lot of other beer automation project (and myself was co-author of another project like ardbir) and everyone has it's own dignity and features set with pro and cons. Most of them are open source and DIY solution so not comparable with a PRODUCT.
About brewpi off course I know very well and is a nice project...but it's just for fermenting so far from what smartPID can do now (all brewing rpocess) and in the future with multiple applications on top

arzaman

brew like a dog

Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by brew like a dog » Tue Nov 01, 2016 10:05 pm

brewpi off course I know very well and is a nice project
I agree

arzaman

Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by arzaman » Tue Nov 01, 2016 10:13 pm

As soon as I have time I will do a feature comparison smartPID vs brewpi..let's see if I can convince you to give a chance to smartPID

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Kev888
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Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by Kev888 » Tue Nov 01, 2016 10:53 pm

arzaman wrote:Happy to answer any questions..
Thanks for the swift reply. This does now seem even better than I realised!

It would be nice (if it were possible for future updates) for the PWM frequency to differ between output channels, since cooling and heating technologies may have very different requirements. However, that is a minor subtlety for most situations; even having dual PID outputs is quite an advance over most commonly available controllers, so even with a shared time-base it is very welcome =D>

Thanks again
Kev

TheFlatulentCow

Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by TheFlatulentCow » Thu Nov 03, 2016 8:01 pm

About brewpi off course I know very well and is a nice project...but it's just for fermenting so far from what smartPID can do now (all brewing rpocess) and in the future with multiple applications on top
The older Arduino BrewPi was just for fermentation but the newer Raspberry Pi/Spark version has PWM/PID controls. I use it for all my brewing processes currently. However the interface isn't finished and I've been waiting just shy of 2 years for the BrewPi to be able to do what it was marketed to do and still no end in site.

I'm following your product very closely as it looks like it could be a good fully functioning replacement but this all depends on the price point. Is it likely be cheaper or more expensive than the BrewPi?

Cheers and good luck.

arzaman

Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by arzaman » Thu Nov 03, 2016 8:13 pm

TheFlatulentCow wrote:
About brewpi off course I know very well and is a nice project...but it's just for fermenting so far from what smartPID can do now (all brewing rpocess) and in the future with multiple applications on top
The older Arduino BrewPi was just for fermentation but the newer Raspberry Pi/Spark version has PWM/PID controls. I use it for all my brewing processes currently. However the interface isn't finished and I've been waiting just shy of 2 years for the BrewPi to be able to do what it was marketed to do and still no end in site.

it's maybe not fair to talk about a competitors (and a project that generally speaking I like) but this is the reality as far as I know...some Announcements of features but no product behind
I'm following your product very closely as it looks like it could be a good fully functioning replacement but this all depends on the price point. Is it likely be cheaper or more expensive than the BrewPi?

Cheers and good luck.
Thank you for your support to the project, I can assure you that I'm working hard (sleep 4 hour x night) to commit everything and be ready for production with a finished product...and I continue to say that from a finished prototype and mass production there is the ocean (very dangerous ocean)
The SW and the applications (either the thermosta for fermetation chamber) or the smart brewing application is completed and stable, now working on server side a smartphone app side to develop all the remote config parameter and recipe management and import

about price...brewpi spark with the processor costs 129E than you need as minimum to add 10E of power supply (external)

smartPID will be less...and you get much more :-)
stay tuned
arzaman

demig
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Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by demig » Thu Nov 03, 2016 11:36 pm

Sounds good Davide, watching and waiting. The pound recovered a little against the euro today which helps!


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arzaman

Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by arzaman » Thu Nov 03, 2016 11:57 pm

let's see if Donald Trump will be the new US president...

demig
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Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by demig » Fri Nov 04, 2016 1:50 am

arzaman wrote:let's see if Donald Trump will be the new US president...
That would be truly awful, it's bad enough what's going on here without thinking about that!


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RockyFath

Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by RockyFath » Fri Nov 04, 2016 4:26 pm

Hi everyone...i am a new user here.As per my knowledge Foob4r has ability to monitor the braumeister via WiFi and it's very handy to keep an eye on things remotely whilst prepping or cleaning equipment.Also like the 2 temperature probes on this unit.When it comes to programming the unit how much is going to be pre done and how much actual coding will be required. I'm thinking of the stc1000+ where programming can be loaded via arduino but it also has a nice Web front end to upload the different fermentation control parameters.
Last edited by RockyFath on Wed Jan 25, 2017 6:04 pm, edited 2 times in total.

arzaman

Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by arzaman » Sat Nov 12, 2016 7:54 pm

Working to a plug-n-play and easy retrofit solution to upgrade original grinfather controller with Smartpid and need some suggestions and ideas from GF community

The idea is to keep the original case and switches, just removing STC200 and rewiring Smartpid in order to get full process automation, recipe management, wifi data log, OLED graphical display, USB, etcetc.. and basically there a two options
1) connect heating element to relay 1 ... w driver !

You can benefit all the smart PID automation feature (including pump cycle automation) but the temperature control during step mash will be performed ON/OFF (with hysteresis) since is not advisable to use PID /PWM algorithm with mechanical relay output
Also during boil you lose the nice feature to control power via PWM 0-100%

2) insert in the case a solid state relay (10A minimum) to control heating elements, pump control and temperature probe as option 1

Little bit of extra work and a need of suitable SSR with heat sink to fit in the small spare space inside the case but you can benefit full PID + PWM solution either in mashing or in boiling

there is also a 3rd option more invasive that need to work on the base of GF separating 2 heating element now in series in order to control them separately (500W by PID during mashing, 1500 W by relay during mash in/out and boil)

what option do you prefer ? Any other suggestion ?

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dean_wales
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Re: SmartPID - smart temperature controller

Post by dean_wales » Sat Nov 19, 2016 11:49 pm

Still watching this project with interest / intent to purchase?

How long before pre-orders and for shipping a product do you think?

Dean.

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