DIY: UDS temp controller using Android - Page 7

jcm2m9 · 05-13-2013, 09:31 AM

Any more updates? I am going to start purchasing parts this week

TroyA65 · 05-13-2013, 10:03 AM

OMG, I built a PID controller and felt like a genius (ok ok so it's not that hard) but you guys are nuts!!

Show of hands, how many of you work at NASA or graduated from MIT?

Just kidding (I'm afraid to know the answer actually)

best of luck, when you're done I hope to see schematics and instructions...I have an old android

Deeg · 05-13-2013, 02:27 PM

I ran a test last weekend with real food. The controller performed well enough--the only problem was that it lost the connection with the Android twice during a ten-hour cook. I'll have to put in keep-alive logic at some point.

I'm in the process of writing up a schematic. This will take a little time because I have to learn KiCad on the fly. I also need to figure out the best way for you to install the app on your phones. I don't know what the process is for getting an app added to the Google store or if there's another way.

I'm on vacation for the next two weeks so there won't be much until after then.

Deeg · 05-13-2013, 05:37 PM

I updated the instructions with a minimal how-to for installing the app. Somebody give it a try and let me know if it works.

http://www.instructables.com/id/E5X9...7LEK/?ALLSTEPS

jcm2m9 · 05-14-2013, 07:13 AM

I am going to start ordering parts today. When do you think you will have a schematic available? Any different purchases you would have made?

Deeg · 05-14-2013, 01:30 PM

I'll try to have the schematic done in a week or two but no promises. :) What I'll probably end up doing is adding a draft schematic and having people take a look to see if they notice any errors.

The parts listed on the Instructables page is pretty much the ones I would (and did) use. The only differences are listed on the page:
1) I'd use different mono jacks, only because they'd be easier to solder.
2) I'm still looking for a satisfactory Bluetooth dongle. The ones I've been using have a short range(20-30 ft). Until this gets ironed out you may have to buy more than one. Most of them have been cheap (< $10), which may be why I'm having problems. ;)

Deeg · 05-28-2013, 10:27 PM

I've updated the instructions with a draft schematic. I'm still learning Kicad and haven't figured out how to export the schematic as an image so it's just a screenshot for now. Depending on where you bought the audio jacks the pin numbers for the jacks might not match the pins on the schematic so keep an eye out for that.

I'm back from vacation and I'll start updating the page with step-by-step instructions. If there's anything I can add that would make it easier to understand let me know.

http://www.instructables.com/id/E5X9...7LEK/?ALLSTEPS

Deeg · 06-03-2013, 10:51 PM

I've updated the instructions with a better schematic (I switched to using Fritzing). I've also started filling in the steps with verbiage.

http://www.instructables.com/id/E5X9...7LEK/?ALLSTEPS

Deeg · 06-09-2013, 10:10 PM

Ran another test today--I smoked 4 racks of ribs on my UDS with the controller. (Which I'm calling the UDS Digital Supervisor, or UDS. Yeah, bad joke.) The supervisor worked very well; here's the chart:

What you might notice is that ~40 minutes into the cook the pit temperature (red line) plummeted 50 degrees. I freaked out at the time but I think what happened was that the wind changed and was blowing away the heat on the top rack (which is near the seal between the top of the drum and the lid). The thermometer on the bottom rack (light-blue line) didn't drop and then went up as the fan kicked in. It wasn't until 12:00 that I figured this out and put up a wind screen next to the smoker--you can see the two thermometers begin to converge after that.

The supervisor kept the pit temp very near the target temp for over 6 hours. The craziness at the end is when I opened the smoker to pull out the ribs but forgot to turn off the supervisor.

Deeg · 07-07-2013, 11:54 PM

Update: This is largely about the software. I've added the functionality to set off an alarm if a thermometer registers a temperature outside a range. I probably went a bit overboard but the app can now tweet its status on Twitter. This allows you to follow the status from anywhere and it is easier than setting up a web server. You can follow my smoker at https://twitter.com/deegsmoker :D

Made some updates to the monitor screen. Everything is documented on the Instructables page: http://www.instructables.com/id/E5X9...7LEK/?ALLSTEPS

The instructables page is pretty much done and I expect all changes/updates to be in just the app. I've used the Supervisor multiple times in the last month and the only major problem I'm having is that the Bluetooth connection goes down at times. The creator of the IOIO says it's because my Bluetooth dongle isn't entire compatible with my phone so I'm experimenting with more dongles.

David_S · 12-04-2013, 05:50 AM

I was clicking on all the links for the different items that have to be purchased and the fan has a 3 month wait on it. Anyone got a link to a different fan.

Deeg · 12-04-2013, 09:49 AM

David, any 50mm x 50mm 12v squirrel-cage blower should do. Here's one from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Brushless-Blow...12v+blower+fan
Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Brushl...-/281220372998

A bigger blower will also work but you'll need to use a larger box.

12-04-2013, 05:50 AM	#101
David_S Wandering around with a bag of matchlight, looking for a match. Join Date: 04-06-13 Location: Dallas TX	Thanks for all the hard work on this. I was clicking on all the links for the different items that have to be purchased and the fan has a 3 month wait on it. Anyone got a link to a different fan.

05-13-2013, 09:31 AM	#91
jcm2m9 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 03-06-12 Location: Shawnee, KS	Any more updates? I am going to start purchasing parts this week

05-13-2013, 10:03 AM	#92
TroyA65 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 04-20-13 Location: Pleasant Prairie, WI	OMG, I built a PID controller and felt like a genius (ok ok so it's not that hard) but you guys are nuts!! Show of hands, how many of you work at NASA or graduated from MIT? Just kidding (I'm afraid to know the answer actually) best of luck, when you're done I hope to see schematics and instructions...I have an old android

05-13-2013, 02:27 PM	#93
Deeg Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-24-12 Location: Boston, MA	I ran a test last weekend with real food. The controller performed well enough--the only problem was that it lost the connection with the Android twice during a ten-hour cook. I'll have to put in keep-alive logic at some point. I'm in the process of writing up a schematic. This will take a little time because I have to learn KiCad on the fly. I also need to figure out the best way for you to install the app on your phones. I don't know what the process is for getting an app added to the Google store or if there's another way. I'm on vacation for the next two weeks so there won't be much until after then.

05-13-2013, 05:37 PM	#94
Deeg Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-24-12 Location: Boston, MA	I updated the instructions with a minimal how-to for installing the app. Somebody give it a try and let me know if it works. http://www.instructables.com/id/E5X9...7LEK/?ALLSTEPS

05-14-2013, 07:13 AM	#95
jcm2m9 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 03-06-12 Location: Shawnee, KS	I am going to start ordering parts today. When do you think you will have a schematic available? Any different purchases you would have made?

05-14-2013, 01:30 PM	#96
Deeg Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-24-12 Location: Boston, MA	I'll try to have the schematic done in a week or two but no promises. :) What I'll probably end up doing is adding a draft schematic and having people take a look to see if they notice any errors. The parts listed on the Instructables page is pretty much the ones I would (and did) use. The only differences are listed on the page: 1) I'd use different mono jacks, only because they'd be easier to solder. 2) I'm still looking for a satisfactory Bluetooth dongle. The ones I've been using have a short range(20-30 ft). Until this gets ironed out you may have to buy more than one. Most of them have been cheap (< $10), which may be why I'm having problems. ;)

05-28-2013, 10:27 PM	#97
Deeg Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-24-12 Location: Boston, MA	I've updated the instructions with a draft schematic. I'm still learning Kicad and haven't figured out how to export the schematic as an image so it's just a screenshot for now. Depending on where you bought the audio jacks the pin numbers for the jacks might not match the pins on the schematic so keep an eye out for that. I'm back from vacation and I'll start updating the page with step-by-step instructions. If there's anything I can add that would make it easier to understand let me know. http://www.instructables.com/id/E5X9...7LEK/?ALLSTEPS

06-03-2013, 10:51 PM	#98
Deeg Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-24-12 Location: Boston, MA	I've updated the instructions with a better schematic (I switched to using Fritzing). I've also started filling in the steps with verbiage. http://www.instructables.com/id/E5X9...7LEK/?ALLSTEPS

06-09-2013, 10:10 PM	#99
Deeg Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-24-12 Location: Boston, MA	Ran another test today--I smoked 4 racks of ribs on my UDS with the controller. (Which I'm calling the UDS Digital Supervisor, or UDS. Yeah, bad joke.) The supervisor worked very well; here's the chart: What you might notice is that ~40 minutes into the cook the pit temperature (red line) plummeted 50 degrees. I freaked out at the time but I think what happened was that the wind changed and was blowing away the heat on the top rack (which is near the seal between the top of the drum and the lid). The thermometer on the bottom rack (light-blue line) didn't drop and then went up as the fan kicked in. It wasn't until 12:00 that I figured this out and put up a wind screen next to the smoker--you can see the two thermometers begin to converge after that. The supervisor kept the pit temp very near the target temp for over 6 hours. The craziness at the end is when I opened the smoker to pull out the ribs but forgot to turn off the supervisor.

07-07-2013, 11:54 PM	#100
Deeg Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-24-12 Location: Boston, MA	Update: This is largely about the software. I've added the functionality to set off an alarm if a thermometer registers a temperature outside a range. I probably went a bit overboard but the app can now tweet its status on Twitter. This allows you to follow the status from anywhere and it is easier than setting up a web server. You can follow my smoker at https://twitter.com/deegsmoker :D Made some updates to the monitor screen. Everything is documented on the Instructables page: http://www.instructables.com/id/E5X9...7LEK/?ALLSTEPS The instructables page is pretty much done and I expect all changes/updates to be in just the app. I've used the Supervisor multiple times in the last month and the only major problem I'm having is that the Bluetooth connection goes down at times. The creator of the IOIO says it's because my Bluetooth dongle isn't entire compatible with my phone so I'm experimenting with more dongles.

12-04-2013, 09:49 AM	#102
Deeg Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-24-12 Location: Boston, MA	David, any 50mm x 50mm 12v squirrel-cage blower should do. Here's one from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Brushless-Blow...12v+blower+fan Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Brushl...-/281220372998 A bigger blower will also work but you'll need to use a larger box.