cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
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cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
Thought I would share this quick project I did. I'd been looking at the coolant temperature monitors on the StillDragon site which look pretty nice and are inexpensive, but their fittings and tubing all seem to be metric so it wouldn't work for me without a lot of adapting.
Instead I got this little cheap 2-channel thermometer from amazon: http://a.co/iCCGM2M" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow It isn't the most accurate thing ever and can't be calibrated from what I've seen, but I mostly want it to show me the ballpark of the cooling water temp.
The probes fit snugly inside standard 1/4" push-connect tubing. I put some hot glue on them and quickly shoved them in a stub of the tubing to make it a watertight seal. If the coolant water gets hot enough to melt the hot glue, then I know I've got a problem
Then I put the tube stub in the side leg of a 3/8 x 1/4 x 3/8 tee and now I can monitor my water output temperature with it. It was a total of about $25 including the 9v battery.
Instead I got this little cheap 2-channel thermometer from amazon: http://a.co/iCCGM2M" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow It isn't the most accurate thing ever and can't be calibrated from what I've seen, but I mostly want it to show me the ballpark of the cooling water temp.
The probes fit snugly inside standard 1/4" push-connect tubing. I put some hot glue on them and quickly shoved them in a stub of the tubing to make it a watertight seal. If the coolant water gets hot enough to melt the hot glue, then I know I've got a problem
Then I put the tube stub in the side leg of a 3/8 x 1/4 x 3/8 tee and now I can monitor my water output temperature with it. It was a total of about $25 including the 9v battery.
Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
The true spirit of DIY.
Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
So stealing this idea man! Need to do same to control my valve to regulate temps.
Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
I've now used it a few times and it works great and doesn't leak.
Next I'm going to hook up some hall effect flow meter sensors to an Arduino to get an idea of flow through the reflux condenser when it's doing its job well.
Next I'm going to hook up some hall effect flow meter sensors to an Arduino to get an idea of flow through the reflux condenser when it's doing its job well.
Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
Please keep on shareing, liking this even more!MtRainier wrote:I've now used it a few times and it works great and doesn't leak.
Next I'm going to hook up some hall effect flow meter sensors to an Arduino to get an idea of flow through the reflux condenser when it's doing its job well.
Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
OK. I may make another thread for this, but this is what I'm doing to monitor flow.
I have an Arduino Nano.
I bought one of these displays, which works great:
http://a.co/d/h3OM41Q" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
I downloaded the library for talking to it from:
http://wiki.sunfounder.cc/index.php?tit ... 2C_LCD1602" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Then I ordered two flowmeters from China:
http://a.co/d/0mHyZu6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
And am talking to them using this library:
https://github.com/sekdiy/FlowMeter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
I'm only using one flowmeter for the moment, and I haven't calibrated it yet.
Here is my code simulating the flow rates. Basically feeding random numbers to the flowmeter library:
I have an Arduino Nano.
I bought one of these displays, which works great:
http://a.co/d/h3OM41Q" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
I downloaded the library for talking to it from:
http://wiki.sunfounder.cc/index.php?tit ... 2C_LCD1602" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
Then I ordered two flowmeters from China:
http://a.co/d/0mHyZu6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
And am talking to them using this library:
https://github.com/sekdiy/FlowMeter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow
I'm only using one flowmeter for the moment, and I haven't calibrated it yet.
Here is my code simulating the flow rates. Basically feeding random numbers to the flowmeter library:
Code: Select all
#include <FlowMeter.h>
#include <Wire.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>
float a, b;
const byte rcPin = 2;
const byte pcPin = 3;
const unsigned long period = 1000;
const double cap = 10.0f; // l/min
const double kf = 21.0f; // Hz per l/min
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2); // set the LCD address to 0x27 for a 16 chars and 2 line display
FlowSensorProperties MySensor = {cap, kf, {1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1}};
FlowMeter rcMeter = FlowMeter(rcPin, MySensor);
FlowMeter pcMeter = FlowMeter(pcPin, MySensor);
void rcMeterISR() {
rcMeter.count();
}
void pcMeterISR() {
pcMeter.count();
}
/*********************************************************/
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
lcd.init(); //initialize the lcd
lcd.backlight(); //open the backlight
attachInterrupt(digitalPinToInterrupt(rcPin), rcMeterISR, RISING);
attachInterrupt(digitalPinToInterrupt(pcPin), pcMeterISR, RISING);
rcMeter.reset();
pcMeter.reset();
}
/*********************************************************/
void loop()
{
// simulate counts
long frequency = random(MySensor.capacity * MySensor.kFactor); // Hz
long period = random(3 * frequency, 5000); // ms
for (long i = 0; i < (long) ((float) period * (float) frequency / 1000.0f); i++) {
rcMeter.count();
}
//
delay(period);
rcMeter.tick(period);
pcMeter.tick(period);
// output some measurement result
Serial.println("FlowMeter - period: " + String(rcMeter.getCurrentDuration() / 1000.0f, 3) + "s, " +
"frequency: " + String(rcMeter.getCurrentFrequency(), 0) + "Hz, " +
"volume: " + rcMeter.getCurrentVolume() + "l, " +
"flow rate: " + rcMeter.getCurrentFlowrate() + "l/min, " +
"error: " + rcMeter.getCurrentError() + "%, " +
"total duration: " + rcMeter.getTotalDuration() / 1000.0f + "s, " +
"total volume: " + rcMeter.getTotalVolume() + "l, " +
"average flow rate: " + rcMeter.getTotalFlowrate() + "l/min, " +
"average error: " + rcMeter.getTotalError() + "%.");
//Serial.println("PC Currently " + String(pcMeter.getCurrentFlowrate()) + " l/min, " + String(pcMeter.getTotalVolume()) + " l total.");
lcd.setCursor(3, 0); // set the cursor to column 3, line 0
lcd.print("RC"); // Print a message to the LCD
lcd.setCursor(11, 0);
lcd.print("PC");
lcd.setCursor(2, 1); // set the cursor to column 2, line 1
a = (float)random(0, 100) / 100.0;
a = rcMeter.getCurrentFlowrate();
lcd.print(a); // Print a message to the LCD.
lcd.setCursor(10, 1);
b = (float)random(0, 100) / 100.0;
b = pcMeter.getCurrentFlowrate();
lcd.print(b);
}
/************************************************************/
- Wolfairious
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Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
Just ordered a single temp display. Great idea. I'll have to look at a larger coupling to fit my 1/2" hose. Great idea!
Modular Keg Pot Still & 3" CCVM
Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
Just good old simple, (and accurate,) analog gauges for me...
"Government doesn't have the answer to the problem, government is the problem." Ronald Reagan
Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
Actually put this together over the weekend. [img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201811 ... 6efafb.jpg[/img]
- still_stirrin
- Master of Distillation
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Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
Tapatalk....no go!Getsmokin wrote:Actually put this together over the weekend. [img]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201811 ... 6efafb.jpg[/ing]
My LM/VM & Potstill: My build thread
My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
My Cadco hotplate modification thread: Hotplate Build
My stock pot gin still: stock pot potstill
My 5-grain Bourbon recipe: Special K
Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
One more time... Actually put this together over the weekend.
Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
That looks nice!Getsmokin wrote:One more time... Actually put this together over the weekend.
Mine are doing really well, and I find a lot of value in the readings they give. At least for the reflux condenser. Not so much the product condenser. At a given input power I now have a number for output reflux water temp that will start allowing vapor through given my fixed condenser size.
Also, I now wish I had a longer condenser, because I now know I can't keep up with full power.
I still haven't gotten the inline flowmeters hooked up, but I plan to.
Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
any of these have dry contact outputs?
i'd like to put temp and flow on a few places and interlock them to the gas valve on my boiler. even supervised i have had situations that i'd like something faster than me to push the big red holyfuck button.
like if distillate output hits 120* then open/close a contact (that i can use to trigger a relay to open the gas valve)
i'd like to put temp and flow on a few places and interlock them to the gas valve on my boiler. even supervised i have had situations that i'd like something faster than me to push the big red holyfuck button.
like if distillate output hits 120* then open/close a contact (that i can use to trigger a relay to open the gas valve)
I finally quit drinking for good.
now i drink for evil.
now i drink for evil.
Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
That HDNB can be done easy with a holding relay wired in line with the holyfuck red button
- shadylane
- Master of Distillation
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Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
A couple cheap STC-1000 temp controllers works for me.HDNB wrote:Even supervised i have had situations that i'd like something faster than me to push the big red holyfuck button.
Their output is wired in series with the BIG red holyfuck button.
- Kegg_jam
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Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
I’m thinking I need a big red holy f#@k button, because everybody else has one...
Re: cheap temp monitoring of coolant output
For the general public they call them "oh shit" buttons sold at Staples isle 13 big and RED.