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TC4 Roasting App
BenKeith
Top  #41 Print Post
Posted on 03/04/2016 11:03 AM
The one I'm using is the Weller PTH7 1/32"x0.8mm. Soldering the last one I couldn't find my fine solder so I was using some .030 resin core, do needless to say, each pin looks like one of those brown mounds you see in the dairy pasture.

They make cupped out tip that you just drag across the leads, but not for my old junk. I was tempted to try and make one. I say a video of a guy using that an it was slicker'n hog snot.
 
Will2
Top  #42 Print Post
Posted on 03/04/2016 4:57 PM
It does not belong to this topic, but there is some similarity.
In the last year I also destroyed during the roasting one tc4 board from 10/2012.
LCD does not display anything, so I replaced with another board tc4, re-record sketch. Everything worked,
also LCD.
Then I joined the destroyed board , upload sketch. LCD worked.
Just temperature BT and ET showed the value of AT, no reading of thermocouples. I was looking for a reason, nothing bad I have not found. Only that fault lies in the board TC4.
Now I am going to replace MCP3424SL, send the board over the ocean would be lengthy.
Now I've made a photo with the wrong board:

up.picr.de/24779097xn.jpg
Viliam
 
BenKeith
Top  #43 Print Post
Posted on 03/04/2016 7:49 PM
Wow, it thought some of my work was sloppy. Inside my TC4's look great compared to that. I have my SSR's remoted and use DB9 connectors/cable to connect the two. I can switch and swap everything just by unplugging/plugging connectors. I find that to be handy when you do and "Oh Crap!" and have to find out what part you fried. Looks like you were going to make quadruple sure you didn't overheat your SSR's. If you do it again, I have found those little $2 things off ebay are more than enough. I run about a 2,400 watt heating element and sometimes will do several roast back to back and have never had one even get warm, so I did away with those big, huge ones on my first build and put the small ones on it.
just got through ordering two MCP3424 chips off ebay for $10.49 shipped. I got two because I still plan to see if I can make that LCD I have work. Makes a lot of since to blow a $6 chip trying to make the $2 LCD work. You would also think, with three nice Tektronics O-Scopes, I would hook one up and trouble shoot it before just throwing parts at it.

I'm still chasing that rabbit that keeps locking the whole thing up when I turn the PID on.
 
Will2
Top  #44 Print Post
Posted on 03/05/2016 3:40 AM
I understand correctly so, that freeze the reading of the parameters?
You do not have chance to try a different version of Android?
You leave set Line Ending for Commands as NL, for Incoming Data as Both CR and NL?
The application is not yet fully in order, for example, does not work on Android another language.
Viliam
 
BenKeith
Top  #45 Print Post
Posted on 03/05/2016 6:40 AM
Brad, do you have any suggestions?
I've checked and tried about everything I can and it still freezes.

Connected to a roaster, I have total manual control and it charts/logs. Does everything it's supposed to in the manual mode.

The only thing I notice when in the manual mode, when you have it set to read the PID variable, the green SV block on the screen is just counting seconds, like a second timer. I tried leaving that blank and turning the PID SET Variable off just to make sure that wasn't doing something.

When I touch the PID ON, with has a value of PID;ON, the TC4 totally freezes up, even the timer stops. The Pots, buttons, nothing has any affect and the only way to get it going again is unplugging power and plugging it back in. The problem is, I use the PID.

When the TC4 freezes, the only thing doing anything on the Droid is the timer, it's still counting but nothing else has any function.
 
BenKeith
Top  #46 Print Post
Posted on 03/05/2016 5:56 PM
It's not freezing up now, but it won't start up either. Heat and fan stay on zero when you try to start the roast
 
Will2
Top  #47 Print Post
Posted on 03/06/2016 11:32 AM

Quote

BenKeith wrote:

It's not freezing up now,...


What was the reason?

Quote

BenKeith wrote:

...Heat and fan stay on zero when you try to start the roast


And it should not?
Viliam
 
BenKeith
Top  #48 Print Post
Posted on 03/06/2016 12:51 PM
The reason was something with the sketch. I don't use Artisan, and have always used RoastLogger when I had that controller hooked to a computer and it has worked fine So installed Artisan on the computer and the TC4 with Q_PID on it and it locked up with Artisan also when I turned on the PID. I down loaded another copy of aArtisanQ_PID and reloaded it. That cured the lockup problem.

Now all I need to do is figure out how to get the heat on, even when I try to manually turn it on, the PID cuts it back off immediately.
 
Will2
Top  #49 Print Post
Posted on 03/06/2016 2:08 PM
Good start.
Also I use sketch aArtisanQ_PID 5.3.1.
Now re-install sketch aArtisanQ_PID for using TC4 stand alone.
Then Try, or works heating with buttons and pots.
Only then can we begin testing of heating with Android.
Viliam
 
greencardigan
Top  #50 Print Post
Posted on 03/06/2016 5:54 PM

Quote

BenKeith wrote:

The reason was something with the sketch. I don't use Artisan, and have always used RoastLogger when I had that controller hooked to a computer and it has worked fine So installed Artisan on the computer and the TC4 with Q_PID on it and it locked up with Artisan also when I turned on the PID. I down loaded another copy of aArtisanQ_PID and reloaded it. That cured the lockup problem.

Now all I need to do is figure out how to get the heat on, even when I try to manually turn it on, the PID cuts it back off immediately.

First lets clarify a few things regarding the PID control using aArtisanQ_PID.

1. The aArtisanQ_PID code can read roast profiles stored on the TC4s EEPROM (profile loaded to EEPROM using profile_loader sketch).

2. Profiles stored on the EEPROM are numbered starting at 1.

3. Profiles can be selected with the command PID;Px where x is the profile number.

4. You can also select profile 0 (zero) using PID;P0. This is actually the default profile in the later version of aArtisanQ_PID. This directs aArtisanQ_PID to wait for SV commands from the computer or app instead of the EEPROM profiles.

5. If you have selected profile 0, then you can send PID;SV;xxx commands where xxx is the set variable temperature for the PID.


So, the PID will automatically control the heat based on the current SV whether it is from a PID:SV;xx command or a profile stored on the EEPROM. A OT1;xxx command sent while the PID is on won't do anything.

Try sending PID;P0 to select profile zero (should be already set by default) then PID;SV;100. Heater should then come on and LCD should display 'SV: 100'.

If that works, then you can load a roast profile in the app and get the app to automatically send the SV commands.
 
BenKeith
Top  #51 Print Post
Posted on 03/06/2016 7:33 PM
Thanks Brad.

I figured it was just getting the right magic number, because I knew the PID was coming on, because it kept knocking the heat back to 0 every time I tried to manually turn it on. I set the fan on 50%, sent the P0 and the heat automatically came on to 100%, just like you said.

I had a basic three command profile loaded on the droid and had the app set to automatically load that profile when started up. It was doing that. Showed the name of it and said Profile Loaded.

I guess now I just need to read all you just posted about a dozen times to get all that figured out in this half dead brain of mine and maybe we will have a fully working app.

I held off until today to do any roasting because I was hoping to have this ready for a test run. I did seven roast today, so now it will have to wait. Looks like it's going to take me a while to get all the profiles and PID control worked out anyway.

At least I have a test setup I can run everything on as if it was on the roaster roasting beans, so I can get it dialed in. That's how I check my profiles before roasting with them. I've gotten it where I can pretty much run one to the exact time and temps in each phase without beans, and then most of the time, my roaster will match what the text setup shows.
 
Will2
Top  #52 Print Post
Posted on 03/07/2016 2:16 AM
Maybe it helps:
example of how to set up apps buttons

up.picr.de/24802213fm.jpg

I do not know a way to set two or more commands to one button.
Viliam
 
BenKeith
Top  #53 Print Post
Posted on 03/07/2016 4:53 PM
Just surprised myself. Replaced the MCP3424 on the TC4, it's working now, I2C LCD and temps in "F", and you can't even tell I replaced it. I've also decided I'm just going to buy a I2C display rather than screw with the one I was trying to make work. Lifting that chip off without lifting runs off ain't fun for these old eyes, and not so steady hands anymore, and don't think I want to push my luck again.
 
JackH
Top  #54 Print Post
Posted on 03/07/2016 6:16 PM
Those analog inputs are very sensitive.
---Jack

KKTO Roaster.
 
BenKeith
Top  #55 Print Post
Posted on 03/17/2016 9:04 PM
Good thing I ordered the HC-05. I received the Bluetooth 4.0 BLE module today. Installed it on the third board I had and my Galaxy S4 won't connect to it. My Surface Pro 3 will, and my laptop with a Bluetooth adapter in it will, no problems, other than the app doesn't run on those. I've tried to find an app that will let the S4 pair with it but no luck there. Find a bunch that will connect to it and scan it, but not work as an interface.

Still haven't had a chance to try a roast with the TC4 app. Had to go to south Texas last Tuesday and just got back, and playing catch up on all the stuff I had to put off doing while I was gone.

If anyone knows of an app that will let a Galaxy S4 pair with a 4.0 BLE device, I could use one. I need to be able to run the TC4 app, with it, not just scan it. Bunches of them will connect to it and scan it.
 
Will2
Top  #56 Print Post
Posted on 10/08/2017 4:17 PM

Quote

greencardigan wrote:

... aArtisanQ_PID sends timer, at, et, et Ror, BT, BT Ror, heater, fan, SV. So you need to set the input parameters in that order. ...



Since version 6_2, the application does not send timer data.
If needed, it is necessary to uncomment the lines 391, 392 (for version 6_2),
or lines 414, 415 (for version 6_3).
Viliam
 
renatoa
Top  #57 Print Post
Posted on 11/23/2017 9:01 AM
How to start a roast with preheat with this app ?
 
Will2
Top  #58 Print Post
Posted on 11/23/2017 3:42 PM
What do you mean?

I think there are more options, as well:

up.picr.de/31034991qs.jpg

load roast profile
write at the command promp: ot1;40, send, (or create a button)
pid on
start roast
Viliam
 
renatoa
Top  #59 Print Post
Posted on 11/24/2017 2:02 AM
So you set the heater PWM at 40%, watch to reach the desired load temperature and then load ?

How you create the very first roast profile ?
From what I read so far I can't set a temperature value from the app, so if no profile available, should control power externally, right ?
 
renatoa
Top  #60 Print Post
Posted on 11/24/2017 2:45 AM
Well, wrong worded above, by "control power externally" I meant using manual duty cycle commands.

Place my comments in the context I am trying to understand how to use this app without a TC4, for manual control and logging purpose only, even if this sounds as a nonsense smile
 
Will2
Top  #61 Print Post
Posted on 11/24/2017 3:52 AM
So you set the heater PWM at 40%, watch to reach the desired load temperature and then load ?
Yes, but also in other ways.
I do not use a fluid bed roaster preheating.

How you create the very first roast profile ?
Write and save as a .csv file.
See the picture:

up.picr.de/31036770sw.jpg

From what I read so far I can't set a temperature value from the app, so if no profile available, should control power externally, right ?
Well, wrong worded above, by "control power externally" I meant using manual duty cycle commands.
Without connecting tc4 over bluetooth it will not be possible.
Application sends commands to TC4 and reads the data sent from TC4.
Viliam
 
Will2
Top  #62 Print Post
Posted on 11/24/2017 4:41 AM
Renato:

It seems that you need to see logged data from Mastech in Android.
Try csv grapher:

up.picr.de/25371047xo.png
Viliam
 
renatoa
Top  #63 Print Post
Posted on 11/24/2017 7:11 AM
Close but no... crack smile
I did modified the app to work with mastech, not logged dat, but real time USB stream, and now proceeded to the next step, control process without a TC4.

Mastech don't allow download of logged data as csv files, afaik... puzzled...
 
Will2
Top  #64 Print Post
Posted on 11/24/2017 8:29 AM
I'm not entirely satisfied with:

The application does not work in any other Android language than English.
It is not possible to automatically control the fan by profile (for example Roastuino).
Auto zoom can not be turned off.
Viliam
 
Yoku-San
Top  #65 Print Post
Posted on 02/24/2021 4:05 AM
Dear Brad,

the App works really well in conjunction with a DIY roaster I built from an air Fryer. Having an Arduino with an HC-05 I can read temperatures and modify heat power using serial commands via Artisan or via your app.

I have been automating my roasts in Artisan using temperature-dependent Alarms. And I would be very happy, if you could maybe add Alarm functions to the app. In this way I could perform automated roasting via my mobile phone in my pocket. That would be awesome.

Any chance that you could add that feature?

Thanks for all the great things you have done for the community.

Regards from Cologne, Germany

Johannes
 
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