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Arduino vs ESP32
progen
Top  #1 Print Post
Posted on 10/03/2024 7:18 AM
Been using (and blown) a few ESP32 based TC4 emulators for over a year now but haven't come across a sketch which allows Artisan to control the heater too because I was hoping to be able to do automated roasts one day.

Also, ESP32 setups seem fragile and cranky and that's a very bad thing when one is moving into expensive beans.

I started off with an Arduino R3 / TC4 setup which for a few reasons I stopped using but will those of you who've used both say that the Arduino is more robust?
 
renatoa
Top  #2 Print Post
Posted on 10/03/2024 7:39 AM
Blown reason(s) ?
Other than mixing 5V signals with 3.3V pins of ESP32... interfacing with level shifters is the solution for such cases.

Software crashes ?
Interrupts and flash memory usage, or wifi, does not play very well if code not written accordingly.
 
progen
Top  #3 Print Post
Posted on 10/03/2024 8:58 AM

Quote

renatoa wrote:

Blown reason(s) ?
Other than mixing 5V signals with 3.3V pins of ESP32... interfacing with level shifters is the solution for such cases.

Software crashes ?
Interrupts and flash memory usage, or wifi, does not play very well if code not written accordingly.


At the previous place, could be electrical and grounding issues but at the current place, ground is good. No more electric shocks but sometimes, like now, temperature shown is ridiculously off.
 
btreichel
Top  #4 Print Post
Posted on 10/03/2024 11:01 PM
TC problems could be ground or isolation type issues. Remember TC signals are millivolt readings, and change is in the millivolt range.
 
renatoa
Top  #5 Print Post
Posted on 10/04/2024 2:06 AM
Yeah... 25C = 1mV, 200C = 8mV
Is close to human body voltages... the ECG graph standard calibration is 10 mm (10 small boxes), equal to 1 mV...
 
progen
Top  #6 Print Post
Posted on 10/06/2024 12:18 AM

Quote

btreichel wrote:

TC problems could be ground or isolation type issues. Remember TC signals are millivolt readings, and change is in the millivolt range.


That part I know but as said, in my current place, ground is good. I also have RF filters going to and from the VFD just in case although it's about a metre away from the ESP32 board.
 
renatoa
Top  #7 Print Post
Posted on 10/06/2024 2:09 AM
Even factory manufactured stuff can be broken by a wrong grounded setup, as I did with my Mastech USB thermometer.
For this reason I am using to power my Arduino/ESP based measurement systems from a power bank instead a mains adapter.
 
progen
Top  #8 Print Post
Posted on 10/06/2024 12:56 PM

Quote

renatoa wrote:

Even factory manufactured stuff can be broken by a wrong grounded setup, as I did with my Mastech USB thermometer.
For this reason I am using to power my Arduino/ESP based measurement systems from a power bank instead a mains adapter.


It's usually the little MAX boards or the ESP32 that will be affected?

But so far no one has answered my question yet. Will the Arduino Uno be more robust?
 
renatoa
Top  #9 Print Post
Posted on 10/06/2024 1:36 PM
The max chip is the first circuit hit when a common mode voltage appears due to external factors, like inadequate grounding.
However, if it continue to report something to Arduino, this means the digital communication between them is still operational, thus circuit is not fried.
If the readings are faulty, I would unscrew the roaster TC terminals, and connect another spare TC, completely un-grounded. If ambient temperature is reported correctly, you can try a boiling water test.
If both tests are passed, then the circuits are ok, look elsewhere for issues.

To answer about robustness, you should define the stress tests.

One thing is sure... hit ESP with 5V instead 3.3V, on any pin other than USB, and is busted.
But this is according to specifications, not a fault.
 
progen
Top  #10 Print Post
Posted on 10/07/2024 6:58 AM
i.imgur.com/YToBkpO.jpeg

Here's how it looked like when it went nuts.

The heater chamber curve became much better but still too low to be accurate when I removed the capacitor attached to the thermocouple terminals.

i.imgur.com/9BHQbQB.jpeg

I was roasting an expensive bean in the second photo but luckily I've roasted beans from that farm many times and their in-house roaster said the anaerobic version is not much different from the regular processed ones as far as profile is concerned.
 
randytsuch
Top  #11 Print Post
Posted on 10/07/2024 2:27 PM
Based on my experience, I think esp32's may be more susceptible to noise than the older 5V arduinos. Don't know about the newer arduinos.

I roasted for many years with an arduino based system, converted to an esp32 a few years ago, after having retired from roasting for about 10 years between the arduino and esp32.

I don't remember the arduino having as many noise related problems.
I was getting noise spikes on temp with my old tc4 board, so I converted to a max6675 that I had, and the noise spikes are gone.

I was also getting phantom push button presses, so I've converted to use a pot instead of buttons to control heater power, will see how that works.

And if I still have any problems that appear to be noise related, I may try switching from an esp32 to an arduino mega, and see how that goes. I don't use bluetooth or wifi anymore. And its pretty easy to add a hc05 module to give the arduino a bluetooth interface.

Randy
 
progen
Top  #12 Print Post
Posted on 10/08/2024 12:03 AM

Quote

randytsuch wrote:

Based on my experience, I think esp32's may be more susceptible to noise than the older 5V arduinos. Don't know about the newer arduinos.

I roasted for many years with an arduino based system, converted to an esp32 a few years ago, after having retired from roasting for about 10 years between the arduino and esp32.

I don't remember the arduino having as many noise related problems.
I was getting noise spikes on temp with my old tc4 board, so I converted to a max6675 that I had, and the noise spikes are gone.

I was also getting phantom push button presses, so I've converted to use a pot instead of buttons to control heater power, will see how that works.

And if I still have any problems that appear to be noise related, I may try switching from an esp32 to an arduino mega, and see how that goes. I don't use bluetooth or wifi anymore. And its pretty easy to add a hc05 module to give the arduino a bluetooth interface.

Randy


Hi Randy! Don't know whether you remember me but I'm the guy who's always asking about such things and don't know anything about coding. 😁😁😁

Right now, what I have in mind is to go back to an Arduino setup and get a new TC4 shield since I'm joining to have PID heater control some day to make roasting more expensive beans less stressful.
 
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