Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

[ThreeDJ16]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

Great. BTW, only reason I wasn't to happy with the B standard for this project is range. My grill is at the fringe of range with G, which is why I had to use a repeater with the Stoker. FYI, if you really wanted to keep down costs and save on space, we could come up with an integrated shield to handle 1-Wire communications and Wifi (up to the design challenge Syz?).

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Mic ... mHGDFlC4OI

http://www.maxim-ic.com/datasheet/index.mvp/id/2834

http://sheepdogguides.com/arduino/asw1onew1.htm

http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Learning/OneWire

There is potentially enough room on this Wifi Shield to add the 1-wire controller. I would be willing to pay the $34 more to upgrade from B to G and have the chip already soldered onto a shield. Could even put a tiny riser board on it if necessary.

http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9954

Also, here is the chip used on the Stoker temp probes.....god my head hurts from trying to read those tiny numbers. Interesting they used a LI battery monitor chip. The DS2760A on my probes are no longer in production. The new number is DS2762. Price - $2.48

http://www.maxim-ic.com/datasheet/index.mvp/id/3950

Chip on fan is a switch (DS2405) which is no longer in production. The new chip is DS2413. Price - $1.02

http://www.maxim-ic.com/datasheet/index ... /4588/t/al

Looks like the same two pins are used on the power as the temp probes. So the switch chip just decides whether or not to pass on the power through the chip.

-=J

[ThreeDJ16]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

Some pics of the Stoker Board for anyone interested but too nervous to take apart.

-=J

[Syzygies]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

Someone needs to ask this, even if there's a good (negative) answer: With mini-ITX motherboard/cpu/vga combos selling for $45-$60 on Newegg (add memory, power), why spent countless hours trying to learn new languages and debug the whole sort-of-a-computer-on-a-chip route? Arduino sounds like an awesome olive oil, but I'm not sure it's the computing environment of choice.

If we went this route, the unique contribution for BBQ would be a PCI-e card for the barbecue-specific IO. Perhaps interfacing with some analog discrete components for scale, but as we all know, analog electronics is kindergarten stuff, at least for what we'd need.

Just asking. If I went this route, I'd get to code the controller in Haskell.

Along these lines, aren't some $30 wireless routers running full-blown, open-source Linux? Hmm, memory, power, all the wireless hardware is already there, just a question of patching in some more IO.

[ThreeDJ16]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

Someone needs to ask this, even if there's a good (negative) answer: With mini-ITX motherboard/cpu/vga combos selling for $45-$60 on Newegg (add memory, power), why spent countless hours trying to learn new languages and debug the whole sort-of-a-computer-on-a-chip route? Arduino sounds like an awesome olive oil, but I'm not sure it's the computing environment of choice.

If we went this route, the unique contribution for BBQ would be a PCI-e card for the barbecue-specific IO. Perhaps interfacing with some analog discrete components for scale, but as we all know, analog electronics is kindergarten stuff, at least for what we'd need.

Well for me, not having a computer (laptop) sitting outside by my cooker was the whole reason I started the arduino research for an interface for the CyberQ. I want as small as possible, all encompassing controller. So that is out for me.

Along these lines' date=' aren't some $30 wireless routers running full-blown, open-source Linux? Hmm, memory, power, all the wireless hardware is already there, just a question of patching in some more IO. [/quote']

I have a WRT54G (old Linksys Router) that runs DDWRT which is an open source firmware based on the Linux kernel. But there is not much processing power to act as a controller and very little memory (as the firmware pretty much fills it up). Don't see how it is possible to add IO in a usable form for our purpose?

-=J

[ThreeDJ16]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

Forgot to add, if you do want something Linux based, there is always the Chumby.

http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_ ... cts_id=278

http://www.chumby.com/

-=J

[jdbower]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

My hope is that a smaller board will be easier to put into a weatherproof case and would survive more temperature extremes than a full motherboard.

I've been mulling over the connector options, I wonder if we should consider something like automotive weatherproof pigtails instead of 1/4" jacks? Especially if we're going to need identifier chip adapters for existing probes/fans this would let us tape up the 1/4" to weather-proof connector as we see fit. And we'd be able to have a much higher density of them to boot since we wouldn't need surface mount receptacles.

[ThreeDJ16]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

I've been mulling over the connector options' date=' I wonder if we should consider something like automotive weatherproof pigtails instead of 1/4" jacks?

Those plugs are usually solid injection molded...right? How would you use the chip?

Especially if we're going to need identifier chip adapters for existing probes/fans this would let us tape up the 1/4" to weather-proof connector as we see fit. And we'd be able to have a much higher density of them to boot since we wouldn't need surface mount receptacles.

Not sure I understand....maybe I am still half asleep.

Every time I start thinking about the waterproofing, it usually gets really expensive and complex or really cheap and simple. Not a lot of middle ground. On one hand the zip lock bag or plastic glad container is cheap and effective. On the other, some nice waterproof micro jacks and plugs would be great (the chip can be inline in a tiny box or simply expoxied in place). But the cost of those would probably be more than the rest of the project combined.

One thing about this part, everyone can go their own route if they so choose.

-=J

[jdbower]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

I'm thinking dirt cheap. My thought on the waterproofing is that you could take the connector I had linked and cut it in half. The bare wires on one end would be connected to the board (soldered directly or via a header). They'd pass through a hole in the enclosure that you could patch up with silicone or a gasket (or both).

The other end of the connection would have the bare wires soldered to a small board with the ID chip which would, in turn, be connected either to the probe directly or (my preference) to a 1/4" female connector. The 1/4" female to automotive connector pigtail should be able to be waterproofed either with an off-the-shelf enclosure or some Plasti-Dip/silicone. Once you plug in the 1/4" jack you can make it waterproof using some stretch tape.

Of course, getting new cheap probes and soldering directly from auto pigtail to ID chip to probe with a bump in the middle for the coupling would be cleaner, but since I've got Stoker probes I may need to salvage them in the future. Obviously if we use the Stoker components it may obviate the need for the ID chip.

[ThreeDJ16]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

Guess for me, not real fond of those automotive connectors. They are fairly big and ugly. Really don't want a bundle of wires poking out of the controller housing either. If I had planned on making my own probes (but wanted to use either my Guru or Stoker probes), then I would want them as absolutely small as possible. But good part on the connectors is you can pretty much use what you want.

-=J

[jdbower]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

Guess for me' date=' not real fond of those automotive connectors. They are fairly big and ugly.[/quote']

Preaching to the choir! They're cheap and accessible but I'm hoping to find something else before we go live.

[ThreeDJ16]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

What would be neat is if there was a small compartment, say on the back side of the case, were the connection jacks would be behind a door. It could have a silicone edge on it to seal where the wire poked through. But honestly, as long as the connections are on the bottom of the case, I think a simple ziplock works great. I have used my Procom through some very nasty down pours with zero issues.

-=J

[ThreeDJ16]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

Just for information, if anyone is interested in the TC-4 arduino thermocouple shield, I recieved an email today from the person who makes them and they will be available very soon. He has a reflow setup and sells the boards with surface mount chips already installed.

http://www.mlgp-llc.com/arduino/public/arduino-pcb.html

-=J

[ThreeDJ16]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

More Stoker research! For the temp probe, they are using a TypeK thermocouple attached to external sense resistor (Vss & Sns) on the DS2762 high precision Li battery monitor chip ( External Sense Resistor Configuration: 15.625µV LSB and ±64mV Dynamic Range ). I have attached one bad drawing and a couple of bad pics of the probe configuration....yes I cannot draw or take decent photos...so there.

If by chance Majestik is bored at work and viewing this thread, you can just barely make it out on the first pic in the flash, me sitting there in my underwear taking this pic!! I know, that you know, that I know you wanted that info.

-=J

[Syzygies]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

Is your probe really that short?

[ThreeDJ16]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

Alright....I don't see any smilies or anything, but you had to bring out the short probe jokes didn't you? I will have you know my probe is at least above average!

-=J

[ThreeDJ16]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

Along these lines' date=' aren't some $30 wireless routers running full-blown, open-source Linux? Hmm, memory, power, all the wireless hardware is already there, just a question of patching in some more IO. [/quote']

I have a WRT54G (old Linksys Router) that runs DDWRT which is an open source firmware based on the Linux kernel. But there is not much processing power to act as a controller and very little memory (as the firmware pretty much fills it up). Don't see how it is possible to add IO in a usable form for our purpose?

-=J

My appologies Syzygies, it appears you were right on the router deal. Unfortunately the version I have is the newer one with less memory (v6). But they still use an Arduino for I/O.

Anyway, check this out for a WRT54G/Arduino controlled cooker.

http://tvwbb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/927 ... 7691098906

-=J

[ThreeDJ16]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

A new manu now has an Arduino Uno clone base board with Wifi built in. It is $73, but it saves the space of having to add a Wifi shield on top of the Arduino.

http://www.cutedigi.com/product_info.ph ... ts_id=4570

Also, anyone interested in the project but feels more comfortable using C#, here is a Microcontroller running .Net and it is Arduino size/shield comaptible.

http://www.cutedigi.com/product_info.ph ... d3871c75d7

-=J

[ThreeDJ16]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

Also, did a Cal check on the TC4 thermocouple shield with a Ametek temperature calibrator using a TypeT thermocouple (from BBQ Guru) and the TypeT library. Here are the results.

http://www.mlgp-llc.com/arduino/public/arduino-pcb.html

Degrees F

Cal -------- TC-4

0-----------2 (did this one just for the hell of it, but had to leave it for a while to get there)

50-----------51

75-----------74

100----------100

125----------125

150----------150

175----------174

200----------199

225----------224

250----------249

Unfortunately, the model calibrator I used only allows up to 250 degrees F. But I think the results show enough of the usable range. And with none of our usable points being off by more than 1 degree F, I think that is more than accurate enough.

-=J

[CapnBry]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

Hey! I found this thread Googling for other Arduino-based BBQ controllers. I too have built one with WiFi called HeaterMeter.

There used to be a WiFi card called a WiShield that I used but the company went out of business. You can build your own replacement but it would require surface mount components. I found that the standard Arduino with all the code needed to hold a TCP stack and a basic web server took up way too much space to use the Arduino PROGMEM to store the web page served. To get around that I used a Atmel dataflash chip and served from there. The chip 2MB but I used about 20k of it.

I thought I'd link the thread, you might want to steal some ideas from it:

http://tvwbb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/927 ... 5341028906

That was good but there wasn't enough storage space or horsepower to make graphs, and hell you gotta have graphs right? Now I'm working with another forum member to use an old Linksys WRT54GL as a host system with the Arduino connected internally in a project called LinkMeter.

http://tvwbb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/927 ... 7691098906

And of course a screenshot in operation. Everything comes from AJAX data pulls, the graph and readouts update every few seconds.

Good luck with your project, I might steal some ideas from you myself

[ThreeDJ16]

Re: Build Your Own BBQ Controller (w/Wifi)

Hahaha, talk about timing....I just downloaded your code this morning! Your project looks great and really well thought out program/features. I am hoping to figure out how to incorporate your program to use the TC4 shield and LCD expansion board, which is another really neat and well thought out project by the Home Roaster guys. http://www.mlgp-llc.com/arduino/public/arduino-pcb.html

I picked up a Wifi shield put out by Sparkfun. No extra memory on it, but the TC4 does have a built in eeprom. Also, the Sparkfun shield has some extra space for additional circuits.

http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9954

-=J