Homebrewing Controller

Community Projects
1

Hi there,

I recently starting brewing home beer and it’s awesome.

I’m planning to go all-electric brewing and I saw some controller are for sale, but cost a lot. Having a friend that is in electronics, he told me I could pretty much do that as a way to learn electronics!

So here I am! I read a lot of tutorial on Sparkfun, ordered the art of electronics book and all.

Here is the high level description of what I want to accomplish.

The setup is as follow:

3 kettles - each with a temperature probe, 2 of them have a heating element as well.

2 pumps used to move liquid around the 3 kettles.

So the control box I want to build should be able to do the following:

  • Display actual temperature of the 3 kettles

  • Set the desired temperature for the 2 kettles with heating elements

  • Turn the heating elements ON automatically when the temperature is below the required temperature

  • A three-way switch to determine which of the 2 heating elements can be ON (or both elements to OFF)

  • Have a ON/OFF button for each pump

  • Have a timer that can be set and alert us when completed (sound made)

  • Display Volt/Amp/Watt comsumption

From what I understand right now, here are the high level step I think I will need to do:

  • Read the different datasheet to understand the requirement of each component (microcontroller, probe, display, etc)

  • Make a program that will let user interact with the display/buttons to set the desired temperature of the 2 kettle

  • Using different technique (voltage divider, capacitor, etc), connect my probe to the ADC of my microcontroller to read actual temperature

  • Depending on temperature vs desired temperature, turn ON the heating elements

  • Wire the ON/OFF switch of the pump so when on ON, the pump actually pumps something

I’m I on the right track?

2

Dear Lost,

I have a similar challenge - designing home brewing automation.

I don’t think you received any replies so here goes.

Suggest that you encourage discussion by creating a functional description of your system; you’ll need 10 pages at least but its surpring how easy it is once you get started; topics are;

  • Electronic Components

  • Power Consumption

  • Functions

  • System block diagram

  • Success criteria

  • Deliverables

  • Project Timeline/Budget

Use a textual block diagram maker.

Then while you are in the mood create a schematic and board layout using http://diptrace.com/ - the mini version is free and it routes your board real gud.

By taking your idea forward this way you’ll get started and get more useful feedback.

Good luck