StillSmart

Sometimes on a cold night I would like to know what is going on in the shed without leaving my cosy armchair.

I want a system that tells me

Temperature Of Fermenter
Temperature of Shed
Specific Gravity
%ABV
Status of Heaters
If the fermentation is finished.
etc.

There are a couple of off the shelf items that would do the job

Beer bug http://www.northernbrewer.com/beerbug

Tilt http://tilthydrometer.com/products/brewometer

Both have the same fault - they cost too much money.

I am playing around with weighing things on digital scales, initially to make an alarm to buzz when the bottle is full during a spirit run and other things as well.

It seems that if you were to put the fermenter on a set of scales you could see the weight change as the yeasties eat the sugar. And you should be able to calculate the change in the SG. When the weight stops changing then the fermentation is over.

To get the information from the shed to the house, I suppose I could use a wire but I think that it would be better to use the Internet and send the information to my wifes smartphone

May work, I have most of the bits to give it a try.

Anybody any thoughts?, other than he is wasting his time.

No mate,not wasting your time,just continuing from digital parrots.
Some people strive to make "stuff easier" as they perceive it, some like to tinker because they can, some like to put on a coat and walk to the shed.
Folk like me do the stilling inside the domicile, and have an easy life.
I don't think that any of us are wrong.

Now, if for whatever reason, your activities have to happen at a garden shed distance, then what you suggest could be very useful. I am not seeing it in my situation.
But if you are feeling the need for a challenge, then why not? I am sure some on here would love a little more automation.

Surprised that they aren't shouting the fact.

Merry Christmas Brian.

Robert.

I brew outside. So the comfort of the armchair, is appealing as is doing a few things at the same time.

I solved the problem by using older mobile phones as webcams....and using my current as a screen.

The glass parrot is a regular, as is the control panel on the BM

I do like the Beer Bug, I see this catching on, shame about the price.

I eventually got round to putting it all together.

Bits and pieces from the shed, four load cells, a microprocessor with wifi connection and a small amplifier thing. All up about £12.

Uploads to the web every 15 seconds.

You can view the graph on your phone or PC,

They are 4 x 50 kg load cells so should be OK up th 200 litre fermenters.










When the graph flat lines the ferment is done.

So far i have not been to the shed once.

Happy

Now that looks interesting...

An interesting bit of tech. there.
Well done!

Robert.

This is interesting indeed. How well did the weight tracking idea work out?

I was very interested in buying a Tilt as I have always absolutely hated taking hydrometer readings. And as a Geek I love monitoring and obsessing. And Mash in the thread on heating told me I should absolutely buy one right now, without delay (I've made up some of that - I'm a spendaholic >:D ).

As YHB says, the tilt suffers from the cost so I'm looking at the iSpindel. I guess about 40 quid all in:

https://github.com/universam1/iSpindel/ ... ADME_en.md

I haven't bottomed the whole thing out yet, I'm not convinced of the safety of the 18650 batteries for a start, but I thought I'd bump this thread as a stake in the ground - if I proceed with a build I'll make a video of progress or something.

Try this?
Things have moved on, me thinks

http://eparrot.org/index.php

Robert.

Is that forum for remote monitoring of distilling only?

For now, as I'm new to stilling, I'm only looking at remote monitoring fermentation.

Although I'm fairly experienced at electronics projects and would like to do more IoT stuff, I think that iSpindel is a bit too much time and effort for now. Looking at various forums, it looks like a lot of complex faffing for calibrating, which does not appeal. Tilt is probably worth the investment. Until I change my mind, tomorrow, no doubt.

ITMA wrote:This is interesting indeed. How well did the weight tracking idea work out?

I was very interested in buying a Tilt as I have always absolutely hated taking hydrometer readings. And as a Geek I love monitoring and obsessing. And Mash in the thread on heating told me I should absolutely buy one right now, without delay (I've made up some of that - I'm a spendaholic >:D ).

As YHB says, the tilt suffers from the cost so I'm looking at the iSpindel. I guess about 40 quid all in:

https://github.com/universam1/iSpindel/ ... ADME_en.md

I haven't bottomed the whole thing out yet, I'm not convinced of the safety of the 18650 batteries for a start, but I thought I'd bump this thread as a stake in the ground - if I proceed with a build I'll make a video of progress or something.

People work hard to earn money and think nothing when they spent it. And you are taking to a chap who likes his stuff... ED will confirm that.
The tilt is a good idea but really HOW MUCH!! if you don't like hydrometer testing (& I don't). There are 2 solutions. Drop one in the brew - easy peasey.
Or buy a refractometer. About £10 from eBay.

If you need to monitor your Brew from the other side of the planet. Webcam.

And spend the rest on sugar

10 out of 10 for the refractometer, they are cheap
on the Bay and brill.

I am unashamedley kind of 'Old School'

Robert.

Careful where you park your gun ED.
If you have a small one it might go off in
your pocket.

Just guarding my still.

Robert.