[fromar]

in reply to: Serial connection cuts out randomly #3778

I ran into this problem every few minutes, so I just stopped using the computer to control the device. Is there a way I can help record the problem – I’m sure I can reproduce the problem.

[fromar]

in reply to: I cooked some eggs! (update: and some meat!) #3759

Tonight I’m cooking some cheap meat – flatiron, and I took some photos of my setup.

This is my cooker as it stands with the cover off. The rags under the clear container are for insulation.

This is the cooker covered in blankets. This is a homebrewer trick – I do this in my mash-tun cooler when I brew.

And this is the cheap meat I’m cooking right now. Flatiron. I set the osPID to 130f, but when I checked with a thermometer, I found the osPID temperature reading was higher than reality. I turned the system up until the thermometer said 130. I am relying heavily on this page: http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/03/how-to-sous-vide-steak.html

This is the final product. The meat was really tender but lacked a ton of flavor. I only seared it for a couple of seconds with minimal spices. Next time, I will salt and pepper before searing.

[fromar]

in reply to: Thermocouple Waterproofind #3753

I tried saran wrap with a rubber band, but it leaked after a while.

In the end, I wrapped the thermocouple in a condom, and even when things got hot, nothing leaked. 😀

[fromar]

in reply to: Troubleshooting the Output #3718

It seems to be functioning now ok. Instead of using the front-end, I went into the device menu and set it to “manual” mode, then back to automatic. The device is functioning as expected!

I’ll add to this thread if anything changes.

[fromar]

in reply to: Troubleshooting the Output #3717

Well, I got everything wired up, and my heater is getting power!

The bad news, however, is that the power is still turning on and off like clockwork every 3 or 4 seconds. I plugged a light bulb into the output, and sure enough, it turns on and off every few seconds.

In the front-end, I set my setpoint to “20”. The current reading of ambient air is between 25 and 26. Should the box not be turning the power on and off like this? How do I make the output correspond to the input?

[fromar]

in reply to: Ramp Soak and stuff #3723

Hi ControlFreak,

I had the same issue. Try to rename the directory that all the pde and library files are in to “osPID_Firmware” before opening it in the Arduino program.

Leaving the files in the “folder osPID-osPID-Firmware-14bb605” won’t work. The Arduino program will even give you the option to create the folder and move the file, but do not do this. It will not take your libraries with it and all will fail.

-omar

[fromar]

in reply to: LCD Menu Explanation #3709

Hi Brett,

Google sites lets you create a free wiki. http://sites.google.com

IMHO, since everyone is getting their osPIDs this week, speed is more important than which site you pick. I am glad to create this site for you right now if you want. Maybe I’m being presumptuous and impatient, but I already have content to post that will save others a lot of time. 😀

[fromar]

in reply to: Troubleshooting the Output #3716

Thanks for the answer guys. I talked to a EE friend of mine, and I think I had some wrong assumptions.

I thought the outputs of the relay would push AC power directly ouf of the osPID device. This is not the case, as the relay only allows me to turn on the external power wired in, but will not supply the power itself. I need to to more extension cord cutting as well as some soldering. My friend is emailing me a circuit diagram so I can understand it fully before I continue to build. I’ll update once it’s done.

If anyone has a picture of a wired up system, I would love to see it! If not, when I get mine working, I will post one.

[fromar]

in reply to: Troubleshooting the Output #3713

Thanks for the help, John.

@ezflyr wrote:

I thought only one relay is being installed by default, and I would have guessed that would be Relay1? Are you sure you’re connected to an actual relay?

There are 6 output pins, two for each output set. Relay 1 does not appear to be soldered in, so there is no output. The output “SSR” is a digital output. Relay 2 has a pretty large relay chip. It looks like the ones I had to install in my MakerBot relay board. I will check the other pins for voltage again, but it doesn’t look like anything should be coming out of them.

@ezflyr wrote:

If so, keep in mind that the relay is only going to switch one side of your power source. So, for instance, the neutral connection of a 120VAC source would wire directly to the load, and the hot connection would pass through the relay, and then to the load. Is that how you have it wired?

I will reverse the wires on the extension cord I wired into the outputs. With an AC output though, I would assume it doesn’t matter. Maybe I’m using my voltmeter improperly. Will an AC current show up with a voltage on a regular voltmeter?

Also, in the front-end, I believe I set the output to Relay 2 – but I will verify this.

@ezflyr wrote:

I wouldn’t expect the output to totally turn off when your set point is below the actual value, but I would expect the characteristics of the On/Off switching to change noticibly depending on where the set point was WRT the actual input value? Do you note any change?

The voltage across the pins was always zero. I had a relay on my Makerbot die, and it did not make any noise. The relay makes a lot of noise when it cuts on and off. The soldering on the relay looks like a machine made it. I would be very surprised if the contacts were cold.

[fromar]

in reply to: What power adapter to use? #3707

Thanks for the reply! I plugged the box into an adjustable voltage plug I have and set it at 12 volts. The box powers, lights blink, the LCD menu shows up, and the relay clicks on and off every few seconds. I can only assume it’s working.

[fromar]

in reply to: Where to go from here – suggestions? #3701

Well, I ordered all the parts listed on the one example linked to from another thread: http://www.unmaintained.com/index.php/ospid-sous-vide-open-source-high-tech-cooking-on-a-budget/

When the parts arrive, I will try to set it up and give it a test!

[fromar]

in reply to: osPID in the US? #3691

I received mine yesterday – Fresh from Malaysia!

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