Wireless beer fridge temperature logger

[Andy]

Latest project is a temperature logger which uploads data to the internet.

Currently logging temp/humidity in my beer fridge

https://thingspeak.com/channels/46252


Using an ESP8266 WiFi module (little board at the front with the red LED) and a DST11 temp sensor (blue unit on the right hand side, plugged into the breadboard)


The 8266 is running code which polls the temp sensor every 10 seconds and then uploads the results to the web ( https://thingspeak.com/channels/46252 ).

Not bad for a little module which casts £3! And it's got an impressive range, it's connecting quite happily to the wireless router in my house despite the 8266 being in a metal beer fridge in the garage attached to the house (where the router is).

[Jim]

Nice!

It's a bit colder than I have mine set!

[Fil]

Great minds think alike

i went down the stc1000+ route, as the latest versions of the code hack for the stc1000 include coms

add a cheap Rf Tx and Rx board set and an arduino and you get a wireless data logger and remote fridge monitor to bring power failures to your attention..

the beta code can be found here http://www.github.com/hunnimonstr/Stc1000-RFlogger

build spec and h/w list are in the codefile comments..

build, slip in a formatted sd card and upload the compiled code to set the internal clock to your pc system date/time.

when started all leds light to verify connections and the red leds will then light in sequence 1, 2, and then 3,
yellow led lights during rtc validation, green led lights during SD system validation.
when running Yellow activity led will flicker with Rf signals the green (packet) led will flash with record processing/log entry writing.

3 x records are broadcast every 48 second cycle to record all 3 set the VERBOSE flag in the code to true, is set to false by default so only 1 record per cycle is logged.

Error conditions and indicators
on startup if the clock fails tests- fatal error yellow + red1 leds will flash
If the sd file system fails tests- fatal error green and red1 led will flash
if a record write fails - fatal file error green led on red 1 flashing

Warning conditions
if no record decoded for 5mins 1 red led lit
if no record decoded for 15mins 2 x red leds lit
if no record decoded for 1hour 3 x red leds lit

If reception starts again all red leds will be turned off on successful record reception and logging.

If a fatal error ocours plug into the puter and open the arduino serial monoitor to receive error and debug info.

ive only been testing the standalone box for a few days, so far so good

enjoy!!

[Andy]

Oooo, nice! Love the stc1000 firmware hacks!

[Fil]

no tinternet tho, but plug into a puter and delete 99% of the debug code and its a plug in monitor for the brewfridge and any script capable of listening to a virtual serial port can echo the data to any online storage you like..

So far distance testing when a collection of bits was a bit hit n miss since assembly in the box and using 2 x 20cm antenna no signal loss so far, but testing of the standalone box has been limited to in the same room as the broadcasting stc1000 and in the next room, each day i will move the reciever further and further away, documentation suggests upto 200m range?
the tx board added to the stc is running of the +5v off the programming header, it can run off upto +12v and will broadcast further with more power so there is scope for improvement.
(my brewshed is about 25-30m from the house..

[Andy]

Worth looking at the ESP8266 for WiFi comms and you can download sketches to it using the Arduino IDE.

[Fil]

Worth looking at the ESP8266 for WiFi comms and you can download sketches to it using the Arduino IDE.

perhaps i will might make a useful enhancement for a later revision, its too early to be adding features till ive confirmed all existing features are without issue

[BenB]

When I wanted one I just persuaded my boss to buy a Corintech wireless logger. When it transpired it didn't work for our precise requirements I adopted it at home

[chris2012]

Very nice!

I've got a number of those esp8266 modules which I should try for some brewing stuff, at the moment I've been trying
to battery power them.

You might want to checkout nodemcu too, which is pretty cool, means you can control them via Lua, which
makes them especially easy to control.

[Fil]

been looking up these boards this evening, am growing much warmer towards em , got one on order from ebay for a lil fiddle too gr8 stuff

[sladeywadey]

hmm I was looking for a way of rigging my stc1000 up to a wifi module so I could 'post' temp readings to a data collector on my website.

[AnthonyUK]

hmm I was looking for a way of rigging my stc1000 up to a wifi module so I could 'post' temp readings to a data collector on my website.

It can be done but you need to have one that has the STC-1000+ custom firmware.
I use a Raspi as it only requires a DS18B20 sensor to work as a temp logger.

[Andy]

Very nice!


You might want to checkout nodemcu too, which is pretty cool, means you can control them via Lua, which
makes them especially easy to control.

Does this give any benefit over using the Arduino IDE (as it now has capability to compile sketches for the 8266) ?

[sladeywadey]

hmm I was looking for a way of rigging my stc1000 up to a wifi module so I could 'post' temp readings to a data collector on my website.

It can be done but you need to have one that has the STC-1000+ custom firmware.
I use a Raspi as it only requires a DS18B20 sensor to work as a temp logger.

interesting.. I have considered the RPI option but I wanted to just keep with the STC1000. However if this is too messy then I could get a new Rpi and sensor I suppose.

Could you explain more about how to rig up the STC1000 via wifi?

Thanks!

[AnthonyUK]

Could you explain more about how to rig up the STC1000 via wifi?

Thanks!

See the 2nd post above from Fil.