To learn you everything you don't want
nor need to know about Bill's "(pottery)-kiln-temperature" project /
gadget / system(s) ...
This is a picture of TWO of our 'new
unit'. It uses our newly arrived (March 2015, from
Shanghai, no less) "project-box".
The above picture is 'about' real-size.
Though this picture shows two cables plugged-into-the "OmniTemp" box at the
same time, this is ONLY for photo-purposes, one should
NEVER, EVER plug in both cables at the same time...
This picture is 'just the components' (the
Arduino microcontroller-board, the Max Integrated 31855 chip and a small
breadboard; the connection to the "K-type" thermocouple is the small
yellow connector)
OmniTemp1 (Arduino based):
Big Red Numbers, dynamic
temperatures in 'nearly' real-time and that is ALL it gives you.
OmniTemp1x (Arduino based):
Big Red Numbers AND a data-file on a
laptop screen,
AND a saved-file (in ...csv or
...tdf (some call this 'tsv' or 'tabbed-format') or ...txt formats) for
post-processing,
HOWEVER: it REQUIRES: a laptop (with
"CoolTerm" software (free)) at the kiln area (and 110volt-wall-power (and
Internet if you want 'connectivity'))
OmniTemp2 (Raspberry Pi based): (rare, but possible!)
A 'real' computer ("Raspberry Pi"
- a Linux computer with 16 gigabytes of 'hard-disk' and 1/2 gig of
memory, python, ethernet, USB, HDMI and ...)
Note for OmniTemp2 prospective
buyers: this is a 'Real' computer and as such it has an "Operating System"
- which is Linux.... If you do NOT KNOW "Linux" - then you will need some
books or tapes or videos or something to LEARN (some) Linux... If
you know Mac OS "X", then you HAVE Linux (whether you know it or not)...
If you have / know Windows, then you'll have a bit larger 'hill to
climb' to learn (some) Linux.
When you ask for greater functionality (OmniTemp2 versus OmniTemp1 or
OmniTemp1x) then you have to 'give-up' something - which, in this case is
your TIME to learn and understand Linux. This version of Linux uses
a mouse and a GUI and such and if you stick to that - it's very much like
Mac OS "X" and/or Windows (XP or 7), but learning and knowing SOME Linux
will surely make your transition from Mac OS "X" or Windows to Linux more
'seamless'...
ONE of the 'advantages' of using this system is that there is / are a
multitude of data-file-options that are a side-benefit of having a 'real'
computer used...
YOU will have to decide on the 'mounting' (box-type) and where you locate
the 'system' - it can NOT be hotter than about 120 F, so keep that in
mind...
====
If you don't have a lot of time, read this 60 second SUMMARY: ====
What is it, what does it do, and how does it do it?:
It is a 'kiln-temperature-monitoring system'
who'soutput is:
"current" kiln-temperature (in degrees F) (in LARGE (red) numbers) on
a remote display at the kiln for the people putting wood into the kiln.
that is ALL THAT IT DOES, - (oh, and maybe it sucks-up a TINY BIT of
electricity while doing this?!)
END of " 60 Second Summary "
OmniTemp1 (sometimes
called 'Version 1:' - Arduino based)
IF you want something that ONLY
measures temperature, has NO
computer-storage, NO
data-manipulation functionality, ALL that it does is display a
temperature
(assuming you plug a K-Type thermocouple into it (and power it from either a
computer's USB port or just a USB-transformer / AC-DC converter)) AND YOU
WANT BIG (1.2" high) RED numbers you can see clearly from 5 meters away
(even in the sun (a sun-shield on the box may be necessary)) - then you want
I'm calling an OmniTemp1 (pictured below)...
This is the 'Arduino' micro-controller-unit (MCU) that is at the 'heart' of
the OmniTemp1
The "Arduino" can be programmed by any computer with a USB interface (the
small silver
box in the upper-left is the USB type "B" connector),
OR it can 'just be powered' by the USB-cable from either a computer or from
an AD to DC
converter that plugs into a standard wall outlet...
IF IF IF we go 'beyond' using the Arduino to 'display' the temperature (that
is IF we use the Arduino to 'log'
temperature readings (for later analysis and/or for real-time-plotting)) and
display them to the kiln-minders,
then we MUST use a 'serial-port-monitor' software tool.
_CoolTerm_" (the serial-access
& write-to-file software (runs on all platforms; select which OS at
download time)
This is the one we've chosen. THERE ARE OTHERS, but this one has
worked quite well and the man who wrote
this software tool has been quite supportive & helpful when we've asked
for changes.
O.K, - O.K. you think you need an Omni-Temp - BUT _ before you break-out
the check-book, let's review - for just a few moments - four basic
principles of computing, and make-sure you understand what you're
letting-yourself-in-four... - Let's make sure that I - along with you, are
using the same terms and we LIMIT the amount of data, temperature, and
other such things that you're about to deal with
one last picture of something pretty stunning in it's 'ugliness', but
also very functional, in it's internals... this is a 'custom' item - only
available to those with a BIG KILN and a BIG NEED for OmniTemp, (read this
as BIG DOLLARS!)
This is loosely called the 'OminTemp quad', and this is the ONLY ONE
ever made... Needless to say there is a LOT of wiring going on -
some of which you can see, some of which you can not see (and that's
probably a 'good thing').
AND there is a 'sun-shade' made 'on-the-fly' from a cardboard box and
more duct-tape than we'd like to admit... That sunshade has
many pros and many cons and the reason for the cardboard and duct tape is
COST. I'm not about to throw 'development dollars' away
on something people don't want. The 'jury is still out' on this
sunshade idea, it is NOT something 'offered as an additional item' - it is
something that the customer can invest in on their own if they choose
to...
"Some Assembly Required" (for the SunShade!) as they say...
last update: 20:41 am. (EDT) XYZday, 14 June
2017; by: Bill Schell - this is version 7u (on
MacMini (Mac OS "X" 10.14.5))
