My homemade digital temperature controller!

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reinhart36
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My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby reinhart36 » Sun Mar 30, 2014 7:43 pm

Hi Guys,

I got my large BGE in 2010, and have loved it and used it extensively. I wanted a temperature controller so I could do other things (such as sleep) while smoking or drying things.

I've chipped away at a few iterations of one over the last couple of years, and am now completely finished.

Check out this video of it in use:

https://vimeo.com/90480641

Please let me know what you guys think!

thanks,
Eric
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Re: My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby ChileFarmer » Tue Apr 01, 2014 8:37 pm

Eric, my INTERNET is slow right now but will watch it later. I tried just to slow. CF :D
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Re: My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby reinhart36 » Tue Apr 01, 2014 8:49 pm

ChileFarmer wrote:Eric, my INTERNET is slow right now but will watch it later. I tried just to slow. CF :D


Thanks for trying - I hope it works soon. BTW, my web service has been exceptionally slow too lately. I think Verizon is causing more trouble for the major telecom companies..

Let me know what you think when you see it! :)
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Re: My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby Swamp Donkeyz BBQ » Wed Apr 02, 2014 7:29 am

That's a cool little device there! CF, if you look in the bottom, right, corner and click the letters HD it will turn off the Hi-Def and load up fine.
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Re: My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby bowhnter » Wed Apr 02, 2014 8:09 am

That is very cool. So what is required for the bottom vent, or, how open do you leave it? And can the 2nd controller just be a food temp thermometer?
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Re: My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby jerodpb » Wed Apr 02, 2014 5:21 pm

wow, if I had 1/10 of your brain, I would be smarter, 1,000,000,000,000 fold..

how much would you sell something like that for????
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reinhart36
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Re: My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby reinhart36 » Mon Apr 07, 2014 8:04 pm

bowhnter wrote:That is very cool. So what is required for the bottom vent, or, how open do you leave it? And can the 2nd controller just be a food temp thermometer?


Hello,

The bottom vent is just left open all the way for any operating temperature. That way, the top damper gets authority for the full range of operation.

Yeah, the second channel is mostly meant to be used to listen to the food inside. Alternatively, you could use it to control 2 grills, if you configured it that way.

Thanks for the question and interest!

Eric
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Re: My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby reinhart36 » Mon Apr 07, 2014 8:09 pm

jerodpb wrote:wow, if I had 1/10 of your brain, I would be smarter, 1,000,000,000,000 fold..

how much would you sell something like that for????


I'm glad you liked it! Seriously, it's more a matter of having no social life than being smart..

People have been so curious to have one of these, I started checking into what it would cost to make 50 prototypes for "at cost" beta testing.

It's looking like it would come out around $250/unit. Because of the small volume, having the circuit boards fabricated and assembled, as well as the electronics enclosure are pretty pricey. It takes me about 10-15 hours so build one of these by hand, and it hurts my eyes looking at all the tiny parts while soldering. Thus, it wouldn't be an option to throw the lot together myself.

Thanks,
Eric
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Re: My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby garzanium » Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:12 pm

That is insanely cool. Like the fact it is using existing infrastructure rather than adding fans ect

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Re: My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby limey » Mon Apr 07, 2014 11:39 pm

Pretty impressive, I also like the fact that there is no fan involved. Probably spent many hours on the controller and calibrating the mechanical parts of the air intake. Great job on the build and Welcome to the forumn Eric.
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Re: My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby reinhart36 » Fri Apr 11, 2014 9:19 pm

Thanks limey! Yes, I've worked this for 3.5 years, but it's been fun.

Incidentally, I'm currently wound up about making some homemade cured/smoked bacon in the next week or two. Another fine excuse to use the controller. :)

Eric
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Re: My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby Big Ed » Sat Apr 12, 2014 7:37 pm

That is one awesome gadget for sure, I hope all your hard work pays off for you and welcome to the Texas BBQ forum!!


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reinhart36
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Re: My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby reinhart36 » Thu May 01, 2014 8:58 pm

Big Ed wrote:That is one awesome gadget for sure, I hope all your hard work pays off for you and welcome to the Texas BBQ forum!!


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Thanks Big Ed!
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Re: My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby Damon54 » Thu May 01, 2014 11:29 pm

That is awesome!!

This forum cannot get you to 50 units but why don't you give
Kickstarter a try??
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Re: My homemade digital temperature controller!

Postby bwsdj » Fri May 02, 2014 2:36 pm

Very cool!! Thanks for sharing the video as well. Welcome to the forum
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