Combining hobbies - atmospheric pressure compensating temperature device

[markgm]

This is probably a bit different than the normal homemade devices folks post about here. I'm a big fan of automation, and based on the feedback I’ve received from others I’ve begun creating some of the devices I use to reduce the time I spend making syrup.

The first device I created reads atmospheric pressure to calculate the current boiling point of water every two seconds. It displays the boiling point of water, of syrup, and the current pressure in inches of mercury. This is handy not only for making syrup, but also maple cream and candy.

The second device builds on the first but adds a temperature probe that can be immersed in sap or syrup. It reads the temperature of the probe every second and will flash an LED and sound an alarm when the syrup reaches 66.9% sugar.

The third device builds on the second and adds a relay (switch) that closes when the temperature is reached and opens when the temperature drops below the target. It works with both AC and DC loads.

The fourth device is for people that recirculate when processing with RO. The device has a flow meter that reads the discharge of the permeate line. When the permeate drops below the desired threshold (adjustable), it will automatically turn off the RO pump. This lets me run my RO overnight and wake up to sap that’s ready to boil.

The fifth device is a controller for a vacuum pump. It includes two temperature probes, one for inside the pump box and one for outside of it. You can connect both a heater and a vacuum pump to the device. When the temperature inside the box drops below 35 degrees it will turn on the heater. The controller is highly customizable. It can be programmed to turn on the vacuum pump at a specific temperature (e.g. when it gets above 32) and off at a certain temperature (e.g. when it gets below 31). It also has an adjustable delay (e.g. turn off the pump an hour after the temperature drops below freezing, and turn on 30 minutes after the temperature gets above freezing).

The first device is finished, though I was hoping to have these available for the 2021 season but the global chip shortage impacted my ability to get the components necessary to build them.

22291

22290

22292

I made a video of them here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2-dKGUtyT0

If anyone is interested in one you can PM me or visit my site plymouthsugarworks.com.

[NhShaun]

Awesome idea!

[Pdiamond]

I certainly hope you have applied for patents

[markgm]

I certainly hope you have applied for patents
I actually hadn't considered it (like making maple, this is a hobby for me), but will definitely look into it. Thanks for mentioning it.

A couple of folks reached out asking if I am selling these. I am, you can reach out to me here or at plymouthsugarworks.com for details on them. I assemble a few of these a day, it's oddly satisfying to solder everything together and make a tangible device!

[mainebackswoodssyrup]

Impressive- Definitely look into the patent for your own sake and do it soon!

[darkmachine]

Excellent application of skill to solve a problem. I was waiting until the off season to put together something similar. I settled for a pid for this season. Didn't have time to write any Arduino code while I was feeding the fire. I think the big guys charge a pretty penny for an automatic draw off with atmospheric compensation. Your prices are reasonable, if I wasn't dying to put my hand to the project for my own satisfaction you would have my $$ no question. :)

[Pdiamond]

Mark, The more I have thought about it the more I feel you should apply for your patents ASAP before you make anymore of these units to sell. This could be something very big for you. I know its just a hobby. Think of all those items they sell on TV - they were all just a hobby.

[johnallin]

Mark, The more I have thought about it the more I feel you should apply for your patents ASAP before you make anymore of these units to sell. This could be something very big for you. I know its just a hobby. Think of all those items they sell on TV - they were all just a hobby.

Not to be negative, but these are instruments that are currently in the marketplace.
H2O Innovations Even Flow Draw off utilizes just such technology...adjusting draw-off temps based on barometric pressure. https://h2oinnovation.net/en/produit/thermoregulator-even-flow/

(https://h2oinnovation.net/en/produit/thermoregulator-even-flow/)No competition price-wise though, the OP smokes them in that department!

[markgm]

Excellent application of skill to solve a problem. I was waiting until the off season to put together something similar. I settled for a pid for this season. Didn't have time to write any Arduino code while I was feeding the fire. I think the big guys charge a pretty penny for an automatic draw off with atmospheric compensation. Your prices are reasonable, if I wasn't dying to put my hand to the project for my own satisfaction you would have my $$ no question. :)
I actually got into making maple syrup because I had most of the equipment from making beer! I almost went with a PID controller for an electric brewing setup, but went with a software PID instead (Raspberry Pi). In the years since I've realized that Arduinos are a bit like screwdrivers, you find different ones fit perfectly in different applications. Using temperature to calculate finished syrup isn't exact to the tenth of a degree Brix, but it's so accurate that I never have to finish my syrup after I take it off of the evaporator. Going off of temperature was much more accurate (at boiling temps) than using my $200 Hanna refractometer. I create most of these things to save time or to have things running while I'm at work (like my RO - https://youtu.be/nf03jzq5F0w).

[darkmachine]

I probably would have purchased all the parts to build a setup but when I went hunting for the barometric sensor and the probe I found them easy enough the problem was every place I looked the screen that I wanted was either out of stock or discontinued. I really wanted to do like a 4 in touch screen in monochrome. The chip that I have is an Arduino clone called a sanguino it has more IO but a standard Arduino probably has more than enough inputs to do a draw off monitor stack temperature and a few other things to boot. I hear you about the screwdriver I think you could use them in just about everything in the sugar Bush for monitoring and do it for a fraction of the cost of what is charged by the big companies. I've been doing some research on Lora radios they seem like a perfect fit for remote pump stations and vacuum pressure monitoring.

[markgm]

I probably would have purchased all the parts to build a setup but when I went hunting for the barometric sensor and the probe I found them easy enough the problem was every place I looked the screen that I wanted was either out of stock or discontinued. I really wanted to do like a 4 in touch screen in monochrome. The chip that I have is an Arduino clone called a sanguino it has more IO but a standard Arduino probably has more than enough inputs to do a draw off monitor stack temperature and a few other things to boot. I hear you about the screwdriver I think you could use them in just about everything in the sugar Bush for monitoring and do it for a fraction of the cost of what is charged by the big companies. I've been doing some research on Lora radios they seem like a perfect fit for remote pump stations and vacuum pressure monitoring.
I don't have any need for a remote monitoring setup, but I'm stunned by what they sell for versus what they'd take to make!

[darkmachine]

Its the premium between kit you may need to tinker with, and an appliance that just works out of the box. There is a market for people who want to assemble their own from online instructions, also a market for those who aren't comfortable with a soldering iron but don't have 100,000 taps to justify the expense, and the operation that is large enough that manpower is more of a cost that some automation control. I know as the number of taps i put in increases, my available time doesn't increase, lol. Adding a few things here and there allows one guy to manage the whole shebang. At just short of 400 taps, i'm at my limit for what i can maintain, collect, boil, and can. In order to buy some time back I have to put an RO on the shopping list...and the drawoff was a life saver this season....just feed the fire and pump sap.

I'd like to put in two automated 12v pumping stations next season with some LORA radio's that let me know how they are operating, rig a monitoring setup for my main vacuum pump. It would save me hours each day switching on and checking things, time i could be boiling!

[4Walls]

Certainly not nearly advanced as your idea. But my automation includes smart plugs and an echo dot. I control my 2 pumps from my phone while nice and cozy in the sugar shack. Can also control the pump heater from the phone but have it set to come on at -1C. I have a Wyze cam in there to see the levels and check for major leaks when pumping.
Saves me a hundred trips up and down the hill to either turn pump on and off or bring it up to the garage to keep it from freezing.

[markgm]

Certainly not nearly advanced as your idea. But my automation includes smart plugs and an echo dot. I control my 2 pumps from my phone while nice and cozy in the sugar shack. Can also control the pump heater from the phone but have it set to come on at -1C. I have a Wyze cam in there to see the levels and check for major leaks when pumping.
Saves me a hundred trips up and down the hill to either turn pump on and off or bring it up to the garage to keep it from freezing.
I know a few people that aim a camera at their setup and use smart switches to monitor things while at work. It's a simple way to use ubiquitous technology.