GrillControl.com | Blog

Good news folks!

I am currently running my second test and it is going great! This time I have completed the PID control over the fan and the logic to control the pellet feed. There is a thermocouple driving the cooker temperature control! I am very happy to report that without any tuning of parameters (read as: it can get better) temps are holding within 5° around 350° and 10° at 200°!  Temperature changes in the setpoint of about 100° take about 10 minutes to settle.

Here is the details of the test…  I started my Traeger using the controller function, from there the controller automatically went into run mode and tried to obtain the default temp of 240°.  It reached that temp in about 10 mins from startup but could be faster due to a parameter I needed to change.  I waited for the PID calculation to settle and keep  the temp within a few degrees which took about 20 mins.  I then adjusted the setpoint up to 350°.  The cooker took about 10 mins to reach 350° and stayed very stable the whole time within 5 degrees.  After a bit I did open the lid for about 15 seconds to see how it was handled.  The temp seemed to fully recover within 3-5 minutes.  I then decreased the setpoint to 180.  I am very concerned about a flameout here, but am re-writing the algorithm to take care of that.  In-deed, I did have a flameout, but because of the snazzy web control, I was able to see the temp go below 150° and still not rise and kick on the hot rod.  Flameout averted!  This will be a automatic function in the future.  There is some issues with dropping temp from a much higher temp…  no pellets are entering the pot for a long time, and the fire goes out.  I am going to work to resolve this.  I began the shutdown routine because it is getting late, and I don’t want ot burn through too many pellets without some Q on the grill!

Here is the graph of the cooker temp.  I will be doing another test this weekend with some more tweaks!

Anyone else find it both weird and awesome that I am sitting inside my house, while my Traeger is outside in my yard while running this test!

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Hi All,  I am happy to report I have completed the first test on my 075!  It went great! 

Please check the forums for a more detailed update! Forum Post

The next few weeks are going to be busy!

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After yesterdays update, I wanted to give you a sneak peek into what I have been working on on some of the software.  Let me know what you think.  (These are not hooked up to a cookers, just demo numbers)

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Hi All!  Sorry for not updating in awhile.  Unfortunately, my “real” job (the one that makes me $$) has been keeping my busy.  I have still tried to fit in the time to work on the controller a few hours a week.  Trust me, if anyone is willing to give me a paycheck, I will work on it full time!  Any takers?  haha.

So if you read my last update I have changed to a new development platform and processor than I was originally using.  I have been working with a great development platform.  The current processor I am using is at least 10x more powerful than the current Traeger controllers.  This basically means that more features can be incorporated easier in the future, as well as the controller can be re-configurable for different cookers which will cut down on my cost that I can pass back to you.  The concept is going to be similar to the Stoker controller, however very different on many technical levels.  I certainly do not want to just copy an already good product Rock has put out.

I am happy to report that some models will have full internet support. I will have models with both wired internet and wireless.  All control will be available via the web.  You will be able to make changes to setpoints, temperatures, and even advanced tuning parameters.  Using the web is much easier for me because I have done web development in the past.  As you can imagine, it is also easier to change a value on a web page than on a tiny LCD screen with 4 buttons!  This will help me speed up the prototype a bit as well.

I just got a test PCB made up for the control of the hot rod, auger, and fan.  (4 week lead time from China is a pain!)  I hope to have it installed in my Traeger in another week or so.  This board simply allows me to control the different 120V devices from a very small 3.3V coming from the micro controller as well as isolate the higher voltage from damaging the controller.  Once this I hooked up I can actually start to develop some of the control code.

On the temp probe front, I have found the chip I will be using for the reading of the probes.  The chip is a bit pricey, but I would rather have quality.  I will be using standard thermocouples for the probes.  I will be selling the probes, but if you wish you will also be able to buy your own probes because they will be a standard style and connector that are widely available.  I will work to develop the probes to your requests in any style that works best for you.

The next steps I have to work on is to begin to develop the control logic code for the processor.  Startup, shutdown, temp setting, alarms, etc.  The next step will be to design the prototype PCB’s.  This consists of two boards, one for the processor and temp sensing and one for the high voltage power control.

Please let me know if I can answer any questions.  Sorry things are going so slow,but this is a big undertaking.  I really don’t want to slap something together that will stop working after a few cooks.

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So, I decided to scrap the prototype I was working on.  Don’t panic!  The main reason for this is power.  The development platform I was using was becoming too slow after I started hooking up all the devices and features that people are looking for.

I have switched to a much better and more modular processors at the core of the controller.  This is also going to help me keep the cost down.  Let me warn you there are going to be alot of awesome features that I hope to include out of the box.

Development is continuing and I have a second prototype that is getting worked on.  I am currently working on getting a great display (hopefully one that you can see in the sun) that will let you see alot on a single display without pressing buttons all the time.

Thats all for now.

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Just wanted to give you a glimpse of the initial prototype board that I hope to get made up in another few weeks after I finish the design and testing…  If anyone is good with electronics and is interrested in helping out or doing some design checking, please let me know!

So, things are moving, and very quickly.  Some prototype probes arrived today and more test chips and memory storage is on its way from China.

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Just a quick update to let you all know that things are moving along.

The control circuits for the fan speed control, hot rod, and auger are done!  The temperatrue sensor circuit is working!  The UI is working!  The power circuit is working! You may ask well, what is next?  Time to put it all together!  I will be working over the next two weeks to assemble everything together and write ALOT of microprocessor code.  I am hoping then I will be able to to my first test with my Traeger.

What is after that?  Designing and sending out to have a circuit board made.  I don’t want prototypes that if you sneeze in the wrong direction they will break!  (And I am a bit of a perfectionist, and will not send out anything sloppy)  PCB’s can take a month to get, then two weeks to assemble and test.  Then I send them out to a few select testers!  After a few weeks of feedback, I will order a production run and begin some pre-sales. (I know my bank account will be hurting by then)

Please let me know if you have any questions, or post in the forums!  I will post some pictures next week.

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Just switched to Dreamhost after a few year with Bluehost.  I am liking it much better so far, faster and easier to use.  Please let me know if you have any problems with the site.

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So… Sorry I have not updated for a bit. My girlfriend had surgery on her foot and has been keeping me busy. She is doing well though.

I finally got a bunch more parts in and got the AC control circuit working!! This means I am now able to control the hot rod, fan, and auger with the microcontroller. Hppefully tomorrow I will have the dimming code working to be able to get speed control on the fan!!

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So I just fried my first microcontroller trying to hook an Triac to control the AC devices.  :(

Will hopefully be able to get a replacement this week!  Things are progressing, although a little slow.  But making alot of strides in the right direction!

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