PID Controller Parts

[Puff]

This intrigued me the other day when Mikekiker had posted about setting one up. I had no clue what it even was but...this Internet thing seems to have more than enough answers. My gravity feed surprised me on its test run and I figured I would try to build one my self. Fortunately as a tinkerer in electronics, I can get something to fry.

[Puff]

As I get a little deeper into this project I am seeing several comments about temperature swings going over or under requested temp especially that the time it takes the blower to stop at "x" , the temp still climbs before stabilizing. Does anyone know if controlling the fire instead of the CC but with a wider range, might be better even though the range between on or off may need to be 100-200 degrees in the FB? The device and probes apparently can deal with up to 1000 degrees c.

Just found out that that temp is 1832 f in the real world

[Gizmo]

All the probes I've worked with (Maverick & Guru) burn out between 400 & 500F - practical experience. The computer flips to "HH" to indicate over-temp at about 411F on a Maverick if memory serves.

If you're concerned about overshoot then you need a check valve in the air line between the fan and the fire - i.e. open with fan running and closed when fan is off. When the circuit is happy with the temp and shuts the fan off, air is still being drawn around the fan blades a little allowing the temp to overshoot some. Closing down your stack some will help retard the natural convection "pull" of air through the system which would reduce how long it will coast upward on temp.

The action/reaction time is too long on an RF to use a PID of any kind I've ever heard of. The algorithm gets lost before anything happens.

PM me if you would like to dig deeper - that way we don't put these other guys to sleep ….

[DonaldE]

you have already gone so deep in this project. must be an interesting project to work on

[Pennywise]

Please keep going Gizmo! I haven't figured out how to hack Puff's PM's yet.

[WyomingLawDog]

Puff, did you do anything with these PID parts yet? Just wondering if you put them together yet and used it on a smoker yet. Would like to know to see if I could get a list from you on the parts to put together one for the mini gravity fed smoker that I will build once the plans come out. Thanks

[Puff]

I will gather a list of stuff for you and pm it to you the next day or two. It is built, working as far as I have tested it and seems to be useable...

I assembled it to use on the Gravity Feed. However that smoker is behaving so nicely when I set the ball valve after warm up that I have not yet acquired the mount to attach it. Just doesn't seem that it needs one. That other post by DunnSmoke though addresses some really nice competitive uses. Besides, I spent $50.00 on the 2" ball valve... I do stupid things at times to spite my own thinking. There probably some psychology term for it but, Illegitimi non carborundum. ( The phrase originated during World War II. Lexicographer Eric Partridge attributes it to British army intelligence very early in the war. The phrase was adopted by US Army general "Vinegar" Joe Stillwell as his motto during the war.It was later further popularized in the US by 1964 presidential candidate Barry Goldwater.)

I don't really mind especially that I will be building that SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT SMALLER GRAVITY FEED that Frank will be posting shortly. The size of that ball valve will certainly be 1 1/2" and you know why.....it's because I'll have a spare 2" one.

[Pete Mazz]

Frank's ribs must be getting really sore by now.....

[Puff]

Oh....you picked up on that subtle hint?

[Grabber70Mach]

Why don't you post the list for all to see Puff? Is it Wi-Fi compatable?

From infinity and beyond.

Never argue with a Moron, they'll just drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.

If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.

[Puff]

Gladly....when I was discussing this with another member, we felt it might be boring to others and kept it off.

I will resurrect the details and post it this weekend. Work has been a steady 70 hours a week for the last 5 weeks. The nice one by DunnSmoke is very cool

[Pennywise]

Gladly....when I was discussing this with another member, we felt it might be boring to others and kept it off.

I will resurrect the details and post it this weekend. Work has been a steady 70 hours a week for the last 5 weeks. The nice one by DunnSmoke is very cool

If they find it boring, they shouldn't look! Between you and Pete most of the stuff you say is over my head, but I don't know what questions to ask until I see em!

[Puff]

Shoot Pennywise,

Pete gets into those calculators and I start to zone out completely

[Pete Mazz]

Puff, if I welded as much as I geeked out on those calculators I'd have finished my smokers years ago.

[Pennywise]

Puff, if I welded as much as I geeked out on those calculators I'd have finished my smokers years ago.

If you didn't "geek out" on those calculators, I'd have made about 3 different errors in my build.

And Puff...I can't really follow him either, but he gets me the right answers, so...LOL!

[Pete Mazz]

[Puff]

I'm gathering my parts together and will post this...sorry but work is really beating me up the last several weeks

Pennywise, you are absolutely right, I ve gotten a few calculations from our guys here that I'd never have found on my own, let alone get the right answers. If you have ever read about " The Peter Principle " it is that in a hierarchical society like ours... You will rise to a level of your own incompetence. Mine is mathematics.

If I were to be promoted in a job for good performance and I get promoted to a paperwork job and I can spell alphabetically...I might then get promoted to a job requiring organizational skills which I may suck at...

I have now risen in position to something I will probably fail at...bingo Peter Principle.

Thank goodness I work for myself I'd have been tossed out a long time ago

[bbroper]

Puff you crack me up. I was reading that post thinking doesn't he work for himself... promoted to something you will fail at.... you have to much perseverance to fail. Just look at all the smokers you have built.

[Puff]

Thats the anger inside that drives me. ...haha. Thanks for the nice comment however

[Puff]

Sorry to have forgotten about this but this is the diagram I'd used to wire up the pid controller. I've still not used it as the $50.00 ball valve is now mounted and works so predictably I see no reason for me currently, to change it.

Important to use a K type thermocouple

[Rodcrafter]

Nice job Puff, we should make this thread an "sticky".

[Puff]

I guess Then I should really try it on the smoker and see that it works !... The issue here is that I DONT THINK IT NEEDS ONE for my kind of cooking.

RC, the thing is so happy and stable. . . I started to control temps with a splitting wedge stuck into the air intake to basically reduce air flow in. The ball valve obviously gives it much more flexibility but I can set it and forget it, as they say. For anyone who really cooks and uses a GF a lot, this design is near flawless. you don't need much more to run it