Controller for Lumber Dry Kiln
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Hello All! Anybody out there using stamps to control a lumber dry
kiln?! Here's what I hope to do: Use dry and wet bulb temperature
inputs to determine when a temperature set point needs to be changed,
and then change it, usually about eight times for a charge of
lumber. My goal is to get away from doing this manually every day.
And I'd like to be able to monitor it when away from the kiln, using
a PC and phone lines! Is this possible with a stamp? What about the
hardware needed, etc. I am a beginner, alas. Many Thanks! Joe
kiln?! Here's what I hope to do: Use dry and wet bulb temperature
inputs to determine when a temperature set point needs to be changed,
and then change it, usually about eight times for a charge of
lumber. My goal is to get away from doing this manually every day.
And I'd like to be able to monitor it when away from the kiln, using
a PC and phone lines! Is this possible with a stamp? What about the
hardware needed, etc. I am a beginner, alas. Many Thanks! Joe
Comments
I see you found your way here from the other forum : ) I will give
you a good start. I have schematics and code for a temperature and
humidity monitor. It is based on a basic stamp, a Honeywell humidity
sensor, and a K type thermal couple. It also has remote data logging
capability with a Linx RF transmitter with a range of up to 300 feet.
Adding the ability to control temperature should be fairly simple.
On/Off band gap temp control should be sufficient. The wet/dry bulb
setting in the kiln schedule will need to be converted to RH with the
sensor used.
Email me at jbirnsch(at)vbe.com if your interested. Replace (at) with
@.
Jason_WI
--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "xylofile" <xylofile@y...> wrote:
> Hello All! Anybody out there using stamps to control a lumber dry
> kiln?! Here's what I hope to do: Use dry and wet bulb temperature
> inputs to determine when a temperature set point needs to be
changed,
> and then change it, usually about eight times for a charge of
> lumber. My goal is to get away from doing this manually every
day.
> And I'd like to be able to monitor it when away from the kiln,
using
> a PC and phone lines! Is this possible with a stamp? What about
the
> hardware needed, etc. I am a beginner, alas. Many Thanks! Joe
connect a stamp to the serial lines -- you must
use the correct dialing strings, etc, and
monitor the serial lines with the BS2. If you
want to 'call in' to the unit, you'll have to
monitor additional lines.
2. Parallax sells a very nice modem mini-module
with low current and space requirements if you
want a self-contained unit. See the NutsAndVolts
section for more info.
3. There is a combination humidity and temperature
sensor available -- see other posts.
4. You'll probably want a RealTimeClock (RTC, ds1302)
chip to keep reasonably accurate times.
5. Note the BS2 does one thing at a time. Receiving
RS-232 is considered one of those things, so while
it is receiving data (or picking up the phone with
the modem) it can't do anything else. Not a
problem, just something you need to be aware of,
and code around.
--- In basicstamps@yahoogroups.com, "xylofile" <xylofile@y...> wrote:
> Hello All! Anybody out there using stamps to control a lumber dry
> kiln?! Here's what I hope to do: Use dry and wet bulb temperature
> inputs to determine when a temperature set point needs to be
changed,
> and then change it, usually about eight times for a charge of
> lumber. My goal is to get away from doing this manually every
day.
> And I'd like to be able to monitor it when away from the kiln,
using
> a PC and phone lines! Is this possible with a stamp? What about
the
> hardware needed, etc. I am a beginner, alas. Many Thanks! Joe