PI Controller project

[JC in GB]

So is this a DC fan? Does your controller continuously vary the fan speed?

Yes, it is a DC fan. No, the fan speed isn't varied, the fan turns on and off which provides air to promote combustion when on and starves the firebox for air when it is off. Due to the large amount of hysteresis that a smoker has, an ON/OFF fan works fine.

JC

 

[processhead]

I am a retired industrial process control guy and E-tech, although I was in field work and not the design side of the house.
I have build a few PID based control systems for electric smoker temp control and brewing system temperature control. I have largely used off the shelf solutions, but always am interested in what others are working on.

 

[JC in GB]

I am a retired industrial process control guy and E-tech, although I was in field work and not the design side of the house.
I have build a few PID based control systems for electric smoker temp control and brewing system temperature control. I have largely used off the shelf solutions, but always am interested in what others are working on.

I just wanted to see how low I could go in price for a controller that would perform well. Unfortunately, I have a bunch of family stuff going on right now that is preventing me from getting a lot of my projects done. I started doing a prototype circuit but so far, it is in limbo.

I have worked in process controls for many years. AC and DC motor drives and controllers. I have worked on systems for elevators, wire manufacturing, metal smelting, silicon ingot processing, power inverters, high output generator sets, paper converting, telecommunication backplanes and routers. I have also done quite a bit of prototyping work. I have one patent for a generator synchronization circuit I was involved in designing.

JC