As a retired guy looking to keep my mind challenged, I ran across the Arduino concept and decided to jump in. After learning all the basics my first truly useful project was this smoker controller. It works well, and I use it often so decided to share it. The smoker I use is a cheap charcoal box from Walmart that I easily converted with a 1500w electric heating coil from Amazon ($39) but the controller will work with any electric smoker. It takes all the work (and guesswork) out of smoking meat. It makes a very interesting, inexpensive, and rewarding Arduino project.
The project:
The controller offers some helpful and convenient features including the ability to monitor the smoking process from inside the house using an Android smartphone or pad. The desired smoking temperature along with the desired internal meat temperature is entered on a 4x4 keypad and the controller takes over from there. It continuously monitors and PID controls the process until the desired internal meat temperature is reached. It then stops the cycle and sends a message that dinner is ready.
The materials:
Inside the control box:
1 Arduino uno microcontroller board
2 Max6675 thermocouple controllers
2 K-type thermocouples
1 4x4 keypad
1 2x16 lcd display
1 HC-06 Bluetooth sending unit -- Requires a free BT Terminal app(NUDGE ME)from playstore
1 5v switch mode power supply (5v DC wall charger)
1 5v buzzer
1 enclosure easily built from 1/8' plywood- 6"L x 4.5"W x 3"D
misc. simple connectors, jumpers and resistors (Google one wire keypad - Arduino)
Inside the junction box:
1 Relay 5v SPDT 20A (from Sparkfun)
1 Transistor 2N3904
1 Diode IN 4148
2 Resistors 1k
1 Resistor 10k
1 Red LED
1 5v power supply (usb wall charger)
1 120v wall outlet (from Lowes)
1 Plastic junction box big enough to fit the wall outlet and the relay board (from Lowes)
Most materials were purchased from Amazon or eBay. The total cost of the project is around $65 plus any electric smoker.
The Functions:
1. Maximizes smoker internal temperature to 320 DegF to prevent "runaway" internal temp.
2. Prompts for input of desired smoking temp.
3. Prompts for input of desired internal meat temp.
4. Provides display of actual internal smoker temp.
5. Provides display of actual internal meat temp.
6. Provides stable PID control of set smoker temperature until desired meat temperature is reached.
7. Shuts down power to heating coil when desired meat temperature is reached.
8. Displays message "CYCLE COMPLETE" on upper line when desired meat temperature is reached.
9. Displays message "ENJOY DINNER!" on lower line when desired meat temperature is reached.
10 Provides an audible alert when desired meat temperature is reached
11 Sends status information to Android device via the HC-06 Bluetooth dongle and the Serial port. Requires a BT Terminal app(NUDGE ME)on Phone or Tablet
12 Sends massage to Android device (via Bluetooth) when the desired meat temperature has been reached.
Pins used on Arduino board as follows:
Pin 0 Rx from HC-06 Bluetooth sender
Pin 1 Tx from HC-06 Bluetooth sender
Pin 7 to buzzer +
Pin 8 to control connector
Pin 9 to MAX6675 meat thermocouple
Pin 10 to MAX6675 smoker thermocouple
Pin 12 to both MAX6675
Pin 13 to both MAX6675
Pin A5 to KB and Display board
Pin A4 to KB and Display board
Pin A0 to KB and Display board
5volt power to KB and Display board
5volt power to both Max6675
3.3volt power to HC-06 Bluetooth sender
Ground connections:
from HC-06 Bluetooth sender
from buzzer -
from both MAX6675
from control connector
from KB and Display board
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