/CoolerController

A DIY replacement for CoolBot using an SP8266

Primary LanguageArduino

CoolerController#

version 0.0.1

Summary

  • DIY Replacement for Coolbot with HTML based Controll and data published to io.adafruit.com
  • When I started looking at options for a walk in cooler on my farm I stumbled across the CoolBot.
  • While CoolBot is an interesting commercial product it is priced rather high for what it is.
  • I them found another DIY project called ColdSnap. I believe the code can be found here on GITHUB.
  • Coldsnap was closer to what I was looking for, but still didn't fit really fit my requirements.
  • I have also started playing with the ESP-8266 ESP-12F recently. This is a low cost WIFI enabled microprocessor.
  • When starting this project I borrowed heavily from the CaptivePortal Advanced Example included with the ESP8266 board definitions.
  • The project uses three 18B20 Dallas One Wire Temp Probes to check temperatures for:
  • Cooler Temperature
  • Thermastat Heater Temperature
  • Cooling Fin Temperature
  • The project uses 2 50Ohm power resitors driven by 2 TIP41 Transitors from a 12V power supply.
  • The idea of the project is to cool a walk-in cooler using a window unit A/C.
  • To cool the Walk-In to lower temperatures than the window unit A/C norally cools to the two power resitors
  • heat the themastat probe on the A/C to force it to run to a temp controlled by the processor.
  • A temp probe is inserted into the fins to detect if the fins are freezing up.
  • If temperatures below 32 degrees are detected at the fins the thermostat heater shuts off to allow the A/C tp defrost.
  • I borrowed the idea for the power resitor heater from the ColdSnap Project, http://people.umass.edu/~dac/projects/ColdSnap/ColdSnap.html

To Do List (pull requests are very welcomed)

  • Save settings to eeprom when modified from Cooler Settings page
  • Finish Fritzing Layout