I built a power delivery device which outputs certain voltage and current to heat up things. Now I need to build a temperature sensor which at the same time, controls the power delivery device. Any ideas on how to do this?
What temperatures are you talking about? We need to know that before recommending a temperature sensor.
I don't know if you'll find a tutorial, but you can probably find similar example projects that you can learn from. You probably can find a tutorial on how to use a solid-state temperature sensor with the Arduino.
There are also tutorials on how to turn on/off power with a relay or MOSFET, or whatever is appropriate.
It also depends on what you're trying to heat. It takes a lot more energy to heat a room than to heat a little box.
It's easy to make a little electric heater.... A resistor converts electrical energy to heat so you can use one or more resistors (usually you'd use high-power resistors). But if you need something like 1000 Watts you'd use a heating element instead of resistors.
The control electronics are still simple with a higher power heater, but of course they need to handle more voltage and/or more current.
Conceptually it's easy - When the temperature is below target, turn-on power. When the temperature is above target turn-off power. That's simple logic and you don't actually need a programmable microcontroller to do it. Old-fashion non-programmable thermostats didn't have any electronics at all.
I'm not saying you shouldn't use an Arduino... I'm saying it's a super-easy thing for an Arduino to do...
If you want to add a temperature digital display, you'll generally need a microcontroller.
You'll also need a relay, or something, because the Arduino can't directly-power a heater.
look in the Project hub first. mouse over community above right, select project hub from the drop down box
DVDDoug -
yeah, that's sort of what I was going for. I wanted to be able to control the power by turning it on/off depending on the temperature (if too high, turn off; if too low, turn on). I have no idea how to work with a relay or MOFSET, if there's a beginner's tutorial, that'd be great. Even if it's advanced, I'll work with it because I need to get this project done. I would need a micro-controller because of user-interface... Will need an LCD to display the temperature control (for instance, by turning a potentiometer, the user adjusts the temperature from 30C to 35C). So which relay do I get? Any particulars?
groundFungus -
The temperature of the heater.
Geek Emeritus -
I've searched around Google. Is having trouble with knowing where to get started, so asking for advice here.
What I meant is, can you quantify the temperature range of interest?
DUI_DYI:
The temperature of the heater.
Are you sure you want to know the temperature of "the heater".
Heaters are usually tens or hundreds of degrees hotter that the medium they have to heat.
What do you want to heat. Air, water?
Why don't you start a simple project with e.g. a (waterproof) DS18B20 temp sensor.
And print it's temp to the serial monitor.
If that works, then think of displaying it on a (2-line) LCD.
If that works, then think of lighting a LED above or below a certain temp (if statement).
If that works, then think of adding a relay or mosfet to switch the heater.
If you're new to Arduino, then don't try do it all at once.
Leo..
groundFungus:
What I meant is, can you quantify the temperature range of interest?
It's only 0 - 350 C or so, maybe even less at minimum 0 - 200 C.
Wawa:
Are you sure you want to know the temperature of "the heater".
Heaters are usually tens or hundreds of degrees hotter that the medium they have to heat.
What do you want to heat. Air, water?Why don't you start a simple project with e.g. a (waterproof) DS18B20 temp sensor.
And print it's temp to the serial monitor.
If that works, then think of displaying it on a (2-line) LCD.
If that works, then think of lighting a LED above or below a certain temp (if statement).
If that works, then think of adding a relay or mosfet to switch the heater.
If you're new to Arduino, then don't try do it all at once.
Leo..
Thanks for the suggestion, I've already built a temperature sensor using Arduino through a tmp36 and also with the DS19B20 sensor. I could indeed change the tutorial for tmp36's code from "low" "mid" and "high" to "on" "on" and "off" when its high? Not sure, just something I thought of a while ago.