I'm looking to create a real time volume monitoring system for Coffee pot. This type of project has been done before. The hardware include linknode d1 with ESP 8266 WiFi, a load cell, load cell amplifier, and few hardwares to install the load cell.
I'm trying to detect the volume level online over the web, where I and everyone in the office can access. I'm not sure how we can do this. How do I send the signal from the WIFI board them do some sort of scripting to visually display the coffee level.
I'm an absolute noob when it comes to programming and doing any web page stuff so i might need spoon fed here from you guys.
If there are similar projects that you guys done and willing to share please send it over my way.
dave-in-nj:
last time I asked about why the pot was empty, someone told me to go to Helen Waite.
That Helen. She is indeed a "Jack of All Trades". I've been told to go to her for a great many things over the years.
As for the coffee, I can imagine 150 people looking at their monitor and seeing that there is but one cup left. And thinking "Do I need coffee bad enough to have to fix another pot? Nope, I'll wait".
That will be a very popular project in the office.
The pot woud best be monitored, as you have pointed out , using a load cell to weight the mass of the pot.
To simplify things, you could buy or op-shop a batthroom or kitchen electronic scales that would fit under the pot and base.
Hack the scales by pulling it electronics out, BUT leave the load cells, you now have a perfect mechanical setup.
Using a HX711 breakout to interface.
The do the ESP WiFi stuff, which I have but not played with yet, some other members will be able to help.
I hope my suggestions are a starting point, others may have better ideas.
See what happens.
Tom....
PS. I would be adding alarm sirens and flashing light if ever the pot got to one cup left and it was 10 minutes to coffee break.
PS Each computer monitor could have a "coffee pot status" widget in the corner.
I think my biggest hang up is the web interface from the arduino. It's been almost 20 years since I wrote any codes/scripting and been out of coding world ever since (kinda going backward really..). Starting to pick it up again recently to peak my kids interest in code writing. I thought this project would be perfect to do it.
I plan to add like red, yellow, green light, like the the one in the automation world. So that people also know to run to get their last cup of coffee when yellow light is on
most coffee pots have space for your board and sensors.
brewing ? done brewing ?
For the 'done brewing' you can have a TXT alert and anyone who wants in on that pays a quarter......
google about webserver arduino.
if someone wants coffee, they can go to the link.
not sure where you would put the load cell. a full tank, ready to brew, would be the same weight as a full pot of brewed if you weigh the whole coffee maker.
I have 4 3 wires (red, black, white) load cell in my scale and would like to connect it to the HX711 amplifier. The input to HX711 would be E+, E-, A-, and A+. I found the schematic (Sparkfun) and looks pretty straight forward.
The schematic mentioned that I need to figure out the +/- of the wires (load cells) by measuring the most resistance between the 2 wires. My question is, if say the black and white are the 2 wires that create most resistance, which wire would be the "+" and which wire would be the "-".
you have a metal frame, and two sensors. each sensor has two wires.
you need to figure which wires go to which sensor. that is all.
one a very simple description, the sensor outputs difference.
one sensor is in compression, the output goes higher or lower.
the other sensor is in tension and goes lower or higher, opposite what it does under compression.
you just connect your wires to the amplifying board.
since it is a change in resistance, there is no positive or negative wires. just output wires.
the beauty of the sparkfun is that the load cell and board are already marked for colors.
===============
If you want to understand the way the cell works, read up on Wheatstone bridges.
they offer a balance of resistance and you alter any one resistor and that upsets the balance and you get an output.
==============
lastly, if you do not have the Sparkfun parts, the color scheme may be different. may be the same. best to post a link to the parts you ordered.
================
also, if you are reading a specific page, post a link to that page.
If Helen is not about you need an individual code entered ( valid if the pot weight is above a certain weight), to
Show who last filled it .
When you have it working locally and you have your WiFi board, the examples with the library should get you going and allow you make a web page everyone can visit . Have a look at the Wemos board - that could do the whole job and is easy to use with
A good library .
dave-in-nj:
you have a metal frame, and two sensors. each sensor has two wires.
you need to figure which wires go to which sensor. that is all.
one a very simple description, the sensor outputs difference.
one sensor is in compression, the output goes higher or lower.
the other sensor is in tension and goes lower or higher, opposite what it does under compression.
you just connect your wires to the amplifying board.
since it is a change in resistance, there is no positive or negative wires. just output wires.
the beauty of the sparkfun is that the load cell and board are already marked for colors.
===============
If you want to understand the way the cell works, read up on Wheatstone bridges.
they offer a balance of resistance and you alter any one resistor and that upsets the balance and you get an output.
==============
lastly, if you do not have the Sparkfun parts, the color scheme may be different. may be the same. best to post a link to the parts you ordered.
================
also, if you are reading a specific page, post a link to that page.
