Hi,
I want to connect 4 thermocouples to an arduino which subcomponents should I use to monitor the temperature, control 3 heating elements and a cooling element?
Would an arduino mega be suitable?
Regards,
Arne
Which type of thermocouple? They cannot be connected directly to an Arduino, any Arduino. You need an adapter board. Three options are
MAX31856 4ch
AD8595
MAX31855
There are others. but this is the type of item you are looking for. If all you want to do is read these boards and transfer the data to a PC, then an UNO will suffice. A MEGA will also do but be overkill.
There are different types of TCs, the type to use depends on temperature range and environment (atmosphere) they are used in. What are the power requirements (Volts and Amps) of the heating / cooling elements you are using? Have you worked with thermocouples and temperature control before?
adwsystems:
Which type of thermocouple? They cannot be connected directly to an Arduino, any Arduino. You need an adapter board. Three options are
MAX31856 4ch
AD8595
MAX31855There are others. but this is the type of item you are looking for. If all you want to do is read these boards and transfer the data to a PC, then an UNO will suffice. A MEGA will also do but be overkill.
The problem is that I don't know which type of TC it is there is no data available so I need to test it and then determine which type it is.
It is the first thing you need to know. Good luck with the 'testing'.
outsider:
There are different types of TCs, the type to use depends on temperature range and environment (atmosphere) they are used in. What are the power requirements (Volts and Amps) of the heating / cooling elements you are using? Have you worked with thermocouples and temperature control before?
For the heating elemtens it's 1x 175W and 2x500W 240V but I would use AC-relais to connect it with the arduine
The cooling would just be a watercooling circuit with waterpump.
No I have no experience at it
Arnevanbaelen:
For the heating elemtens it's 1x 175W and 2x500W 240V but I would use AC-relais to connect it with the arduine
The cooling would just be a watercooling circuit with waterpump.No I have no experience at it
Which means you will likely purchase a relay board off eBay or Alibaba with a relay that says it can handle the requirements, but with a circuit board not designed to which may arc and catch fire. If you have not worked with power mains voltages please ask someone local to show you how and to review the components you are using. You will be working in dangerous territory.
The safer way would be to build or buy a relay driver board and use it to control a socket mounted 'ice-cube' relay, guaranteed you will not have PCB design (or mis-design) issues.
Arnevanbaelen:
The problem is that I don't know which type of TC it is there is no data available so I need to test it and then determine which type it is.
You have 4 thermocouples and you don't know what type they are? Throw them away and buy 4 that come with datasheets which tell you what they are. If one fails, then you know where to buy another one.
Thermocouples are very tricky to get good measurements. You have to use special wire and special connectors. There's lots of ways that interference can get into your system. The ONLY reason for using them is if the temperatures you are measuring are outside the range of the simple digital sensors. You cannot beat a DS18B20 for the -55 to +150 range. But outside that range, it simply stops taking measurements.
What temperature range do you need to measure?
MorganS:
You have 4 thermocouples and you don't know what type they are? Throw them away and buy 4 that come with datasheets which tell you what they are. If one fails, then you know where to buy another one.Thermocouples are very tricky to get good measurements. You have to use special wire and special connectors. There's lots of ways that interference can get into your system. The ONLY reason for using them is if the temperatures you are measuring are outside the range of the simple digital sensors. You cannot beat a DS18B20 for the -55 to +150 range. But outside that range, it simply stops taking measurements.
What temperature range do you need to measure?
It would be upto 350degrees
You have 4 thermocouples and you don't know what type they are? Throw them away and buy 4 that come with datasheets which tell you what they are. If one fails, then you know where to buy another one.
Throw them away? Please don’t. Datasheets? You’re joking, right? Those are just tables of known emf values at various temperatures that don’t change unless you change the materials. Sheesh.
Thermocouples are standardized, world-wide. Google “thermocouple color codes” and you can identify any t/c in two seconds.
Google "thermocouple color codes" and you can identify any t/c in two seconds.
Is that a fact?
The OP is probably looking at something like the one below. Please explain to him/her what type it is, and how to wire up and use it with Arduino.
jremington:
Is that a fact?The OP is probably looking at something like the one below. Please explain to him/her what type it is, and how to wire up and use it with Arduino.
I can't throw them away. What I can say is that it is for an pellet extruder. But due to "embargo" regulations I can't share any pictures
Good luck with your project!
Uh, that looks like a capillary bulb thermostat to me. But hey, what do I know, you’re the expert.
Okay, so if the thermocouple has visible wires, they can usually be identified. Since the OP has given us absolutely zero information and we have posters telling him to throw them away, it was time to put some usable information into the thread.
Thanks for playing. Next contestant, please.
Uh, that looks like a capillary bulb thermostat to me
It is in fact an "universal gas furnace 30 mV thermocouple", which you can buy here.