RalphTrimble
TVWBB Diamond Member
Hi all, I am new here, been wanting a smoker controller for a long time but like the idea of making one myself rather than putting out the big bucks for production unit. The LinkMeter seems like just the project for me but first I have some questions....
First of all, let me make sure I have the basic concept down here.... The HeaterMeter is a board designed to use an ATmega chip to measure the pit temperature (and food temp) by reading probes and in turn runs a blower to stoke the fire to achieve the desired temperature. The HeaterMeter board can be installed into an openWRT Linksys router (connected via internal serial port), the firmware of the router is flashed to load the pit monitoring software (website). I think thats pretty much it in a nutshell? There is also an optional RF unit that can send the probe data back to a LinkMeter wirelessly, this confuses me a bit since the router is wireless already? Is this just so the LinkMeter device can be kept indoors or away from the pit? It doesn't seem I would need the RF option (and that little RF device seems to be back ordered right now anyways) but perhaps I am not understanding the function completely? Please straighten me out if I have something wrong here.....
Now for my questions....
When the LinkMeter is working I assume the website can be accessed from a smart phone or tablet (or PC) by connecting to the LinkMeter wireless network? Can the linkmeter also be bridged to another router which is internet connected to allow access to the website over the internet (or existing local network)?
I see the wiki says the LinkMeter needs to run on the HeaterMeter V3 hardware, but there is no link on the V3 hardware page to buy a V3 circuit board? I am wondering if the V3 circuit can be built on a V4 circuit board? If not, is there a source to purchase a V3 circuit board still?
I see the ATmega chip needs to be flashed with the HeaterMeter program, does anyone sell pre-flashed ATmega chips for the HeaterMeterV3 (or whichever version is needed to build a LinkMeter), or will I have to buy or build a device to flash the ATmega chip? I know there are many ways to flash the ATmega chip but I only have access to PC's right now, so I guess a USB programmer would be the way to go for me. If anyone has a link to a cheap source for a USB unit I would appreciate it, doesn't matter if it's a complete unit or a kit (or even a mouser project). I just want to do it on the cheap because I have read how smoker controllers can get expensive even when you DIY....
I am trying to find a blower from Mouser and am wondering how the HM regulates the blower speed? Does it raise and lower the voltage applied to the blower or is it using PWM to control the speed? Does it need to have a speed sensor on the blower? I am wondering what are the basic requirements for a blower to work in this system? Also, I am wondering if the blower in a LinkMeter setup is powered by the Linksys router power supply? If so, do I need to beef up that power supply to handle running the fan?
Speaking of the Linksys router, I have here on hand a WRT54G V2 router. I see the suggested router is the WRT54GL and am wondering if the WRT54G will work or do I need to have the GL version of the router for this to work?
Thanks in advance to anyone who is kind enough to take the time and reply to my questions....
PS My electronics and soldering skills are pretty solid....
First of all, let me make sure I have the basic concept down here.... The HeaterMeter is a board designed to use an ATmega chip to measure the pit temperature (and food temp) by reading probes and in turn runs a blower to stoke the fire to achieve the desired temperature. The HeaterMeter board can be installed into an openWRT Linksys router (connected via internal serial port), the firmware of the router is flashed to load the pit monitoring software (website). I think thats pretty much it in a nutshell? There is also an optional RF unit that can send the probe data back to a LinkMeter wirelessly, this confuses me a bit since the router is wireless already? Is this just so the LinkMeter device can be kept indoors or away from the pit? It doesn't seem I would need the RF option (and that little RF device seems to be back ordered right now anyways) but perhaps I am not understanding the function completely? Please straighten me out if I have something wrong here.....
Now for my questions....
When the LinkMeter is working I assume the website can be accessed from a smart phone or tablet (or PC) by connecting to the LinkMeter wireless network? Can the linkmeter also be bridged to another router which is internet connected to allow access to the website over the internet (or existing local network)?
I see the wiki says the LinkMeter needs to run on the HeaterMeter V3 hardware, but there is no link on the V3 hardware page to buy a V3 circuit board? I am wondering if the V3 circuit can be built on a V4 circuit board? If not, is there a source to purchase a V3 circuit board still?
I see the ATmega chip needs to be flashed with the HeaterMeter program, does anyone sell pre-flashed ATmega chips for the HeaterMeterV3 (or whichever version is needed to build a LinkMeter), or will I have to buy or build a device to flash the ATmega chip? I know there are many ways to flash the ATmega chip but I only have access to PC's right now, so I guess a USB programmer would be the way to go for me. If anyone has a link to a cheap source for a USB unit I would appreciate it, doesn't matter if it's a complete unit or a kit (or even a mouser project). I just want to do it on the cheap because I have read how smoker controllers can get expensive even when you DIY....
I am trying to find a blower from Mouser and am wondering how the HM regulates the blower speed? Does it raise and lower the voltage applied to the blower or is it using PWM to control the speed? Does it need to have a speed sensor on the blower? I am wondering what are the basic requirements for a blower to work in this system? Also, I am wondering if the blower in a LinkMeter setup is powered by the Linksys router power supply? If so, do I need to beef up that power supply to handle running the fan?
Speaking of the Linksys router, I have here on hand a WRT54G V2 router. I see the suggested router is the WRT54GL and am wondering if the WRT54G will work or do I need to have the GL version of the router for this to work?
Thanks in advance to anyone who is kind enough to take the time and reply to my questions....
PS My electronics and soldering skills are pretty solid....
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