Model Boat Mayhem

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length.
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Practical ARDUINO #2 - Thermal Protection  (Read 2002 times)

Mr.R.Duino

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 8
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: Duino Land
Practical ARDUINO #2 - Thermal Protection
« on: November 19, 2016, 11:47:50 am »

Thermal protection

There are times when it would be good to have some thermal monitoring and protection in a model boat.

It is possible to monitor the temperature of individual components in a model (motor, ESC, battery, steam boiler etc.) with a sensor(s).

The sensor in this example is a Digital Temperature Sensor - DS18B20

This sensor is a remarkable device about the size of a normal transistor, it’s quite accurate and multiple sensors can used as each sensor has it’s own unique ID.

You can use just 2 wires to simply connect the sensors in a daisy chain as the sensors can derive power directly from the data line (“parasite power”), eliminating the need for an external power supply ( 3rd wire).

The sensors can be purchased for £3 each from Hobbytronics http://www.hobbytronics.co.uk/ds18b20-temperature-sensor?keyword=-%20DS18B20

 
But sensing temperature is only half the story, we need to be able trigger an “alarm event” when predefined temperatures are reached.

To add this intelligence I am using an Arduino Uno (a clone is approx. £8)

These alarm events could be in the form of:

  • an audible sound
  • a flashing led
  • throttle channel is restricted or turned off
  • switching something on or off – this could be a relay, a fan etc.
  • a combination of the above
This video will give you an idea of what’s possible and how it works

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amrz1m0JzQ0

Video info:

The video shows monitoring 8 sensors and their corresponding temperatures are shown on the LCD display and their status is indicated by the RGB coloured leds. (green=ok, amber = warning, red = alarm status)

The trigger temperatures on the first sensor (top left) are green <20, amber >21 and < 22 and red >22 degrees. The servo is also moved to 3 different points according to trigger temperature

The video starts with the temperature of Sensor 1 (S1:) at less than 20 degrees. I touch it and  the temperature soon goes up, first triggering the "Amber" state and then the "Red" state.

The cost for the solution -  1 sensor and Arduino clone less than £12! (excludes cabling, LCD and LEDs)

Have fun!

Mr.R.Duino
Logged

Brian60

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,315
  • Location: Hull,UK-but currently residing in Los Martinez, Spain.
Re: Practical ARDUINO #2 - Thermal Protection
« Reply #1 on: December 04, 2016, 07:29:56 pm »

Interesting article and could be really useful for boats running smokers or other heat producing running gear - even monitoring brushless motors which can run very hot.
Pages: [1]   Go Up
 

Page created in 0.17 seconds with 22 queries.