Help making a event counter for beer fermentation

[trimixdiver]

Hi

Im totaly new to Labview. I need to take a DI from a NI daq card and display the total counts via number display and display a graph ( time vs counts per hour) I would also like to record the data for viewing later.

Basicly I want to measure how many times my airlock on my beer fermenter bubbles. I have a photohelic with a Omron counter. I get aprox 10,000 burps per day. Knowing that and the volume of the airlock Id also like to use Labview to do the math to figure the % alcohol thus the gravity of the beer.

If anyone could help I would be indebted to you. Heck Id even pay someone to make the VI for me or give them the best beer they ever tasted.

Please let me know

[chilly_charly]

I'm ready for some gallons of the best beer ! 😄

Calculation of the % alcohol from the gas exhaust is not a big issue, as shown in the attached vi. The calculation could be further refined to take into account the fermentation rate (that acts on the CO2 solubility), but I'm not sure that this is the kind of detail that bothers you now...

Next you'll have to get the burp number. What is your hardware set up ? Do you already get the DI count  ?

Don't hesitate to ask if you need further help !

[trimixdiver]

Hi thanks for the help. Your going to have to take baby steps with me here...

My set up will be a 0-2in H2O Dwyer Photohelic that is attached to the airlock. It closes a relay for every burp. It goes to a zero voltage input on a Omron 4 digiit counter. Im going to take the relay output put 5vdc through it and take it to an input on the 50 pin breakout board I have. So thats the setup.

My issue is the Labview program, Id like to set up a example to test it before I get the DAQ card (in the mail)

Thanks again

If your close to Pittsburgh I will make any kind of beer for you.

Go to wwwbuckley1.com to check out my site (homebrewing link)

[chilly_charly]

Seems that your setup is quite elaborated ! Since I'm not familiar with 1) home brewing, 2) US (non SI) units, I think you'll have to check carefully my calculations. Here is a modified vi that will allow you to simulate a fermentation run, by clicking on the Burp! button. Ask if you need specific explanations.

There is a lot to be done :

- save the parameters (burp vol, tank size...) to a .ini file

- save the data to disk

- reload last data upon start-up (in case of power failure - or microsoft bug)

- overlay a previous plot for comparison

- monitor the temperature

- create a data base, and record the data with recipe, yeast, etc...

- you name it...

If you are a true beginner, that will keep you busy for a few months !

You could even create the ideal home brewer monitoring application ! 🙂

Have a look to my profile, you'll see that I'm not close to Pittsburgh. But I'll remember the offer... 😉

[trimixdiver]

You the man!!!

Boy you really helped! I would have had no idea how to do that. Im a MCSE and a Brewer.

When I get the card in I will let you know.

PS  Is the % Alcohol accurate? Seems great! I wonder if by figuring abv I can do specific gravity. I know I would have to enter the starting gravity (say 1.050) and using the abv, some how set it to do SG?

You have opened my eyes! Now I need to get a handle on this program. It makes no sence to me right now.

[chilly_charly]

Hey trimixdiver, if you want some help decoding LabVIEW you better help me decode your replies !

MCSE, card, abv, SG ? Make no sense either ! :D:D:D

If you could provide some reference to quantify the correspondence between alcohol content and the variation of the specific gravity, that could save me some time to help you... 😉

[trimixdiver]

Ok deal.

Here is a link on the Alcohol math

http://science.howstuffworks.com/question532.htm

abv= alcohol by volume

SG= starting gravity

FG= finishing gravity

MCSE is a microcrap certification.

From what I know in brewing is if I can input the SG of the beer (before fermentation) and know that every .01 in gravity is equal to .01 kg/l of CO2 multiply by 1.05 to get the weight of Alcohol

Anyway you get the point.. I just wish I didnt have to bug you.

Thanks

[trimixdiver]

Im starting to see the method behind the madness.

The vi you did for the math was good but once I get off my a** and get the right numbers I will let you know.

Oh yea

This is my grain mill http://www.buckley1.com/IM001425.JPG

A 3 phase motoe with a freq drive. Overkill...Na!

Im starting to see the posibilites here... Like monitoring my beer chiller using the same VI you made for me, except remove the alcohol and slap in kwh? Or the same thing with my fermenter heater?

[LV_Pro]

Chilly,

   Since you are on the wrong continent to stop in at his brewery I will volunteer to fill my "Enthusiast's mug" in your place

Trimixdiver, a friend of mine went a similar route here in Upstate NY (near Syracuse)  www.exothink.com, unfortunately not using LabVIEW (his loss!)

P.M.

[trimixdiver]

Hi

Thanks for the reply. Can you look at the vi and add anything you think?

Thanks to both of you!