Hi
I am looking at upgrading my PID

I currently have a SL4848 PID from automation direct
http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Overview/Catalog/Process_Controls/Temperature_-z-_Process_Controllers/1-z-16_DIN_Size_(SL4848_-z-_PM_-z-_TC_-z-_PC_Series)

It works well, my only complaint is that you have to set times in increments of minutes, which limits flexibility.

I was looking at the Fuji PXG series, which is somewhat expensive, but I might break down and get one, if it does everything I want.

I know it can work in seconds, am wondering about the software interface via RS485.

I like the SL4848 software, it lets me create temp profiles, save them to a PC, and then reload them to the PID.
I can also save the thermocouple data in a file. With a little work, I can later put the data into an excel chart.

I found a manual for the PXR-lite software online, but it doesn't seem to do much, other then let you load the PID.

There's also something called PXG parameter loader software, but I'm not sure what that does. I'm guessing it lets you load a file that you can create into the PXG, to set up all the registers. I would hope that you can either download the existing information from the PXG, or that Fuji provides an example file, although that is not clear from anything I found so far.

The pxrlite software supports "polling", which seems like it will read the thermocouple, and "logging", which looks like it will save the data to a file.

So, hoping to get some feedback from PXR users, to make sure I can do what I want, before buying one of these things.

In summary, does the PXR support
1. saving the thermocouple data to a file in a usable format.
2. Setting up the PXR with user modifiable configuration files
3. allowing the user to save the PXR configuration information to a file

1 and 2 are requirements, 3 is a would really like to have.

Randy

yes yes yes

If you are interested, this is a fresh snapshot of a program to interface with PXG4 or PXR3 for roasters (program is not finished).



check the file name artisan here (it is written in python):

http://groups.google.com/group/questm3/files?hl=en

The program allows you to control the roaster and has graphic interfaces for the PID. It has large buttons so it works well with a touch screen.

regards

Arpi wrote:yes yes yes

If you are interested, this is a fresh snapshot of a program to interface with PXG4 or PXR3 for roasters (program is not finished).

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check the file name artisan here (it is written in python):

http://groups.google.com/group/questm3/files?hl=en

The program allows you to control the roaster and has graphic interfaces for the PID. It has large buttons so it works well with a touch screen.

regards

Thanks, even though it looks like this is going to cost me some money .

That program looks very nice. How close is it to being ready? Is it usable in present form?
Did you write it because the Fuji software is not very good, or because you wanted something customized for roasting?
I will assume ET is coming from the Fuji, so how do you input BT?
Right now, I use the solo software to record ET, and I have a meter with a USB interface for BT, which is read with the coffeesnobs software, and I have to integrate after the roast. It would be very nice to have them both in the same program, at the same time.

Hope I am not asking too many questions, but it is a very cool looking program.

Thanks
Randy

Hi Randy.

There is a program called PXRLite (for PXR3s) that works with the PXG4 because they use the same memory address (only for plotting!). It is very basic and the graphs are not that attractive. The program I am making is to simplify the operation of the roaster. For example, PXRLite was written for PXR pids. Then the other program called "Parameter Loader" only works with the PXG4 and only allows you to read and load parameters to the PXG4. So, with those two pieces of software (plot, and adjust), you get a back and forth dance that usually turned into freezes and reboots.

With this other software (artisan) everything is nice and ready on the same screen and only shows what is important. I use a PXG4 to control the roaster (and read ET) and a cheaper PXR3 to only read BT (both connected in the same RS485 network). The program already works and you can control the pid (only the PXG4) from the buttons. You can plot both readings, save to pictures, save to files, and more stuff. But it is very fresh and needs testing and validations. There is also more stuff to add to make it complete. I would like to make it so that the user can chose the type of pid to control the roaster but that has not been done yet. For example, you could use PXR3 + PXR3 instead of PXG4 + PXR3, which would be somewhat cheaper. I would like to add also plotting for cupping. That way the same program can plot that spider web circles used in cuppings and be saved as either Jpegs/textfiles and then be able to visually compare results of roasts in terms of flavors. Well, there are many things to be done I would say that in 4 months or so the program could be finished. Then I'll try to make it so that it can be installed in windows without installing python which would make it less clunky to install (a binary .exe program with installer)

Cheers