kilns WiFi Programmable PID Temperature Controller Instructions
- July 30, 2024
- Kilns
Table of Contents
User Guide
WiFi Programmable PID Temperature Controller
This is a Digital, Programmable, Proportional-Integrator-Derivative (PID),
Web-Enabled Temperature Controller (WiFi Programmable PID Thermocontroller).
It provides an excellent and simple way to control temperature variability to
have it closely match a target value. Implementing PID control offers a way to
account for error accumulating over time and allows the system to “self-
correct”. Once the temperature exceeds or drops below the target value input
in the program (temperature value), the PID controller starts accumulating
error. This accumulated error informs future decisions the controller makes to
limit the overshoot in the future, meaning there is better control over the
programmed temperature.
Our thermocontroller has a WiFi access point named “ThermoController”. Once
you connect to it you get access to the controller management through a web
interface. You can connect using any device with a web browser, e.g. PC,
tablet, smartphone etc. independent of whether the device is Windows, Linux or
iOS.
You can change existing and create new temperature curves with the curve
editor. Just drag the points on the graph to the correct position and drop it.
You can also use the text fields below to enter specific values manually. The
resulting slopes are calculated automatically for convenient datasheet
comparison.
Features:
- easy to create new kiln programme or modify an existing one
- no limit on runtime – the kiln can fire for days
- view status from multiple devices at once – computer, tablet etc.
- NIST-linearized conversion for accurate K-type thermocouple readings
- monitor temperature inside of the kiln after the programme has ended
Technical specifications:
- Voltage input: 110V – 240V AC
- SSR input current: </= 100mA
- SSR input voltage: >/= 3V
- ThermoCouple Sensor: K-type only
How to use the thermocontroller:
To be able to use the thermocontroller please make sure that your device can
work through WiFi connection and has a web browser. You can use PC, laptop,
tablet, or smartphone independent of the operating system (Windows, Linux,
iOS, Android etc).
Once you have connected all the necessary items to the thermocontroller (Fig.
1), switch the thermocontroller power supply on. Then, on your device of
choice that you will use to manage the thermocontroller open the WiFi
connection manager, find the access point ‘ThermoController’ and connect to
it. Please also input the word combination ‘ThermoController’ as a password.
Next, open your web browser, input 192.168.4.1:8888 in the address bar and
click ‘Go’ or ‘Enter’. You will then see a web interface opening, which will
now allow you to manage the thermocontroller. Please refer to Figure 2.
Figure 2. Thermocontroller WEB Interface. (1) Current temperature; (2) Currently programmed temperature; (3) Remaining time until the program run ends; (4) Completion progress; (5) Pre-set programs list; (6) Edit selected program; (7) Add/save new pre-set program; (8) Start/Stop button.
Choose the programme you need from the dropdown menu (Fig 2., label 5), then
click ‘Start’ (Fig 2., label 8). You will see a pop-up window coming up
showing the title for the program you have chosen to run, the estimated run
time, and an approximate electricity consumption and cost needed to complete
the program (Fig 3). However, please take into account that the electricity
consumption and cost is a very rough estimate and is only there to give you a
very rough idea of the numbers. This estimate does not
guarantee that you will use exactly that much electricity at that specific
cost.
Now, you can confirm the chosen program by clicking ‘Yes, start the Run’,
which will start the run.
Alternatively, if you want to change something click ‘No, take me back’, which
will take you back to the original web interface window.
How to create a new program
In the main interface window click on the + button (Fig. 2, label 7) to start
creating a new program. An editor window will open (Fig. 4), but it will be
empty. You can now add or delete individual program steps by clicking ‘+’ or
‘-‘. If you do not require your program to be highly accurate you can drag the
points corresponding to each program step you created onto the graph to your
chosen location. You can do that by clicking and dragging with your mouse (PC,
laptop) or taping and dragging with your finger (smartphone, tablet). Later,
you will also be able to edit the points in the text input mode.
If you need to input very accurate point coordinates straight away, then you
can go straight to the text input mode by clicking the button labelled 1 in
Figure 4.
Once you clicked the button, you will see a window open as shown in Figure 5. Please take note: the time you input in the time fields corresponds to the time scale represented by the x-axis (Fig. 4), meaning the time commenced since the start of the program run. It does NOT correspond to the duration of the program step.
Here is a breakdown for the example program shown in Figure 5:
Step 1: Start at 0 minutes and 5⁰C (usually here you input a temperature
a bit lower than the temperature in the room where you are working).
Step 2: Raise the temperature to 80⁰C within 5 minutes (type in 5 min and
80⁰C).
Step 3: Hold the temperature at 80⁰C for 10 minutes (type 80⁰C, but to
calculate the time add 10 minutes to the 5 minutes in step 2, so input 15
minutes).
Step 4: Raise the temperature to 100⁰C within 5 minutes (type in 100⁰C,
for the time calculation add 5 minutes to the previously calculated 15
minutes, thus type in 20 minutes).
And so on.
Figure 5. Text editor window showing an example of a program steps input. Here you can input accurate time and temperature values for each program step.
Once you have filled in all the values in your program you can save it by typing in a program title of your choice in the ‘Profile Name’ field and then clicking/tapping on ‘Save’ button.
Please take note:
A: When the controller is switched on, for the first 3-5 minutes the
temperature values displayed will be slightly lower or higher than the actual
temperature. This is normal, and after around 5-10 minutes the system will
start taking into account the ambient temperature in the room and inside the
controller. It will then stabilise and start displaying accurate temperature.
You can start working despite of this temperature difference because the
controller starts showing accurate temperature readings when the temperature
is in the range of 100°C – 1260°C.
B: Please do not put the thermocontroller in any place prone to heating up to
temperatures above 50°C. If you place the thermocontroller in a box, you need
to ensure that the temperature within that box does not exceed 40-50°C. If the
temperature does get quite high in the box, you would need to arrange for a
good ventilation.
C: To connect thermocouple to thermocontroller please use a special extension
K-type wire or a multicore copper wire with a wire section of 0.5mm². It is
preferable to have a twisted pair.
D: If you are planning to use a few of our controllers at home then you should
let us know before or immediately after placing the order. We will then set up
your controllers to have different IP addresses so that there is no IP
conflict when you start using them.
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