Today I analyzed the source code for the RoastLogger software. This source code is an Arduino sketch that is modified to be compatible with the Roast Logger program. The default output is in Celsius but I changed it into Fahrenheit. The pseudo-code for some main functions of this software looks as below: 1. Setup – Delay 10s for start up – Initialize the variables Heater Fan Thermocouple 1 Thermocouple 2 Rate of Rise (RoR) –...

Today I made some research on the heat sink that we’ll need to use for our SSR. Basically, heat sinks are required to insure the proper operation and long term reliability of Solid State Relays because they provide a means to dissipate the power that is normally developed by the SSR into the surrounding ambient air and maintain a safe operating temperature. Selecting the correct Heat Sink for any given SSR application involves...

Earlier I mentioned about a method that would help us test the functionality of our SSR. By connecting the SSR to a very simple circuit, with a battery, a light bulb and an AC source. The DC control voltage will be the battery with the positive “+” sign connected to terminal 3 and the negative “-” sign connected to terminal 4 of the solid state relay. On the load side (terminal 1 and 2), we will have the light bulb...

The Artisan software that Nick Brenn used for his project is configured with the Zero Cross Detector for phase angle control of the motor. In our project, instead of having the motor fan, we’ll just use the fan from the toaster oven. Therefore, instead of using the Artisan software, I figured out that we should use the RoastLogger software, which offers a nice standalone interface that helps us control the fan and the heating elements,...

After confirming that the thermocouple actually works consistently with what we read from the thermometer, we began working on task 2, which is to determine the options for how the heating elements could be connected to the solid state relay. But first we need to make know how to implement the SSR and make sure if it works the way we want. I tested the solid state relay that we have using the following method:...