Brewery Monitoring, mainly temperature?

ESPHome
1

Hey, I run a small brewery with 3 x fermenting vessels. Currently these are monitored via a panel on the front of each tank, which shows the set temperature and the current temperature (inside the tank, i.e. the beer).
When the tank needs to be cooled, via the set and current temps, glycol is pumped round a jacket inside the tank.

Ideally I want to be able to monitor the temperature of each tank via home assistant.
I don’t want to change the probes and temperature monitor/solenoids etc if possible. So if I can, I’d like to some how ‘hook into’ the current bus system?

Below is the details from the manuals of the monitoring system on the tanks, essentially they are daisy chained together, though this may just be for provision of power to operate them and work the solenoids.

Any ideas or tips would be gratefully received!

Screenshot 2022-02-18 at 12.16.07
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Screenshot 2022-02-18 at 12.15.47
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Screenshot 2022-02-18 at 12.15.27
Screenshot 2022-02-18 at 12.15.271484×1278 375 KB

2

Have you asked the supplier of your current control system what options they have? Why do you want to do it with home assistant?

3

Mainly because I love home assistant, have some experience with it and esp32 to monitor temp at home.

4

I see in the manual

interface: bus (insulated) Details on request.

Have you requested?

The protocol is probably something previously documented like knx or something industrial. Chances are the protocol is or can be supported by HA.

People don’t just produce industrial protocols from scratch for the hell of it. Most are leveraged out of known parts.

PS I have an electrician mate who has wired a few microbreweries, I’ll ask for tips.

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5

In the first picture there is a USB Bus converter mentioned. Maybe there is something printed on that device that can help you.
It’s definitely not KNX - characteristics don’t match (and it would be an awkward choice).
Modbus would have the same max. cable length.

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6

Looking closer the bus is only two wires, green & yellow and terminated at the computer end by USB… Probably serial.

Edit: I agree serial modbus, over rs485.

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7

Thanks. I have now requested more info, lets see if they get back to me.
The site which provides the monitoring software is called Vininfo.
http://sitt.at/index.php/products/vininfo
But I don’t think it gives anymore hints away.

8

You did not say if your brewery is to make beer for yourself and friends (if so, I’m jealous) or if it is a commercial operation (you sell it to others). If it is commercial, there may be country or state regulations to consider (to keep your license/certificate) if you add Home Assistant to your system.

I would also ask SITT/VinInfo what they think of connecting Home Assistant to their control system. I am worried they may terminate any support if you do this or they discover that you have done it.

This also makes the system more complex with little benefit. There would be two systems capable of doing the same tasks. The website documentation says that the existing system can do what you want using their software

9

Thanks for your concerns Max. I choose to ignore all of them :slight_smile:

1 Like
10

Hi @mcdent :wave:
Did you ever get to find out more about your VinInfo bus? Or have you maybe managed to get some data from the SITT software running on the PC?
My brother is using this too and I’m wondering if I can connect it to his HA somehow.