FAQs

SMARTPLUGS

Which smartplugs should I buy?

The MyBrewbot controller operates on 433 mhz radio. Unlike lots of WiFi  smartplugs there is no need for a gateway. The controller acts as the gateway.

MyBrewbot does not operate with WiFi smartplugs (which are pretty expensive). Instead it uses the sort of remote plugs you can buy in many supermarkets or hardware stores. Look at the list of smartplugs we have tried and tested for your country.

If you have a set of smartplugs already  then follow the instructions for programming the controller to see if they will work.

Programming

You have a choice to either program the plugs from the controller or to program the controller with the codes embedded in the remote control that came with your plugs. Follow the instructions to program and then test each plug individually.

Auxiliary Plugs

There are two 'auxiliary'  plugs which are controlled from the settings screen. These plugs are basic on/off switches and can be used to switch lights on in your brewshed, start fans, turn heaters on - it's up to your imagination.

SENSORS

Sensor Jack Sockets

The MyBrewbot controller has three jack sockets:

Pink Socket

The pink socket is for a  single pressure sensor. It will not work with a temperature probe, nor will it work with a hub connected.

Green & Black Socket

The green  and black sockets are for either a single temperature probe or for up to 4 probes attached with a hub to each socket - making a total of 8 probes. 

Probes should be introduced one at a time and registered in the interface. Probes can be given a 'user friendly' name and assigned a function. Available functions are beer, ambient, common  ambient, air and common air.

The two 'common' designations are for instances where you are running two ferments in the same fermentation fridge (common ambient) or are logging the air temperature of your brewing space (common air).

TILTS

The MyBrewbot controller has BLE transmitter receiver onboard.

It continually monitors for the presence of Tilts and, once one is detected, will notify the user via the application interface.

Once a Tilt has been identified you can assign it to a fermenter and decide whether you want the Tilt to control temperature, sg or both.

The controller looks every 5 seconds for transmitted BLE data. It is good practise to keep the controller as close to and on a level with the Tilt in the fermentation fridge and also to try and minimise the number of bluetooth transmitting devices near to the controller.

The controller will support up to 4 Tilts.

iSPINDEL

Setup is simple. Just connect the iSpindel to the same wifi network as the controller. Input the MyBrewbot controller's IP address into the  server address field on the iSpindel setup screen and /ispindel into the server URL field. and set the frequency of reporting. 

PROFILES

Each of the 4 fermenters can have a profile running at any one time. Profiles can be stored and retrieved.

Each profile can have up to 15 steps. Each step divides the temperature change into the number of hours in the period and increases/decreases the temperature each hour.  

Four step types are available:

Time over Temperature

Change the temperature over a given period. When the period ends move to the next step irrespective of whether the beer has reached that temperature.

Temperature over  Time

Change the temperature over a given period. When the period ends and the beer has reached the target temperature move onto the next step. Don't move on if the beer has not reached the target temperature.

Free Rise

Allow the yeast to find it's own temperature within the set floor and ceiling temperatures. Useful for Belgian style beers for example.

Specific Gravity

Change the temperature over time but only move onto the next step once a target Specific Gravity has been reached.

BREW SOFTWARE

MyBrewbot currently supports 3 brew software providers, Brewfather, Brewer's Friend and Monitor Beer. 

By inputting your Brew Software authorisation code into the user interface of MyBrewbot the controller will send fermentation information to the software supplier every 15 minutes.

Monitor Beer also offers the ability to download profiles from their site.

MCU

Microcontroller: Tensilica 32-bit RISC CPU Xtensa LX106.

Operating Voltage: 3.3V.

2.4 GHz WiFi

BLE

BT Version: Bluetooth Specification V4.0 BLE

Working frequency: 2.4GHz ISM band

Speed: Asynchronous: 2-6K Bytes

Synchronous: 2-6K Bytes

433 MHz Transmitter/|Receiver

Wireless (RF) Simplex Transmitter and Receiver

Operating frequency: 433 MHz

Transmission Distance: 3 metres to 100 metres (maximum)

Data Transmission speed: 10Kbps

Temperature Probes

Stainless steel 6mm diameter by 30mm long

Waterproof.

Usable temperature range: -55 to 125°C (-67°F to +257°F)

9 to 12 bit selectable resolution

1-Wire interface

Unique 64 bit ID burned into chip

Pressure Sensor

1/8" NPT Stainless Steel Pressure Transducer 

Operating Voltage: 5V.

Rated pressure 0 - 100 psi