TC4 Digital Thermometer and Temperature Controller

Updates to the TC4 application software for compatibility with Arduino 1.0 are now available.

(go to the downloads page)

Version 5.20 of the TC4 shield is now available.

Homeroasters.org project to develop hardware and software for roast temperature monitoring and control.

Click here for information about ordering TC4 system circuit boards. Bare PCB's, PCB's with all surface mount chips pre-soldered, DIY kits, and ready to run TC4C boards are available.

Version 5.20 of the TC4 shield has some significant improvements:

All electronic components are now surface mount.
Through-hole soldering is now required only for headers, switch, and terminals.
Power for OT1 and OT2 is now jumper-selectable, 5V or VIN (5V is now default)
An 0805 LED power indicator has been added (green)
Indicators (red/yellow 0805 LED's) have been added for OT1 and OT2
I/O2 port has been added (for zero-cross detection and phase angle control)
The 8-pin header for parallel LCD interface has been removed (use I2C instead)
Boards ordered pre-populated with SMD's are tested and initialized

TC4 Shield Version 5.20 shown below

Version 1.10 of the TC4C standalone system features:

Fully compatible with TC4 application software (have not tested Kona)
Uses the common FTDI chipset for USB-serial conversion. No compatibility issues with Ubuntu, MacOS, etc.
Has the latest optiboot bootloader installed, making it Uno-compatible
Implements all features of the TC4 Version 5.20 shield, plus an additional I/O port
Sockets provided for connecting a Roving Networks Bluetooth adapter
Provision for optional panel-mounted USB connector.
Ships pre-programmed with choice of application.
Open source hardware and software.

TC4C Version 1.10 shown below

Probably best to think of the TC4 system as programmable interface hardware for multiple thermocouple sensors.

Currently available Arduino-based applications that use the interface:

Kona - PID roast controller (new version released 4/30/2011)
Bourbon - roast monitor (new version released 9/4/2011)
Catuai - roast monitor and manual controller (new version released 9/3/2011)
aArtisan - interface for the Artisan Visual Scope application (new version released 10/11/2011)

Each of these programs support both standalone operation using an LCD display and/or data logger operation if the TC4 is attached via USB cable to a PC.

Kona is a powerful program that offers PID control. We refer you to Randy's posts over on Homeroasters.org, and the online documentation, for a summary of features.

Bourbon is a straightforward monitoring and logging application. When used as part of a standalone system it displays elapsed time, BT, ET, and BT-RoR on a 2-line LCD. Since Bourbon creates and sends a continuous data stream over the USB serial interface, realtime graphic display of roast history as well as CSV format data logging can be done if you connect the TC4 to your computer.

Catuai is very similar to Bourbon. In addition to the above, by connecting 1 or 2 potentiometers to the analog input 3-pin headers provided on the TC4 board, you can manually control the heater and/or fan on your roaster.

Bourbon and Catuai also support an optional 4-button interface for marking roast events (bean drop, first crack, second crack, and eject).

Finally, the newest addition to the application family is aArtisan. This application is written specifically to allow the TC4 to be used as the datalogger for the Artisan Visual Scope for Coffee Roasters application http://code.google.com/p/artisan/.

Each of the above communicate over a serial connection to a PC, and optionally support a standalone LCD display. A special I2C LCD board (the LCDapter) has been developed as part of the project and is supported by each of the applications. http://www.mlgp-llc.com/arduino/public/LCDapterVersion400-1.pdf