We've been talking about an expansion card for quite a while now, and I know that there are many of you out there that would benefit from more I/O. I think there is enough demand to build one. The new I/O card will plug into the expansion port of the BCS-460, so all units will be compatible with a firmware upgrade. I hope to keep the card <$50.
This is your chance to get your 2cents in. Let me know what features you want/need. All suggestions will be considered.
BCS I/O Expansion Card
Re: BCS I/O Expansion Card
I haven't maxed out the current BCS but I am planning on doing constant upgrades with my system. The system I want to end up with will have four push buttons on the control panel tied into the BCS to manually start (or continue) processes. I would love for these buttons to replace the winbuttons on the gui. I would also like the system to have better control of fluid levels. I have "played" (lack of better term) with the stainless steel float switch idea but it would be nice to have a better process in place for regulating mash out. Maybe a pressure switch would be better?
Perhaps the BCS is currently able to handle all of these requests, but that is where I am heading.
Perhaps the BCS is currently able to handle all of these requests, but that is where I am heading.
Re: BCS I/O Expansion Card
I haven't bought 460 yet, but I have been following the development for a while and will definitely be buying one in the near future. I think it's a great product with great development. A feature that I would love to see would be proportional output. This could be used to further automate a brew day. With proportional output you could set flow valves to be partially open based on other parameters or a preset value. I'm sure it has many other uses as well.
Re: BCS I/O Expansion Card
What is this? like less than 5V on/off. 2v, 3v, ? Are there devices like flow valves that are manipulated with different degrees of voltage?A feature that I would love to see would be proportional output. This could be used to further automate a brew day. With proportional output you could set flow valves to be partially open based on other parameters or a preset value
Re: BCS I/O Expansion Card
Higher end PLC's have analog inputs and outputs. Industry standards are usually 0-5V, or 4-20ma. They're used for proportional outputs, and 'smart' sensors.
So in the case of an output, instead of using a rapid on/off, you could control a valve that is 40% open. The benefit is better control. The drawback is expense. It's not cheap to purchase a proportional valve, and most require an additional power supply. For electric brewers, additional circuitry is required to utilize the analog output to control a heating element.
This is definitely something that I'm looking into. I just have to make sure that it will be reliable and not overly expensive to manufacture.
So in the case of an output, instead of using a rapid on/off, you could control a valve that is 40% open. The benefit is better control. The drawback is expense. It's not cheap to purchase a proportional valve, and most require an additional power supply. For electric brewers, additional circuitry is required to utilize the analog output to control a heating element.
This is definitely something that I'm looking into. I just have to make sure that it will be reliable and not overly expensive to manufacture.
Re: BCS I/O Expansion Card
I am really interested in this as well. as I am starting a very small (pico) brewery, I was looking for an HMI/GUI interface to control the brewery functions and with proportional control it will work with my system the way I have it designed.
Re: BCS I/O Expansion Card
Thank you. This is very much appreciated.ECC wrote:...This is definitely something that I'm looking into...
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Re: BCS I/O Expansion Card
Is it worthwhile to wait for the upgrade? I am contemplating ordering this controller vs another and this would definitely make it more attractive. The added $50 does hurt slightly though because it puts the whole system with 4 probes at about $300.
Re: BCS I/O Expansion Card
The expansion card is definitely an 'add-on'. It will work with every BCS-460 previously sold. The only thing gained by waiting would be that you wouldn't have to do a firmware update, which will be required when the expansion card(s) are released.
The current plan is to handle all upgrades in this manner.
The current plan is to handle all upgrades in this manner.
Re: BCS I/O Expansion Card
I am sitting here drawing the wiring diagram for my system just wishing I had more I/O... I'll buy one in a heartbeat.. A couple analog (4-20mA or 0-5vdc) inputs and outputs would absolutely rock if you can shoe-horn them in.. Then I could use a pressure transducer to automate specific volume transfers from HLT to MLT and a few other nifty little tricks.. Send me the BETA..