Forums46
Topics538,030
Posts9,732,150
Members87,055
|
Most Online25,604 Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
Fighting back against dead freezers
#6418552
08/21/16 10:48 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182
Dave3575
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182 |
I've lost a freezer in the past and recently my buddy lost one with about 800lbs of meat in it. Nothing worse that finding that blood pool under a freezer and opening the door to warm temps and that awful smell. By then it's to late. I made a micro controller (Pi3B) driven temperature sensor that now sends me a TXT message if the temperature gets warmer than -2F in the freezer. If I lose the freezer now at least I will have time to react. IT also saves the values every minute to a XLS file and I can compare external garage temp to internal freezer temp as well. Freezers in Texas garages work hard and they will fail and I'm fighting back. Interface and readings Prototype before making better plugs and a more robust housing.
Last edited by Dave3575; 08/22/16 12:21 AM.
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6418576
08/21/16 11:02 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 22,716
BigPig
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 22,716 |
Well that's cool. Good work
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6418868
08/22/16 01:15 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 19,249
TEXASLEFTY
THF Whiskey Sommelier
|
THF Whiskey Sommelier
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 19,249 |
I think there's a market for that!!!
Never been to a camping world. I prefer Dick's to be honest.
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6418978
08/22/16 02:20 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182
Dave3575
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182 |
maybe - i went to buy one and there was no real commercial option. They have similar feature/function units for commercial and bio-medical but nothing for the average schmuck. The bio-medical ones are big $ since they also part of regulatory evidence chains for blood, tissue, specimen temps, etc...
There are plenty of DIY paths for this online w/ micro controllers, etc.. I built mine on a Pi and I'm actually having a daughter board printed so I can solder directly to it and attach directly to the GPIO pins vs. having the little nest-of-wires you see above. 10 was the minimum order and I am sure I have 10 buddies that would use this.
I will have 2 TRRS 3.5mm jacks for the 2 probes and a case w/ magnetic feet so it can just clip to the freezer. gen-2 will also monitor the current to the freezer in case it get's accidentally unplugged or a circuit blows, then it will notify on that as well. It's power requirements are very small so it will run inline w/ a small battery so that if it's AC gets disrupted it will stay alive and alert on that as well.
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6420173
08/22/16 09:59 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 69,208
NORML as can be
^^Cut the Cord^^
|
^^Cut the Cord^^
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 69,208 |
(R-TX) .-- " TCNN CURL CRLB VFF VRNO AYR SNDL CGC TLRY MSOS "
_=====___=________==-
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6421559
08/24/16 12:43 AM
|
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 742
mreed
Tracker
|
Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 742 |
I really needed this a couple of days ago. I was working out of town and my wife came to visit me, for some reason the gfci plug that my freezer is plugged into flipped. She got a real nice surprise when she got home and walked into the garage.
"Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid."
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6421625
08/24/16 01:41 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173
J.G.
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173 |
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6421765
08/24/16 03:07 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 23,177
Bee'z
The Beedazzler
|
The Beedazzler
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 23,177 |
If a fella need 2 of those units shipped what would a round about cost be? That is brilliant.
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6423207
08/25/16 01:10 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182
Dave3575
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182 |
the 2nd prototype is probably going to be about $150 in parts. instead of having both sensors and the resistors all tied in together to be a single power, data-stream and ground with the DB9-pin connector you can see i'm going to have each sensor with a 3.5mm male jack and the female's soldered into a board that will have a 40pin female adapter to ride the PI as a daughter board with the sensors and resistors inline... this makes it easy to switch out sensors, make it more modular and open the door for other sensors to be added (so instead of 2 temp sensors it can be 1 tmp and 1 humidity, etc...) as long as they all have 1-wire compatibility.. It will also have magnetic feet in the case to just 'snap-on' the freezer. Power is light and i'll bring in the in-line battery as well so it has it's own uninterruptible power supply and it will still be very small female 3.5mm jacks pi layout
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6431931
08/30/16 10:48 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182
Dave3575
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182 |
2.0 is almost done; it will have normal and warning operating lights that you can set to specific thresholds (red = warmer than -2F, blue = colder than -2F, etc..) and it still has the eMail and TXT functions. 3.5mm jacks are on their way for prototyping before they all get soldered onto that red board on the left. The temp sensors are those silver cylinders up top
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6432259
08/31/16 01:27 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,834
Lazyjack
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,834 |
Just an FYI. If you are not aware, do not drill a hole in any side wall. Most new freezers have refgerant line inside.
If the 2nd amendment was written just to include guns for hunting, why is there not an amendment to protect fishing poles?
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6432306
08/31/16 01:55 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 10,851
DannyB
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 10,851 |
Before you make an investment in a patent search I bet it has been patented. I have shown two homes recently with Samsung refrigerators that have Wi-Fi. I have no idea what all they can do. But a temperature warning to your phone just might be one of the features, if not now then in the future.
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Lazyjack]
#6432524
08/31/16 05:43 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182
Dave3575
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182 |
Just an FYI. If you are not aware, do not drill a hole in any side wall. Most new freezers have refgerant line inside. I went thru the door for the exact reason you mention.
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: DannyB]
#6432525
08/31/16 05:45 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182
Dave3575
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182 |
Before you make an investment in a patent search I bet it has been patented. I have shown two homes recently with Samsung refrigerators that have Wi-Fi. I have no idea what all they can do. But a temperature warning to your phone just might be one of the features, if not now then in the future. I'm sure there are smart appliances out there - this is more of a project for me and a few buddies that want one. I Have a smart-fridge at home and it does some basic stuff but it doesn't alert me other than audible alarms and frankly it's not a very useful feature. I've lost 2 freezers in the past and want to know when (not if) it happens again but in enough time to react and not lose my meat. It's a small niche market if anything at all.
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6432981
08/31/16 04:14 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182
Dave3575
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182 |
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6433025
08/31/16 04:48 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,549
redchevy
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,549 |
Good work, interesting idea.
I would much rather an alarm or something else if the temp fell below x degrees than a text or anything linked to an excel sheet.
It's hell eatin em live
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: redchevy]
#6433047
08/31/16 05:12 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173
J.G.
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173 |
Have to be a hell of a loud alarm for you to hear it when you're away from home.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6433080
08/31/16 05:35 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182
Dave3575
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182 |
it has audible alarm, text and email capabilities so far.
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6433082
08/31/16 05:35 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182
Dave3575
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182 |
i'm so sick of losing meat, it's happened to be twice, if I can i'll have it trip my dang ADT sensors too....
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6436437
09/03/16 02:24 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182
Dave3575
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182 |
The final piece I wanted to work now works - I'll be making an enclosure next so that the whole unit is enclosed with (2) 3.5mm jacks for the sensors (I may put 4 jacks in case I want to add other sensors in the future) and LED's for operating status notifications. Case will have magnetic feet so it can just "stick" to the freezer and wherever it's best to drill the hole.
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6437579
09/04/16 03:17 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,347
Moto Moto
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,347 |
I lost a freezer full of shad before. Wow!!! Terrible smell.
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Moto Moto]
#6437731
09/04/16 12:55 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182
Dave3575
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182 |
I lost a freezer full of shad before. Wow!!! Terrible smell. That sounds awful.
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6438238
09/04/16 09:52 PM
|
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,140
Dalee7892
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 4,140 |
I'll bet you could sell the s^*+t out of them on here. We all have meat in the freezer weather it be hunted or store bought. I would take 3. Keep us posted.
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6441414
09/07/16 03:35 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182
Dave3575
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182 |
I am getting closer to where I want to be - i've gone from that tangled spaghetti mess to having it now on a daughter board w/ the 3.5mm jack. I ran out of space on the 5-hole lines so I need to get a different style board to make the final multi-probe one but the concept and the way I will put the unit together is done. The footprint is about 3.5 x 2.5x 1 and I need to get different posts to make the jacks lay flat vs. standing up. and I probably need to learn to solder better.....
|
|
|
Re: Fighting back against dead freezers
[Re: Dave3575]
#6441587
09/07/16 12:34 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182
Dave3575
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,182 |
and for scale....
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, Superduty, txcornhusker
|