#Sensing rotating pellets auger

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

burnt yacht
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Hello good people, this might be my first serious post here, omg how time flies.

I have a pellets burner that I would like to determine if it is running or not, it can run for say 3 hours and then rest for say 9 hours at reasonable outside temperatures.

Anyway, I think the best way to do that is to "sense" if the feeding auger is rotating or not.

https://s2.qwant.com/thumbr/474x474/c/7/24e7662883d406fc7b4c1301f796eede44c73cd02e97f1d9505df0384bd65b/OIP.5J95ndnKDWn5eKkxO7-YxQHaHa.jpg?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftse.mm.bing.net%2Fth%2Fid%2FOIP.5J95ndnKDWn5eKkxO7-YxQHaHa%3Fpid%3DApi&q=0&b=1&p=0&a=0

The auger looks like that. A motor at one end, and a rotating shaft (gigity) that pics up pellets. I would imagine the shaft is steel, which may make using a magnet tricky. Would a vibration sensor be worth a try?

Generally during startup the auger runs for say 30 seconds at a time, with a minute or so pause, then waits for like 15 minutes after the startup phase on the burner runs.

The auger will then run for 30 seconds at a time, for the entire burn process.

Any other creative ideas? I am not against using a power meter on the auger, but I don't need any actual data, other than if it is rotating, meaning it is running.

Thank you all in advance!

grand peak
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The motor is most definitely creating magnetic fields when it's running that you should be able to sense on it's outside. Or you use any of the other circuitry/status lights the device might have

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Vibration might work but that is a bit tricky to do reliably

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Could you measure exhaust temperature or something of that liking?

burnt yacht
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I may need to play with a magnet reed switch I think

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The only other thing I could use is the blower fan on the burner, either measure current or power a relay to give a dry contact

grand peak
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If a reed does t do it, try a hall sensor

burnt yacht
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Tyvm

grand peak
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An odd looking raccoon you got there

burnt yacht
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Better?

stable peak
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Can you just figure out the power draw when the auger is running with a smart outlet?

burnt yacht
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And the burner also has 2 of its own augers that also run

stable peak
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Is the burner constantly running or no?

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Guessing not but I don’t have one

burnt yacht
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I guess I could just measure the whole consumption, and if it is above X watts that would be running

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Regardless of how much it is actually pulling

stable peak
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That’s probably how I’d do it

burnt yacht
stable peak
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How to train raccoons to act as a sensor?

burnt yacht
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There are a 500W heating element, 2 motors and a fan

burnt yacht
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I am not sure if the load is a good candidate for a smart plug (say an Ikea Inspelning)

stable peak
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Is it just plugged into a 15 amp receptacle?

burnt yacht
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Standard 16A european socket

stable peak
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You could use one of those high draw smart outlets

burnt yacht
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They don't like inductive loads though right?

stable peak
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@sly vessel has strong feelings about this topic

burnt yacht
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My long term plan is that I have a camera in there so I am able to turn off the burner if I see smoke/ fire. There are 2 "proper" sensors in there connected to a proper alarm system

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Heat detector at 60C (old fashioned bimetal thingy) and a smoke detector

stable peak
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👍

burnt yacht
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Idea was that I could also have a fire alarm anywhere in the house turn the burner off, stop the ventillation and turn off the solar (no solar yet)

stable peak
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That makes sense as a backup precaution for sure

burnt yacht
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So I guess either a contacor/ relay setup and a shelly power monitor, or a smart plug I guess

stable peak
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In conjunction with the standard protections

burnt yacht
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They sometimes get bored and run off to terrorise Sonoma though so I need a backup

stable peak
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I use a standard smart outlet with my washing machine with no issue, not sure on the load. You could also look at ct clamps if you’re worried about the load of the motors.

burnt yacht
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I do actually have an emporia vue 3

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And the room is on its own circuit, but that means it will share with the 50W LED light, pump for loading of the tank, circulation pump, vacuum cleaner when cleaning out the furnace etc etc

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I could perhaps use a CT and just turn off the automation when I am vacuuming, but I would still need to be able to turn the burner off

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Also I would need an alarm of some sort if the burner was without power, which I can easily sort

stable peak
burnt yacht
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it would be diffiuclt to have just the stove on its own CT from the Emporia Vue

stable peak
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I think Shelly actually sells one. I don’t have any Shelly stuff though maybe Michael can chime in when he sees the earlier ping because I think he does

burnt yacht
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Many thanks again!

sly vessel
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@burnt yacht just reading through and some thoughts.
a vibration sensor on motors tends to work quite well for detecting on/off they come in various sensitivities.
you should not use anything with a relay (smart plugs/sockets) for inductive loads.
you can use something like THIS to monitor power by putting it over 1 leg of the AC. it also has a low power output connection which you can hook up to a drive a "dumb" high power contactor rated for the load, if you want to be able to switch high/inductive loads.

burnt yacht
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Any recommendations of zigbee vibration detectors?

terse geyser
sly vessel
# burnt yacht Any recommendations of zigbee vibration detectors?

no first hand experience here from me but they are fairly cheap on AE so you could get a selection and see what works. also for zigbee devices a good reference i find is the zigbee2mqtt device database. even though I don't use z2m its still a good reference for devices that people have successfully used and what they expose.

burnt yacht
burnt yacht
sly vessel