BlogDemo pour from the Automated Bar
Took a little video of the machine pouring out some drinks to test it out. Check out the videos below.
Short Version(1.5min):
Longer overview Version(4min):
Fixed the problem on the relay board and everything worked great after that except for the corks. On some bottles they can hold the ~10psi but not all of them. Maybe there just something on the cork that a little slippery or the shape of the bottle is messing it up. Either way I had to secure the cord down and the best quickest way was to use some zip ties. It actually holds pretty good but hope I can figure out a better way or just something to replace those rubber corks.
Totally fudged up my relay board
This is what I get for using a DPST(Double-pole single-throw) when all I needed was a SPST(Single-pole single-throw) relay. For the bar machine I set up 3 bottles wired up everything to the relay board and arduino with all the power supplies, even had the arduino programmed with a demo for shots and a mixed drinks.
I flip on the 12v power supply and all of the sudden all the valves flip on and start pouring. It took a while but finally realized I screwed up on the PCB design and wired the relay with the pole thats always on!! All the testing and I didn't realize the the clicking from the water valve was a close instead of open since I never hooked up the liquid lines.
Oh well, I need to scratch out the trace and jumper the correct pin from the relay over to the 12v source. 
Nitrogen tank and wires
I headed over to Action Gas and Welding which is a local gas and welding supply store to pick up a 10 lb tank and regulator. I had talked to the owner before and he is very helpful. They had a catalog for beverage dispensing but it didn't have fitting I needed for the valves but I found some really cheap at FiltersFast.com for $1.45 called "Liquatec Tite Grip Male Connector Fittings". Here is the tank hooked up to a water valve to test the flow at different PSI. Still haven't figured how much I should run but looking like ~5psi might be ok.
Also cleaned up some wiring on the water valves hooking the ground to the aluminum that the valves are mounted on and attaching the disconnects to the other wire.
Other
This is just a blog to blog about stuff! Need to find something to fill this sidebar, give me some suggestions!
Tags