Temperature controller-Arduino project
This project is to design a temperature controller for a toaster. I used Arduino’s kit and software IDE, and set up a temperature sensor for the toaster. With the designed controller, users can meet their own bread taste by adjusting the temperature value in the program.
01
Toaster potentiometer
The toaster potentiometer is able to control the electric current shooting through the metallic wire. Hence when the bread is toasted, the electricity will be cut off. People can set different gears of potentiometers to meet their different tastes of toast.
02
Arduino-a new solution
As an advanced alternative new design solution, the electronic interactions with an Arduino kit with software IDE are developed for temperature controller of the toaster. We can meet our own bread taste by adjusting the temperature value in the program. The electronic interactions are used as the vehicle for design solution
03
Design of control program
Key steps of the program: 1. Start; 2. Warm up the thermistor; 3. Test the temperature value every 0.5 seconds; 4. The temperature reaches the set value; 5. Start recording time, and ensure that the temperature is always above the set value, otherwise stop recording time and continue warm up the thermistor; 6. When the time length reaches the set value, the motor triggered and the red LED turned on; 7. Stop.
04
Programming for the Arduino
The Arduino is programmed using the C language, which is normally named as sketch. First thing needed is Arduino IDE, which is available on the Arduino official website free of cost. The window of the programming will be shown once the Arduino IDE is downloaded. The program is modified by myself in order to realize the designed flowchart for temperature controller.
05
Arduino Kit
Arduino sensors 1 x Arduino UNO; 1 x USB2.0 cable type ; 1 x LED ; 1 x Servo motor
1 x Thermistor ; 1 x Button; 1 x 220 ohm resistor; 2 x Breadboard; 12 x Jumper Wires.
The Arduino kit that used to realize the temperature controller are composed by the above sensors.
06
Running prototype with Arduino kit
Controlling of the toaster temperature can be displayed with four steps. The toaster prototype interactions with the Arduino kit are hence given by fours steps. As shown in Step 3, if the temperature reaches up to a critical value, then the warning light will be flashed. This is an indication that the bread is already. The toaster machine will automatically be turned off, a couple of seconds after the bread is already.
07
video
The physical prototype with the Arduino kit and its running can be found in the video.