Isn’t your wife going to be upset that the spark has left the bedroom? 
hehehe 
On topic: new firmware is out!
It’s great that 2.9/2.10 were released a couple of days ago to fix some of the bugs but will the feature releases destined for 2.9 still be happening today or are you now behind on those? I’m not sure where else to go for updates in this respect. I think this was something Dean was getting at previously, there is nowhere for the layman brewer to go and see this info clearly. I purchased this mainly for the ability to be able to switch on the HLT and monitor it remotely, the fermentation chamber side I’ve been using the age old STC’s for a long while but this device, I see as something new and special with many benefits as long as the software actually delivers.
Luck and Cheers.
I was thinking the same!
We bumped the version number earlier because of these bug fixes, PWM support is still part of the next feature release. Yes we are a bit behind.
I have already written a PWM actuator class and the unit tests to verify it works, but have not integrated it in the temperature control algorithms yet.
If you can read code, look here:
https://github.com/BrewPi/firmware/compare/develop...feature/pwm-actuators?expand=1
The class manages that even with infrequent and irregular updates, it still maintains the correct average duty cycle by adjusting the toggle moment for each period. Output of the unit tests looks like this:
*** Results running 100 periods and random 0-500 ms update intervals,with duty cycle 100 and period 10000 ***
l->h timestamp h->l timestamp high time low time
_/ 20001 \_ 26708 6707 ms 3683 ms (ignored)
_/ 30391 \_ 33981 3590 ms 6435 ms
_/ 40416 \_ 44343 3927 ms 6251 ms
_/ 50594 \_ 54849 4255 ms 6071 ms
_/ 60920 \_ 64790 3870 ms 6372 ms
_/ 71162 \_ 75096 3934 ms 6248 ms
_/ 81344 \_ 85478 4134 ms 5904 ms
_/ 91382 \_ 95333 3951 ms 6104 ms
_/ 101437 \_ 105504 4067 ms 6132 ms
_/ 111636 \_ 115377 3741 ms 6309 ms
_/ 121686 \_ 125513 3827 ms 6297 ms
_/ 131810 \_ 135823 4013 ms 6047 ms
_/ 141870 \_ 146040 4170 ms 6291 ms
_/ 152331 \_ 156197 3866 ms 6391 ms
_/ 162588 \_ 166622 4034 ms 6333 ms
_/ 172955 \_ 177117 4162 ms 5887 ms
_/ 183004 \_ 186941 3937 ms 6208 ms
_/ 193149 \_ 196971 3822 ms 6292 ms
_/ 203263 \_ 207488 4225 ms 6092 ms
_/ 213580 \_ 217612 4032 ms 6173 ms
_/ 223785 \_ 227533 3748 ms 6352 ms
_/ 233885 \_ 238052 4167 ms 6010 ms
_/ 244062 \_ 247895 3833 ms 6297 ms
_/ 254192 \_ 258222 4030 ms 6192 ms
_/ 264414 \_ 268420 4006 ms 6125 ms
_/ 274545 \_ 278517 3972 ms 6033 ms
_/ 284550 \_ 288585 4035 ms 5967 ms
_/ 294552 \_ 298245 3693 ms 6558 ms
_/ 304803 \_ 308964 4161 ms 6144 ms
_/ 315108 \_ 319038 3930 ms 6427 ms
_/ 325465 \_ 329749 4284 ms 5722 ms
_/ 335471 \_ 339245 3774 ms 6477 ms
_/ 345722 \_ 349833 4111 ms 5892 ms
_/ 355725 \_ 359652 3927 ms 6184 ms
_/ 365836 \_ 369586 3750 ms 6282 ms
_/ 375868 \_ 379823 3955 ms 6045 ms
_/ 385868 \_ 389871 4003 ms 6384 ms
_/ 396255 \_ 400429 4174 ms 5856 ms
_/ 406285 \_ 410313 4028 ms 6094 ms
_/ 416407 \_ 420477 4070 ms 6161 ms
_/ 426638 \_ 430291 3653 ms 6353 ms
_/ 436644 \_ 440554 3910 ms 6251 ms
_/ 446805 \_ 450791 3986 ms 6060 ms
_/ 456851 \_ 460977 4126 ms 6066 ms
_/ 467043 \_ 471216 4173 ms 6261 ms
_/ 477477 \_ 481512 4035 ms 6023 ms
_/ 487535 \_ 491558 4023 ms 6269 ms
_/ 497827 \_ 501456 3629 ms 6455 ms
_/ 507911 \_ 512051 4140 ms 6243 ms
_/ 518294 \_ 522520 4226 ms 5839 ms
_/ 528359 \_ 531951 3592 ms 6590 ms
_/ 538541 \_ 542541 4000 ms 6340 ms
_/ 548881 \_ 553004 4123 ms 6061 ms
_/ 559065 \_ 563031 3966 ms 6268 ms
_/ 569299 \_ 573288 3989 ms 6073 ms
_/ 579361 \_ 583299 3938 ms 6102 ms
_/ 589401 \_ 593431 4030 ms 5972 ms
_/ 599403 \_ 603495 4092 ms 6087 ms
_/ 609582 \_ 613497 3915 ms 6120 ms
_/ 619617 \_ 623577 3960 ms 6161 ms
_/ 629738 \_ 633710 3972 ms 6057 ms
_/ 639767 \_ 643615 3848 ms 6394 ms
_/ 650009 \_ 654284 4275 ms 5792 ms
_/ 660076 \_ 663819 3743 ms 6284 ms
_/ 670103 \_ 674085 3982 ms 6129 ms
_/ 680214 \_ 684357 4143 ms 5922 ms
_/ 690279 \_ 693797 3518 ms 6685 ms
_/ 700482 \_ 704810 4328 ms 6029 ms
_/ 710839 \_ 714890 4051 ms 6037 ms
_/ 720927 \_ 724572 3645 ms 6510 ms
_/ 731082 \_ 735392 4310 ms 5743 ms
_/ 741135 \_ 745058 3923 ms 6278 ms
_/ 751336 \_ 755189 3853 ms 6184 ms
_/ 761373 \_ 765311 3938 ms 6198 ms
_/ 771509 \_ 775349 3840 ms 6305 ms
_/ 781654 \_ 785963 4309 ms 5895 ms
_/ 791858 \_ 795760 3902 ms 6421 ms
_/ 802181 \_ 805938 3757 ms 6411 ms
_/ 812349 \_ 816545 4196 ms 6209 ms
_/ 822754 \_ 826796 4042 ms 6154 ms
_/ 832950 \_ 836767 3817 ms 6208 ms
_/ 842975 \_ 846984 4009 ms 6017 ms
_/ 853001 \_ 856959 3958 ms 6503 ms
_/ 863462 \_ 867785 4323 ms 5808 ms
_/ 873593 \_ 877427 3834 ms 6333 ms
_/ 883760 \_ 887998 4238 ms 5764 ms
_/ 893762 \_ 897311 3549 ms 6517 ms
_/ 903828 \_ 907711 3883 ms 6301 ms
_/ 914012 \_ 918115 4103 ms 6237 ms
_/ 924352 \_ 928325 3973 ms 6243 ms
_/ 934568 \_ 938544 3976 ms 6029 ms
_/ 944573 \_ 948635 4062 ms 6050 ms
_/ 954685 \_ 958578 3893 ms 6239 ms
_/ 964817 \_ 968812 3995 ms 6143 ms
_/ 974955 \_ 979196 4241 ms 5761 ms
_/ 984957 \_ 988700 3743 ms 6450 ms
_/ 995150 \_ 999267 4117 ms 5985 ms
_/ 1005252 \_ 1009069 3817 ms 6287 ms
_/ 1015356 \_ 1019467 4111 ms 6201 ms
_/ 1025668 \_ 1029413 3745 ms 6431 ms
total high time: 393676
total low time: 611777
avg duty: 0.392 = 100/255
My hands are tied at the moment, because tax reports are due at the end of the month. I hate accounting and I really want to jump back onto software development.
2 Likes
Fantastic update, I’m watching dutifully as I would like to use this as a full brewing controller!
1 Like
Hi Elco,
Are we getting the features expected 2 weeks ago in the release that should be this weekend?
Cheers.
I take it that’s a no??
Yes, that is a no.
I can not devote my time to software development 100% of the time.
This week I had tax report deadlines and had to spend all my time bookkeeping. Matthew had a big deadline for his work at Spark, but should have more time in coming weeks.
I have worked 80 hours this week and that’s all I can do.
The required changes to the code to support mashing are big, it requires a complete refactoring of the temperature control algorithm. I have started doing this, but it is not ready for release and it will probably not be for 2 weeks.
I will have a lot more time to code this week and I will work as hard as I possibly can to implement PWM actuators, mashing and pave the way for multiple control loops.
If you think it is taking too long, I have no problem with taking the hardware back and giving a refund.
1 Like
Whoa, don’t burn yourself out!! If it’s not ready, then so be it. This isn’t a life and death situation.
4 Likes
Hang in there… we’re all looking forward to the new code, but understand things take time. As BeerGrylls says, don’t burn yourself out! Good things come to those that wait!
4 Likes
I’m in for the long run, you guys do great work. BeerGrylls you couldn’t have said it anybody, it’s not life and death…
These posts reflect the reason I started this thread… We all want to help, buy products and support this great project. We are brewers and geeks after all.
But the issues arise when users either feel misled or confused by stated deadlines and features that get missed or simply through confusion by knowing what is going on.
Everyone is on your side @Elco! They just don’t always know what is going on all the time 
Good communication to your customers costs almost nothing and will gain you a lot. Keeping them in the dark then ranting at them when they ask for an update will do you no favours.
There has been no real communication on progress since a rough schedule was posted at the beginning of April. A quick note to explain you are behind but are still working towards it is just common courtesy for your customers/supporters.
This product is good and has the potential to be amazing and a market leader. If you are struggling with communication then maybe ask for help from the community instead of isolating them.
that’s barely over a month and they regularly post on the forums I think you’re just being impatient, their customer support and customer service seems to go way beyond that of other start up products I’ve experienced.
I think you need to cut them some slack and be patient, look and the developments that have happened over the last few years, brewpi is constantly evolving and just have confidence that they’ll come when they ready.
2 Likes
It was stated there would be releases every 2 weeks, I was just asking for an update as the releases didn’t happen and there were no communications on it. I don’t see how that is impatient or unreasonable in anyway. To be honest I couldn’t care if it takes a couple of months to get the next release, all I’m asking for is simple communication to that effect. It’s all about managing expectations.
1 Like
Hi @Elco
So any update on when the BrewPi Spark will be able to handle mash control? I don’t need it for fermentation control. I want to buy it, but won’t until I know it will handle my needs. Honestly I’m glad I looked at the forum before I purchased, because the web store makes it seem like it will handle mash right out of the box. I’m sure your not trying to be misleading. Personally, I think you need to updated your web store to reflect that the BrewPi Spark doesn’t handle mash control until it actually does.
Thanks for all of the hard work so far.
I agree that the photos in the store need updating. Those were mockup screens before we wrote the UI.
I am currently working on mash control. I got PWM done and am now rewriting the control loops and PID.
I hope to have something ready in 2 weeks.
Honestly. You reeeeeally need to update the store so that the product being offered doesn’t exceed what the software can reliably achieve. That does get people’s backs up. Everyone is supportive, they just need to know where they stand.
Conversely I think the website homepage still undersells things by having Arduino only text and images.
Dean.
@Elco Thanks for an update. So the next release is due around 17th(ish) June and will contain the features originally intended for Version 2.9 (as communicated above) that were planned for 26th April? Or are there other features included?