A further update to the RoastLogger to version 2.1.0 is available to download. This is an important update for all users controlling a Hottop roaster via any HTRI board**. It is strongly recommended that users of any of these boards update to this version and use it, or future versions, for all future roasts.
The update provides a new Arduino Controller menu option to provide a soft start to the fan. This option is on by default
and limits increases in fan settings to a maximum of 25% per second until the fan is on 50% or more when any increase is accepted. The fan slider moves to the new user setting instantly but increases in fan setting in excess of 25% are applied in steps. Users of HTRI boards** should leave this fan soft start menu option checked unless they are certain their Hottop is not affected by the issues described below. Â Users controlling roasters other than a Hottop can uncheck the fan soft start if they wish.
Reason for the update:
The previous post dated Apr 04, 2014 - 06:19 PM includes an advice note covering an issue affecting a small number of Hottop roasters fitted with HTRI boards** where pressing eject on the control panel (which results in both fans being turned to 100%) can result in the Hottop shutting down unexpectedly.
Further to this advice note being issued there has been one anecdotal report of similar fan-related roaster shutdowns occurring mid-roast when the user made a step change increase in fan output level from 0% to 40%. In this case the user was not using RoastLogger but there is no reason to believe the outcome would have been different if he had been using RoastLogger. The user reports observing this on at least 3 occasions, but resolved the issue by always starting the fan at a low output level at the end of preheat.
This seems to be a rare occurrence affecting a small number of roasters. The soft start of the fan, included in this update, is intended to reduce the possibility of this issue occurring even on susceptible roasters.
Need to update both the HTRI board** firmware and RoastLogger to version 2.1.0:
The issues described in this post and the previous post/advice note both relate to step increases in fan setting causing overload/shutdown of the Hottop 12 volt DC power supply. Unfortunately, to minimise the chance of these affecting a roaster, it is necessary to implement both solutions.
The firmware revision described in the previous post and advice note can only address the conditions at eject. The update to the RoastLogger to version 2.1.0 to provide a soft start to the fan can only affect the fan settings before eject.
If you are currently using version 2.0.6 or above then you can update simply by selecting menu > Help > Update RoastLogger. For further information including other changes in this update see the following version information:
Version 2.1.0 8/4/2014
Arduino Controller:
Added a menu option, on by default, to provide a soft start and soft increase to the fan speed. Anyone controlling a Hottop roaster via a HTRI board** should update to this version and leave this menu item selected. A soft start or soft increase is applied when this menu item is selected and the current fan setting is less than 50%. When these conditions are met increases in fan speed settings are limited to a maximum of 25% per second. The fan slider moves instantly to the users setting but that setting is applied in steps increasing by a maximum of 25% per second. Â
Changed the fan and heater sliders used in Windows and Linux to provide an action similar to OS X. Now in all operating systems clicking the mouse anywhere on the slider track causes the slider thumb to jump to that location allowing any setting to be selected with one mouse click. Previously the default Windows and Linux sliders were used which only move the slider thumb 10% towards the mouse cursor location.
Changed the tooltip associated with the "Connect to USB HID device" check box to clarify how it should be set for various devices.
** HTRI boards can be HTC+TC4C, HTShield+TC4 or RL-HT-CTRL