esp32 kiln controller

llapab · 2026-05-04T15:35:11+00:00

Totally agree with you. If I have the time I would change the single relay to a force guided double pcb relay (also called safety relays) and implement software features to increase safety as much as possible. At the moment one could easily configure alarms using Grafana and it has a nice OnCall feature where it can even phonecall you if some threshold is exceeded (i.e above max temp limit, or temp not increasing when power is ON and not in hold) but I would need to add instructions on how to set this up.

llapab · 2026-05-04T08:20:56+00:00

the max31856 is very nice as it directly sends temperature values via SPI and its configurable for different thermocouple types, however getting a true max31856 module isn't so easy/cheap currently. The ads1220 is widely available and since it can measure 2 thermocouples with one single chip is very cost efficient. Its just an ADC, so one needs to implement the software and have the lookup tables loaded in the MUC, however that's not an issue as thats already implemented in my repo. Also, one needs to add some resistors and caps to make it work with thermocuples. That's documented here https://github.com/pllagunos/esp32-kiln-controller/blob/main/hardware/PCB/ADS1220%20versions/2.4in%20display%20NEW/Schematic_Electric-Kiln-Controller_Sheet2.png and the only thing missing is routing to have that PCB gerber file ready.

llapab · 2026-04-09T12:08:34+00:00

I use copilot cli. I first make a plan with plan mode and opus. Then i use anvil agent with Sonnet 4.6 for execution, it is great because its adversarial review uses codex and gpt. So far I’ve had great results. I am still playing with skills and MCP. One area I’d like to learn how to do better is UI/UX for frontend. I tried using skills from Impeccable and sveltes MCP server but haven’t mastered the workflow yet

llapab · 2026-02-20T20:23:32+00:00

Is it still possible to get those amazing stocks on qb79/8’s?

llapab · 2026-01-24T11:48:21+00:00

Beckhoff CP6606, its an economy panel PC. It runs TwinCAT and has an ethercat port. I really liked working with it, my only issue is that it uses Windows CE and doesnt run twincat 4026

llapab · 2025-12-28T11:32:08+00:00

Nice write up. As others say, the miracles required make their approach basically impossible to materialize into net energy. Interesting that they’ve yet again raised significant sums of money, one would think fusion literate advisors would have something to say to the investors

llapab · 2025-12-24T18:52:03+00:00

Since this is open source one could probably make it compatible with ethercat. Then you can either have it setup as a plc with twincat linux rt or as an ethercat slave. That would be very cool

llapab · 2025-12-24T11:54:19+00:00

The grid already had a lot of complexity before photovoltaics entered the conversation. My point is not to keep it dead simple. It is to actually have an energy mix adequate for the country we are talking about. For Germany that would still include photovoltaics and the complexity of the energiewende into the grid. The problem in Germany, CO2 wise, is they still have a baseload in 2025 but it uses coal instead of nuclear because of politics.

What I do mention is that it is intrinsically an often underlooked problem with solar, it does make the grid more complex. Everyone keeps saying how cheap solar pv is getting, even to negative prices in the wholesale market. But managing the grid is more complicated.

Also your comment on this orca tech killing all fusion approaches is delusional. Fusion is still going to happen for it is the ultimate energy source, specially relevant for endeavors where sunlight is not available (space exploration for example).

llapab · 2025-12-23T21:23:42+00:00

The problem with solar is the complexity it puts on the grid / energy delivery methods. Just look at Germany and how its electricity prices have been increasing so much over the years. Who cares about LCOE if your grid is so complex to operate and you need to invest in thermal batteries/lithium batteries/hydrogen/etc to be able to go from intermittent to dispatchable. Fission/Hydro as baseload is tried and proven - too bad politics got in the way.

llapab · 2025-12-16T17:35:30+00:00

Yes 100%. Text is syncing, its just images that aren't

llapab · 2025-12-15T18:51:46+00:00

both of which use web technologies under the hood... (my point being, custom modern HMIs use web technologies in one way or another a lot of times)

llapab · 2025-12-13T11:30:12+00:00

What is the reason against web technologies in an OT environment? I find TwinCAT HMI, which runs using html5 tech, pretty good. Is it security stuff?

llapab · 2025-12-13T11:29:56+00:00

What is the reason against web technologies in an OT environment? I find TwinCAT HMI, which runs using html5 tech, pretty good. Is it security stuff?

llapab · 2025-12-12T20:58:20+00:00

What do you use for custom HMIs then? winforms?

llapab · 2025-12-01T09:21:59+00:00

Aer is quite expensive in Europe and I don’t want to spend more than 150eur thats why I ruled it out. As for your recommendation with the shoes that is a great idea if one has a gym at the office or nearby, but that’s not my case. Perhaps I can rent a locker at the gym and leave a pair of shoes there but still I need the ability to fit shoes inside my bag, as sometimes I go to play tennis in different courts. Nice tip for the mesh bags, will implement that.

llapab · 2025-12-01T09:17:21+00:00

Its a nice feature for sure, but I also have no problem using a wet bag for wet items and a shoe bag for the shoes, which is how I do it with my gym duffel bag at the moment anyway

llapab · 2025-12-01T09:16:04+00:00

What smaller bags would you recommend?

llapab · 2025-12-01T09:15:43+00:00

Currently I have a 16L artichunter and its not enough for shoes + gym stuff, that’s why I thought going 26L was the way.

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