My All new Aldi set up

[Lovey]

Gday all,
after months of procastinating, tinkering, and a bit more procastinating, its finally here. The new and improved, much better mannered, Aldi roasting centre.
This bad boy has been modified to give it both variable fan speed and variable heat control, giving me full control over a roast.
I had previously modified the internals to separate the heater and fan circuits, but it needed this contoller to make it all come together.
I was doing up to 100g roasts before (with just the heater control), but today I successfully pulled off a 200g roast. 8-)
I actually had to turn the fan down slightly as it was chucking beans out of the chimney.
The total cost for this project, not including countless email hours, prototyping, fixing breakages, etc is as follows.
Fan speed control - Approx. $70.00
Heater control - Approx. $55.00
Having a fully controllable roaster - Priceless!
My heartfelt thanks go to Mal for all of his assistance with this project, supplying me with the circuit for the heater control and then answering the numerous It wont work Mal, what do I do now? emails. ;D
Ive attached a few piccies so you can get an idea of the size of the controller.
All the best,
Steve.

[Lovey]

My All new Aldi set up

Heres a look inside the control box. Its bit of a dogs breakfast I know, but Ive tidied it up now.

[Lovey]

My All new Aldi set up

Heres the front panel.  Both switches are standard plate switches.

[Andy]

Re: My All new Aldi set up

Top effort Steve (err... and Mal!).

How are the results?

I assume that you can run a manual profile to suit any bean!

[Framey]

Re: My All new Aldi set up

Nice one.

Does this mean you can stretch roasts out as long as you want?

Are you in trouble if the Aldi popper dies? ie can you easily transfer the controls to another popper?

Stephen

[Lovey]

Re: My All new Aldi set up

Gday all,

How are the results? I assume that you can run a manual profile to suit any bean!

I havent gotten into profiles yet, Im still at the very bottom of the learning curve , but it is very flexible.
The results from my very first roast in the unmodified popper were:
1st crack 1.55
2nd   "     3.20
Oily black mess out at 4.24.
This was with 80 grams of Indonesian Java.

The last roast results were:
1st crack  7.40
2nd   "     12.45
Out at      13.00
This was with 200 grams of Brazil Macubus.
I dont know enough about the profiles of each bean, but Im keeping a database for each roast, so I can refer to it, and hopefully get a better understanding of each beans characteristics.

Does this mean you can stretch roasts out as long as you want? Are you in trouble if the Aldi popper dies? ie can you easily transfer the controls to another popper?

I can pretty much strecth out the roast times to however long I want, within reason of course.
The controller is easily transferrable to another popper. When I split the fan and heater circuits, I made all of the connections with screw terminals, so when this one dies, which cant be too far away  ;D, its just a matter of disconnecting and then re-connecting the power wires inside the popper.
This contoller should work with any popper, as there isnt too much variation in the internals.
If you need any help or circuit diagrams, let me know, Ill be happy to assist.
Steve.

[Andy]

Re: My All new Aldi set up

Im keeping a database for each roast, so I can refer to it, and hopefully get a better understanding of each beans characteristics.

Yeah, thats really what I meant. We all (should) keep track of what we are doing in the hope of building an idea of how to replicate the roasting of a bean the next time.... as opposed to some black-magic art form ;D

If you need any help or circuit diagrams, let me know, Ill be happy to assist.

Im sure a few people will be interested in the curcuit diagrams, its a great idea. Just remember CSrs... 240v kills (quickly and in most cases fairly quietly) ... if in ANY DOUBT get a sparky to knock it up from the diagram and then get him to test it for you. :

[bronnyd63]

Re: My All new Aldi set up

Hi all, but especially Steve/Lovey

I d really like a circuit diagram for the Aldi popper mods, and I too live in Batemans Bay.  New Aldi popper, have done one roast.  Growing my own coffee. This years  green berries are not ripe yet, and Ill have to net them to stop English blackbirds getting to them when theyre ripening - lost the lot last year. One giant learning curve from garden to cup

Bronwyn

[emckissock]

Re: My All new Aldi set up

Bronwyn. Take a look at:
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1292323422

There are other threads too, but this one has a lot of info on modifying your popper, some of which is appropriate and the circuit diagram MAY match your popper. Check everything though before making any mods.

Usual disclaimers about electrical safety etc.

[bronnyd63]

Re: My All new Aldi set up

[smiley=dankk2.gif] Will check it all out.