android app to watch after your stove

[pglotov]

Hi All, I just published an app which is supposed to let you know if flames in stove go out. Its for android and it is called FireSitter in playstore. Please give it a try:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.petyanca.firesitter

 

[begreen]

Can you describe this better? Is a web cam needed? It sounds like there is a fundamental misunderstanding of how stoves work. Flames go out after 30-120 minutes while the fire can still be heating via charcoal burning for another 6-8 hrs or more. No excessive smoke will occur during this later stage burn period.

 

[pglotov]

It runs on an android device with a camera, like a phone or a tablet. Its purpose is to give warning when there is no flames. If its charcoal its fine, but if there is still unburned wood and no flames it means there is a lot of smoke, which is bad. So when it gives a warning a person should either shuffle/reposition the wood in the stove, or in case its all charcoal that is left just shut the app down.

PS. It is mostly relevant to non-catalytic stoves which rely on secondary combustion induced by air injecting pipes in the top.

 

[jeff_t]

Hmmm. My stove thrives on smoke.

 

[madison]

If the app will split and stack wood, i'll give it a try

 

[R2.0]

Can a smartphone camera be tuned to infrared? That would be a much more accurate method.

 

[bmblank]

I have to imagine this does a number on battery life. Have you don't any tests on that?

 

[Huntindog1]

I have to imagine this does a number on battery life. Have you don't any tests on that?

Just plug the phone in to the charger.

 

[Benchwrench]

Can a smartphone camera be tuned to infrared? That would be a much more accurate method.

for $350
http://www.flir.com/flirone/

 

[BrotherBart]

Can a smartphone camera be tuned to infrared? That would be a much more accurate method.

As long as the stove is warm all you would see is a washed out blob.

 

[R2.0]

The point isn't to get an image but measure the intensity.

 

[BrotherBart]

Got infrared on the security cameras. For three hours after the fire pit burns out there is nothing but a green blob where it should be on the camera.

 

[pglotov]

Can a smartphone camera be tuned to infrared? That would be a much more accurate method.

No I don't think it can. Human eye can't see in infrared either, but we can manage stoves just fine

 

[pglotov]

I have to imagine this does a number on battery life. Have you don't any tests on that?

Without charger connected my phone (nexus 4) would last may be 2 - 3 hours. My tablet (Galaxy Tab 3) lasts may be 6 hours. I haven't done a separate test for that since I always keep them plugged in when running this app.

 

[NBABUCKS1]

Neat idea! I just got rid of my old android phone though

How hard was this to code? I'm guessing you are continually or every 10 seconds having the phone process the image and look for any orange like hues? or colors in that spectrum (some kind range of within the 0-255 that is r, g, b?). Just curious.

Here is your opportunity to build a wifi connected device that has a high temp probe that goes in firebox that can send you a text or email when it's under X temperature or over Y temperature. Put together a nice fancy jingle and a lot of bright white colors and you are on your way to kickstarter glory!

That FLIRONE has a HELL of a marketing video. Wish they weren't iOS exclusive though. Hard to make a device that will fit seamless on and android phone though.

 

[pglotov]

Neat idea! I just got rid of my old android phone though
How hard was this to code? I'm guessing you are continually or every 10 seconds having the phone process the image and look for any orange like hues? or colors in that spectrum (some kind range of within the 0-255 that is r, g, b?). Just curious.

Thanks! Yes something along those lines, using opencv.

Here is your opportunity to build a wifi connected device that has a high temp probe that goes in firebox that can send you a text or email when it's under X temperature or over Y temperature. Put together a nice fancy jingle and a lot of bright white colors and you are on your way to kickstarter glory!

That FLIRONE has a HELL of a marketing video. Wish they weren't iOS exclusive though. Hard to make a device that will fit seamless on and android phone though.

Yes a probe would be nice, picture a stove with a usb connector
Haven't heard of flir one before, looks impressive.

 

[Benchwrench]

I want an "gizmo" that automatically adjusts my draft controls to temp fluctuations. Don't wood boilers do that?

 

[begreen]

Sounds like you want the SmartStove control by our own Dan McFarland.
http://inveninc.com/
http://forgreenheat.blogspot.com/2013/08/meet-contestants-smartstove.html

 

[Benchwrench]

sure do! that's awesome. I hope it's not too expensive.
I'll have to look into this. thanks begreen for the links. woo hoo

 

[R2.0]

Sounds like you want the SmartStove control by our own Dan McFarland.
http://inveninc.com/
http://forgreenheat.blogspot.com/2013/08/meet-contestants-smartstove.html

Soooo, I'm thinking my newly rebuilt Winterwarm, complete with thermocouples both on the cat and the flue, and rebuilt smoothly working linkages, might be a good candidate for this.