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Frequently Asked Questions

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Eric Higgins edited this page May 15, 2023 · 3 revisions

Why isn't Bluetooth working?

The Open Trickler software won't advertise on Bluetooth until it detects the scale. This can confuse people the most who try to boot up and test a device that's not connected to a scale.

Assuming you do have a supported scale connected, here are a few other debug tips:

  • Don't try to pair from your system settings. Instead, you should connect to the Open Trickler device from the Bluetooth menu within the app.
    Modern Bluetooth devices (aka Bluetooth LE) don't require pairing like you might be used to.
  • Ensure that the scale has been properly configured.
    Without following these steps, your scale will not send any data over the serial cable to the Open Trickler/Raspberry Pi unit.
  • Are you using the null modem adapter?
    Even though you can physically connect the USB-to-Serial adapter directly to your scale, it may not function properly without the null modem adapter.
  • Check the make/model of USB-to-Serial adapter. The first adapter I used (and linked to) ended up being unreliable for many folks, so I now recommend a different adapter (which also happens to be less expensive)
  • Some scale manufacturers provide debug software that you can install and connect your scale to your computer. This may be worthwhile to ensure that the scale and cables are working properly before using on the Open Trickler.

Why can't I see the CODE partition from my computer?

The CODE partition is formatted with the FAT32 filesystem and is intended to make it easier for folks to tinker with the code on the Open Trickler without requiring advanced technical skills. Unfortunately, if you're using the Windows operating system older than version 10, it may not work for you.

Even on Windows 10, the CODE partition may not automatically appear as a drive you can access. You might need to assign it a drive letter from the Disk Manager. Thanks to ande7824 for this tip!

Why can't I access the debug webpage?

Use of the debug webpage depends on connecting the Open Trickler to your WiFi network.

Make sure that the device you're using to access the debug webpage is:

  • connected to the same WiFi network
  • not connected to or running VPN software
  • lists 192.168.1.1 as one of the DNS servers in the network settings

Accessing the Open Trickler debug webpage at http://opentrickler.local requires support for mDNS. If you're running Windows, you may need to install some additional software.

Can you add support for my scale?

It's challenging to add support for a scale that I don't own or have physical access to. The open source nature of this project lends itself towards others adding support for additional scales. If you're willing to do some of the work, then I'm willing to help add support for your scale.

Some scales are easier to support than others. I've had a few folks ask about supporting analog balance beam scales. Anything is possible with enough work, but those are likely outside the scope of the Open Trickler's design.

Can you make it work with an Arduino or ESP?

This would require a full rewrite and rethinking of the entire project. Since it works well enough as is and has potential for even more advanced capabilities, I'm not inclined to use an alternate board.

That said, you're welcome to reference and adapt the Open Trickler software if you're interested in doing that work. That's the beauty of open source software!

Can you add support for a powder drop?

Personally, I don't care for the powder drop design of the AutoTrickler and I'm not inclined to utilize it myself. That said, I can understand why some folks want this and that's great!

See this ticket if you're interested in working on this and adding it to the Open Trickler.

Why does it take so long?

Like any other trickler, the Open Trickler is sensitive to the angle at which the trickler tube is positioned in relation with the ground.

A positive angle (tip towards the sky) will dispense slow.
A negative angle (tip towards the ground) will dispense fast.

Even if you find the perfect angle for a given powder, you may need to adjust for different powders.
For example, I have found that Varget and H4350 (both stick powders from the same manufacturer) will trickle very differently.

Why does it overthrow?

Same as above. The trickler is sensitive to the angle at which it's positioned.

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