Timer design wishes
Here's our old friend, Poppin' Fresh:
https://wb9kzy.blogspot.com/2022/04/2022-maple-syrup-wrap-up.html
The timer works pretty well, easy to program it uses a single AAA cell for power - the beep is quite loud - the display is sharp and clear although small.
The problem is programming the time duration, for example: 10 hours and 45 minutes, that means that the hour and minute buttons must be pressed 55 times, a dreary situation when the arthritis is acting up. And if a mistake is made then the display must be cleared and the buttons re-pressed.
I've been considering a dial timer, but a conventional hour/minute timer would require 4 rotary switches, one for each digit of the 10 hour 45 minute delay. Probably 3 switches would be enough since the hours digit could be set from 0 to 11 with a 12 position switch. This method would allow timing up to 11 hours and 59 minutes by turning 3 dials. Also the timer could drive a relay to turn the still off at the end of the delay. I'll have to think about it - still have a while until the sap runs again.
Best Regards,
Chuck, WB9KZY
http://wb9kzy.com/ham.htm
