u/CorrodedChocolate

Hi internet people!

I'm an old dude who used to be an electronics engineer 30 years ago. I only know about analog electronics, but now I decided to finally figure out microcontrollers. I have plenty of time for this task. Well at least until I'm alive. In order to learn things I came up with a task for myself. An electronic device project. I always learn stuff that way.

But I'm kinda lost because of huge range of options.

So here it is. I am a moonshiner (and an alcoholic of course) so I couldn't think of anything better than to make a thermal controller for my distillation setup. So I am asking this community for help - please tell me where to start?

This device must compare the temperature from two temperature sensors. And based on their readings clicks 8 relays open/closed. In addition, it must have LCD with temperature readings and some kind of settings menu to well... set some settings. Also 4-5 buttons for setting temperature threshold values based on which the contacts are closed or opened. All of this must be recorded in some memory and stored there even after a power outage. I don't need networking features or anything else. That kind of device. Sounds simple but like everything in the world I know it's not.

Here are specific questions:

- There are lots of STM32 MCUs. Which one is suitable for this task?

- Or maybe I should use something else?

- Can you recommend me good dev boards. I know only about official Nucleo ones?

- Is it really necessary to know C++ or Rust for coding that type of device firmware?

Thanks everybody!

Hi internet people!

I'm an old people who used to be an electronics engineer 30 years ago. I only know about analog electronics, but now I decided to finally figure out microcontrollers. I have plenty of time for this task. Well, at least until I'm alive xD In order to learn things I came up with a task for myself. An electronic device project. I always learn stuff that way.

But I'm kinda lost because of huge range of options.

So here it is. I am a moonshiner and a drunkard (of course) so I couldn't think of anything better than to make a thermal controller for my distillation setup. So I am asking this community for help - please tell me where to start?

This device must compare the temperature from two temperature sensors. And based on their readings clicks 8 relays open-closed. In addition, it must have LCD with temperature readings and some kind of settings menu to well... to set some settings. Also 4-5 buttons for setting temperature threshold values based on which the contacts are closed and opened. All of this must be recorded in some memory and stored there even after a power outage. I don't need networking features or anything else. That kind of device. Sounds simple but I like everything in life, I know it's not.

Here are specific questions:

- There are lots of STM32 MCUs. Which one is suitable for this task?

- Or maybe I should use something else (ESP32, NXP, or whatever)?

- Can you recommend me good dev boards. I know only about official Nucleo ones?

- Is it really necessary to know C++ or Rust for coding that device firmware?

Thanks everybody

Hi internet people!

I'm an old fart who used to be an electronics engineer 30 years ago. I only know about analog electronics, but now I decided to finally figure out microcontrollers. I have plenty of time for this task. Well, at least until I'm dead xD In order to learn things I came up with a task for myself. An electronic device project. I always learn stuff that way.

But I'm kinda lost because of huge range of options.

So here it is. I am a moonshiner and a drunkard (of course) so I couldn't think of anything better than to make a thermal controller for my distillation setup. So I am asking this community for help - please tell me where to start?

This device must compare the temperature from two temperature sensors. And based on their readings clicks 8 relays open-closed. In addition, it must have LCD with temperature readings and some kind of settings menu to well... to set some settings. Also 4-5 buttons for setting temperature threshold values based on which the contacts are closed and opened. All of this must be recorded in some memory and stored there even after a power outage. I don't need networking features or anything else. That kind of device. Sounds simple but I like everything in life, I know it's not.

Here are specific questions:

- There are lots of STM32 MCUs. Which one is suitable for this task?

- Or maybe I should use something else (ESP32, NXP, or whatever)?

- Can you recommend me good dev boards. I know only about official Nucleo ones?

- Is it really necessary to know C++ or Rust for coding that device firmware?

Thanks everybody