Pinch Hitter by Vapvana

[Grass Yes]

Can the PID be used with a smart switch? Obviously the smart switch can turn the power off, but can the smart switch turn the power on?

It looks like the Pinch Hitter ships with the same Crossing Micro PID controller as the screwball. I have one of those and it does require a button press to turn on. So it would only be able to be shut off via a smart plug. It also has a built-in auto shutoff that can be disabled.

 

[Vapor Dude]

Hey old-fart the Pinch Hitter PID does not work with a smart switch.
Sneaky Pete Vaporizers complains about it. There is no physical switch
for on/off. Long press the button for a few seconds to get on or off.

 

[Flotsam]

Can the PID be used with a smart switch? Obviously the smart switch can turn the power off, but can the smart switch turn the power on?

can you use one of those current sensing switches? To elaborate i have one that when i turn on my table saw on it also turns on the shop-vac. It just turns the entire secondary 115 v circuit based on the primary.

 

[NOLOGO]

can you use one of those current sensing switches? To elaborate i have one that when i turn on my table saw on it also turns on the shop-vac. It just turns the entire secondary 115 v circuit based on the primary.

I'd be willing to bet that both your circular saw and shop vac have mechanical power switches where the pinch hitter pid has an electric switch.

 

[Flotsam]

I'd be willing to bet that both your circular saw and shop vac have mechanical power switches where the pinch hitter pid has an electric switch.

No I don’t believe that is correct. There is no mechanical switch. What there is a current sensing circuit and it turns that secondary on and off.

 

[Grass Yes]

can you use one of those current sensing switches? To elaborate i have one that when i turn on my table saw on it also turns on the shop-vac. It just turns the entire secondary 115 v circuit based on the primary.

How are you proposing this would work? If the PID controller has a power button that's required to start, how would this help?

 

[Rodney]

For a smart plug to work with this PID you would need to physically press the button on the PID right after the smart plug is switched on. So you would need some sort of robotic thing.

I searched and found this

Automation Smart Switch Button Pusher Timer Bluetooth Finger Robot Home​

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/importsportslover?_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161210

Automation Smart Switch Button Pusher Timer Bluetooth Finger Robot Home | eBay

1 Piece Finger Robot. Works well with just about any rocker switch and button of any appliance (except touch screen switch). Bluetooth signal distance: 1-2 m. Due to the difference between different monitors, the picture may not reflect the actual color of the item.

www.ebay.co.uk

No idea if this would work lol

Amazon also sells similar

 

[old-fart]

For a smart plug to work with this PID you would need to physically press the button on the PID right after the smart plug is switched on. So you would need some sort of robotic thing.

I searched and found this

Automation Smart Switch Button Pusher Timer Bluetooth Finger Robot Home​

https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/importsportslover?_trksid=p4429486.m3561.l161210

Automation Smart Switch Button Pusher Timer Bluetooth Finger Robot Home | eBay

1 Piece Finger Robot. Works well with just about any rocker switch and button of any appliance (except touch screen switch). Bluetooth signal distance: 1-2 m. Due to the difference between different monitors, the picture may not reflect the actual color of the item.

www.ebay.co.uk

No idea if this would work lol

Amazon also sells similar

This device is hilarious! Thanks for finding it. Now if only we could find a robotic hand that can lift its middle finger with a voice command! I would mount it on my car's back window.

 

[Rodney]

The thing with the PID is you need to press and hold the button for a second so even any of these device that press will need to press and hold then release.

I just feel like a PID with built in smart capabilities would be the best bet going forwards with this idea.

 

[Grass Yes]

I just feel like a PID with built in smart capabilities would be the best bet going forwards with this idea.

Or one of the many many inexpensive PID controllers with a toggle power switch.

 

[Kaptan]

I have just tested this with a smart plug - if the power button is manually pressed on the PID and then the smart plug is turned on, it will work. You will just have to find a mechanism that will exert enough force to keep the button pressed at all times. Once powered on, it will not power off if the button is continuously engaged. Then just use the smart plug to power off when needed.

 

[Slartibartfast67]

I have had my Pinch Hitter for just over two months now, and I have really enjoyed it. I was attracted to the notion of a fresh hit every bowl, and that is still my favorite aspect of the device. I get a good full roast with my temp set at 600F. It would be a great starter 'ball' vape, I think.

I can't contribute to the smart plug discussion, but I can report that the Pinch Hitter PID will power on when the ambient temperature is below 32F/0C, which is not true of all of them. For example, my Terp Hammer will not power on when ambient temp is that low, but displays an error message.

 

[Flotsam]

How are you proposing this would work? If the PID controller has a power button that's required to start, how would this help?

With regard to PID wiring I do not have a schematic or anything for the PID so i am not commenting on that. I am just saying there are circuits that are designed that one independent circuit can control power to another circuit. I was talking generally.

Sorry I appreciate that is not much help there if you are trying to set this device up.

 

[Grass Yes]

With regard to PID wiring I do not have a schematic or anything for the PID so i am not commenting on that. I am just saying there are circuits that are designed that one independent circuit can control power to another circuit. I was talking generally.

Sorry I appreciate that is not much help there if you are trying to set this device up.

Ah, I see. One could definitely build a new PID controller to use a current sensing switch. Not relevant to the discussion of the Vapvana PID controller, of course.

Although I would probably just build an Internet connected PID controller like Jcat's if I went that route.

 

[Flotsam]

Ah, I see. One could definitely build a new PID controller to use a current sensing switch. Not relevant to the discussion of the Vapvana PID controller, of course.

Although I would probably just build an Internet connected PID controller like Jcat's if I went that route.

I agree that would be the design approach i would want to use. Since i originally posted that i did talk to a friend of mine who was (now retired) a Chem E/EE who was a process control engineer at a pharmaceutical company. This is his world, I've never really dealt with control loop stuff. But i can say that once the interface is web enabled its pretty straight forward to put the UI on a smart phone (eliminate extra HW).

Is that Jcat thing on this site? Still learning. thanks

 

[Grass Yes]

Is that Jcat thing on this site? Still learning. thanks

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