I like making things and I’m enjoying getting started with sourdough so when I started my starter this idea popped into my head and I decided to build it for fun.
At its core it’s really just an ESP32-c3 that uses a time of flight sensor to measure the distance from the lid to the top of the starter and uses that value to calculate how much the starter has risen. It sends and logs that data via MQTT to my Home Assistant dashboard which I have hung on the wall in my kitchen next to my stove. It also logs temperature and humidity as well as the time since the starter was last fed. I can trigger a feed from either the button on top or from the button on the dashboard and that tells the device to reset the rise percentage and log a new baseline height for the starter. Battery life is still up in the air but it’s looking like probably at least a month between charges so that works for me. The lid itself is just something I whipped up in Fusion and printed out. Not the most aesthetically pleasing but it’s functional.
The plan going forward is to begin logging the data in a more robust accessible database so I can use it to create some predictive algorithms for rise times in different temperatures and humidity.
It’s overkill but I’m enjoying the pretty graph and it scratches a little itch in my brain so I’m happy with the results.
Just to be clear I’m not selling anything. I built most of the code for the firmware with AI and just made adjustments where it was necessary. This is just a personal project I wanted to show off. I’d love to hear any critiques or ideas on how to improve it.
by Chrono_Constant3
39 Comments
I love this kind of overkill. 🙂
HERO!!!!
“If containment breach is imminent, press red button to kill starter.”
This is amazing.
You should send this to Tom Cucuzza, he will love it
u/chrono_constant3, you could make these and sell them as a side gig now that the software is done and you have a working prototype. What did it cost you in parts?
This is so awesome!!!
Love it. Also running ha, this is cool as hell.
I would buy this.
This is dope but I think you should measure acidity instead of rise % which isn’t the best metric.
As a home assistant user….Do you want to share? Are you planning on putting the YAML on GitHub?
very cool… might get me going again. What about adding a temperature sensor and a button to signal feeding time? will provide valuable data and automate further. Being ablr to input initial starter weight and feeding ration could also be useful but not really needed if you are consistent
That’s genuinely brilliant, well done
Patent now and become wealthy, congratulations. Spectacular idea
THIS TECHNOLOGY EXISTS????!?!?
Very cool. Wonder what a VOC sensor would see. Might give you a second datapoint instead of just TOF. I haven’t played with mqtt at all but probably should.
So which sensor is that?
It would be interesting to use a thermistor in contact with the jar to track abiant temperature, and an ir thermometer to track the starter’s temperature. The starter should get warmer… The delta might be another way to to track the health. Or it might be redundant.
Very cool indeed! Can I use Pascal to code it? 😁 Joke aside, it would’ve been cool if you can share a link once you’re thinking of sharing it on GitHub.🤙
I’m starting to get into automating my house but don’t have nearly the kind of knowledge you do. I’ve also just started getting into sourdough and making loaves. You inspire me to achieve greatness like you! I love this so much!
As a fellow software engineer and baker, this is awesome!
Look at the data! I love data and I love you, op!
This is awesome! I would also really appreciate it you posted more details. I’ve been wanting to build something to monitor my starter but haven’t had the time yet.
If you plan to sell it, count me in
Wouldn’t it be more accurate to take a calibration reading when the vessel is empty and use that for your percentage calculations?
My engineer husband is going to hate you, lol. 😂
This is so cool!
Hey OP, I know you do this just for fun… but you basically just created the MEATER app for sourdough.
There’s money in that. Money you deserve because the joy you experienced in creating it, is equal to the joy people would have using it, x however many people would purchase it.
Do with that info what you will.🤗
This is by far one of the coolest things I have ever seen. I love the ingenuity behind this and I hope you’re able to source your code out. I’m not a techie person so I wouldn’t be able to build something like this but I would HAPPILY put my money on this product! I appreciate how candid you were in your responses to this community, that’s awesome. Great job! Really really cool project OP! Keep us updated 🙂
Love love love this!
Marry me.
(just kidding my husband would be sad but omg this is GENIUS!!!)
Not to be a Debbie Downer, but this already exists as a product. It’s called the Breadwinner. There is also a new product that King Arthur is selling that will take care of your start for you so you don’t have to discard or feed it manually. It’s called the Sourdough Sidekick.
[https://shop.kingarthurbaking.com/items/sourdough-sidekick](https://shop.kingarthurbaking.com/items/sourdough-sidekick)
Looks a lot like [https://breadwinner.life/](https://breadwinner.life/)
[https://www.reddit.com/user/mecredis/comments/11966rg/hi_im_the_creator_of_breadwinner_a_iot_device_for/](https://www.reddit.com/user/mecredis/comments/11966rg/hi_im_the_creator_of_breadwinner_a_iot_device_for/)
[](https://www.reddit.com/user/mecredis/)
Leave it to an engineer! But that chart is so satisfying.
This is definitely something I would make, given my memory doesn’t fail me and I forget about it all
This is a million dollar idea. I would buy this product.
Dude don’t post this here—go start a business and become rich. This is genius
Love the engeneering behind this. Especially as a 3d printing guy as well
excellent use of free will and brain power
Remindme! 3 days