Instructables

Automatic Tea Timer

By in TechnologyArduino

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Introduction: Automatic Tea Timer

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This is a simple gadget that will help you prepare your teas and infusions. Just put the tea bag (or infuser) and the cup with hot water in place and select the desired steeping time. The Tea Timer will automatically infuse the tea during the selected time and will notify you with a beep when your drink is ready.

All project files available at: https://github.com/lluisgl7/tea-timer
Thingiverse link: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1049056

Step 1: Parts

Printed parts

The printed parts have been designed with FreeCAD. The original parametric files are supplied along with the generated STL files. For the main part of the Tea Timer, in addition to the unsupported version, I created a version with the minimal supports needed (although it will depend on the printer).

Required hardware

- Arduino Pro Mini or another small and compatible Arduino board.

- LCD Display compatible with the Hitachi HD44780 driver (typical 2x16 Arduino LCD)

- Micro Servo - 2x Rotary Potentiometers: http://www.banggood.com/1-2-5-10-20-50-100-250-50...

- Push Button: http://www.banggood.com/1-2-5-10-20-50-100-250-50...

- Slide Switch: http://www.banggood.com/1-2-5-10-20-50-100-250-50...

- 11.8 mm Buzzer: http://www.banggood.com/1-2-5-10-20-50-100-250-50...

- 5V Power Supply (USB supply, phone charger…)

- Power Jack Plug: http://www.banggood.com/1-2-5-10-20-50-100-250-50...

- Power Jack Socket: http://www.banggood.com/1-2-5-10-20-50-100-250-50...

- 7x M3 bolts and nuts (LCD display and lid)

- 4x M2 bolts and nuts (servo and power switch)

You may also need some type of adhesive (I used double sided foam to fasten the arduino board and the contrast potentiometer on the inside), an USB-to-TTL serial converter board to upload the sketch and wiring material (wires, solder, heatshrink tubing…).

Step 2: Wiring

Do the wiring following the schematic.

Step 3: Arduino Sketch

Upload the Arduino sketch using an USB-to-TTL serial converter board and test the circuit before the final assembly.

Step 4: Final Assembly

Attach all the components to the 3D printed parts with screws or adhesive, and you're done! Happy tea time :)

Caffeine Challenge

Runner Up in the
Caffeine Challenge

Time Contest

Runner Up in the
Time Contest

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    13 Discussions

    I see in the project that was used two push buttons, but in the code has an encoder button ... I can not make the change ... will you help me? I loved your project, I want to build one for me! thank you!

    1 reply

    Hi! Glad you liked the project. I'm not sure I understand your question. There is only one push button ("buttonPin" in the sketch) and a potentiometer ("potPin" in the sketch) to select the time. Those are the ones you can see under the display. Additionaly, there is an extra potentiometer inside to adjust the display contrast and a switch to power on/off the circut. I hope this helps!

    Thanks for your comment!

    The i2c module would reduce the wiring mess a lot, so yes it may be easier. But the sketch would need some modifications!

    Sorry there is no other link. You can download all files in a ZIP from github by clicking the "Clone or download" button :)

    Thank you. I've just seen your Tea Steeper. It looks great!

    0
    user
    thijsv

    2 years ago

    Nice project. There is a big fuzz around coffee brewing and finding the ideal time and temperature, but I think your project fills in that gap on the tea side perfectly.

    I also like the small R2D2 joining the project!

    1 reply

    Thanks for your comment! R2 helped a lot :P

    Very cool project! Thanks for sharing, and welcome to instructables! :)

    1 reply