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      Besca BSC manual & Bee - Roasting Intelligence (RI) Setup

      This manual covers the connection of Besca BSC manual & Bee models equipped with a serial port to Cropster's Roasting Intelligence.

      Specifications

      Requirements

      • USB cable
      • Driver for the USB serial converter

      Note: The driver may be already be pre-installed with your operating system.

      Supported measurements

      • Bean temperature
      • Exhaust temperature

      Roasting Intelligence (RI) Setup

      Installing the Roasting Intelligence (RI) software

      1. Download the Roasting Intelligence from https://download.cropster.com/
      2. The Cropster installer leads you through all the installation steps.
      3. Open the RI by double-clicking the Cropster icon on the desktop
      4. Enter your username and password.
        They are the email address and password you were given to access your Cropster account on c-sar.cropster.com
      5. Check the Remember credentials box if you want to be able to run the RI offline.
      6. Click the Login button.
         

      Establishing a connection to the machine

      1. Go to Account > Preferences > Machine tab.
      2. Select the Roast machine you would like to connect from the drop-down menu (e.g. Besca BSC-5)
      3. Select Besca Manual PIDs from the drop-down for all measurements.
      4. Click on the gear () icon to open more settings.
      5. Select the Serial port that refers to the connection of the machine:
        Windows: Choose the COMx option that refers to the connection to the roaster.

        Mac: Choose the USBx option that refers to the connection to the roaster.

      6. Select the Besca's Version from the drop-down menu:

        • V1: for Besca BSC machines built before September 2019
        • V2: for Besca BSC machines built from September 2019 onwards & Bee machines built March 2022 onwards.
        • Bee: for Besca Bee machines built before March 2022.
      7. Click OK, then Save to confirm the changes. The RI requires a restart to apply the settings.

      If the setup was successful, you will be able to see temperature values on the right-hand side of the RI screen after the restart.

      If you have selected a serial port from the RI, and you receive Sources connected from the bottom-right corner of the roasting application, but you can't see live temperature readouts, you may not have selected the serial port referring to the roast machine's connection.

      Learn more about how to customize your RI user preferences.

      Troubleshooting

      If the RI indicates No source connected and/or you cannot see any measurements, please check the following: 

      • Is the roast machine connected to the computer? 
      • Have you downloaded the driver for the USB serial converter?
      • Is the correct serial port within the RI selected?

      Driver for the USB serial converter

      If you cannot select the correct serial port within the RI's Serial port field, your computer may not have the appropriate driver needed to recognize the serial converter's physical connection.

      Please reach out to support.cropster.com, and attach the following information in relevance to the USB serial converter used:

      • Brand, and model

      • Serial number

      • Picture of the serial converter

      • RI log files

      A Cropster representative will assess the information, and assist in providing the required driver for the USB serial converter used.

      For further assistance, please create a support ticket by clicking the Support button in the left lower corner of the app. A Cropster support rep will get in touch with you.

      Congratulations! You have successfully set up the Cropster Roasting Intelligence!

      Check out our Getting started video and enjoy tracking your first roasts! 

      More manuals and videos can be found on help.cropster.com.