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      San Franciscan with Watlow EZ-ZONE Controller (via USB) - Roasting Intelligence (RI) Setup

      This manual covers the connection of a San Franciscan roast machine with (Watlow controls) via USB, to Cropster's Roasting Intelligence.

      Specifications

      Requirements

        • MacOS X 10.9 to 10.14

      Do not install third-party FTDI drivers on macOS, as it already comes with native support for FTDI devices. Installing additional drivers may cause conflicts and prevent your device from working correctly.

      Supported measurements

      The Gas control feature is currently available in beta for San Franciscan roast machines built after August 2019 with a Cropster switch.



      If you haven't been invited to participate in the beta program for this integration, but you are interested in participating and testing the feature, please sign up here. 

       

      Roasting Intelligence (RI) Setup


      Installing the Roasting Intelligence (RI) software

      1. Download the Roasting Intelligence from:
        https://download.cropster.com/ - for San Franciscan roast machines w/out a Cropster switch.
        https://download-beta.cropster.com/ - for San Franciscan roast machines with a Cropster switch.
      2. Complete the installation process by following the steps provided.
      3. Double-click the Cropster icon on your desktop to access RI.

      4. Enter your username and password.
        Use the same login information that you use to access the online platform C-sar.

      5. Click the Login button. 

      Check out the Release notes for every version of RI5 to stay updated on the latest features and improvements.

      You can access the Release notes directly in RI by clicking on Help > Release Notes.


      Establishing a connection to the machine

      1. If you are setting up RI for the first time, click the Select machine button in the banner at the top or click Preferences > Machine > Configuration bottom left to access the Preferences screen. 
        📚 Learn how to use the keyboard shortcuts in RI.
      2. To choose the Roast machine, click on the dropdown menu in the Machine section. 

        💡 After selecting the machine from the dropdown menu, the roast machine settings may automatically be filled in. You have the flexibility to edit these settings at any time to ensure they align with the specifications of your roasting machine. 

        📚 Learn how to add a new roast machine. 
      3. After selecting the machine all supported measurements will load.
        Change the order of the measurements by using the  Drag and Drop icon and moving it into position.
      4. Switch on the measurements you would like to enable and select San Franciscan PID (Watlow EZ-ZONE) from the dropdown. 
        💡 Make your measurement readouts more compact. Choose the size of your measurement readouts by selecting either the Small or Large view for display. 
        Screenshot 2024-08-14 at 16.08.35
      5. Click on the Gear icon to open the PID settings.
      6. Select the Serial port:
        • Windows: COMx
        • Max: USBx
      7. Click OK.
      8. Click Save to finalize the changes.
        After saving the changes, RI will automatically restart. If the setup was successful, you will see the temperature values displayed on the right-hand side of the RI screen following the restart.
      Screenshot 2024-08-13 at 13.54.12-1

      📚 Learn more about the Roasting Intelligence (RI) 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?
      • On MacOS: try installing the beta VCP driver. MacOS X10.15 to MacOS 11 (this is a Beta driver release and the installer should be run from the /Applications folder on your machine)

      When using Replay Assist, do not use any other temperature controlling software in parallel.

      Any gas changes from a concurrent client, may disable Replay Assist for the remainder of the roast. 

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

      Check out the Roasting Intelligence (RI5) - Getting Started manual and enjoy tracking your first roasts! More manuals and videos can be found on help.cropster.com.