What is TiltBridge?

TiltBridge is an ESP32-based bridge that receives Bluetooth signals from your Tilt Hydrometer and forwards the gravity and temperature readings to cloud services, local dashboards, or fermentation management software.

Why Use a TiltBridge?

The Tilt Hydrometer is a wireless hydrometer that floats in your fermenter and broadcasts gravity and temperature readings over Bluetooth. However, Bluetooth has limited range, and you need a nearby device to receive the data. TiltBridge acts as a dedicated, always-on receiver that picks up your Tilt's readings and sends them wherever you need — no phone or laptop required.

How It Works

The TiltBridge system is straightforward:

1. Your Tilt Hydrometer floats in the fermenter and broadcasts readings via Bluetooth
2. The ESP32 microcontroller receives Bluetooth signals and connects to your WiFi network
3. Cloud or local services (Brewfather, Fermentrack, Google Sheets, etc.) receive the forwarded data

Once set up, TiltBridge runs unattended — plug it in near your fermenter and it continuously relays your Tilt data.

ESP32 Hardware Setup

TiltBridge runs on an ESP32 microcontroller. The ESP32 is ideal because it has both WiFi and Bluetooth built in — exactly what's needed to receive Tilt signals and forward them over your network.

Choosing an ESP32 Board

Any standard ESP32 development board will work. Common options include:

• ESP32-DevKitC — the most common and cheapest option
• TTGO T-Display — includes a small built-in TFT screen
• Lolin D32 — a compact, well-built option

Connecting Your Board

1. Connect your ESP32 board to your computer using a USB cable
2. Ensure the board powers on (you should see an LED indicator)
3. Note which USB/serial port the board appears on — you'll need this for firmware flashing

No additional wiring is required for a basic TiltBridge setup. The ESP32's built-in Bluetooth and WiFi handle everything.

Flash TiltBridge Firmware

The TiltBridge firmware needs to be flashed onto your ESP32. The easiest method is using the web-based installer.

Using the Web Installer

1. Open a Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Edge, Brave)
2. Navigate to the TiltBridge firmware installer page
3. Connect your ESP32 via USB
4. Click "Install" and select the serial port for your ESP32
5. Wait for the flashing process to complete (usually 1-2 minutes)

Verifying the Flash

After flashing completes:

1. The ESP32 will reboot automatically
2. If your board has a display, you should see the TiltBridge splash screen
3. The board will create a WiFi access point for initial configuration

If the flash fails, try a different USB cable (some cables are charge-only) or hold the BOOT button on the ESP32 while initiating the flash.

Configure WiFi

After flashing, TiltBridge creates its own WiFi access point so you can configure it to join your home network.

Initial WiFi Setup

1. On your phone or computer, look for a WiFi network named TiltBridge
2. Connect to this network
3. A configuration portal should open automatically. If it doesn't, navigate to 192.168.4.1 in your browser
4. Select your home WiFi network from the list
5. Enter your WiFi password and click Save

Connecting to Cloud Services

Once connected to WiFi, you can configure TiltBridge to forward data to:

• Brewfather — enter your Brewfather custom stream URL
• Fermentrack — point to your Fermentrack server's IP address
• Google Sheets — use the Google Sheets script URL
• BrewStat.us — no configuration needed, data is sent automatically

Access the TiltBridge settings page by navigating to the device's IP address on your local network.

Verify Your TiltBridge

Time to confirm everything is working. You'll check that TiltBridge is receiving Tilt data and forwarding it correctly.

Basic Connectivity Check

1. Open a browser and navigate to your TiltBridge's IP address
2. You should see the TiltBridge dashboard showing the device status
3. Confirm the WiFi connection is stable (check the uptime counter)

Testing with a Tilt

1. Activate your Tilt Hydrometer (or place it in water for testing)
2. Place it within Bluetooth range of the TiltBridge (typically 10-30 feet)
3. Within a few minutes, the TiltBridge dashboard should show the Tilt's gravity and temperature readings
4. If you've configured a cloud service, verify the data appears there as well

Troubleshooting

• No Tilt detected: Make sure the Tilt is active and within range. The Tilt only broadcasts every few seconds, so wait at least 2 minutes
• WiFi drops: Ensure the ESP32 has a stable WiFi signal. Move it closer to your router if needed
• Data not appearing in cloud service: Double-check the service URL in TiltBridge settings