Blogs
Blogs
Build a Smart Thermostat with ESP32, Home Assistant, and Relays
Ever wanted to ditch your clunky old thermostat for a DIY smart version that integrates seamlessly with Home Assistant? I did—and after a few weekends of tinkering (and a couple of fried relays), I built a reliable ESP32-based smart thermostat. Here’s how you can too. Why Build a DIY Smart Thermostat? Commercial smart thermostats are great, but they often come with limitations: proprietary ecosystems, cloud dependencies, or lack of customization. With an ESP32, a relay, and a temperature sensor, you can build a thermostat that’s:
Automate Your Curtains with a Smart Tuya Roller Chain Motor: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ever wished your curtains could open and close on their own? Maybe you’re tired of fumbling with cords in the morning or want to impress your friends with a “Hey Google, open the curtains” moment. Whatever your reason, automating your curtains with a Tuya Smart Curtain Roller Chain Motor is easier than you think. Here’s how I did it—and how you can too. Why Automate Your Curtains? I’ll admit it: I’m lazy.
Voice-Controlling Your Home with ESP32 and Home Assistant via Google Assistant
Ever wished you could turn off the lights without lifting a finger—or even getting out of bed? I certainly have, especially on those lazy Sunday mornings. That’s why I set out to integrate my ESP32-based smart devices with Home Assistant and Google Assistant, enabling voice control for my entire home. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process step by step, sharing the pitfalls I encountered (and how to avoid them) along the way.
Track Your Electricity Consumption with Shelly Pro 2PM: Advantages and Home Assistant Integration
Ever stared at your electricity bill and wondered, “How did I use that much power?" I certainly have. That’s why I decided to take control by monitoring my home’s energy consumption in real-time using the Shelly Pro 2PM—a versatile, Wi-Fi-enabled energy monitoring device. In this guide, I’ll walk you through setting it up, integrating it with Home Assistant, and turning raw data into actionable insights. Why Shelly Pro 2PM? The Shelly Pro 2PM is a powerhouse (pun intended) for energy monitoring.
HomeAssistant Air Quality Monitoring: Why PMS5003 with ESP32 is the Best Combo for 2025
Ever wondered why your allergies act up indoors or why that mysterious “musty smell” lingers? I did—until I built my own air quality monitor using a PMS5003 sensor and ESP32. In 2025, with wildfires, pollen, and urban pollution on the rise, monitoring air quality isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity. Here’s why this combo is unbeatable and how to set it up with HomeAssistant. Why PMS5003 + ESP32? Accuracy: The PMS5003 laser particle sensor detects PM1.
How to Monitor API Health with Blackbox Exporter and Prometheus
Ever had an API go down silently, only to realize it after users started complaining? I’ve been there—more times than I’d like to admit. That’s why I now rely on Prometheus and Blackbox Exporter to proactively monitor API health. In this guide, I’ll walk you through setting up Blackbox Exporter to probe endpoints, track latency, and alert you the moment something goes sideways. Why Blackbox Exporter? Blackbox Exporter is like having a dedicated API watchdog.
DIY Smart Door Sensor with ESP32 and Home Assistant: A Step-by-Step Guide
DIY Smart Door Sensor with ESP32 and Home Assistant Ever walked out the door and wondered, Did I close it? I’ve been there too—until I built a DIY smart door sensor using an ESP32 and Home Assistant. Now, my phone buzzes if the door’s left ajar, and I’ve even set up automations to turn off the AC when the door’s open for too long (goodbye, wasted energy!). Here’s how you can build your own.
Control an IR Remote AC Using ESP32 and Home Assistant
Ever wished your dumb air conditioner could join your smart home party? I did—especially during a heatwave when I realized I’d left the AC on full blast while away. Enter the ESP32, a $5 microcontroller that (with some tinkering) can emulate your AC’s IR remote and integrate it into Home Assistant. Here’s how I did it. What You’ll Need Hardware: ESP32-DevKit board: Buy it here IR receiver/sender module VS1838B + IR LED: Buy it here Breadboard and jumper wires USB cable for power/flashing Software: Home Assistant (installed and running) ESPHome (via Home Assistant Add-on) Pro Tip: Test your IR LED before wiring—some have narrow angles.
High-Cardinality Metrics: Detection and Optimization in Prometheus and VictoriaMetrics
I remember the first time my Prometheus instance crashed spectacularly after I added a new exporter. The logs screamed about “out of memory” errors, and my Grafana dashboards turned into ghost towns. After some frantic debugging, I discovered the culprit: high-cardinality metrics. In this guide, I’ll share practical techniques I’ve learned for identifying and optimizing these metric monsters in both Prometheus and VictoriaMetrics. 💡 Pro Tip: High-cardinality metrics are like uninvited guests at a party - they consume all your resources and leave you with a mess to clean up.
Automate Your Garden Watering with ESP32 and Home Assistant
Automate Your Garden Watering with ESP32 and Home Assistant Ever forgotten to water your plants only to find them looking like they’ve been on a desert trek? I have—more times than I’d like to admit. That’s why I built a smart garden watering system using an ESP32, soil moisture sensors, and Home Assistant. Now, my plants get watered automatically, and I get to pretend I’ve got a green thumb. Here’s how you can do it too.