automation
automation
Make Your Garage Door Smart with ESP32 and Home Assistant
I’ve always had this nagging anxiety about whether I remembered to close the garage door. After driving halfway to work only to turn back and check (more than once, I’ll admit), I decided it was time for a solution. I wanted something more reliable than my memory and more integrated than a basic standalone smart opener. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how I used a cheap ESP32 board and some reed switches—the same type of sensor in door/window alarms—to create a smart garage door monitor that integrates seamlessly with Home Assistant.
Control and Automate Air Purifier with ESP32 and Home Assistant Air Quality Index
I’ve always been a bit obsessive about air quality. Living in a city, you notice the difference a good air purifier makes, but I got tired of manually turning it on every time the pollution levels spiked. It felt, well, decidedly un-smart. So I set out to fix that by creating a system where my air purifier automatically kicks in when the Home Assistant Air Quality Index (AQI) reaches a certain threshold.
Build a Smart Light Dimmer with ESP32 and a Rotary Encoder in Home Assistant
I’ve always loved the tactile feel of a good knob. While voice commands and smartphone apps are convenient, there’s something deeply satisfying about physically turning a dial to dim the lights. I wanted to bridge that gap between the digital smarts of Home Assistant and the physical world. So, I set out to build a custom smart light dimmer with ESP32 and a rotary encoder. The goal was simple: a knob that not only controls my smart lights locally but also stays perfectly in sync with their state in Home Assistant.
Turn ESP32 Into a BLE Beacon Scanner for Presence Detection in Home Assistant
Turn ESP32 Into a BLE Beacon Scanner for Presence Detection in Home Assistant Before we begin: This guide assumes you have Home Assistant already set up and are comfortable with basic ESPHome configurations. I’ve tried nearly every presence detection method in my smart home journey - from WiFi-based tracking that drained my phone battery to GPS solutions that were anything but reliable indoors. That’s when I discovered the magic of BLE beacon scanning with ESP32 for room-level presence detection.
Control a Smart Fan with ESP32 and Home Assistant Using Temperature Triggers
I’ve always been fascinated with making my home smarter, especially when it comes to energy efficiency and comfort. There’s something deeply satisfying about having your home respond to environmental conditions without lifting a finger. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how I built a system that automatically controls a fan based on room temperature using an ESP32 and Home Assistant. Why I Built This System Living in a climate with hot summers, I found myself constantly adjusting fans throughout the day.
Control RGB LEDs with ESP32 and Home Assistant Automations
Ever wanted to add some pizzazz to your smart home with colorful, dynamic lighting? I recently tackled this project myself—using an ESP32 to control addressable RGB LEDs and integrating them seamlessly into Home Assistant. The result? A lighting setup that responds to automations, time of day, and even sensor inputs. Here’s how you can do it too. Why This Project? Addressable RGB LEDs (like WS2812B strips) are incredibly versatile. You can create everything from subtle mood lighting to eye-catching effects.
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.