home automation
home automation
An Introduction to PWM: Controlling RGB LED Colors with an ESP32 Potentiometer
I’ll be honest: my first attempt to build an adjustable colored lamp ended with a dead LED and a faint smell of burnt hope. I’d hooked up an RGB LED straight to the ESP32’s GPIO pins, spun a potentiometer, and expected a smooth rainbow. Instead, I got a single angry flicker, then darkness. What I’d missed wasn’t just a current‑limiting resistor — it was the whole concept of Pulse Width Modulation (PWM).
From ESP32 Weather Station to Home Security Monitor with HC-SR501 PIR Sensor
A few months ago I cobbled together a simple ESP32 weather station that dutifully reported temperature and humidity to my Home Assistant dashboard. It worked great until my cat decided the breadboard was a better bed than the couch. While the weather station slowly transitioned into a fur-covered sensor graveyard, I needed something else to do with the spare ESP32 Development Board Module I had lying around. That’s when the idea hit me: why not repurpose the same hardware I used for a weather station into a dead‑simple motion alert system?
Smart Weather Station ESP32: Control High-Voltage Appliances with a 2-Way Relay
Last winter my garage turned into a walk‑in freezer every night because I’d simply forget to flip the heater switch before bed. I wanted something that didn’t just display the temperature but actually did something with it—so I set out to build an ESP32 weather station that reads the room conditions and physically switches a high‑voltage appliance. The result is a small, Wi‑Fi‑connected brain that uses a 5V 2‑way relay module to control a space heater and an exhaust fan.
Build a Smart Weather Station with ESP32 and DHT11 OLED Display
Introduction I’ve always been slightly obsessed with knowing the exact temperature of my office. Not the outside weather — I can open a window for that — but the microclimate around my desk, where the Wi‑Fi router and the afternoon sun conspire to turn summer afternoons into a slow roast. A few months ago I threw together a bare DHT11 dangling from my ESP32, just spitting readings to the serial monitor.
Build a Room Occupancy Tracker with ESP32 and Ultrasonic Sensors
I’ve been tinkering with smart home automation for years, always looking for clever ways to make my home more responsive. Commercial room occupancy sensors work fine, but they’re expensive and often limited in functionality. After one too many instances of my smart lights turning off while I was still reading in my favorite armchair, I decided to build my own room occupancy tracker using an ESP32 and ultrasonic sensors. The beauty of this approach?
Monitor Home Internet Speed Automatically with Prometheus and Speedtest Exporter
I've been battling my internet service provider for months over sporadic slowdowns that always seem to happen right before my important video calls. Sound familiar? After one too many "everything looks fine on our end" responses, I decided to take matters into my own hands and build a system that automatically tracks my internet speed 24/7. In this tutorial, I'll show you how to set up your own internet speed monitoring system using Prometheus and a Speedtest Exporter.
Automating Window Blinds with ESP32 Servo Motor and Home Assistant
I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of waking up to natural sunlight instead of a blaring alarm clock. But as someone who also values sleeping in on weekends, I needed a solution that could give me the best of both worlds. That’s when I decided to automate my window blinds with an ESP32 and servo motors, integrating everything seamlessly with Home Assistant. After a few prototypes (and one slightly mangled blind slat), I’ve perfected a system that opens my blinds based on either time schedules or ambient light conditions.
DIY ESP32-Based Motion Sensor for Home Assistant Security Automations
Ever walked into a dark room and wished the lights would just know to turn on? Or wanted a simple way to alert you when someone’s lurking near your front door? That’s where a DIY ESP32-based PIR motion sensor comes in. I recently built one to integrate with Home Assistant, and it’s been a game-changer for my home security automations. Here’s how you can do it too—no PhD in electrical engineering required.
Control Lights Based on Room Occupancy Using PIR and ESP32
Ever walked into a room, arms full of groceries, only to fumble for the light switch? Or worse—left the lights on all day in an empty room? With a PIR motion sensor and an ESP32, you can automate your lights to turn on when someone enters and off when the room is vacant. It’s a simple yet powerful way to save energy and add convenience to your smart home. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through setting up this system step-by-step, including wiring, ESPHome configuration, and troubleshooting tips.
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.