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DIY Project Tutorials sorted by Theme

By Level Smarthome Home Automation Protocols ESP8266 IoT Mini PC

Tutorials classified by level of difficulty

Beginner

Tutorials adapted for novices and beginners in programming, home automation, systems. Some Topics: Arduino, ESP8266, Raspberry Pi

Advanced

Confirmed

Home Automation Tutorials

Domoticz

Domoticz is a Open Source Home Automation software completely free (without plugins) that runs Windows, macOS, Linux and ARM chips (Raspberry Pi, Cubie …). You can also install it on a Synology NAS, FreeNAS or Docker. Domoticz can manage switches, sensors (temperature, humidity, speed and wind direction, brightness …), detectors (fire, open, movement …), IP camera. Numerous automation protocols are supported: 1-Wire, EnOcean, X10, RFXCOM, RFXLink, Z-Wave, MQTT, Mysensors … allowing Domoticz to manage a large number of Home Automation equipments. Other useful resources on the Internet: website of the project source code on GitHub, Wiki (in English), Forums.

Jeedom: tutorials on the Home Automation server, installation, plugins, scripts

Jeedom is a (french) Open Source Home Automation server. You can install it for free to make your own DIY Home Automation box. Jeedom works with a system of plugins that are free or paid. You can install it on almost all platforms (Synology NAS, PC Linux, Raspberry Pi, Orange Pi, Docker). Jeedom also has its mobile application for iOS and Android (4€). Numerous automation protocols are supported: Arduidom, ESPeasy, IPX800, 1-Wire (paid), EnOcean (fee), X10, RFXCOM (paid), RFXLink (fee required), GPIO, Z-Wave, MQTT, MySensors, SigFox … which allows to manage a large number of Home Automation equipment. You will also find numerous tutorials as well as projects of objects connected home automation 100% DIY based on ESP8266: probes (temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, brightness …), remote display, control of relay …

Gateways and Home Automation protocols

RFLink

RFLink is a gateway for receiving radio messages from Home Automation devices (motion detectors, smoke detectors, door opening, temperature and humidity sensor …) and mimic messages for trigger commands (opening / closing flap, turn on / off a lamp …). RFLink is an Open Source project that supports virtually all existing frequencies: 315MHz, 433MHz, 868MHz, 915MHz and 2.4GHz recently. It is a clone of the RFXCOM commercial gateway that can be manufactured or even a little less than 20 € (without antenna or housing).

MQTT

MQTT is a communication protocol for communicating connected objects or machines to each other.

ESP EASY

ESP Easy is a firmware for ESP8266 WiFi modules that allows anybody to create small objects connected without any programming. ESPEasy can be installed directly from the Arduino IDE from source code or by using a small program (only available on Windows). Easy ESP features a mini web server to configure the remote module. Numerous sensors are supported: DS18B20 / DHT11 / DHT22 (temperature and humidity) TCR5000 (pulse counter) BMP085 / BMP280 / BME280 (digital barometer) BH1750 (brightness), Wiegand / PN532 (RFID), HC-SR05 (distance), IR, ADS1115 (4 analog inputs 16-bit I2C) INA219 (current measurement) … and actuators (relays, lEDs, power, PWM …). ESP also integrated Easy (from R120 view) a script editor that can create small scenarios, transforming the ESP8266 mini server independent Home Automation!

MySensors

The Open Source MySensors library for creating connected devices (IoT) based on Arduino and have them communicate by radio waves. The library allows to create a network of sensors or actuators. MySensors can handle 2.4GHz radio communication (nRF24L01) or 915MHz (RFM69). The main Home Automation software natively support the protocol. It is very easy to create its own sensors (temperature, humidity, air pollution, water leakage detection, barometer ….) and integrate them into Domoticz, Jeedom, OpenHAB, Home Assistant. It is also very easy to use sensors and actuators from Node-RED. To operate and communicate with other software, a gateway (network or serial) is necessary. Since version 2, it is possible to build a WLAN gateway based ESP8266.

Homebridge

Homebridge is an Open Source project for creating a bridge between automation devices (not certified by Apple) and HomeKit. You will be able to order, receive measurements from sensors (motion, presence, temperature, water leaks …) on all your iOS devices using the application Home. You can even order your devices out of home if you owned an Apple TV or a compatible iPad. Here is a series of posts to learn how to install and configure Homebridge and necessary plugins to communicate with a Home Automation software (Domoticz, Jeedom …).

Firmware, Web Server and Web Client, Development boards

ESP EASY

ESP Easy is a firmware for ESP8266 WiFi modules that allows anybody to create small objects connected without any programming. ESPEasy can be installed directly from the Arduino IDE from source code or by using a small program (only available on Windows). Easy ESP features a mini web server to configure the remote module. Numerous sensors are supported: DS18B20 / DHT11 / DHT22 (temperature and humidity) TCR5000 (pulse counter) BMP085 / BMP280 / BME280 (digital barometer) BH1750 (brightness), Wiegand / PN532 (RFID), HC-SR05 (distance), IR, ADS1115 (4 analog inputs 16-bit I2C) INA219 (current measurement) … and actuators (relays, lEDs, power, PWM …). ESP also integrated Easy (from R120 view) a script editor that can create small scenarios, transforming the ESP8266 mini server independent Home Automation!

Web Server (Interface)

The ESP8266 can function as a mini web server (Web Server) that can be used to create a graphical interface accessible from a web browser. It is possible to use very recent themes to create modern HTML interfaces (Bootstrap, Bootswatch …). You can control the GPIO directly from a web browser, draw charts (Google Charts, Chart.js, Gauge.js …). The Wi-Fi connection of the ESP8266 gives a new dimension to 100% DIY connected objects projects!

Web Client

Wemos D1 mini

The Wemos D1 Mini is a small versatile card based on the ESP8266 (ESP-12). It is found for less than €5 direct from china. Very easy to use (programming via USB cable, activation of the automatic Bootload mode …), there are many expansion cards (shields). Relay (250VAC / 10A or 30VDC / 10A), 64×48 pixel OLED display (SSD1306), LiPo battery charger (via micro-USB plug, charging in operation), micro-SD card reader , 7 to 24 VDC power supply, prototyping microplate, double socket, 2 x 15VDC driver, RGB light point based on the WS2812B controller. It is very easy to develop connected objects (IoT) with the Wemos D1 Mini using the Arduino IDE or ESP Easy and integrate them into a home automation software (Jeedom, Domoticz …) or Node-RED .

Connected objects (IoT): firmware, servers, languages

Starthere if you begin
Blynk

Blynk is an open source project that makes available a private local server (which is not limited in scope). Blynk is an application for iOS and Android which allows to quickly develop connected objects based on Arduino, ESP8266, Raspberry PI. Energy) as well as many libraries in different languages (C ++ for Arduino, javascript, Node-RED plugin …)

Cayenne

Cayenne is an open source platform of the French company Avanquest facilitating the development and communication with connected objects (IoT). Cayenne runs on Raspberry Pi and Arduino microcontrollers (also ESP8266). It is possible to control actuators and receive sensor measurements without programming using the GPIO of Raspberry Pi for example. Cayenne is available as a mobile app on iOS and Android as well as from the internet mydevices.com. All information and orders are grouped in very elegant Dashboards.

ESP EASY

ESP Easy is a firmware for ESP8266 WiFi modules that allows anybody to create small objects connected without any programming. ESPEasy can be installed directly from the Arduino IDE from source code or by using a small program (only available on Windows). Easy ESP features a mini web server to configure the remote module. Numerous sensors are supported: DS18B20 / DHT11 / DHT22 (temperature and humidity) TCR5000 (pulse counter) BMP085 / BMP280 / BME280 (digital barometer) BH1750 (brightness), Wiegand / PN532 (RFID), HC-SR05 (distance), IR, ADS1115 (4 analog inputs 16-bit I2C) INA219 (current measurement) … and actuators (relays, lEDs, power, PWM …). ESP also integrated Easy (from R120 view) a script editor that can create small scenarios, transforming the ESP8266 mini server independent Home Automation!

Node-RED

Node-RED is a graphical programming language for building connected objects (and many other things). Node-Red is an Open Source project (and free) supported by IBM. Programmed with Node-RED binder functions presented in the form of bricks. The data stream passes from one treatment to the other (from one function to the other). Some functions offer settings that simply set using a choice list or a field to fill (eg an API key to a weather service). There are hundreds of plugins in all areas, save data to a database (MySQL, MongoDB …) control the I/O of Arduino or Raspberry PI (with Johny Five plugin for example) add a graphical interface (UI) to draw graphics, display gauges, control a relay with a button …

MySensors

The Open Source MySensors library for creating connected devices (IoT) based on Arduino and have them communicate by radio waves. The library allows to create a network of sensors or actuators. MySensors can handle 2.4GHz radio communication (nRF24L01) or 915MHz (RFM69). The main Home Automation software natively support the protocol. It is very easy to create its own sensors (temperature, humidity, air pollution, water leakage detection, barometer ….) and integrate them into Domoticz, Jeedom, OpenHAB, Home Assistant. It is also very easy to use sensors and actuators from Node-RED. To operate and communicate with other software, a gateway (network or serial) is necessary. Since version 2, it is possible to build a WLAN gateway based ESP8266.

Mini PC – SBC

Raspberry PI

The Raspberry Pi is a real revolution in the computer world but also in electronics. For less than € 40, the Pi provides each a small computer capable of running Linux and open the doors of the playful electronics through its GPIO (Input / output connector), for connecting LED, sensors all kinds (accelerometer, GPS, barometer, temperature, humidity, air pollution …), or OLED touch screens (dedicated connector) HD camera … the Raspberry Pi 3, the latest generation brings a lot of news and makes the Pi even more appealing: Wi-Fi and integrated Bluetooth (more key need which frees up USB ports for other use and reduces the price of the equipment), powerful micro-processor 64-bit (10x more than the first model), harbor ethernet always present, HDMI video output and audio output jack. With the Raspberry Pi you will limit yourself by your imagination!

Orange Pi

Orange Pi is a very economical equivalent of the Raspberry Pi developed by the Chinese company Shenzhen Xunlong Software CO. The official store is on Aliexpress. Orange Pi is a complete range of mini-PC based SoC Allwinner(H3, H5, A64…). Less expensive, some models are equipped with eMMC memory more reliable and faster than the SD card usually used on Raspberry Pi. The Pi + and Pi + 2e models are equipped with a SATA connector to connect an external hard drive. Convenient to build a NAS, a multimedia file server, a mediacenter. The 2017 models are now equipped with bluetooth 4 (Pi Zero Plus 2, Win, Prime).

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