As soon as I completed the basics of my home automation system using Sonoff S20 switches reflashed with ESPEasy, it became clear that there were some shortcomings in the management the http based comms between Domoticz and the ESPEasy during a communications failure.
Here’s how I worked out and implemented an acceptable solution for the problem.
In the previous part we finalised the configurations for the IoT ESPEasy devices to give local control capability. In this instalment we complete the configuration that enables our devices to create an integrated home automation system.
Continue reading “Home Automation and The Internet of Things – Controlling”
In the first and second parts of this series we set up the hardware with the ESPEasy software. Now the hardware is set up, it is time to work out how to and exercise control over the I/O that will turn the AC power on and off.
As it turns out, ESPEasy makes this a simple process.
In Part 1 of this series I optimistically expected that the hardware selected was going to be “reasonable pace to start” experimenting and implementing a basic Home Automation system. When I actually started implementing the system one shortcoming became obvious.
Continue reading “Home Automation and the Internet of Things – The (re)Start”
A question that often arises is how to ‘save program memory’ when the MD_Parola and MD_MAX72xx libraries are used in an application. In this article we’ll cover how you can do this using the facilities already built into the library code.
Continue reading “Parola A to Z – Optimizing Flash Memory”
I have wanted to experiment with home automation and Internet of Things (IoT) for a while and recently came across an inexpensive WiFi relay/switch combination on AliExpress that seemed a reasonable place to start. So after waiting a few weeks for delivery, my adventure into IoT-land started.
Continue reading “Home Automation and the Internet of Things – The Start”
My first post about calibrating TCS230 RGB color sensor has consistently been the most read article on the site. A lot of readers have also used the MD_TCS230 library to write their own sketches. A few questions, however, have consistently been asked on forums and via email about the sensor and the library. Here is a collection of these FAQs and their answers.
While browsing eBay looking for a module to play extended sound effects (MP3 and WAV files), I came across these modules that looked like they would fit my purpose. The module has been around for a few years and is based on the YX5300 IC. As it turns out they are easy to use and produce a good sound in a small package.
Continue reading “YX5300 Serial MP3 Player (Catalex Module)”
I have for some time wanted to (re)write some of the computer games from my younger days as an exercise in programming and for a bit of fun. I recently decided to do this on a very low-res display made from individual LED matrix modules and in the process created a new library to manage the LED panel display.
Continue reading “Fun and Games, and a New Library”
The proper operation of a multiplexed displays relies on a feature of human visual perception known as flicker fusion – if a light is flashed quickly enough, individual flashes become imperceptible and the illusion of a steady light is created.
But how slow can you go before you can detect that flicker?
Continue reading “How slow can you go? Multiplexing, that is.”
