A New Parking Assistant using ESP8266 and WS2812b LEDs

 

Need a higher tech, but inexpensive solution DIY solution to assist with parking in a consistent location?  This project uses a low-cost ESP8266 and a strip of WS2812b LED pixels to replace that old tennis ball on a string you have hanging from the ceiling now!  And if you have Home Assistant or another automation system, you can optionally enable MQTT to use the system as a vehicle presence system.

An overview of the project can be seen in this YouTube video.

Home Assistant for the masses.... but should it be?

 

So, this post is going to be a little off-script for me.  Consider it an editorial piece.  It's not a 'how-to', but something I've been wanting to get off my chest for a while now.  Where is Home Assistant headed?  What are the strategic goals and who is the target audience?

TM1638 7-Segment Display with ESPHome or MQTT

 

Often, viewers of my YouTube channel or the readers of this blog will let me know if new devices that might improve or add new features to my existing projects.  I've used this information to make upgrades to my stair lighting system and my garage multi-sensor.  But occasionally, they will share a device that I haven't used... but it is so cool, I just make up a reason to use it.  The TM1638 is one of those devices!

DIY Soldering Fume Extractor from a PC Fan

 

In a previous blog post and YouTube video, I repurposed a desktop power supply into a fixed and variable benchtop power source.  In this post I'm going to continue to repurpose components from that same PC, this time taking the CPU fan and creating a soldering station fume extractor with LED lighting.

A New Improved Multi-Sensor

 

One of the first DIY electronic projects I accomplished was building a multi-sensor that contained sensors for motion, temperature and humidity, a light level sensor and an RGB LED indicator.  It was also my introduction to the ESP8266 NodeMCU.  And while this multi-sensor has continued to run successfully for over three years, it does have some limitations.  So, it's time to take some of the new skills and ideas that I've learned and create a new updated version.  You can also watch a YouTube video of this project.

Outdoor LED Installation with Neon Rope Tubing

 

This article will cover an outdoor, IP65-rated LED installation using BTF neon rope tube sleeve and WS2812b LED strips.  Like my other videos and articles, this will be a DIY project.

A Variable Benchtop Power Supply from an old PC

 

Do you have an old PC tucked away in a closet somewhere?  Repurpose the power supply from that old desktop into a modern fixed and variable benchtop DC power supply with little (or even no) soldering and just a handful of parts.

Planning an LED Installation

 

A lot of folks have asked me how I go about planning an LED installation.  Where do I place the controller and power supply?  How do I handle wiring runs?  For this article, I'm going to cover my process for a new installation as I actually do it.

My Smart Home During an 18 Hour Internet Outage

 

Here's what happened to my smart home and all its automations when we recently experienced a complete Internet outage that lasted for 18 long hours!  Yep... we were right in the middle of one of those big red blobs shown above.

StreamPi - Build your own Stream Deck!

 

If you are a streamer, having a configurable stream deck to control your video and audio feeds is almost a necessity. Even if you don't stream online, a stream deck can be a handy device.  But commercial versions are expensive.  Instead of spending hundreds of dollars, you can create you own with a Raspberry Pi and maybe even some devices you already have around the house.

My Favorite Components and Tools

 

This is a companion piece for my YouTube video: My Favorite and Most Commonly Used Items.

RGB LED Strips - A Beginner's Guide

 

Are you interested in building your own custom LED lighting at a fraction of the cost and with hundreds of more custom effects than in a 'pre-built' version?  It's pretty simple to do with just some basic skills.

Rearrangeable LED Lettering

 

This is a companion article to my YouTube video on building rearrangeable, magnetically connected LED lettering, powered by an ESP8266 running the ever-popular WLED software.

Why should you consider "local" control for your devices?

 

You've heard me speak on it, and there are plenty of other home automation aficionados that talk about it as well... local control of your smart home, or IoT, devices.  But is this just a tin hat conspiracy, or are there really a number of good reasons to favor local devices over those that operate in the cloud?

Move a switched outlet with two smart devices and simple wiring

 

Have you ever wished that a switch in a room controlled a different outlet?  Of course, you can go into the attic or crawl space (if possible) and reroute all the wiring.... or you can move the switched outlet just by upgrading the switch and using a smart outlet.