- HowTo: OpenMediaVault – Install PhotoPrism via Docker on the Raspberry Pi
PhotoPrism is a very cool piece of software that you can use to manage your photo collection locally. Once set up, your photos will be scanned and categorized using AI models. That means you can not only look at the pictures sorted by person (thanks to face recognition). It is also possible to see all the beach photos, all the photos with cars, animals […]
- HowTo: Integrate Zigbee – IKEA FYRTUR roller blind E1757 into Node Red via zigbee2mqtt
The IKEA FYRTUR roller blind is a very easy way to retrofit your windows with an easily controllable roller blind. Thanks to the Zigbee connection, you can then use this for all kinds of scenarios. For example, it is very easy to automatically open at sunrise or automatically close as soon as cinema mode is activated in the home cinema, [...]
- HowTo: OpenMediaVault - Set up Windows share or SMB server
A NAS (Raspberry Pi – NetworkAttachedStorage / building a NAS with a Raspberry Pi 4 yourself) only becomes really practical if you can access it from anywhere in the network. This is the only way to store or retrieve data. In order to distribute media such as photos, videos or music, there is of course the possibility […]
- HowTo: Raspberry Pi - Show GPIO overview of the Raspberry Pi in the console
The Raspberry Pi is famous for many of its features. On the one hand there is the size, performance and (at times when there is no shortage of components) the price, which is really impressive for such a small practical device. It has become famous as a "handicraft computer" mainly because external hardware can be connected directly via its GPIO connection pins. With it […]
- HowTo: Node Red - Reading SMA Sunny Solar Inverter Data
In the articles Reading out data from an SMA EV CHARGER 22 Wallbox and Reading out Node Red – SMA Sunny Home Manager data, I have already described how to read out the respective measurement data. In addition to these SMA devices, there is also an SMA inverter in my network. Its measurement data can of course also be read out. How you […]
- HowTo: OpenMediaVault - Configure and activate virus scanner ClamAV
As a Windows user, you are used to the fact that a virus scanner is always on the lookout somewhere in the background and immediately informs you about an infection with malware or already takes appropriate action.On my Windows systems I use Avira Free Security and am very satisfied with it. Of course, this program […]
- HowTo: Node Red - Read data from SMA Sunny Home Manager
For some time now, there has also been an SMA inverter for a photovoltaic system and an associated SMA Sunny Home Manager in my network (in addition to an SMA EV Charger 22 Wallbox). The latter is installed in such a way that it cannot only measure the energy fed into the grid. In […]
- HowTo: Zigbee – Integrate Ikea TRADFRI outlet E1603/E1702/E1708 into Node Red via zigbee2mqtt
The TRADFRI plug is a simple way to switch existing consumers such as lamps via your smart home system via Zigbee. The consumer can be switched on and off. At the same time, the socket also acts as a signal amplifier (repeater) for all other Zigbee devices. How to integrate the TRADFRI plug into your […]
- HowTo: NodeRed - Presence detection via ping requests
In order to be able to automate your own smart home properly, one function is quite important: Are residents present or not? This is the only way the system can, for example, automatically deactivate the heating, switch certain lights on or off or even activate the alarm functions. In the article Node Red / FritzBox […]
- HowTo: Raspberry Pi – Use Docker container with OpenMediaVault / OMV and Portainer
Another practical advantage of OpenMediaVault is that thanks to the prepared Docker and Portainer installation, you can easily add additional functions. Docker containers are a type of software package that make it much easier to distribute and install programs. Instead of having to install the desired program, you simply have to activate the Docker container […]
- HowTo: OpenMediaVault – Install and configure DLNA plugin for media streaming
In the article Raspberry Pi – music streaming to the Raspberry Pi via DLNA client, I have already described how to use the Raspberry Pi as a playback device for content from a DLNA server. DLNA describes a standard with which you can easily stream content across devices in your own network. For example, you […]
- HowTo: OpenMediaVault – Set up an external hard drive as a drive
As the name of OpenMediaVault suggests, it is about managing media. Of course, you also need the appropriate storage space for this. In the article NetworkAttachedStorage / Building a NAS from a RaspberryPi 4 yourself, I used an external USB hard drive. However, many other drives can also be used as storage space expansion for […]
- HowTo: Zigbee – Flash the Electrolama zig-a-zig-ah! (zzh!) USB stick coordinator with zigbee2mqtt firmware
In the article Zigbee – Preparing a Sonoff zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus for zigbee2mqtt, I described how to write the firmware for zigbee2mqtt to a Zigbee stick from Sonoff. An alternative to this Zigbee stick is the Electrolama zig-a-zig-ah! (zzh!) Coordinator USB stick by Electrolama I have described in the following article how flashing […]
- HowTo: OpenMediaVault – Create another user
As soon as you work with OpenMediaVault and use various services and plugins, it makes sense to create a new user at some point. In this way, you can set access rights in a well-dosed manner, which ultimately helps to increase security. The following article describes how you can create a new user using OpenMediaVault. […]
- HowTo: Raspberry Pi – Evaluate MPR121 touch sensor via I2C and Node Red
Thanks to the I2C bus, the Raspberry Pi can be equipped with a variety of practical sensors and actuators. The MPR121 offers a (in my opinion) very elegant way for user input. The MPR121 is a controller that makes it possible to evaluate up to 12 touch electrodes. You can use it to set up […]
- HowTo: pxlBlck – Flash firmware with esp web tools directly from the browser
Flashing the ESP8266 or ESP32 is not that easy if you have not had much contact with microcontrollers before. Now, there is something very cool that makes this process super easy. The people behind ESPhome have developed a web flasher that allows you to flash ESP microcontrollers directly from a Google Chrome browser. Without installing […]
- HowTo: OpenMediaVault – Enable HTTPS encryption for web access
After installing OpenMediaVault, the first thing you should do is enable HTTPS encryption for web access. This ensures that when you access the OMV web interface, all data is encrypted with HTTPS. You should activate this option, especially if you also want to access your OMV instance via a public network. What you have to […]
- HowTo: Raspberry Pi – Get an overview of the available storage with NCDU
If you often work with large or many files on the Raspberry Pi, sooner or later you will face the problem that the available memory is running out. At least that's what happened to me. Especially when there are several distributed files, it is not so easy to get an overview of which files and […]
- HowTo: Node Red – Read live data from an SMA EV CHARGER 22 Wallbox
I recently added an SMA EV Charger 22 Wallbox to my network. Of course, this is primarily used to charge an electric car. Nevertheless, I was of course curious which values could be read out and processed there. The Node Red code presented below is my current status. It can already be used to read […]
- HowTo: Raspberry Pi – Install OpenMediaVault OMV on the RaspberryPi
In the article RaspberryPi – NetworkAttachedStorage / build your own NAS from a RaspberryPi 4, I had already described that the (relatively) new Raspberry Pi 4B is also very well suited to building an inexpensive but powerful “Network Attached Storage” or NAS. A NAS is a hard drive that is connected to the network and […]
- HowTo: Raspberry Pi – Build NetworkAttachedStorage / NAS using a Raspberry Pi 4
For the past few years, I've mostly relied on Synology NAS as my home storage solution. These come with a nice interface and can be configured easily but also extensively. Unfortunately, they are also comparatively expensive. At some point I stumbled across the Open Media Vault (OMV) project. This is a package that you can [...]
- HowTo: Raspberry Pi – Create Image from system SD card
As is so often the case with backups, you usually only think about making one when it's too late for it. That's what happened to me recently with one of my Raspberry Pis. The curse and blessing of these is that they use an SD card as the main drive. This makes installation very easy. Unfortunately, […]
- HowTo: Raspberry Pi – Mount drive in Linux
As a Raspberry Pi user, sooner or later you will stumble over the question of how to connect a USB stick, external hard drive or SD card to the Raspberry Pi and access it. The process is similar for all drive types. Whether USB stick, external hard drive or SD card. After connecting to the […]
- HowTo: Raspberry Pi – Read the unique ID of a Raspberry Pi
Normally, all data of a Raspberry Pi is stored on the inserted SD card. This has the advantage that you can simply insert an operational SD card into another Raspberry Pi. If your Raspberry Pi is damaged, for example, it is sufficient to insert the SD card into a running hardware and you can continue. [...]
- News – Summer 2022
It's been a while since I gave an overview of my current projects. So here's a little update. 🙂 WinDIY_2 I've been working on the second version of WinDIY for quite a while now. On the one hand, this is because I only work on it sporadically. On the other hand, I've also made a [...]
- HowTo: Node Red - Control GPIO of an ESPEasy device
EspEasy and Node Red each offer a number of options for automation. You get even more options if you combine both systems. In the article ESPEasy – Execute commands and actions via HTTP , MQTT and UDP I have already described in general how to send certain commands to an ESPEasy device from Node Red. […]
- HowTo: pxlBlck – Build the pxlDigit_clock using the pxlDigit_PCB
I got the idea for the pxlDigit_PCB while building the pxlDigit (article here: https://nerdiy.de/howto-elektronik-seven-segment-digit-pxldigit-aus-ws2812-leds-bauen/). There the pxlDigit is made up of individual WS2812 LED segments. To do this, the LEDs must first be glued into the 3D printed housing and then soldered together in the housing. This step in particular is not that easy due […]
- HowTo: Zigbee – Integrate Ikea SYMFONISK E1744 remote control into NodeRed via zigbee2mqtt
The Ikea SYMFONISK E1744 remote control is actually intended to control the SYMFONISK WiFi speaker from Ikea. This can then be used to control the volume or change the track. Thanks to Zigbee, the Ikea SYMFONISK E1744 remote control can also be used very well to control your SmartHome. How you can integrate the remote […]
- HowTo: Anemosens – Build a 3D printed wind sensor / anemometer
To be honest, the idea of a 3D printable wind sensor (in technical jargon “anemometer”) has been floating around in my head for a long time. Initially I could have used it as a wind sensor for one of my weather stations. At that time I had an FDM 3D printer available and also a […]
- HowTo: NodeRed - Control and read out FRITZ DECT 200 socket using NodeRed
The FRITZ!Box is not only a very good router for the home network. Equipped with the right Smart Home accessories, it can also become the Smart Home center of your house or apartment. Everything you need is already installed in the FRITZ!Box. New sensors or actuators are simply wirelessly connected via the DECT standard with the […]
- HowTo: Tasmota - Switch on socket delayed with switch on delay
In order to be absolutely sure that I have really switched off all devices (soldering iron, etc.) after leaving my workplace/desk, I have been switching the consumers at my desk via a central socket for years. Unfortunately, this has become an annoying problem over time. Because a few consumers are connected to this central socket, which [...]
- HowTo: Zigbee - IKEA STYRBAR push button E2001/E2002 via zigbee2mqtt into NodeRed
The IKEA STYRBAR button is slightly larger than the little brother of the Ikea TRADFRI E1743 button. But it also offers a few more functions and - due to the two AA batteries used - a longer battery life. In addition to the simple on and off buttons (where long button presses are also evaluated), the button has two […]
- HowTo: Zigbee - Integrate Xiaomi Aqara MCCGQ11LM door/window sensor into NodeRed via zigbee2mqtt
In the article on the Sonoff SNZB-03 motion detector and Ikea TRADFRI motion detector, I mentioned before that a smart home can also be expanded into a (limited) alarm system. The motion detectors can monitor the interior and let you know if movements have been detected in the apartment/house even though nobody is at home. Another strategy to get over a […]
- HowTo: Zigbee - Integrate Ikea TRADFRI motion detector E1525/E1745 via zigbee2mqtt in Node Red
In the article about the Sonoff SNZB-03 motion detector, I already described how you can use a motion detector to further automate your own SmartHome. Not only lights can be switched on and off automatically. A (simple) alarm system can also be implemented in this way. Another alternative to the Sonoff SNZB-03 motion detector is the Ikea TRADFRI motion detector. […]
- HowTo: Zigbee - read 4x wall switches TuYa TS0044 using Node Red
In a large part of my smart home I use the Ikea TRADFRI E1743 buttons. These can be used to conveniently switch up to four devices on and off. But recently I stumbled across the TuYa TS0044 wall switch shown here. This button can switch up to 12 devices with its four buttons. Because he can […]
- HowTo: Node Red - Read out the temperature of the FRITZ! DECT Repeater 100
The FRITZ! I recently bought a DECT repeater to improve the range of my DECT phones. Unfortunately, my Fritz Box has to be in the basement because a suitable connection to the Internet is only possible there. Actually no problem. However, the quality and range of the DECT connection between the telephone handset and the FritzBox suffers as a result. So have […]
- HowTo: Fritz Box - Find out the AIN of your SmartHome device
SmartHome devices that are compatible with the FRITZ!Box are addressed via an AIN. This AIN is a unique identification number that is assigned to the respective device. For example, if you want to use Node Red to set the temperature of a Fritz DECT radiator thermostat or switch a FRITZ!DECT 500 smart home lamp on and off, you have to […]
- HowTo: Zigbee - IKEA TRADFRI shortcut button E1812 via zigbee2mqtt into Node Red
The IKEA TRADFRI shortcut button E1812 is the little brother of the Ikea TRADFRI E1743 button. Both are identical in size. The only differences with the shortcut button are that it only has one button (instead of two) and the button surface can be designed yourself. For this purpose, several stickers are included in the scope of delivery of the button, which […]
- HowTo: Zigbee - Integrate TuYa room temperature and humidity sensor TS0201 into Node Red via zigbee2mqtt
I stumbled across the TuYa TS0201 temperature and humidity sensor while looking for a simple humidity sensor. Actually, I was looking for a simple humidity sensor with a display to show the humidity in the basement. The background was that I wanted to make sure that the boxes, files and all the other […]
- HowTo: Node Red - Sending push messages using Pushover from NodeRed
So far I have used the Pushbullet Node for notifications from my SmartHome. Unfortunately, the Pushbullet app – i.e. the counterpart on your smartphone with which you receive the messages – is no longer available for iOS. So if you also want to stay informed about the events in your SmartHome on your iOS device […]
- HowTo: Raspberry Pi - Get Linux system information with Neofetch
If you ever find yourself in the situation of having to quickly collect the most important system information about your Raspberry Pi or another Linux system, Neofetch is a very helpful tool. With just one command you can call up the most important system data and have it presented in an attractive way. How you can use Neofetch is described in the following article. Requirements […]
- HowTo: NodeRed - Automatic freeze alert via pushbullet, pushover or email
For a while I've owned one of those car covers that you put over the car to prevent ice from forming on the windows in cold temperatures. This cover is a very easy way to save yourself from having to scrape your car windows in the morning. The only disadvantage with these covers: You have to put the cover over the […]
- HowTo: Zigbee - Sonoff SNZB-03 motion detector via zigbee2mqtt into NodeRed
I think a smart home is always really practical when it relieves work or makes life more pleasant. Admittedly, the possibilities are not huge in this regard. But anyone who has walked into a dark apartment late in the evening fully laden with shopping bags will be quite grateful if, for example, the light goes on automatically. So that something like this […]
- HowTo: Zigbee - Integrate Ikea TRADFRI E1743 push button via zigbee2mqtt in NodeRed
The IKEA TRADFRI button E1743 is one of the most used buttons in my SmartHome. It is very cheap at (currently) 6 euros per piece and at the same time the quality is very good and the scope of delivery is decent. The practical thing about it is that it can be used to control up to four functions. The two buttons can be short […]
- HowTo: Zigbee - Register devices or sensors and actuators to zigbee2mqtt
In order for you to be able to use Zigbee devices for your SmartHome, they must of course first be connected to your Zigbee network. This can be implemented in different ways. The easiest way to add new devices to your Zigbee network is via the zigbee2mqtt dashboard. The dashboard should of course already be set up for this. Instructions on how to activate this dashboard […]
- HowTo: Zigbee – Prepare a Sonoff zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus for zigbee2mqtt
To control your SmartHome with the help of zigbee2mqtt you need a Zigbee adapter so that you can also connect Zigbee sensors or actuators. This is the interface between the Zigbee device and the SmartHome system (eg NodeRed) and is often available in the form of a simple USB stick including an antenna. one of […]
- HowTo: Zigbee - Migrate a CC2530/CC2531 coordinator under zigbee2mqtt to another coordinator
I've been using zigbee2mqtt for quite a while to integrate Zigbee sensors and actuators into my SmartHome. I have been using a USB dongle based on the CC2530 or CC2531 IC with the zigbee2mqtt firmware for a few years. Now, over time, the Zigbee network has grown so much that it is time for a more powerful Zigbee USB dongle […]
- HowTo: Zigbee – Administration of Zigbee2mqtt via the dashboard
Initially, Zigbee2mqtt could only be configured and controlled via the configuration file or access to the MQTT server. In the meantime, however, there is a very useful extension for zigbee2mqtt that makes it possible to configure zigbee2mqtt via an integrated web server. This means you simply visit a website that can be reached via the […]
- HowTo: Zigbee – Installing zigbee2mqtt on the Raspberry Pi
I recently started converting parts of my SmartHome to the Zigbee standard. In the past I still used sensors and actuators based on the simple 433Mhz radio. Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer sensors or actuators for this "radio standard". Last but not least, the very low prices for Zigbee accessories at Ikea were the […]
- HowTo: ESPEasy - Setup time synchronization with the DS3231 / DS3232 RTC
Thanks to the NTP server, ESPEasy is able to call up the time via the WiFi connection. This option is very easy to set up and is described, for example, here: ESPEasy – Activate NTP time retrieval from the Internet But what if no NTP server is available for the time retrieval? In this case […]
- HowTo: PCB – Assemble the ButtonBoard PCB V1.2
The ButtonBoard PCB is my attempt to kill several birds with one stone. On the one hand, I've always been looking for a universal and easy-to-program remote control for the often very individual control options in my smart home. On the other hand, I wanted to have a simple way of equipping my projects (for […]
- NodeRed – Control the FRITZ!DECT 500 RGB smart lamp with the help of NodeRed and FritzBox
I recently tested the DECT radiator thermostat for the FritzBox and integrated it into my NodeRed installation. That's why I was of course curious to see how the FRITZ! DECT 500 RGB LED lamp works with the FritzBox and whether it can be controlled just as easily from NodeRed as the radiator thermostat before. As […]
- News: Okotober 2021 - Current projects
I think it's time again for a little news article in which I tell you what has happened in the last few weeks and what I'm working on. 🙂 Anemosens in third place at the Move-It-3DP-contest I worked on a 3D printable anemometer for WinDIY_2. The result was the "Aenmosens" project. An anemometer that […]
- HowTo: PCB – Assembly of the Anemosens_MCU PCB
With the Aenmosens_MCU board it is possible to use Anemosens as a stand-alone anemometer, which can be used for long-term observations in remote areas (hence the microSD card slot) or as a further part of your weather station (hence the RS485 interface ). The RS485 interface is used to provide the measured data via Modbus. In […]
- HowTo: PCB – Assemble the Anemosens sensor PCB
The Anemosens sensor PCB is the basis for the sensor assembly of Anemosens, a 3D printed anemometer that I developed for the second version of WinDIY. For this purpose, an AH49E Hall sensor and an AS5048B I2C 14 bit magnetic rotary encoder are installed on the PCB. The AS5048B is used to determine the wind […]
- HowTo: PCB – Assembly of the pxlDigit_PCB
The idea for the pxlDigit_PCB came to me while building the first version of the pxlDigit (article here: https://nerdiy.de/en/howto-elektronik-sieben-segment-digit-pxldigit-aus-ws2812-leds-bauen/ ). The pxlDigit is built up from individual WS2812 LED segments. To do this, the LEDs must first be glued into the 3D printed housing and then soldered together in there. This step in particular is not […]
- HowTo: PCB - pxlBlck_multiPCB
One of my past PCB projects is the "pxlBlck_multiPCB". As the name suggests, this board is the heart of several future pxlBlck variants. So far I have used the Wemos D1 Mini Board with the ESP8266 built into it as the main MCU in many projects. The circuit is supplied via a micro USB connection. [...]
- News: June 2021 – My projects for the HackadayPrize 2021
A few days ago the Hackaday Prize 2021 was announced. It became clear to me relatively quickly that I would like to try to submit a few of my projects again this year. The schedule was pretty tight. I had already read in the comments under the article on the HackadayPrize that the deadlines for […]
- News: May 2021 – Current projects and developments
At the moment it has become a little quieter here on Nerdiy.de. That was because I was working harder on developing a few new projects. Unfortunately, caring for the website or creating new articles often suffers as a result. But since the roughest plans have now been completed, this will soon change again. 🙂 Until […]
- HowTo: 3D Printing – Rapid prototyping service of PCBWay.com
I am currently working on a project that unfortunately exceeds the capabilities of my 3D printer. So far I was able to print all the necessary components on my 3D printer with the actually quite generously dimensioned print bed dimensions of 235x235mm. When the projects got bigger I simply split them up into several small […]
- HowTo: pxlBlck – Build your own pxlBlck_CassetteLamp
MP3 players, smartphones and USB sticks with 128GB and more memory are now part of everyday life. Storing and transporting music has therefore never been easier. About 30 years ago it looked different. The "USB stick of the 80s / 90s" was the cassette. Of course, I still have a lot of them flying around […]
- HowTo: ESPEasy – Connect the APDS-9960 gesture sensor to the ESP8266 / ESP32 and read its values
The APDS-9960 is a sensor that can be connected to a microcontroller such as the ESP8266 via the I2C bus. With the help of the sensor it is possible to recognize simple gestures, to measure the brightness, the distance of an object to the sensor and the color of the light hitting the sensor. The […]
- HowTo: 3D printing – Build a Y-distributor for a 125mm exhaust hose
While setting up the suction system for my soldering station and the chamber of my 3D printer, I was faced with the problem that I had to somehow split the suction nozzle of the suction system into two ways. The aim was to be able to control both the branch to my soldering station and […]
- News: PCB development - I2C_mtrDrvr V1.0, servoDigitCtrlr, pxlBlck_multiPCB, XGZP6847_adapter and nanoPxl V1.4
At the moment I am working on a few PCB projects in which I would like to give you a little insight here. 🙂 All of the boards presented in the following have been manufactured by PCBWay.com. They support my projects and have made the boards available to me. If you are looking for a […]
- HowTo: ESPEasy – Set up password protection, save and restore configurations
I'm not sure whether ESPs can really be abused to set up a botnet. Either way, you shouldn't neglect the issue of security, even with the small ESPEasy devices. The first small hurdle that should make it difficult for potential attackers or simply curious visitors to read or even change the configuration of your […]
- HowTo: Node Red – Switch the Raspberry Pi screen on and off
So that my MagicMirror is only switched on when I actually use it, I have configured a small automation using NodeRed. The screen is only switched on if movement is detected. The screen itself is switched on and off using the "vcgencmd" command. (More information here: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/raspbian/applications/vcgencmd.md) With the following NodeRed code you can switch […]
- HowTo: 3D printing – Build a solder fume extraction hose incl. funnel
I also needed a suitable hose system to build my solder fume extraction system. After a little trial and error, I decided to use the standard exhaust air hoses. These are actually used to transport the exhaust air from extractor hoods or dryers. For the solder fume extraction system I decided to use a 125mm […]
- HowTo: Node Red – Trigger actions via Windows shortcut / mouse click
So that I can switch off my 3D printer automatically after the printing process, I installed a Sonoff relay so that it can interrupt the power supply to the entire 3D printer. The relay is then controlled via MQTT and automatically switches off the printer after the 3D printing is complete. The printer can be […]
- HowTo: ESPEasy – Connect VL53L0X / VL53L1X distance sensor to the ESP8266 / ESP32 and read its data
The VL53L0x or its sister / brother, the VL53L1X is a very precise and relatively inexpensive laser distance sensor. With this, distances can be measured almost at millimeter accuracy. In one of my other projects (see ESPEasy – level sensor with VL53L0X / VL53L1X) I am already using this sensor to, for example, monitor the level […]
- HowTo: ESPEasy - Connect the BME280 / BMP280 to the ESP8266 and read its data
The BME280 is one of the sensors that I use in almost all of my projects. With this sensor one cannot only measure the temperature. The air humidity and air pressure can also be measured with it. The BME280 is the perfect sensor if you want to measure the climate data of a room […]
- HowTo: ESPEasy - Configure MQTT server on the ESP8266 and subscribe to topics
ESPEasy can read out a large number of different sensors and/or control actuators (see also ESPEasy – Sensors & Actuators). With the help of the "Rules" it is then possible to react to this locally on the ESP and act accordingly. But the collected sensor data can also be sent to other devices. [...]
- HowTo: 3D printing – Build a servo-controlled 125mm butterfly valve
I recently built an extraction system for my soldering station and the chamber of my 3D printer. The built extraction system has two connections. One of them sucks the air out of the 3D printer chamber with the help of a connected hose and thus ensures that the air in it is regularly freed of […]
- HowTo: ESPEasy – Connect a rotary encoder to the ESP8266 and evaluate it
Especially if your own circuit has a display to show values, the next step is often to connect an interface option. You can connect buttons or switches. A relatively cool way to equip your own circuit with an input option is the rotary encoder. At first glance, a rotary encoder looks like a potentiometer. In […]
- HowTo: ESPEasy – Connect the PCA9685 PWM port extension to the ESP8266
The PCA9685 is quite a practical IC. This is connected to the microcontroller (eg ESP8266) via I2C and can then control up to 16 individual PWM channels. You can control up to 16 LEDs, servos or motors with additional circuitry with just two (I2C) pins on the microcontroller. Especially when you want to control servos, […]
- HowTo: Node Red – Control Spotify via NodeRed
What I really appreciate about Spotify is the good connectivity. You can play or control music or podcasts on another device with just a few clicks. Thanks to the free possibility of setting up developer access, many of these functions can also be accessed from NodeRed. With a few cleverly linked nodes, you can easily […]
- HowTo: Node Red – Display close by gas station prices on the dashboard
With NodeRed or the appropriate nodes, you can very easily retrieve data from the Internet and display it in a processed form. A practical application for this is, for example, calling up gas station prices from the area and automatically displaying them in a table. The web service Tankerkoenig.de is kind enough to offer its data free of charge via its API. With […]
- HowTo: Arduino – Build your own arduino timer “time_timy” to visualize a time period
The 3D printed housing of the "pxlDigits" was initially not intended to be "just" a 7-segment display with WiFi. Originally I used it to build a kind of timer from a two-digit, 7-segment display for a friend of mine. She is a primary school teacher and had the problem that she needed a time display […]
- HowTo: Electronics – Build seven segment LED digit called "pxlDigit" from WS2812 LEDs
For another project I urgently needed a relatively large number to indicate a duration. From this this small "sub-project" emerged. Because with the 3D printed frame described here and a couple of WS2812 LEDs you can easily build a seven-segment number (or several) and use it to build displays to show numbers. Over time, I […]
- HowTo: ESPEasy - Connect an LDR to the ESP8266 and read its value
There are some situations in which connecting an LDR to an ESP makes sense. In this way, the brightness in a room can be measured relatively easily and for little money. This value can then be used, for example, to detect presence (has someone switched the light on even though I'm not at home?) Or […]
- HowTo: pxlBlck – Display relative values as a BarGraph
I started with the documentation of the pxlBlcks (which I had been postponed for a too long time) in November 2020 after Hackaday.com had announced the "GoodBye 2020" challenge. (More information here: https://hackaday.io/contest/175608-goodbye-2020/details) I had used the pxlBlcks for a long time, but as so often I never found the time / motivation to write […]
- HowTo: 3D printing – Build a foot tambourine yourself
Actually not one of the typical articles for Nerdiy.de, but recently I was looking for a tambourine that I could operate myself while playing the guitar. Long story short: Everything I found was either too expensive or not suitable. Therefore: do it yourself. 🙂 Instructions on how to build your own foot tambourine can be […]
- HowTo: 3D printing – Build a foot rattle yourself
When looking for a foot rattle to accompany guitar playing, I had the same problem as with the foot tambourine. So again: do it yourself. 🙂 Instructions for building your own foot rattle can be found in the following article. Requirements Required material: Required tools: In the following list you will find all the tools […]
- HowTo: pxlBlck – Build your own pxlBlck_RingClock
The pxlBlck_RingClock is very similar to the pxlBlck_SlotClock. It is also built using a 1 × 60 LED matrix and can display the time according to the same scheme as the pxlBlck_SlotClock. However, the LED strip of the pxlBlck_RingClock is installed in a ring and not in a disc. This makes the design of the […]
- HowTo: pxlBlck – Build your own pxlBlck_8x8
The pxlBlck_8x8 was one of the first members of the pxlBlck family. Thanks to the few parts and the prefabricated WS2812 8×8 LED matrix, it is set up fairly quickly and thanks to the adapter board, it offers some expansion options that are not visible at first glance. With the help of the installed pxlBlck […]
- HowTo: pxlBlck – Build your own pxlBlck_Pot
The idea for the pxlBlck_Pot is heavily inspired by a design that Lukas (@i_am_lukas) had created. He agreed that I can use his basic design. Thanks again for that. 🙂 The pxlBlck_Pot is basically a 3D printed flower planter. A 32×8 WS2812 LED matrix can be inserted into this. The functionality of the pxlBlck can […]
- HowTo: pxlBlck – Build your own pxlBlck_SlotClock
The pxlBlck_SlotClock consists of a 1×60 LED matrix. It can display the time in the same way as an analog clock. The colors of the individual hands can be adjusted. Hour markers can also be displayed. This makes orientation and reading the time a little easier. 🙂 Animations can also be shown on the LED […]
- HowTo: pxlBlck – Design icons, transfer them to the pxlBlck and display them
I started developing the pxlBlcks because I was looking for a way to stay informed about events in the SmartHome. There are now two options integrated into the pxlBlck plug-in. In addition to being able to display animations, there is also the possibility of loading predefined icons onto the pxlBlck and displaying them there. thesis […]
- HowTo: pxlBlck – Install and configure the pxlBlck plugin
The pxlBlck plugin for the ESPEasy framework is the "software counterpart" to the pxlBlck platforms. With the plugin you can easily control the built-in LED matrices and with the help of the other functions it is relatively easy to display your own animations and notifications on the LED matrix. pxlBlck platform Before you continue with […]
- HowTo: pxlBlck – Commands to configure the pxlBlck
The pxlBlck plugin and the functions of your pxlBlck can be configured in two different ways. One possibility is to configure most of the functions via the plugin's web menu. You can find a lot of information about this in the article pxlBlck – Install and configure the pxlBlck plugin In addition to this option, […]
- HowTo: pxlBlck - Configure and display animations
With the pxlBlck you can be informed about events in different ways. One of these possibilities is to be able to display previously set icons. Unfortunately, this option only works on LED matrices with a height greater than one, ie not on the pxlBlcks which "only" use an LED strip or a 1×60 LED matrix. [...]
- HowTo: pxlBlck – Configure watch faces and screensavers
The adjustable dials differ from the type of LED matrix used. Unfortunately, this is the case because different LED matrix sizes allow or do not allow different dials and screensavers. In order to give you a small overview of which dials are possible with which matrix, here is an idea of the adjustable dials and the […]
- HowTo: pxlBlck – Automatic setting of the display brightness via LDR
If you not only want to stay informed about events with your pxlBlck and also use it to display the current time, then it might be you noticed that a fixed display brightness doesn't always match to every situation. Especially if you have your pxlBlck near a window, you have to set the display brightness […]
- pxlBlck - An IOT/SmartHome information system
pxlBlck is a system of hardware and software to set up an information system for the SmartHome. Various software and hardware options are available. Thanks to the integration in an ESPEasy plug-in, the pxlBlck's can be automated without external automation software. In combination with external automation software (e.g. NodeRed, MQTT server, etc ...), various notifications [...]
- HowTo: ESPEasy – Activate NTP time retrieval from the Internet
Thanks to WiFi and thus (often) an internet connection, an ESP8266 or ESP32 programmed with ESPEasy also has the option to retrieve the actual time. In order for this to work, the retrieval of the time via an NTP server must first be activated in ESPEasy and a correctly configured server. What you have to […]
- HowTo: Electronics – Build waterproof 12V fairy lights yourself
For a camping trip I was looking for a cheap and bright fairy light. This should be waterproof and bright enough to illuminate the tent properly. It would be perfect if the brightness could be adjusted. Since I didn't find any of the existing fairy lights really fitting, I started to "develop" my own fairy […]
- HowTo: Electronics - Encapsulate electronics waterproof with epoxy
During the construction of a chain of lights, I was faced with the problem of how to get this chain of lights waterproof. Ultimately, I built the electronic components, which must not be exposed to moisture, in a 3D printed transparent housing. In order for them to be finally waterproof, the electronic components had to […]
- PCB development – hubCtrlr, miniFloorLamp and nanoPxlV1.3
Lately I've been working on various PCB projects and I would like to introduce a few of them here. i2c_slider_75 With this PCB I want to reduce the wiring effort of WinDIY a little. The last build of the electronics (from WinDIY) consisted of a main board which was connected to the sensors and actuators […]
- HowTo: Node Red – Fridge door monitoring by fridge energy consumption
In the past few weeks I've had the problem that my freezer door didn't close properly. As a result, at least one night, the refrigerator door was not properly closed for almost seven hours. When that happened to me (again) a few days later, I decided to do something about it. It would be enough […]
- HowTo: ESPEasy - Use a PCA9685 and ESPEasy to control servos
The PCA9685 is a PWM port expander. This makes it possible to connect up to 16 LEDs, servos or other components to your ESP8266 and supply them with a PWM signal. Thanks to ESPEasy (and the matching plug-in), controlling the PCA9685 is particularly easy. With the PCA9685, you can ultimately control up to 16 servos […]
- How To: Raspberry Pi – Configure audio output
The RaspberryPi can be equipped with a speaker in various ways. The easiest way is the connection via the 3.5mm jack plug. There is also the option of having the sound output via the HDMI connection. Ultimately, the sound can also be output via a connected USB speaker. This is particularly useful if you want […]
Flashing the ESP8266 or ESP32 is not that easy if you have not had much contact with microcontrollers before. now, […]
I got the idea for the pxlDigit_PCB while building the pxlDigit (article here: https://nerdiy.de/howto-elektronik-seven-segment-digit-pxldigit-aus-ws2812-leds-bauen/). There the pxlDigit is made up […]
The idea for the pxlDigit_PCB came to me while building the first version of the pxlDigit (article here: https://nerdiy.de/en/howto-elektronik-sieben-segment-digit-pxldigit-aus-ws2812-leds-bauen/ ). The […]
A few days ago the Hackaday Prize 2021 was announced. It became clear to me relatively quickly that I would […]
The IKEA FYRTUR roller blind is a very easy way to retrofit your windows with an easily controllable roller blind. Thanks to […]
In the articles Reading data from an SMA EV CHARGER 22 Wallbox and Node Red – SMA Sunny Home Manager data […]
For some time now, there has also been an SMA inverter for a photovoltaic system and an associated SMA Sunny […]
In order to be able to automate your own smart home properly, one function is quite important: Are residents present […]
I recently added an SMA EV Charger 22 Wallbox to my network. Of course, this is primarily used to charge […]
EspEasy and Node Red each offer a number of options for automation. You get even more options if you combine […]
To be honest, the idea of a 3D printable wind sensor (in technical jargon “anemometer”) has been floating around in […]
Thanks to the NTP server, ESPEasy is able to call up the time via the WiFi connection. This option is […]
For the past few years, I've mostly relied on Synology NAS as my home storage solution. These come with a […]
The ButtonBoard PCB is my attempt to kill several birds with one stone. On the one hand, I've always been [...]
PhotoPrism is a very cool piece of software that you can use to manage your photo collection locally. Once set up, your photos will […]
A NAS (Raspberry Pi – NetworkAttachedStorage / build your own NAS with a Raspberry Pi 4) is really practical, of course […]
The Raspberry Pi is famous for many of its features. On the one hand there is the size, performance and (at times without […]
As a Windows user, you are used to the fact that a virus scanner is always on the lookout somewhere […]
The TRADFRI plug is a simple way to switch existing consumers such as lamps via your smart home system via Zigbee. The consumer can be switched on and off. At the same time, the socket also acts as a signal amplifier (repeater) for all other Zigbee devices. How to integrate the TRADFRI plug into your […]
Another practical advantage of OpenMediaVault is that thanks to the prepared Docker and Portainer installation, you can easily add additional functions. Docker containers are a type of software package that make it much easier to distribute and install programs. Instead of having to install the desired program, you simply have to activate the Docker container […]
In the article Raspberry Pi – music streaming to the Raspberry Pi via DLNA client, I have already described how to use the Raspberry Pi as a playback device for content from a DLNA server. DLNA describes a standard with which you can easily stream content across devices in your own network. For example, you […]
As the name of OpenMediaVault suggests, it is about managing media. Of course, you also need the appropriate storage space for this. In the article NetworkAttachedStorage / Building a NAS from a RaspberryPi 4 yourself, I used an external USB hard drive. However, many other drives can also be used as storage space expansion for […]
In the article Zigbee – Preparing a Sonoff zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus for zigbee2mqtt, I described how to write the firmware for zigbee2mqtt to a Zigbee stick from Sonoff. An alternative to this Zigbee stick is the Electrolama zig-a-zig-ah! (zzh!) Coordinator USB stick by Electrolama I have described in the following article how flashing […]
As soon as you work with OpenMediaVault and use various services and plugins, it makes sense to create a new user at some point. In this way, you can set access rights in a well-dosed manner, which ultimately helps to increase security. The following article describes how you can create a new user using OpenMediaVault. […]
Thanks to the I2C bus, the Raspberry Pi can be equipped with a variety of practical sensors and actuators. The MPR121 offers a (in my opinion) very elegant way for user input. The MPR121 is a controller that makes it possible to evaluate up to 12 touch electrodes. You can use it to set up […]
After installing OpenMediaVault, the first thing you should do is enable HTTPS encryption for web access. This ensures that when you access the OMV web interface, all data is encrypted with HTTPS. You should activate this option, especially if you also want to access your OMV instance via a public network. What you have to […]
If you often work with large or many files on the Raspberry Pi, sooner or later you will face the problem that the available memory is running out. At least that's what happened to me. Especially when there are several distributed files, it is not so easy to get an overview of which files and […]
In the article RaspberryPi – NetworkAttachedStorage / build your own NAS from a RaspberryPi 4, I had already described that the (relatively) new Raspberry Pi 4B is also very well suited to building an inexpensive but powerful “Network Attached Storage” or NAS. A NAS is a hard drive that is connected to the network and […]
As is so often the case with backups, you usually only think about making one when it's too late for it. That's what happened to me recently with one of my Raspberry Pis. The curse and blessing of these is that they use an SD card as the main drive. This makes installation very easy. Unfortunately, […]
As a Raspberry Pi user, sooner or later you will stumble over the question of how to connect a USB stick, external hard drive or SD card to the Raspberry Pi and access it. The process is similar for all drive types. Whether USB stick, external hard drive or SD card. After connecting to the […]
Normally, all data of a Raspberry Pi is stored on the inserted SD card. This has the advantage that you can simply insert an operational SD card into another Raspberry Pi. If your Raspberry Pi is damaged, for example, it is sufficient to insert the SD card into a running hardware and you can continue. [...]
It's been a while since I gave an overview of my current projects. So here's a little update. 🙂 WinDIY_2 I've been working on the second version of WinDIY for quite a while now. On the one hand, this is because I only work on it sporadically. On the other hand, I've also made a [...]
The Ikea SYMFONISK E1744 remote control is actually intended to control the SYMFONISK WiFi speaker from Ikea. This can then be used to control the volume or change the track. Thanks to Zigbee, the Ikea SYMFONISK E1744 remote control can also be used very well to control your SmartHome. How you can integrate the remote […]
The FRITZ!Box is not only a very good router for the home network. Equipped with the right Smart Home accessories, it can also become the Smart Home center of your house or apartment. Everything you need is already installed in the FRITZ!Box. New sensors or actuators are simply wirelessly connected via the DECT standard with the […]
In order to be absolutely sure that I have really switched off all devices (soldering iron, etc.) after leaving my workplace/desk, I have been switching the consumers at my desk via a central socket for years. Unfortunately, this has become an annoying problem over time. Because a few consumers are connected to this central socket, which [...]
The IKEA STYRBAR button is slightly larger than the little brother of the Ikea TRADFRI E1743 button. But it also offers a few more functions and - due to the two AA batteries used - a longer battery life. In addition to the simple on and off buttons (where long button presses are also evaluated), the button has two […]
In the article on the Sonoff SNZB-03 motion detector and Ikea TRADFRI motion detector, I mentioned before that a smart home can also be expanded into a (limited) alarm system. The motion detectors can monitor the interior and let you know if movements have been detected in the apartment/house even though nobody is at home. Another strategy to get over a […]
In the article about the Sonoff SNZB-03 motion detector, I already described how you can use a motion detector to further automate your own SmartHome. Not only lights can be switched on and off automatically. A (simple) alarm system can also be implemented in this way. Another alternative to the Sonoff SNZB-03 motion detector is the Ikea TRADFRI motion detector. […]
In a large part of my smart home I use the Ikea TRADFRI E1743 buttons. These can be used to conveniently switch up to four devices on and off. But recently I stumbled across the TuYa TS0044 wall switch shown here. This button can switch up to 12 devices with its four buttons. Because he can […]
The FRITZ! I recently bought a DECT repeater to improve the range of my DECT phones. Unfortunately, my Fritz Box has to be in the basement because a suitable connection to the Internet is only possible there. Actually no problem. However, the quality and range of the DECT connection between the telephone handset and the FritzBox suffers as a result. So have […]
SmartHome devices that are compatible with the FRITZ!Box are addressed via an AIN. This AIN is a unique identification number that is assigned to the respective device. For example, if you want to use Node Red to set the temperature of a Fritz DECT radiator thermostat or switch a FRITZ!DECT 500 smart home lamp on and off, you have to […]
The IKEA TRADFRI shortcut button E1812 is the little brother of the Ikea TRADFRI E1743 button. Both are identical in size. The only differences with the shortcut button are that it only has one button (instead of two) and the button surface can be designed yourself. For this purpose, several stickers are included in the scope of delivery of the button, which […]
I stumbled across the TuYa TS0201 temperature and humidity sensor while looking for a simple humidity sensor. Actually, I was looking for a simple humidity sensor with a display to show the humidity in the basement. The background was that I wanted to make sure that the boxes, files and all the other […]
So far I have used the Pushbullet Node for notifications from my SmartHome. Unfortunately, the Pushbullet app – i.e. the counterpart on your smartphone with which you receive the messages – is no longer available for iOS. So if you also want to stay informed about the events in your SmartHome on your iOS device […]
If you ever find yourself in the situation of having to quickly collect the most important system information about your Raspberry Pi or another Linux system, Neofetch is a very helpful tool. With just one command you can call up the most important system data and have it presented in an attractive way. How you can use Neofetch is described in the following article. Requirements […]
For a while I've owned one of those car covers that you put over the car to prevent ice from forming on the windows in cold temperatures. This cover is a very easy way to save yourself from having to scrape your car windows in the morning. The only disadvantage with these covers: You have to put the cover over the […]
I think a smart home is always really practical when it relieves work or makes life more pleasant. Admittedly, the possibilities are not huge in this regard. But anyone who has walked into a dark apartment late in the evening fully laden with shopping bags will be quite grateful if, for example, the light goes on automatically. So that something like this […]
The IKEA TRADFRI button E1743 is one of the most used buttons in my SmartHome. It is very cheap at (currently) 6 euros per piece and at the same time the quality is very good and the scope of delivery is decent. The practical thing about it is that it can be used to control up to four functions. The two buttons can be short […]
In order for you to be able to use Zigbee devices for your SmartHome, they must of course first be connected to your Zigbee network. This can be implemented in different ways. The easiest way to add new devices to your Zigbee network is via the zigbee2mqtt dashboard. The dashboard should of course already be set up for this. Instructions on how to activate this dashboard […]
To control your SmartHome with the help of zigbee2mqtt you need a Zigbee adapter so that you can also connect Zigbee sensors or actuators. This is the interface between the Zigbee device and the SmartHome system (eg NodeRed) and is often available in the form of a simple USB stick including an antenna. one of […]
I've been using zigbee2mqtt for quite a while to integrate Zigbee sensors and actuators into my SmartHome. I have been using a USB dongle based on the CC2530 or CC2531 IC with the zigbee2mqtt firmware for a few years. Now, over time, the Zigbee network has grown so much that it is time for a more powerful Zigbee USB dongle […]
Initially, Zigbee2mqtt could only be configured and controlled via the configuration file or access to the MQTT server. In the meantime, however, there is a very useful extension for zigbee2mqtt that makes it possible to configure zigbee2mqtt via an integrated web server. This means you simply visit a website that can be reached via the […]
I recently started converting parts of my SmartHome to the Zigbee standard. In the past I still used sensors and actuators based on the simple 433Mhz radio. Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer sensors or actuators for this "radio standard". Last but not least, the very low prices for Zigbee accessories at Ikea were the […]
I recently tested the DECT radiator thermostat for the FritzBox and integrated it into my NodeRed installation. That's why I was of course curious to see how the FRITZ! DECT 500 RGB LED lamp works with the FritzBox and whether it can be controlled just as easily from NodeRed as the radiator thermostat before. As […]
I think it's time again for a little news article in which I tell you what has happened in the last few weeks and what I'm working on. 🙂 Anemosens in third place at the Move-It-3DP-contest I worked on a 3D printable anemometer for WinDIY_2. The result was the "Aenmosens" project. An anemometer that […]
With the Aenmosens_MCU board it is possible to use Anemosens as a stand-alone anemometer, which can be used for long-term observations in remote areas (hence the microSD card slot) or as a further part of your weather station (hence the RS485 interface ). The RS485 interface is used to provide the measured data via Modbus. In […]
The Anemosens sensor PCB is the basis for the sensor assembly of Anemosens, a 3D printed anemometer that I developed for the second version of WinDIY. For this purpose, an AH49E Hall sensor and an AS5048B I2C 14 bit magnetic rotary encoder are installed on the PCB. The AS5048B is used to determine the wind […]
At the moment it has become a little quieter here on Nerdiy.de. That was because I was working harder on developing a few new projects. Unfortunately, caring for the website or creating new articles often suffers as a result. But since the roughest plans have now been completed, this will soon change again. 🙂 Until […]
I am currently working on a project that unfortunately exceeds the capabilities of my 3D printer. So far I was able to print all the necessary components on my 3D printer with the actually quite generously dimensioned print bed dimensions of 235x235mm. When the projects got bigger I simply split them up into several small […]
MP3 players, smartphones and USB sticks with 128GB and more memory are now part of everyday life. Storing and transporting music has therefore never been easier. About 30 years ago it looked different. The "USB stick of the 80s / 90s" was the cassette. Of course, I still have a lot of them flying around […]
The APDS-9960 is a sensor that can be connected to a microcontroller such as the ESP8266 via the I2C bus. With the help of the sensor it is possible to recognize simple gestures, to measure the brightness, the distance of an object to the sensor and the color of the light hitting the sensor. The […]
While setting up the suction system for my soldering station and the chamber of my 3D printer, I was faced with the problem that I had to somehow split the suction nozzle of the suction system into two ways. The aim was to be able to control both the branch to my soldering station and […]
At the moment I am working on a few PCB projects in which I would like to give you a little insight here. 🙂 All of the boards presented in the following have been manufactured by PCBWay.com. They support my projects and have made the boards available to me. If you are looking for a […]
I'm not sure whether ESPs can really be abused to set up a botnet. Either way, you shouldn't neglect the issue of security, even with the small ESPEasy devices. The first small hurdle that should make it difficult for potential attackers or simply curious visitors to read or even change the configuration of your […]
So that my MagicMirror is only switched on when I actually use it, I have configured a small automation using NodeRed. The screen is only switched on if movement is detected. The screen itself is switched on and off using the "vcgencmd" command. (More information here: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/raspbian/applications/vcgencmd.md) With the following NodeRed code you can switch […]
I also needed a suitable hose system to build my solder fume extraction system. After a little trial and error, I decided to use the standard exhaust air hoses. These are actually used to transport the exhaust air from extractor hoods or dryers. For the solder fume extraction system I decided to use a 125mm […]
So that I can switch off my 3D printer automatically after the printing process, I installed a Sonoff relay so that it can interrupt the power supply to the entire 3D printer. The relay is then controlled via MQTT and automatically switches off the printer after the 3D printing is complete. The printer can be […]
The VL53L0x or its sister / brother, the VL53L1X is a very precise and relatively inexpensive laser distance sensor. With this, distances can be measured almost at millimeter accuracy. In one of my other projects (see ESPEasy – level sensor with VL53L0X / VL53L1X) I am already using this sensor to, for example, monitor the level […]
The BME280 is one of the sensors that I use in almost all of my projects. With this sensor one cannot only measure the temperature. The air humidity and air pressure can also be measured with it. The BME280 is the perfect sensor if you want to measure the climate data of a room […]
ESPEasy can read out a large number of different sensors and/or control actuators (see also ESPEasy – Sensors & Actuators). With the help of the "Rules" it is then possible to react to this locally on the ESP and act accordingly. But the collected sensor data can also be sent to other devices. [...]
I recently built an extraction system for my soldering station and the chamber of my 3D printer. The built extraction system has two connections. One of them sucks the air out of the 3D printer chamber with the help of a connected hose and thus ensures that the air in it is regularly freed of […]
Especially if your own circuit has a display to show values, the next step is often to connect an interface option. You can connect buttons or switches. A relatively cool way to equip your own circuit with an input option is the rotary encoder. At first glance, a rotary encoder looks like a potentiometer. In […]
The PCA9685 is quite a practical IC. This is connected to the microcontroller (eg ESP8266) via I2C and can then control up to 16 individual PWM channels. You can control up to 16 LEDs, servos or motors with additional circuitry with just two (I2C) pins on the microcontroller. Especially when you want to control servos, […]
What I really appreciate about Spotify is the good connectivity. You can play or control music or podcasts on another device with just a few clicks. Thanks to the free possibility of setting up developer access, many of these functions can also be accessed from NodeRed. With a few cleverly linked nodes, you can easily […]
With NodeRed or the appropriate nodes, you can very easily retrieve data from the Internet and display it in a processed form. A practical application for this is, for example, calling up gas station prices from the area and automatically displaying them in a table. The web service Tankerkoenig.de is kind enough to offer its data free of charge via its API. With […]
The 3D printed housing of the "pxlDigits" was initially not intended to be "just" a 7-segment display with WiFi. Originally I used it to build a kind of timer from a two-digit, 7-segment display for a friend of mine. She is a primary school teacher and had the problem that she needed a time display […]
For another project I urgently needed a relatively large number to indicate a duration. From this this small "sub-project" emerged. Because with the 3D printed frame described here and a couple of WS2812 LEDs you can easily build a seven-segment number (or several) and use it to build displays to show numbers. Over time, I […]
There are some situations in which connecting an LDR to an ESP makes sense. In this way, the brightness in a room can be measured relatively easily and for little money. This value can then be used, for example, to detect presence (has someone switched the light on even though I'm not at home?) Or […]
I started with the documentation of the pxlBlcks (which I had been postponed for a too long time) in November 2020 after Hackaday.com had announced the "GoodBye 2020" challenge. (More information here: https://hackaday.io/contest/175608-goodbye-2020/details) I had used the pxlBlcks for a long time, but as so often I never found the time / motivation to write […]
Actually not one of the typical articles for Nerdiy.de, but recently I was looking for a tambourine that I could operate myself while playing the guitar. Long story short: Everything I found was either too expensive or not suitable. Therefore: do it yourself. 🙂 Instructions on how to build your own foot tambourine can be […]
When looking for a foot rattle to accompany guitar playing, I had the same problem as with the foot tambourine. So again: do it yourself. 🙂 Instructions for building your own foot rattle can be found in the following article. Requirements Required material: Required tools: In the following list you will find all the tools […]
The pxlBlck_RingClock is very similar to the pxlBlck_SlotClock. It is also built using a 1 × 60 LED matrix and can display the time according to the same scheme as the pxlBlck_SlotClock. However, the LED strip of the pxlBlck_RingClock is installed in a ring and not in a disc. This makes the design of the […]
The pxlBlck_8x8 was one of the first members of the pxlBlck family. Thanks to the few parts and the prefabricated WS2812 8×8 LED matrix, it is set up fairly quickly and thanks to the adapter board, it offers some expansion options that are not visible at first glance. With the help of the installed pxlBlck […]
The idea for the pxlBlck_Pot is heavily inspired by a design that Lukas (@i_am_lukas) had created. He agreed that I can use his basic design. Thanks again for that. 🙂 The pxlBlck_Pot is basically a 3D printed flower planter. A 32×8 WS2812 LED matrix can be inserted into this. The functionality of the pxlBlck can […]
The pxlBlck_SlotClock consists of a 1×60 LED matrix. It can display the time in the same way as an analog clock. The colors of the individual hands can be adjusted. Hour markers can also be displayed. This makes orientation and reading the time a little easier. 🙂 Animations can also be shown on the LED […]
I started developing the pxlBlcks because I was looking for a way to stay informed about events in the SmartHome. There are now two options integrated into the pxlBlck plug-in. In addition to being able to display animations, there is also the possibility of loading predefined icons onto the pxlBlck and displaying them there. thesis […]
The pxlBlck plugin for the ESPEasy framework is the "software counterpart" to the pxlBlck platforms. With the plugin you can easily control the built-in LED matrices and with the help of the other functions it is relatively easy to display your own animations and notifications on the LED matrix. pxlBlck platform Before you continue with […]
The pxlBlck plugin and the functions of your pxlBlck can be configured in two different ways. One possibility is to configure most of the functions via the plugin's web menu. You can find a lot of information about this in the article pxlBlck – Install and configure the pxlBlck plugin In addition to this option, […]
With the pxlBlck you can be informed about events in different ways. One of these possibilities is to be able to display previously set icons. Unfortunately, this option only works on LED matrices with a height greater than one, ie not on the pxlBlcks which "only" use an LED strip or a 1×60 LED matrix. [...]
The adjustable dials differ from the type of LED matrix used. Unfortunately, this is the case because different LED matrix sizes allow or do not allow different dials and screensavers. In order to give you a small overview of which dials are possible with which matrix, here is an idea of the adjustable dials and the […]
If you not only want to stay informed about events with your pxlBlck and also use it to display the current time, then it might be you noticed that a fixed display brightness doesn't always match to every situation. Especially if you have your pxlBlck near a window, you have to set the display brightness […]
pxlBlck is a system of hardware and software to set up an information system for the SmartHome. Various software and hardware options are available. Thanks to the integration in an ESPEasy plug-in, the pxlBlck's can be automated without external automation software. In combination with external automation software (e.g. NodeRed, MQTT server, etc ...), various notifications [...]
Thanks to WiFi and thus (often) an internet connection, an ESP8266 or ESP32 programmed with ESPEasy also has the option to retrieve the actual time. In order for this to work, the retrieval of the time via an NTP server must first be activated in ESPEasy and a correctly configured server. What you have to […]
For a camping trip I was looking for a cheap and bright fairy light. This should be waterproof and bright enough to illuminate the tent properly. It would be perfect if the brightness could be adjusted. Since I didn't find any of the existing fairy lights really fitting, I started to "develop" my own fairy […]
During the construction of a chain of lights, I was faced with the problem of how to get this chain of lights waterproof. Ultimately, I built the electronic components, which must not be exposed to moisture, in a 3D printed transparent housing. In order for them to be finally waterproof, the electronic components had to […]
Lately I've been working on various PCB projects and I would like to introduce a few of them here. i2c_slider_75 With this PCB I want to reduce the wiring effort of WinDIY a little. The last build of the electronics (from WinDIY) consisted of a main board which was connected to the sensors and actuators […]
In the past few weeks I've had the problem that my freezer door didn't close properly. As a result, at least one night, the refrigerator door was not properly closed for almost seven hours. When that happened to me (again) a few days later, I decided to do something about it. It would be enough […]
The PCA9685 is a PWM port expander. This makes it possible to connect up to 16 LEDs, servos or other components to your ESP8266 and supply them with a PWM signal. Thanks to ESPEasy (and the matching plug-in), controlling the PCA9685 is particularly easy. With the PCA9685, you can ultimately control up to 16 servos […]
The RaspberryPi can be equipped with a speaker in various ways. The easiest way is the connection via the 3.5mm jack plug. There is also the option of having the sound output via the HDMI connection. Ultimately, the sound can also be output via a connected USB speaker. This is particularly useful if you want […]
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