IoT · IoT & electronics
Custom IoT and electronics with ESP32
When the solution does not exist off the shelf, I build it: sensors, Home Assistant automation, firmware and ESP32 prototypes.
Who it is for
- Homes and businesses that want to automate something specific: water, energy, access, appliances.
- Founders with a product idea that needs a working prototype.
- Companies that want to monitor equipment or processes without replacing everything.
What is included
- Circuit design and component selection.
- C/C++ firmware for ESP32, ESP32-S3, ESP32-C3 or Arduino, with OTA updates.
- Home Assistant integration over MQTT, with auto-discovery.
- Web dashboard on the device itself and a Wi-Fi setup portal.
- Replacement electronics for off-the-shelf devices that lost support.
- Documentation: diagrams, wiring and how to build it.
How I work
How I work
- 01
The problem, not the gadget
We define what you want to measure or control, and how reliable it must be.
- 02
Proof of concept
A quick prototype to validate sensors, Wi-Fi range and power draw.
- 03
Firmware and testing
Modular code, OTA updates and testing before installation.
- 04
Installation and handover
Mounting, integration with your system and documentation to maintain it.
What I have already built
- Water level for rooftop tanks and cisterns, with a dashboard, captive portal, ESP-NOW remote sensors and pump control from Home Assistant. See the case.
- A smart switch brought back: its Wi-Fi chip burnt out and I replaced it with an ESP32-C3 on the original board, with custom firmware. See the case.
- A washing machine that tells you when it is done, reading its panel LEDs with a camera and its vibration with an accelerometer. See the case.
Home automation without strings attached
Lighting, water, energy, access and alerts integrated with Home Assistant, controlled from your phone and with your data at home. No dependency on a vendor cloud that might shut down tomorrow.
Related cases
Related cases
Firmware · Hardware · Web
ESP32 water level sensor for tanks, wired into Home Assistant
Complete firmware to measure water tanks and cisterns with ultrasound: web dashboard, captive portal, MQTT with Home Assistant, ESP-NOW remote sensors and OTA updates.
Hardware · Firmware · Reverse engineering
A smart switch brought back: from a burnt Tuya chip to an ESP32-C3
A smart wall switch with a dead WiFi chip comes back to life with an ESP32-C3 soldered onto its original board, custom firmware and restart diagnostics.
Firmware · Hardware
Washing machine monitor with a camera and an accelerometer
An ESP32-S3 board with a camera and screen “reads” the panel LEDs of a Mabe washing machine and its vibration to know the current cycle stage and notify Home Assistant.
FAQ
Does it work without internet?
It can. With Home Assistant on your network and local communication (MQTT or ESP-NOW), the system keeps working even if the internet goes down.
Am I tied to a vendor app?
No. What I build uses open protocols and stays under your control. If you ever want to switch platforms, you can.
Do you build products for sale?
I build working, documented prototypes. If your idea is heading to production, I help you get it ready for the next step.
Shall we talk?
Tell me what you need and I will tell you how I would solve it, no strings attached.