ESPHome DIY sensors - Best Buy Tips
Introduction
If you want to create your own sensors with ESPHome you need an ESP development board where you can load the software to read the sensors and send this data over the network to your home server.
If you’re afraid to solder some pins or connect the ESP to the sensor, look for some tutorials and give it a try. You can also look for ESPs and sensors with already pins, then with dupont cables you don’t need to soldering at all.
Here you find some useful links where you can buy ESPs, sensors and other tooling which can be useful for making your own DIY sensors.
I have a page where I added manuals to create your own sensors.
Table of Contents
- ESP board
- Sensors
- Cables and power
- Connecting and mounting
- Boxes
- Tools
- Other hardware
- Internal links
NOTE 1: Most links on this page are hardware I also bought myself. Most of the links are affiliate links, You pay the normal price and also support my blog by buying it from here.
ESP board
The brains of your own sensor. It contains the processor to run the program on, and with the WiFi module on it which can make contact with your own network.
ESP8266 vs ESP32
The two most used ESP families are the ESP8266 and the ESP32. Both are supported by ESPHome.
| ESP8266 | ESP32 | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Single-core, 80/160 MHz | Dual-core up to 240 MHz (the C3 is single-core) |
| Memory | About 80 KB RAM | About 520 KB RAM (the C3 has 400 KB) |
| Connectivity | WiFi | WiFi and Bluetooth |
| Price | Cheapest | A bit more expensive |
Go for the ESP8266 if you build a simple sensor with one or two sensors, like a temperature sensor or a CO2 sensor. It is cheap and fast enough.
Go for the ESP32 if:
- You need Bluetooth, for example to use it as a Bluetooth proxy for Home Assistant.
- You want to connect more sensors, a display or other devices, and need more pins.
- You have a bigger or more complex configuration, which needs more memory and speed.
- You want a newer board with USB-C. New ESPHome features are mostly built for the ESP32.
If you’re not sure, choose an ESP32. The small price difference gives you more room to grow.
Sensors
Sensors are the digital senses. They can measure all different kinds of units, like temperature, humidity, light intensity, pressure, etc.
Here are some ready-to-use sensors that can be connected direct to an ESP without a challenging circuit with resistors and capacitors, etc.
A basic CO2 sensor (CO2 is measured in parts per million, ppm) which can be used to make your own CO2 sensor. Check this page how to create this.
SCD40 or SCD41 are compact CO2, humidity and temperature sensors. The 41 has some higher accuracy and can measure higher ppm values (2000 vs 5000). Comes with an I2C cable, so no soldering is required. Check this page how to make your own CO2 sensor.
A presence sensor (a.k.a. micrometer sensor). Check this page how to make your own presence detection sensor with this sensor.
Cables and power
Cables and power adapters to power your ESP.
To power multiple usb devices, with fast charging and 3.1A.
Connecting and mounting
Everything to connect the ESP with the sensors.
Pin heads to use dupont cables to connect the ESP with sensor. Only required if they are not already provided.
Boxes
A box protects the ESP board and the sensor, and makes your DIY sensor easy to place. Pick a waterproof one if the sensor is used outside or in a damp room.
Plastic DIY Case to fix the esp board and sensor in.
Plastic DIY Case to fix the esp board and sensor in.
Tools
Some of the DIY sensors need soldering. These are the tools I use for it, and a breadboard to test your setup first.
Other hardware
Some extra hardware which is useful for other DIY projects around your smart home.
Internal links
Links to other sections of this blog:
How to create your own sensors with ESPHome.
All kinds of Zigbee hardware buy tips.
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