DEV Community: manikanda balamurugan S

DHT11 Temperature and Humidity Monitoring with ESP8266 and KiwisIoT

manikanda balamurugan S — Tue, 03 Nov 2026 12:11:20 +0000

ESP8266 DHT11 IoT Project: Real-Time Temperature and Humidity Monitoring Using KiwisIoT 🌡️

Introduction

In this project, we build an IoT-based temperature and humidity monitoring system using the ESP8266 NodeMCU and DHT11 sensor.

The DHT11 sensor measures the surrounding temperature and humidity. The ESP8266 collects the sensor readings and sends them to the KiwisIoT dashboard through Wi-Fi.

The dashboard displays temperature and humidity values in real time, making environmental monitoring simple and convenient.

Project Overview

This project uses an ESP8266 NodeMCU connected to a DHT11 sensor. The sensor collects environmental data, and the microcontroller sends the readings to the KiwisIoT platform.

Main Features:

Real-time temperature monitoring.
Real-time humidity monitoring.
Wireless data transmission using Wi-Fi.
Live dashboard visualization.
Simple and beginner-friendly IoT implementation.

Components Required

ESP8266 NodeMCU
DHT11 Sensor
Jumper Wires
USB Cable

Software Required

Arduino IDE
ESP8266 Board Package
DHT Sensor Library
KiwisIoT Arduino Library

Circuit Connections

Connect the DHT11 sensor to the ESP8266 NodeMCU as follows:

DHT11 Sensor	ESP8266 NodeMCU
VCC	3.3V
DATA	D5
GND	GND

Make sure all connections are correct before powering the board.

Working Procedure

The DHT11 sensor measures the surrounding temperature and humidity.
The ESP8266 reads the sensor values.
The ESP8266 connects to the Wi-Fi network.
The sensor readings are sent to the KiwisIoT platform.
The KiwisIoT dashboard displays the temperature and humidity values.
The readings are updated every two seconds.

Dashboard Configuration

Create a dashboard in the KiwisIoT platform and configure two channels.

Channel 0: Temperature (°C)
Channel 1: Humidity (%)

Add suitable gauge widgets to display both readings.

Arduino Code

Install the required libraries in Arduino IDE before uploading the program.

Replace the Wi-Fi name, password and dashboard topic ID with your own values. Do not publish your actual Wi-Fi password or private dashboard credentials.

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <KiwisIoT.h>
#include <DHT.h>

const char* ssid = "YOUR_WIFI_NAME";
const char* pass = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD";

const char* topic = "YOUR_DASHBOARD_TOPIC_ID";

#define DHT_PIN D5
#define DHT_TYPE DHT11

DHT dht(DHT_PIN, DHT_TYPE);

KiwisIoT kiwisiot(ssid, pass, topic);

void sendDHTData() {

  float temperature = dht.readTemperature();
  float humidity = dht.readHumidity();

  if (isnan(temperature) || isnan(humidity)) {
    Serial.println("Failed to read DHT11!");
    return;
  }

  Serial.println();
  Serial.println("---------- DHT11 MONITORING ----------");

  Serial.print("Temperature: ");
  Serial.print(temperature, 1);
  Serial.println(" °C");

  Serial.print("Humidity: ");
  Serial.print(humidity, 1);
  Serial.println(" %");

  String temperatureData = String(temperature, 1);
  kiwisiot.send("0", temperatureData);

  String humidityData = String(humidity, 1);
  kiwisiot.send("1", humidityData);
}

void setup() {

  Serial.begin(115200);

  Serial.println("DHT11 MONITORING");

  dht.begin();

  Serial.println("DHT11 initialized");

  kiwisiot.begin();

  Serial.println("KiwisIoT initialized");
  Serial.println("Starting monitoring...");
}

void loop() {

  kiwisiot.run();

  static unsigned long lastSend = 0;

  if (millis() - lastSend >= 2000) {

    lastSend = millis();
    sendDHTData();
  }

  delay(100);
}

Output

After uploading the code successfully, the ESP8266 reads the temperature and humidity values from the DHT11 sensor.

The readings are transmitted to the KiwisIoT dashboard through Wi-Fi.

Example Output:

Temperature: 32.3 °C

Humidity: 71.0 %

The dashboard displays both values using gauge widgets.

Applications

Indoor environmental monitoring.
Room temperature monitoring.
Humidity monitoring.
Smart home applications.
IoT-based environmental monitoring systems.

Real time image:

Conclusion

This project demonstrates how to build a simple IoT-based temperature and humidity monitoring system using ESP8266 and DHT11.

By connecting the sensor to the KiwisIoT platform, we can monitor environmental conditions remotely through a dashboard.

This project also provides practical experience with sensors, microcontrollers, Wi-Fi communication and IoT platforms.

Thank you for reading! 🚀

ESP8266 ultrasonic distance monitoring using KiwisIoT.

manikanda balamurugan S — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 13:05:48 +0000

IoT-Based IR Object Detection Using ESP8266 NodeMCU and KiwisIoT

Introduction

Have you ever wondered how we can detect objects and monitor them remotely using IoT?

In this project, I developed an IoT-based object detection system using an ESP8266 NodeMCU and an IR sensor. The system detects nearby objects and sends the detection status to the KiwisIoT dashboard through Wi-Fi.

The main objective is to understand how sensors, microcontrollers, wireless communication, and IoT platforms work together in a real-time monitoring application.

Components Required

Hardware Components

ESP8266 NodeMCU
IR Sensor Module
Jumper Wires
USB Cable
Computer

Software Requirements

Arduino IDE
ESP8266 Board Package
KiwisIoT Arduino Library
KiwisIoT Account
Wi-Fi Connection

Circuit Connections

The IR sensor is connected to the ESP8266 NodeMCU.

IR Sensor	ESP8266 NodeMCU
VCC	3.3V (if supported)
GND	GND
OUT	D7

The sensor sends a digital signal to the ESP8266 based on object detection.

CIRCUIT IMAGE:

How Does It Work?

The IR sensor detects whether an object is present.
The ESP8266 reads the digital output using digitalRead().
If the sensor output is LOW, the status becomes DETECTED.
If the sensor output is HIGH, the status becomes NOT DETECTED.
The ESP8266 sends the status to KiwisIoT using Wi-Fi.
The dashboard displays the object detection status.

Arduino Programming

I used Arduino IDE to program the ESP8266 NodeMCU.

The program uses:

ESP8266WiFi library for Wi-Fi connectivity.
KiwisIoT library for IoT communication.
digitalRead() for reading sensor values.
if-else conditions for object detection.
kiwisiot.send() to send information to the dashboard.

Arduino Code:

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <KiwisIoT.h>

const char* ssid = "YOUR_WIFI_NAME";
const char* pass = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD";

const char* topic = "YOUR_DASHBOARD_TOPIC_ID";

#define IR_PIN D7

KiwisIoT kiwisiot(ssid, pass, topic);

void sendObjectStatus() {
  int irState = digitalRead(IR_PIN);
  String objectStatus;

  if (irState == LOW) {
    objectStatus = "DETECTED";
  } else {
    objectStatus = "NOT DETECTED";
  }

  Serial.println();
  Serial.println("---------- IR MONITORING ----------");

  Serial.print("IR Sensor Value: ");
  Serial.println(irState);

  Serial.print("Object Status: ");
  Serial.println(objectStatus);

  kiwisiot.send("0", objectStatus);

  Serial.print("Sent to KiwisIoT Channel 0: ");
  Serial.println(objectStatus);
}

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);

  Serial.println();
  Serial.println("     IR OBJECT MONITORING     ");

  pinMode(IR_PIN, INPUT);

  Serial.println("IR sensor initialized");
  Serial.println("Connecting to KiwisIoT...");

  kiwisiot.begin();

  Serial.println("KiwisIoT initialized");
  Serial.println("Starting object monitoring...");
}

void loop() {
  kiwisiot.run();

  static unsigned long lastSend = 0;

  if (millis() - lastSend >= 2000) {
    lastSend = millis();
    sendObjectStatus();
  }

  delay(100);
}

KiwisIoT Dashboard

The KiwisIoT platform is used to monitor the object detection status remotely.

The ESP8266 sends the sensor information through Wi-Fi, and the dashboard displays two possible statuses:

DETECTED
NOT DETECTED

This helps monitor object presence without continuously checking the physical sensor.

Applications

Object Detection Systems
Entry Monitoring
Smart Parking Concepts
Obstacle Detection
Industrial Automation
IoT Monitoring Systems

What I Learned

Through this project, I learned how to connect an IR sensor with an ESP8266 NodeMCU, read digital sensor values, establish Wi-Fi communication, and send real-time data to an IoT dashboard.

This project improved my practical understanding of IoT, Arduino programming, sensor interfacing, and embedded systems.

Future Improvements

Adding a buzzer for object detection alerts.
Integrating multiple IR sensors.
Adding mobile notifications.
Storing detection history in a cloud database.
Developing an automated monitoring system.

Conclusion

This project demonstrates how an IR sensor, ESP8266 NodeMCU, and KiwisIoT platform can be combined to build a simple real-time object monitoring system.

It was a valuable learning experience that helped me explore the practical applications of IoT and embedded systems.

I hope this project helps other beginners who are interested in learning IoT and hardware development.

ESP8266 IR Sensor IoT Project with KiwisIoT

manikanda balamurugan S — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:58:24 +0000

Introduction

This project uses an ESP8266 NodeMCU and an IR sensor to detect objects in real time. The detection status is sent to the KiwisIoT dashboard through Wi-Fi.

Components Required

ESP8266 NodeMCU
IR sensor module
Jumper wires
USB cable
Computer

Software Requirements

Arduino IDE
ESP8266 board package
KiwisIoT Arduino library
KiwisIoT account
Wi-Fi connection

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

How It Works

The IR sensor detects whether an object is present.
The ESP8266 reads the sensor's digital output.
The system identifies the status as DETECTED or NOT DETECTED.
The ESP8266 sends the status to KiwisIoT over Wi-Fi.
The dashboard displays the detection status for remote monitoring.

In this project, a LOW signal indicates that an object has been detected, while a HIGH signal indicates that no object is detected.

ARDUINO CODE:

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <KiwisIoT.h>

const char* ssid = "YOUR_WIFI_NAME";
const char* pass = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD";

const char* topic = "YOUR_DASHBOARD_TOPIC_ID";

#define IR_PIN D7

KiwisIoT kiwisiot(ssid, pass, topic);

void sendObjectStatus() {
  int irState = digitalRead(IR_PIN);
  String objectStatus;

  if (irState == LOW) {
    objectStatus = "DETECTED";
  } else {
    objectStatus = "NOT DETECTED";
  }

  Serial.println();
  Serial.println("---------- IR MONITORING ----------");

  Serial.print("IR Sensor Value: ");
  Serial.println(irState);

  Serial.print("Object Status: ");
  Serial.println(objectStatus);

  kiwisiot.send("0", objectStatus);

  Serial.print("Sent to KiwisIoT Channel 0: ");
  Serial.println(objectStatus);
}

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(115200);

  Serial.println();
  Serial.println("     IR OBJECT MONITORING     ");

  pinMode(IR_PIN, INPUT);

  Serial.println("IR sensor initialized");
  Serial.println("Connecting to KiwisIoT...");

  kiwisiot.begin();

  Serial.println("KiwisIoT initialized");
  Serial.println("Starting object monitoring...");
}

void loop() {
  kiwisiot.run();

  static unsigned long lastSend = 0;

  if (millis() - lastSend >= 2000) {
    lastSend = millis();
    sendObjectStatus();
  }

  delay(100);
}

Applications

Object detection
Entry monitoring
Smart parking concepts
Obstacle detection
Automation projects
IoT monitoring systems

What I Learned

Through this project, I learned how to connect an IR sensor to an ESP8266, read digital sensor values, and send sensor data to an IoT dashboard.

Conclusion

This project demonstrates how basic sensors and Wi-Fi connectivity can be combined with an IoT platform for real-time object monitoring.

I hope this project helps beginners explore IoT and embedded systems.

LDR-Based Light Intensity Monitoring Using KiwisIoT

manikanda balamurugan S — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:41:04 +0000

Introduction

The Internet of Things (IoT) allows physical devices to collect and exchange data through the internet. In this project, an LDR (Light Dependent Resistor) sensor is used to monitor changes in surrounding light intensity.

The sensor reading is collected by a microcontroller and monitored through the KiWiS IoT platform.

Objective

The main objective is to monitor light intensity in real time and display the sensor readings on an IoT dashboard.

Components Required

LDR sensor
Microcontroller with Wi-Fi capability
Resistor
Breadboard
Jumper wires
Power supply
Wi-Fi connection

Software and Platform

Arduino IDE
KiwisIoT platform

Working Principle

The LDR sensor detects the light falling on its surface.
The sensor's electrical response changes according to the surrounding light.
The microcontroller reads the sensor signal.
The microcontroller sends the reading to the KiwisIoT platform through Wi-Fi.
The dashboard displays the received sensor data.
The displayed reading changes when the surrounding light conditions change.

Circuit Diagram

System Flow

Light Source → LDR Sensor → Microcontroller → Wi-Fi → KiwisIoT Dashboard

Realtime Image

LIGHT MONITORING CODE

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <KiwisIoT.h>

const char* ssid = "XXX";
const char* pass = "YYY";

const char* topic = "dash_1234";

#define LDR_PIN A0

KiwisIoT kiwisiot(ssid, pass, topic);

void sendLightData() {

  int rawValue = analogRead(LDR_PIN);

  int lightLevel = 1023 - rawValue;

  String lightStatus;

  if (lightLevel >= 700) {
    lightStatus = "BRIGHT";
  }
  else if (lightLevel >= 300) {
    lightStatus = "MEDIUM";
  }
  else {
    lightStatus = "DARK";
  }

  Serial.println();
  Serial.println("---------- LIGHT MONITORING ----------");

  Serial.print("Raw LDR Value: ");
  Serial.println(rawValue);

  Serial.print("Light Level: ");
  Serial.println(lightLevel);

  Serial.print("Light Status: ");
  Serial.println(lightStatus);

  kiwisiot.send("0", String(lightLevel));

  kiwisiot.send("1", lightStatus);

  Serial.print("Sent to KiwisIoT Channel 0: ");
  Serial.println(lightLevel);

  Serial.print("Sent to KiwisIoT Channel 1: ");
  Serial.println(lightStatus);
}

void setup() {

  Serial.begin(115200);

  Serial.println();
  Serial.println("    LDR LIGHT MONITORING    ");

  pinMode(LDR_PIN, INPUT);

  Serial.println("LDR initialized");

  Serial.println("Connecting to KiwisIoT...");

  kiwisiot.begin();

  Serial.println("KiwisIoT initialized");
  Serial.println("Starting light monitoring...");
}

void loop() {

  kiwisiot.run();

  static unsigned long lastSend = 0;

  if (millis() - lastSend >= 2000) {

    lastSend = millis();

    sendLightData();
  }

  delay(100);
}

Applications

Smart lighting systems
Indoor light monitoring
Smart classrooms
Energy-saving automation
IoT-based environmental monitoring

Future Enhancements

Automatic light ON/OFF control
Mobile notifications
Sensor data logging
Historical data analysis
Automatic brightness control

Conclusion

This project demonstrates how an LDR sensor and a Wi-Fi-enabled microcontroller can be used for IoT-based light monitoring. By connecting the system to KiwisIoT, sensor readings can be viewed through an online dashboard.

The project provides a foundation for developing more advanced smart lighting and environmental monitoring applications.

Project Category

IoT | Embedded Systems | Sensor Monitoring

Feedback

Have you worked on a similar IoT project? Share your ideas and suggestions in the comments!