DEV Community: Henri Rion

Tasmota IR Bridge, integrated to Home Assistant (transmitter part)

Henri Rion — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 16:14:40 +0000

As a beginner in this IoT world, I read quite a lot of tutorials, and articles, but I could not find articles dedicated to beginners.

Thus, here is a short tutorial on how I did it.

Assumptions

We already know what Protocol, Code, and Length to transmit
In this case: NEC, 16712445, 32

🛍️ Required Materials

ESP8266: Amazon
IR transmitter: Amazon
3 jumpers female-female + 1 USB Cable

ESP8266 Flashing with Tasmota

Not covered in this tutorial, and assuming it's done.
Check my dedicated article

Wiring

Here are the required connections (from ESP8266 to IR Transmitter)

GND -> GND
3V3 -> VCC
D3 -> SIG

Tasmota Config

Go to the allocated IP address of our Tasmota
In this case, we have 192.168.1.62
Go to : Configuration > Configure Module, and select Generic module type, and allocate IRSend to the D3 GPIO0

Home Assistant Integration

(If it's not already the case, go to Configuration > Integrations > Add Integration > Tasmota)

Testing first!

Before final integration, let's test the communication between MQTT, and our Tasmota device.

On a new tab of your favorite browser, open the Tasmota panel (192.168.1.62), and go to Console.

Open a new tab with Home Assistant, and go to Configuration > Integrations, and click on the MQTT Configure button.

In the "Publish a Packet" part, we will add the topic (i.e. the name of our Tasmota), and the Payload (the code we want to execute).

Where to find the Topic?

On the Tasmota tab, go to the Information menu, and find the "MQTT Full Topic". In our case, we have:



cmnd/tasmota_E30D62/

Add this topic name to our Home Assistant MQTT Configure panel, with IRsend at the end.

Where to find the Payload?

As previously explained, in this case, we assume having already the code, and protocol.

Payload:



{"Protocol":"NEC","Bits":32,"Data":16753245}

And now click publish.

You should see the Tasmota's console displaying the below message:



MQT: stat/tasmota_E30D62/RESULT = {"IRSend":"Done"}

Integration

Open your configuration.yaml file and add the following lines:



switch:
  - platform: mqtt
    name: "TEST ESP8266 LED LIGHT" #the entity name
    command_topic: "cmnd/tasmota_E30D62/IRsend"
    payload_on: '{"Protocol":"NEC","Bits":32,"Data":16712445}'
    payload_off: '{"Protocol":"NEC","Bits":32,"Data":16712445}'

Save and close the configuration.yaml file.
Check the configuration within Home Assistant. Go to Configurations > Server Controls > Configuration Validation > Check Configuration. You must have the Configuration Valid! message.

Once the configuration valid message appears, you can restart Home Assistant server.

New Entity Usage

Now, create a new view, and click the add card button.
Select the Button card type.
Find the Entity we just created, and save.

Now, you have an IR Bridge working.

I hope you enjoyed this small tutorial. Do not hesitate to ask questions, or give improvements. I'm always open to improve and share :-).

5 Steps to Flash ESP8266 with Tasmota in 2021

Henri Rion — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 15:41:03 +0000

In this very short tutorial, I will show you how I flashed an ESP8266 with Tasmota.

Step 1: Download ESP Flasher & Tasmota

ESP Flasher: github repo, and download the appropriate version of ESP Flasher (no need to install)
Tasmota: tasmota.bin.gz

Step 2: Plug ESP8266 to your computer in Boot Mode

Plug the ESP8266's USB to your computer, while pressing the Flash button

Step 3: Start and Setup ESP Flasher

Reload the Serial Port until you see your USB plug appearing
Browse the firmware Tasmota we downloaded in Step 1
Launch ESP-Flasher

This process can take up to 30sec. Once done, unplug, and replug the ESP8266 module to your computer or any other source of power.

Step 4: WiFi connection

Once relaunched, you should see a Tasmota_XXX WiFi appearing in your networks.
Connect your computer to the Tasmota WiFi
Connect your WiFi (SSID + Password)
Click Ok
Let the component restart

Step 5: Tasmota Config

Configure MQTT Broker accordingly (host + port + login + password)

9-Steps Raspberry Pi Headless Setup with Ubuntu 21.04

Henri Rion — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 08:43:02 +0000

Hold-on, if you don't have a Raspberry Pi, yet, I can recommend these on Amazon.

Step 1: 🍓 Download Raspberry Pi Imager

Raspberry Pi Imager is used to install Operating System to the microSD card. This software works for MacOS, Windows and Linux (click here to download).

Step 2: 🔌 Plug your microSD card to your computer

Depending on your computer setup, you will need a microSD Card reader.
Being on a Mac, I’m using this docker you can buy on Amazon.

Step 3: 🔥 Flash the Card with Ubuntu 21.04

Launch the Raspberry Pi Imager tool.

Depending on the Raspberry Pi you have, you will need to choose the right OS (64-bit vs 32-bit). In this case, I’m using the 64-bit version).

Now let’s choose the SD Card (be careful here, to select the right one!).

Now we are all set, and we can click on Write button to actually flash the SD card.

After a couple of minutes (writing & verifying), your microSD card will be flashed.

Step 4: 📡 Setup WiFi connection

Eject, and re-plug the microSD card to your computer.

Now, open the microSD card directory, and look for the “network-config” file (in the root folder).

Open it with your favorite IDE. I’m using Visual Studio Code in this tutorial.

The initial content of this file should look like this:

#[...] some comments
version: 2
ethernets:
  eth0:
    dhcp4: true
    optional: true
#wifis:
#  wlan0:
#    dhcp4: true
#    optional: true
#    access-points:
#      myhomewifi:
#        password: "S3kr1t"
#      myworkwifi:
#        password: "correct battery horse staple"
#      workssid:
#        auth:
#          key-management: eap
#          method: peap
#          identity: "me@example.com"
#          password: "passw0rd"
#          ca-certificate: /etc/my_ca.pem

As you can see, a specific section about wifis is already written, and commented.

Now, change this file such as:

version: 2
ethernets:
  eth0:
    dhcp4: true
    optional: true
wifis:
  wlan0:
  dhcp4: true
  optional: true
  access-points:
    your_wifi_name:
    password: "your_password"

Save the file, and eject the microSD card properly from your computer.

Step 5: 🏁 Start the Raspberry Pi

Now, we have a properly flashed microSD card, and a wifi connection, let’s plug back the microSD card into the Raspberry Pi, and switch it on.

Step 6: 🏠 Identify your Raspberry Pi IP address

In order to connect us to our Raspberry Pi, we need to define it’s IP address.

Several methods can be used here. The easiest one consists in connecting to your internet provider box, and try to find the new Ubuntu Server from our Raspberry Pi.

Here we are:

Step 7: 🛰️ SSH connection

Hold on, what is SSH connection?

According to Wikipedia: SSH is typically used to log into a remote machine and execute commands
Now, open a Terminal command.

ssh ubuntu@192.168.1.45

ubuntu is the default login, and the @192.. is the IP address we identified in the previous step.

The authenticity of host '192.168.1.45 (192.168.1.45)' can't be established.
ECDSA key fingerprint is SHA256:xxxxxx.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no/[fingerprint])?

Type Yes.

The default password is ubuntu as well. You will be required to change the password directly after first sign-in.

Once the new password set, the connection will be automatically closed. You will have to restart the ssh connection, using the new password you defined.

Step 8: 🍿 Enjoy

You are all set.

Comment ☝

Don’t forget, that we didn’t define a static IP address for our Raspberry Pi. It means, that the IP address will be dynamically (DHCP) changed over time.
If you need a static IP, please check my next article (soon).

Post Scriptum #1

If you like this kind of blog posts, don't hesitate to check my blog Catchtheblock.com.

Post Scriptum #2

If you prefer a good video detailing this process, I recommend watching this one
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJTqd90bwsI

9-Steps to Flash Sonoff WiFi Smart Switch with Tasmota (MacOS Catalina)

Henri Rion — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 08:29:50 +0000

In this short tutorial, we will change Sonoff WiFi Smart Switch firmware with Tasmota, using MacOS Catalina. No worries, it’s very easy. Let’s move on.

Before we start, let’s have short reminders.

What is Sonoff WiFi Smart Switch?

Sonoff is an ESP8266 based device providing users with smart home control.

It’s a WiFi switch that connects to a variety of devices.
Initially, Sonoff sends data to a cloud platform via a WiFi router, allowing customers to control all connected appliances remotely using the eWeLink smartphone app, being the proprietary firmware of Sonoff.

If you landed here, you want to change this proprietary firmware of Sonoff, with Tasmota.

What is Tasmota?

Tasmota is an open source firmware for ESP8266 based devices created and maintained by Mr Theo Arends.

For more details, please have a look on the dedicated Tasmota page on Github: https://tasmota.github.io/docs/About/ .

Material required

Components	Where To Buy?	Price
Sonoff Module	Amazon.fr, Reichelt.de	~9 EUR
FT232RL Adapter USB to TTL 3.3V	Amazon.fr	~8 EUR
USB 2.0 A to USB Mini B cable	It Depends on the connection of the FT232RL you will have, but it’s to connect the FT232RL to the computer. (FYI: I ordered the model referenced with the Amazon link, and the port received was Mini B instead of USB 2.0 as presented. Nevermind ;-)).Amazon.fr	~5 EUR
Cables and, Pin Connectors	To connect Sonoff with the FT232RL: Amazon.de	~1 EUR

Materials Overview

9 Steps

Now, we are ready to start.

Step1: 🏗️ Prepare the Sonoff for welding

Remove the Sonoff’s plastic box (Caution: be careful with static electricity while touching the electronic inside !)

Get a 4 pins connector and plug it on the Sonoff (cf image for the exact location)

Braze the 4 connectors (or if you can, hold it on the device).

Step 2: 🔌 Connect the Sonoff and the FT232RL adapter together

The figure below show how to connect Sonoff and the FT232 adapter together.
As you can see on the figure and my pictures, the Pins are not on the same place. Never mind, it’s just a different model.
Connection Summary (from Sonoff to FT232RL):

GND → GND
TX → RX
RX → TX
VCC or 3.3V → VCC or 3.3V

Step 3: 🔌 Plug the USB Cable to the FT232RL

Plug the USB cable to the FT232RL. Don’t connect the cable to the computer yet.

Overview after connection

Now we are all set, let’s move on the computer part 😄.

Step 4: 🤓 Switch you Mac On…

For this tutorial, I’m using a Macbook Air with MacOS Catalina installed.

Step 5: 🔌 Preparing Flashing

We need to flash the internal memory with Tasmota. In other words, we are replacing Sonoff firmware with Tasmota.

Download NodeMCU PyFlasher for Catalina, and Copy the App to your computer: https://github.com/marcelstoer/nodemcu-pyflasher/releases

Download Tasmota: http://ota.tasmota.com/tasmota/release/

Now, open NodeMCU PyFlasher, and set the options as in the screenshot.

Step 6: 💥 Let’s Flash now

Be careful here, because we need to switch the Sonoff to “boot mode”.

Here is the process:

Press the Sonoff button (before plugging the USB!!)
While pressing the Sonoff button, plug the USB cable to the computer. Hold the Sonoff button for 2sec after plugging the USB cable.
Now you can launch the Flash ModeMCU on your computer. The operation can take up to 1 min.

Note: I had a few issues during the flashing step. My computer was not able to connect the Sonoff device. I had to restart a couple of times the operation of pressing the button, and connect the USB to access the Boot Mode. So be careful doing this operation. After a couple of tries, the Flashing operation succeeds.

Step 7: ⚡ Power Up

Unplug the Sonoff device from USB adapter, and connect a Male Plug in the Input side, and a Female Plug in the Output side.
Now you can Power Up.

Step 8: 🚧 Tasmota Setup

We should have TasmotaXXXX that appears in our WiFi networks. Select the WiFi Tasmota emitted by the Sonoff device.
After selecting, a pop-up window will appear from Tasmota Firmware asking to connect to your Wifi network. Enter login & password.

Step 9: 🍿 Enjoy

We can now toggle Off & On the Sonoff WiFi switch :-).

Feel Free to contact me if you have any questions, or if any step was not clear enough, happy to help.