Technology / 

01 Oct 2016

Cloud-Free DIY Home Automation Links (2016)

Just some notes about home automation systems that don’t rely on remote “cloud” services.

I didn’t end up actually building anything in 2016, or even when I researched it again in 2018, but it did put me on the path towards my eventual 2022 project(s).

• Uber Home Automation with Arduino and Pi
  • Covers creation of remote Arduino-based wireless sensors, sensor gateway, and setup of OpenHAB based server on an RPi to control everything and provide a web interface. Hardware looks like hell but it appears to work.
• HAMMOND Home Automation System
  • Some guy’s blog, documenting his system which involves an Arduino Mega tethered to a Raspberry Pi.  All information appears to be in YouTube videos rather than in text.
• Connecting the RPi and ESP8266
  • Seemingly good article on making the ESP8266 WiFi-enabled board talk directly to an RPi. Sample project is a wireless weather station.
• Controlling a relay using the Raspberry Pi
  • Good starter article on controlling a relay (or LED, whatever) using the RPi’s GPIO pins.