esphome News - CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

March 11, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Smart Home News – ESPHome 2025.2.0 Firmware, Home Assistant gets Matter certified, and (some) ChromeCast devices hit troubles

Smart Home news ESPHome Firmware Home Assistant Matter ChromeCast

When I wrote about the Home Assistant 2025.3 release last week, it was pointed out to me that ESPHome firmware had its own release on February 19th, and in other Smart Home news, Home Assistant got Matter certified, and some ChromeCast devices temporarily stopped working which impacted video/audio streaming and integration with Google Home. Let’s have a quick look at all three pieces of news. ESPHome 2025.2.0 firmware ESPHome 2025.2.0 was released on February 19 implements audio components improvements with support for new components/hardware for better support of Espressif’s S3-Box products, new speaker components for advanced functionality when using Voice Assistant, a new speaker media player component for announcements and music streams, and a mixer speaker component to combine the two streams. The new release also supports alpha-blending images when using LVGL, and the Online Image Component was updated to add support for both BMP and JPEG image formats. It […]

February 28, 2025 by Debashis Das - 1 Comment

ESP32-C6-based Wi-Fi relay board features six 10A relays, supports Home Assistant, 3D printed enclosure

Seeed Studio’s XIAO 6-Channel Wi-Fi 5V DC Relay is a compact ESP32-C6 Wi-Fi relay board built around the XIAO ESP32C6 module which supports Wi-Fi 6, BLE 5.0, Zigbee, and Thread connectivity. Designed for remote control and automation, the device comes with pre-installed ESPHome firmware and features six independent relay channels, each supporting 10A at 30V DC or 250V AC, making it ideal for simultaneously controlling multiple DC or AC devices. The board also has two grove ports for sensors and actuators, making it suitable for home automation, industrial control, energy management, smart agriculture, and other applications. XIAO 6-Channel Wi-Fi 5V DC Relay Board Specifications Main module – XIAO ESP32C6 SoC – ESP32-C6 CPU Single-core 32-bit RISC-V clocked up to 160 MHz Low-power RISC-V core @ up to 20 MHz Memory – 512KB SRAM, 16KB low power SRAM Storage – 320KB ROM, and 4MB flash Wireless – 2.4 GHz WiFi 6, Bluetooth […]

January 26, 2025 by Paisit Wongsongsarn - 19 Comments

Seeed Studio 2-Channel Wi-Fi AC Relay Review – An ESPHome smart switch with power meter function

Seeed Studio 2-Channel Wi-Fi AC Relay Review Home Assistant

We have received the Seeed Studio 2-Channel Wi-Fi AC Relay for review. It is an IoT/Smart Home device featuring a 2-channel relay (wet contact) that operates over a WiFi network, and provides an alternative to SONOFF Smart switches like the SONOFF R2 Dual. The Seeed Studio device is a bit larger and instead of relying on eWelink firmware, it natively supports Home Assistant since it’s pre-installed with ESPHome open-source firmware. Alternatively, if you prefer standalone deployment (without Home Assistant), you can manage it via the web browser. In addition to the basic relay function to control the AC-powered appliances, it also acts as a power meter. This is a good ready-to-use option for Home Assistant enthusiasts who prefer not to assemble their own components. Some practical applications include controlling electrical appliances such as lighting. Let’s dive into the details. Seeed Studio 2-channel AC Wi-Fi Relay unboxing The package we received […]

December 31, 2024January 2, 2025 by Debashis Das - 1 Comment

GGBEE RMW002 WiFi AC smart switch supports Alexa, Google Assistant, and Cozy Life app

The GGBEE RMW002 is a mini WiFi AC smart switch designed to make your appliances smarter. It supports a voltage range of 100-240V AC and a maximum current of 16A/20A. With built-in WiFi, the switch connects to the Cozy Life app for easy remote control of your appliances. It also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant allowing for hands-free operation. Additional features include group control, countdown timers, and dual-control wiring options. The device has very similar from-factor and features to that of a SONOFF ZBMINIR2 or SONOFF MINI Extreme (MINIR4M) but there are significant price differences if you are comparing the RMW002 to any SONOFF devices since the GGBEE switch is quite cheaper. GGBEE RMW002 specifications: SoC – Boufallo Lab BL602 32-bit RISC-V wireless SoC Connectivity – 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi 4 via BL602 Input Voltage range – 100-240V AC (50/60Hz) Max Current: 16A or 20A depending on […]

December 20, 2024December 19, 2024 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

$59 Voice “Preview Edition” adds an offline smart speaker to your Home Assistant server

Nabu Casa has just launched the Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition, a little ESP32 device with an XMOS XU316 audio processor, a dual-microphone array, an internal speaker, and a 3.5mm audio jack, that adds offline smart speaker functions to your Home Assistant server through WiFi. If your Home Assistant server is powerful enough, voice processing will be done directly on your local hardware using Home Assistant Voice software, but with lower-end hardware like a Raspberry Pi 4, audio processing can be done via a privacy-focused cloud instead. The solution also supports expansion thanks to a Grove connector on the bottom of the device. Voice Preview Edition specifications: SoC – Espressif ESP32-S3 dual-core Xtensa LX7 @ up to 240 MHz with vector extension for ML acceleration, 2.4 GHz WiFi & Bluetooth 5.0 LE connectivity Memory- 8 MB octal PSRAM Storage – 16 MB flash Audio DSP/Processor – XMOS XU316 with 16 […]

December 17, 2024December 16, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - No Comments

Hornet Nest Alarm Panel – An Home Assistant-compatible, ESP32 home security automation platform with PoE and 42-zone support (Crowdfunding)

Hornet Nest home security panel in operation

The Hornet Nest Alarm Panel is a customizable, ESP32-based alarm control system designed and produced by US-based Technology Automation Consulting for home security automation. The device is powered by the wESP32 Ethernet board with PoE support and is compatible with Home Assistant through the ESPHome firmware. It features up to forty-two optoisolated zones, six MOSFET-controlled outputs, and six additional trigger outputs for 3.3V devices. It integrates a piezo buzzer and supports add-ons like a Wiegand keypad and water leak sensors. The Hornet Nest Alarm ESP32-based home security platform “aims to bridge the gap between traditional wired security systems and the flexibility of modern smart home automation.” Christopher Greenless of Technology Automation Consulting says the project was born from his need for a robust and smart security system to integrate with his Home Assistant setup. Proprietary solutions were inadequate and limited while DIY options were inefficient and often unreliable. He created […]

December 12, 2024January 26, 2025 by Debashis Das - 5 Comments

ESP32-C3-based 2-channel Wi-Fi AC relay support energy monitoring with Home Assistant

Seed Studio 2 Channel Wi Fi AC Relay Module

Seeed Studio has recently launched a 2-channel Wi-Fi AC relay built around the XIAO ESP32C3 WiFI and Bluetooth module. The device is a simple WiFi relay module that can control two independent 100-240V AC appliances and is designed to be compatible with both Home Assistant with ESPHome firmware flashed by default. The device also features a built-in BL0942 power meter with a maximum load capacity of 2400W at 240V for real-time and historical energy consumption monitoring. These features make this device suitable for applications such as energy tracking and remote control of appliances. Seeed Studio 2-channel Wi-Fi AC relay specifications: MCU – XIAO ESP32-C3 with ESP32-C3 WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.x RISC-V microcontroller, USB-C port Wireless connectivity – 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Relay channels – 2 independent channels Power Input terminals – Neutral (N), Live (L) Input voltage – 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz Output terminals Channel 1: N1 (Neutral), L1 (Live) Channel 2: […]

November 28, 2024November 28, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - No Comments

ESP32-based YULC USB-C LED Controller features dual power inputs, supports WLED and ESPHome firmware

The YULC (Yes, a USB-C LED Controller) board is a compact, ESP32-S3-powered LED controller with USB-C and DC jack power inputs. It is a fully featured board that can easily replace a rat’s nest of wires and save space and time. This ESP32 LED controller features a built-in buck regulator that converts input power from the USB-C port or barrel jack to the voltage needed for the LED strips. The YULC provides two separate LED channels with a level shifter each to ensure clean and powerful data output, removing the need for a sacrificial pixel or external level shifter. Each channel also has a power MOSFET that can turn off the channels individually and dim simple LED strips via PWM. AAElectronics, the maker, has previously released an IR remote—the Home Assistant-compatible ESP 360 Remote—which we covered at the time. Similar products include the SMLIGHT A1-SLWF-03, DFRobot’s EDGE102-DMX512, and the PixelBlaze […]