ESP32 inquiry

[Not_a_UD_FanBoy (Bill)]

I’m looking at moving away from some of my proprietary home automation hardware, partly because of the Insteon situation, but mostly because my ISY is TU.

I’m currently using several quality hard wired motion sensors with an EZIO, but I’d like a simpler and more versatile solution. I saw the ESP32 when I did some searching and it looks like it will fit the bill. I have a few questions though, I assume I have to supply power, 3.3v to the GPIO input? My current motion sensors are 4-wire, two for power and two for contact. I currently run power through the contact loop. Also, how does the ESP32 communicate with HA, I assume it talks to ESPHome over WiFi. Finally, I read something about some GPIO pins being unavailable if using WiFi, how significant is this?

Thanks

[orange-assistant (the real one)]

@Not_a_UD_FanBoy

mostly because my ISY is TU

Who is what in detail?

@Not_a_UD_FanBoy

3.3v to the GPIO input?

The GPIO’s are indeed rated for 3.3V. Also the current limits should be taken into account for a hassle free operation.

@Not_a_UD_FanBoy

Also, how does the ESP32 communicate with HA, I assume it talks to ESPHome over WiFi.

If you install esphome on your esp than it can communicate with HA via local push utilizing the api.

You are not “forced” to use wifi as a esp32 also can make use of ethernet (needs to be available hardwarewise)

@Not_a_UD_FanBoy

Finally, I read something about some GPIO pins being unavailable if using WiFi, how significant is this?

Some GPIO’s have some limitations indeed, good read is this here:

ESP32 Pinout Reference: Which GPIO pins should you use? | Random Nerd Tutorials

[Not_a_UD_FanBoy (Bill)]

@orange-assistant

Who is what in detail?

My program backup is hanging the ISY. I would likely have to rebuild everything or maybe get lucky playing with the backup. If I have to start fresh, I think I’ll rebuild.

@orange-assistant

You are not “forced” to use wifi as a esp32 also can make use of ethernet (needs to be available hardwarewise)

I see the Thing Plus has Ethernet, but my Play Board does not.

@orange-assistant

Some GPIO’s have some limitations indeed, good read is this here:

Thanks for the link.

@orange-assistant

The GPIO’s are indeed rated for 3.3V. Also the current limits should be taken into account for a hassle free operation.

So I assume I run 3,3 volts to the motion sensor contact and attach the return to my GPIO pin, with a current limiting resistor, if required.

[nickrout]

Knowing something more about your motion sensors would help. Make? Model? Datasheet?

[Not_a_UD_FanBoy (Bill)]

I have both of these models, Optex 402 and 802.

[nickrout]

Cool, nice when people make datasheets available so readily.

You might like the esphome project, which is developed in hand with home assistant. There is a PIR example here Passive Infrared Sensor — ESPHome

One thing it doesn’t say is what voltage is present on the “contact” pair, is it simply like a switch (ie infinite resistance vs zero resistance) or is it active (ie 0v/12v). If it is active, you’ll need to cut it down to 3v3.

[Not_a_UD_FanBoy (Bill)]

I’m currently using 12v because it’s the same as the power supply, but 3.3v won’t be an issue, as it’s isolated.

Thanks for the example.

[aceindy]

If you want it cheap,this Would work

It uses a level shifter for 5–> 3.3v

You could use the break-out of GPIO-2 like in frenck’s doorbell:

[nickrout]

The datasheet said the PIR required 10v8 to 13v8 supply to run. My query was what is present on the contact wires.