Import Arduino code to ESPHome - ESP32 Cam

91JJ · January 16, 2022, 9:37pm

I have a ESP32 Cam and MB from Amazon. I’ve installed ESPHome and got the cam working in HA.

On a spare ESP cam, I’ve installed this cam demo which works a treat, exactly what I need!

alanesq/esp32cam-demo/blob/99efce9cb12f863361a39c249e77fd4359d90d51/esp32cam-demo.ino

/*******************************************************************************************************************
*
*                         ESP32Cam development board demo sketch using Arduino IDE or PlatformIO
*                                    Github: https://github.com/alanesq/ESP32Cam-demo
*
*                                     Tested with ESP32 board manager version  1.0.6
*
*     Starting point sketch for projects using the esp32cam development board with the following features
*        web server with live video streaming and RGB data from camera demonstrated.
*        sd card support using 1-bit mode (data pins are usually 2,4,12&13 but using 1bit mode only uses pin 2)
*        flash led is still available for use (pin 4) and does not flash when accessing sd card
*        Stores image in Spiffs if no sd card present
*        PWM control of the illumination/flash LED
*
*     GPIO:
*        You can use io pins 13 and 12 for input or output (but 12 must not be high at boot)
*        pin 16 is used for psram but you may get away with using it as input for a button but not recommended
*        You could also use pins 1 & 3 if you do not use Serial (disable serialDebug in the settings below)
*        Pins 14, 2 & 15 should be ok to use if you are not using an SD Card
*        More info:   https://randomnerdtutorials.com/esp32-cam-ai-thinker-pinout/

This file has been truncated. show original

Question is, when building, can I also import that file either locally or via a git pull?

CaptTom · January 16, 2022, 10:50pm

That looks like a nice piece of kit, thanks for posting!

Sorry I can’t answer your question, but I am interested in any answers you get. I see myself buying a handful of these in the near future.

Also, what does the Arduino code do that the ESPHome code doesn’t?

koying · January 17, 2022, 8:40am

No, you cannot use the code as-is in ESPHome.
If you have experience in C++/Arduino, you can re-use the concept of the code in a ESPHome custom component, but requires development work / skills.

91JJ · January 17, 2022, 12:33pm

No worries let me know if you ever manage to get this into ESP Home!
In short, the main function I want is using the SD card in 1bit mode so I can free up other pins on the ESP32-CAM-MB.

The benefits are actually quite useful…

Makes use of the onboard SD Card
–Also uses 1-bit mode as described below. which frees up pins 12 & 13

SD card support (using 1-bit mode - gpio pins are usually 2, 4, 12 & 13 but using 1bit mode only uses pin 2) - I have heard there may be problems reading the sd card, I have only used it to write files myself?

Uses the flash when taking an image (and ability to disable this function)
Simple web interface (could be improved) but does the job
Enable live stream when required (so it doesn’t kill the board)
Ability to customise the LEDs / Brightness / on-off

91JJ · January 17, 2022, 12:38pm

This was my initial thought.
I have some experience with C++ but little with Arduino (and want to keep it that way - prefer ESPHome).

My initial thoughts (and I’m probably way off) - is that the code would just need altering slightly to not pull some libraries(?) but not 100% sure what needs editing from the GitHub file.

I’ve also looked into the ESPHome Custom Component but again I’m not too familiar with it.

I think for now I’ll leave that standard software on (even thought I can’t get pin13 connected to a motion sensor!).

On a separate note, I’m also confused about the boards when using ESPHome.
For the above ESP32 CAM, I’m using this config but not sure on how to find a list of boards and the GPIOs.

esphome:
  name: camnode
  platform: ESP32
  board: esp32dev