INKBIRD IBS-TH2 Use

ESPHome
1

Good morning all,

I purchased an Inkbird IBS-TH2 (temperature only) sensor for a project. I have been trying to get ESPHome to give me the readings from the sensor for way too much time. The problem I am having is that it takes on the order of 10-30 minutes to even discover the thermometer, and then it never gets a reading from it. Posted below is the YAML code for the setup. Can anyone see anything wrong? I followed the guide at the ESPHome web site. The only thing I can see is maybe I need to specify a different platform, but I could not find a list of platforms for this configuration so I just used the one in the example. Configuration YAML is posted below. Any help would be appreciated.

esphome:
  name: inkbird-test

esp32:
  board: esp32dev
  framework:
    type: arduino

# Enable logging

logger:
  level: VERY_VERBOSE

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  encryption:
    key: <REDACTED>

ota:
  password: <REDACTED>

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid: "Inkbird-Test Fallback Hotspot"
    password: <REDACTED>

captive_portal:

esp32_ble_tracker:
  scan_parameters:
    interval: 60s

sensor:
  - platform: inkbird_ibsth1_mini
    mac_address: 49:22:05:17:40:84
    temperature:
      name: "Inkbird-Test-Temp"
2

HA supports InkBird via Bluetooth now directly and works great. If esp-home is not needed just use built in support.

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4

I have tried it in Home Assistant and all I get when i add the integration is “No sensors detected on network” and I can go no further. Running HA 2022.10.3 on a Raspberry Pi. I have no idea what is going on there.

I will probably need the ESPHome as the sensor is going to be in a refrigerator/freezer. Having the ESP32 close by will ensure incan get the bluetooth signal.

5

I use one for inside fridge too(Bluetooth) also have one 70 feet away and outside (pool temps) and they still work via Bluetooth. I did get a external Bluetooth for my pi.

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6

Any ideas on why Home Assistant will not recognize my unit? I am sure I am missing something but I have no idea what. It sees other bluetooth devices I have.

7

Did you try pulling battery on InkBird and re-installing battery? Should see it very quickly after inserting battery also update your home assistant to latest couldn’t hurt

8

There is also this great integration Passive BLE Monitor integration in hacs I used befor it was supported in HA direct. Maybe use it instead of built in Bluetooth you might find it a bit better… though HA directly should be working fine too

9 
It seems illogical if the sensor only measures battery voltage and temperature
but not humidity that all 3 parameters should still be listed in the .yaml script as follows because Esphome uses a common driver for IBS-TH1, IBS-TH1 Mini and IBS-TH2 :

# Example configuration entry
esp32_ble_tracker:

sensor:

  - platform: inkbird_ibsth1_mini
    mac_address: 49:22:05:17:40:84
    temperature:
       name: "Inkbird IBS-TH2 Temperature"
    humidity:
       name: "Inkbird IBS-TH2 Humidity"
    battery_level:
       name: "Inkbird IBS-TH2 Battery Level"  

If you add the Inkbird integration in HA, you will then find the IBS sensors 2 times, 
once under IBS device and once under Esphome .