Invitation/project suggestion: An automated potted plant

ESPHome
223

Hi and welcome onboard :slight_smile:

The code we use relies on ESPHome, which requires HomeAssistant to function. If you use anything else than that, I think you are looking for a different project than ours.

224

Thanks Martin!
But if I understood correctly, ESP-Home does not necessarily need HA to work.

I just found this:

ESPHome is a stand-alone firmware project which just has a very good integration in HA and happens to have been bought by Nabu Casa. ESPHome doesn’t require HA to function . You can use the ESPHome API, WebUI or MQTT to read data and/or send commands.…

I managed to flash ESP-Home with the suitable YAML to my ESP with the original PCB, but it will immediately go to deep-sleep.
So how can I access it anyways?

225

What do you call suitable YAML?

Indeed, you do not need HA, but your hardware config needs to match with the code in the yaml.
Try MathGaming yaml here: GitHub - mathgaming/FlauraHomeAssistant
Or the YAML from my repo: GitHub - MikeBailleul/plantidote-smart-flower-pot
But mine use a different hardware so for sure, you would have to modify the code.

226

I thin I used another one from this thread, but I would have to look through the posts again to find out :smiley:

Anyways, there is some issue I got: The ESP does not turn on, when connected to the PCB.
I have no idea why (with the battery).
I used all the original files and design for it.

Only when I connect the PC it will start, but also it can not be flashed when plugged into the PCB!

227

To me, it sounds like you have a short somewhere in your PCB. That could cause the ESP to become unresponsive.

228

This looks like an issue I had when using the original project.

I mentioned it on my github:
“changed the pin used for the button, it was a strapping pin (pin 0) and it caused me a lot of issues while developing the code so I changed it to another one (pin 13).”

Try disconnecting this pin when flashing the board.

230

I think my pump failed lol. Time to upgrade;)

231

Hey guys, I fall into the pool of people who made the whole project (including getting the custom PCB and ESP32 from the video). I read through this whole thread and the original one on github and, as I’m not the most proficient with any of this, wanted to clarify a few things. Is there any way I can make my setup work without getting the different board that mathgaming used? I can probably figure out how to use HA but would seriously struggle changing any code. Any help would be appreciated.

232

@konig @mathgaming

233

@ilikeplants Check the GitHub link serialBuilder posted here: Invitation/project suggestion: An automated potted plant - #215 by serialBuilder

serialBuilder modified my esphome yaml to work with the ESP32 used in the original Flaura project

234

@mathgaming That still uses a new custom PCB though. Since I have five of the ones the original project called for I was hoping to be able to use those.

235

You write - I freed one pin and removed one resistor for reading the battery voltage because I discovered that the LolinD32 has a built-in feature for that, but in the code on the GitHub it is not implemented.

236

I believe it is implemented in the yaml by reading pin 35, here:

- platform: adc
    pin: GPIO35
    id: ${esp_id}_battery_voltage
    name: "${esp_name} battery voltage"
    device_class: "VOLTAGE"
    unit_of_measurement: "V"
    accuracy_decimals: 2
    attenuation: 11dB
    update_interval: never
    filters:
      - median:
          window_size: 11
          send_every: 11
          send_first_at: 11
      - multiply: 2.0
    on_value_range:
      below: ${battery_threshold}
      then:
        - deep_sleep.enter:
              sleep_duration: 100000h #forever
    
  - platform: template
    id: ${esp_id}_battery
    name: "${esp_name} battery"
    device_class: battery
    unit_of_measurement: '%'
    update_interval: never
    lambda: |-
      for (int i = 0; i < 11; i++) {
        id(${esp_id}_battery_voltage).update();
        delay(200);
      }
      float percentage = (id(${esp_id}_battery_voltage).state - $battery_min) / ($battery_max - $battery_min) * 100;
      if (percentage > 100) {
        return 100;
      } else {
        return percentage;
      }

It is also implemented in the blynk code.

237

Hello,
I make original Flaura project but with esphome/HA (not working for now). No leak for me but i 'm facing other issues and i’m not yet facing any issues:

  • LTH7 / LTC4054 on the Lolin32 was dead because of wrong manipulations (led not blinking). I replace it by this item → Solved !

  • tension divider for battery level is reversed. 33K resistance (R4) need to be on the ground and 100K (R5) on V_BAT. Can you confirm ? → Solved ! Add line “attenuation: auto” in esphome config here the documentation

  • It’s seems that Lolin32 board ADC can’t convert tension above 1.1V, isn’t it ? cause HA display 1,06V when empty. My capacitive moisture sensor deliver theoretically about 3V, it’s upper than 1.1V ! → Solved : Add line “attenuation: auto” in esphome config here the documentation

  • Without any water it deliver 1,8V instead of 3V on the multimeter (PETG pot empty serve as electrolyte / interfering with the magnetic field ?) With the pot full of water (what must never happen!) it’s 0.82V and in a Plant pot with medium humidity it’s 1.5V : very different from the video I have a NE555 chip on it: not suitable for 3.3V vcc I need to find a TLC555C instead here the explanations → Solved

  • Water level: Water level sensor - #7 by AthemiS → Solved

238

All is working for me now: Here is my ESPHome config for original Flaura forked from Plantidote config