6 ms·

Add $4 WiFi Logging to IKEA’s $12 Air Quality Sensor (Wemos and Vindriktning)

173 points by ck2 3y ago

ck2 3y ago
direct links: https://github.com/Hypfer/esp8266-vindriktning-particle-sensor https://github.com/Hypfer/esp8266-vindriktning-particle-sens... https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/vindriktning-air-quality-sensor-60515911/ https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/vindriktning-air-quality-sensor...
xgbi 3y ago
I did it a few years ago, it was very easy to do, and integrated very fine with Home Assistant. It's not too hard to do, you just have to have the component, and some solder. The main issue I have is the noise, it is really noticeable (and the sound mode makes it less accurate: https://github.com/Hypfer/esp8266-vindriktning-particle-sensor/issues/47 https://github.com/Hypfer/esp8266-vindriktning-particle-sens...)
- shrx 3y ago
  I can happily report that the Vindstyrka is silent, so it's a reasonable upgrade (also supports Zigbee out of the box).
  - Havoc 3y ago
    Anything with a little fan in it won't be silent... Don't think there are any affordable particle sensors with fan though
- lannisterstark 3y ago
  >Home Assistant Man I can't wait until someone come with a more user friendly alternative to Home ASSistant. It's YAML hell. I work with YAML at work and then when I come home I have to fiddle with YAML again.
  - vGPU 3y ago
    I set HASS up a year ago or so and it’s been great. Don’t need to fiddle with anything aside from having to migrate when my zigbee stick died.
  - Larrikin 3y ago
    There are Python, C#, and I believe JavaScript options. Can't totally avoid yaml but you don't have to use it that much.
lathiat 3y ago
While these projects are cool it’s worth noting IKEA since released a Matter capable version in the last year. It is 3 times the cost though (US $50 it seems). Still quite cheap on the whole I think.
- ck2 3y ago
  Oh interesting, had not seen that, the "Vindstyrka" https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/vindstyrka-air-quality-sensor-smart-30498239/ https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/vindstyrka-air-quality-sensor-s...
- eric-hu 3y ago
  Worth mentioning for those who were ignorant like me: Matter looks like an IoT protocol that’s cross platform across most home sensors and controllers (Apple home, Google nest, Alexa, etc)
  - vardump 3y ago
    All I'm interested in is whether it can be cloud free or not. DIY Wifi addition obviously can, but not so sure of the alternative.
    - omnicognate 3y ago
      Matter devices are required to work without cloud: https://matter-smarthome.de/en/benefits/benefits-of-matter-1-local-connection/ https://matter-smarthome.de/en/benefits/benefits-of-matter-1...
      - lathiat 3y ago
        You can also use them with HomeKit, whatever androids is called and with home assistant. All local.
    - cassianoleal 3y ago
      > Matter can also work entirely on your local network, so gadgets should respond more quickly and work even if your internet is down. https://www.theverge.com/22832127/matter-smart-home-products-thread-wifi-explainer https://www.theverge.com/22832127/matter-smart-home-products...
PaulBGD_ 3y ago
If anyone is going to do it I highly recommend just going with esphome now for the firmware, it’s way simpler and better maintained. You can even update the firmware over the network.
- ck2 3y ago
  Thanks for the tip https://esphome.io/components/sensor/pm1006.html https://esphome.io/components/sensor/pm1006.html https://community.home-assistant.io/t/ikea-vindriktning-air-quality-sensor/324599 https://community.home-assistant.io/t/ikea-vindriktning-air-...
  - isoprophlex 3y ago
    How on EARTH did I not know esphome existed?! Why am I bothering with this heterogeneous plate of home coded ESP and Arduino spaghetti throughout my house?! Thanks for sharing!
    - stavros 3y ago
      I do love ESPhome, but I don't know why they don't support a simple PIR sensor.
      - tda 3y ago
        A simple pir sensor just has a digital out that is either high or low. That is supported as a digital in sensor. Only for devices with a more complicated protocol (mostly i2c, spi and uart) you need a special sensor specific integration
        stavros 3y ago
        Oh is it? I tried to look for that but couldn't find it, thanks! I can't wait for it to get Zigbee support!
- tga 3y ago
  And if you want to turn your ESP8266 into a standalone appliance, with a web interface and directly editable config that doesn't need a build step, Tasmota is another great option. https://tasmota.github.io/docs/ https://tasmota.github.io/docs/
Mutlut 3y ago
Unfortunat edoesn't support co2. Having co2 made it much much more aware to me to keep window open or open them and this effect is very long lasting for me, i'm doing this now for years and it stuck. I can highly recommend buying a $60 or so co2 device.
- tosihakkeri 3y ago
  Any particular devices or brands you could recommend?
  - parhamn 3y ago
    I use an Awair Element and it's been fine. The component parts on all these are pretty much the same though.
    - crazygringo 3y ago
      Yup me too. It's fairly attractive looking and integrates with your phone to view history and get alerts.
    - eric-hu 3y ago
      Oof, the Awair Element is 230 on Walmart and 275 on Amazon. That’s a fair bit more than the 60 that GP quoted.
      - crazygringo 3y ago
        It's $157 now directly from their site -- $209 with a 25% off promo code. Still way more than $60 but more reasonable for what you get. It's basically a $60 sensor that costs more because of WiFi and phone integration. https://www.getawair.com/products/element https://www.getawair.com/products/element
  - abawany 3y ago
    not the GP but I'm a fan of the Netatmo Indoor Air Quality Monitor. Price is fair imo (100usd), the app works well plus the data can be accessed via the web, and it includes humidity, temperature, and noise monitoring in addition to CO2 monitoring.
quickthrowman 3y ago
What sort of control sequences are people using for the PM2.5 sensor? Something like ‘if particulate matter is above SETPOINT; then enable exhaust fan and open filtered fresh air intake damper; else if particulate matter is below SETPOINT and exhaust fan on and damper open, disable fan and close damper’? Or is this just for logging indoor PM2.5 values?
- crazygringo 3y ago
  If indoor values go up you probably just want to turn on your air purifier. If the values are high because of pollution or wildfires you definitely don't want to increase air from outside.
deepspace 3y ago
Does anyone know if the IKEA sensor detects cigarette smoke? Or, if not, is there any cheap sensor available to detect smoking (and vaping, if feasible)?

173 points by ck2 3y ago

ck2 3y ago

direct links: https://github.com/Hypfer/esp8266-vindriktning-particle-sensor https://github.com/Hypfer/esp8266-vindriktning-particle-sens... https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/vindriktning-air-quality-sensor-60515911/ https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/vindriktning-air-quality-sensor...

xgbi 3y ago

I did it a few years ago, it was very easy to do, and integrated very fine with Home Assistant. It's not too hard to do, you just have to have the component, and some solder. The main issue I have is the noise, it is really noticeable (and the sound mode makes it less accurate: https://github.com/Hypfer/esp8266-vindriktning-particle-sensor/issues/47 https://github.com/Hypfer/esp8266-vindriktning-particle-sens...)

shrx 3y ago
I can happily report that the Vindstyrka is silent, so it's a reasonable upgrade (also supports Zigbee out of the box).
- Havoc 3y ago
  Anything with a little fan in it won't be silent... Don't think there are any affordable particle sensors with fan though
lannisterstark 3y ago
>Home Assistant Man I can't wait until someone come with a more user friendly alternative to Home ASSistant. It's YAML hell. I work with YAML at work and then when I come home I have to fiddle with YAML again.
- vGPU 3y ago
  I set HASS up a year ago or so and it’s been great. Don’t need to fiddle with anything aside from having to migrate when my zigbee stick died.
- Larrikin 3y ago
  There are Python, C#, and I believe JavaScript options. Can't totally avoid yaml but you don't have to use it that much.

lathiat 3y ago

While these projects are cool it’s worth noting IKEA since released a Matter capable version in the last year. It is 3 times the cost though (US $50 it seems). Still quite cheap on the whole I think.

ck2 3y ago
Oh interesting, had not seen that, the "Vindstyrka" https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/vindstyrka-air-quality-sensor-smart-30498239/ https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/vindstyrka-air-quality-sensor-s...
eric-hu 3y ago
Worth mentioning for those who were ignorant like me: Matter looks like an IoT protocol that’s cross platform across most home sensors and controllers (Apple home, Google nest, Alexa, etc)
- vardump 3y ago
  All I'm interested in is whether it can be cloud free or not. DIY Wifi addition obviously can, but not so sure of the alternative.
  - omnicognate 3y ago
    Matter devices are required to work without cloud: https://matter-smarthome.de/en/benefits/benefits-of-matter-1-local-connection/ https://matter-smarthome.de/en/benefits/benefits-of-matter-1...
    - lathiat 3y ago
      You can also use them with HomeKit, whatever androids is called and with home assistant. All local.
  - cassianoleal 3y ago
    > Matter can also work entirely on your local network, so gadgets should respond more quickly and work even if your internet is down. https://www.theverge.com/22832127/matter-smart-home-products-thread-wifi-explainer https://www.theverge.com/22832127/matter-smart-home-products...

PaulBGD_ 3y ago

If anyone is going to do it I highly recommend just going with esphome now for the firmware, it’s way simpler and better maintained. You can even update the firmware over the network.

ck2 3y ago
Thanks for the tip https://esphome.io/components/sensor/pm1006.html https://esphome.io/components/sensor/pm1006.html https://community.home-assistant.io/t/ikea-vindriktning-air-quality-sensor/324599 https://community.home-assistant.io/t/ikea-vindriktning-air-...
- isoprophlex 3y ago
  How on EARTH did I not know esphome existed?! Why am I bothering with this heterogeneous plate of home coded ESP and Arduino spaghetti throughout my house?! Thanks for sharing!
  - stavros 3y ago
    I do love ESPhome, but I don't know why they don't support a simple PIR sensor.
    - tda 3y ago
      A simple pir sensor just has a digital out that is either high or low. That is supported as a digital in sensor. Only for devices with a more complicated protocol (mostly i2c, spi and uart) you need a special sensor specific integration
      - stavros 3y ago
        Oh is it? I tried to look for that but couldn't find it, thanks! I can't wait for it to get Zigbee support!
tga 3y ago
And if you want to turn your ESP8266 into a standalone appliance, with a web interface and directly editable config that doesn't need a build step, Tasmota is another great option. https://tasmota.github.io/docs/ https://tasmota.github.io/docs/

Mutlut 3y ago

Unfortunat edoesn't support co2. Having co2 made it much much more aware to me to keep window open or open them and this effect is very long lasting for me, i'm doing this now for years and it stuck. I can highly recommend buying a $60 or so co2 device.

tosihakkeri 3y ago
Any particular devices or brands you could recommend?
- parhamn 3y ago
  I use an Awair Element and it's been fine. The component parts on all these are pretty much the same though.
  - crazygringo 3y ago
    Yup me too. It's fairly attractive looking and integrates with your phone to view history and get alerts.
  - eric-hu 3y ago
    Oof, the Awair Element is 230 on Walmart and 275 on Amazon. That’s a fair bit more than the 60 that GP quoted.
    - crazygringo 3y ago
      It's $157 now directly from their site -- $209 with a 25% off promo code. Still way more than $60 but more reasonable for what you get. It's basically a $60 sensor that costs more because of WiFi and phone integration. https://www.getawair.com/products/element https://www.getawair.com/products/element
- abawany 3y ago
  not the GP but I'm a fan of the Netatmo Indoor Air Quality Monitor. Price is fair imo (100usd), the app works well plus the data can be accessed via the web, and it includes humidity, temperature, and noise monitoring in addition to CO2 monitoring.

quickthrowman 3y ago

What sort of control sequences are people using for the PM2.5 sensor? Something like ‘if particulate matter is above SETPOINT; then enable exhaust fan and open filtered fresh air intake damper; else if particulate matter is below SETPOINT and exhaust fan on and damper open, disable fan and close damper’? Or is this just for logging indoor PM2.5 values?

crazygringo 3y ago
If indoor values go up you probably just want to turn on your air purifier. If the values are high because of pollution or wildfires you definitely don't want to increase air from outside.

deepspace 3y ago

Does anyone know if the IKEA sensor detects cigarette smoke? Or, if not, is there any cheap sensor available to detect smoking (and vaping, if feasible)?