Smart Humidity Monitoring: A DIY Success Story

General
1

I’m thrilled to share my recent DIY project that turned my ordinary humidifier into a smart, water-level monitoring system. As someone who’s always on the lookout for ways to enhance my home automation setup, I couldn’t resist diving into this project. Let me walk you through how I achieved this and how it’s already making a difference in my daily life.

The Problem

I own a Rowenta HU5220 air humidifier, which is fantastic for maintaining ideal humidity levels in my apartment. However, it lacks smart features, and I often found myself caught off guard when the water tank ran dry. The consequence? A sudden drop in humidity, which is less than ideal, especially during the dry winter months.

The Solution

After some research, I decided to create a digital scale using load cells, an HX711 module, and a D1 Mini with ESPHome. The goal was to measure the remaining water in the humidifier and send alerts when the water level was low. Here’s how I did it:

  1. Materials Needed

    • Load cells (Link)
    • HX711 module (Link)
    • D1 Mini (Link)
    • Dupont cables
    • Wood board

  2. Assembly

    • I cut a wood board to fit my humidifier and glued the load cells in place. For stability, I 3D printed holders for the load sensors (Link).
    • Wired everything together, ensuring the connections were secure. I used hot glue to keep the wires in place, though it wasn’t the prettiest solution, it worked perfectly under the board.

  3. ESPHome Configuration

    • I flashed the D1 Mini with ESPHome, setting up the WiFi SSID, password, and necessary security settings.
    • The calibration process was crucial. I measured the weight when the humidifier was empty and full, then adjusted the ESPHome code to reflect these values accurately.

  4. Home Assistant Integration

    • Once ESPHome was configured, I integrated it into Home Assistant. The ESPHome add-on recognized the device immediately, and I set up a simple automation to send Telegram notifications when the water level dropped below 10%.

Results

This project has been a game-changer for me. No longer do I have to worry about the humidifier running out of water. The notifications are timely, and I can refill the tank before it’s too late. Plus, seeing the water level in real-time within Home Assistant is incredibly satisfying.

Credits and Resources

  • The idea was inspired by Vigonotion.
  • I used 3D printed holders from Thingiverse.
  • The full project details and GitHub repository can be found here.

I hope this project inspires others to explore DIY solutions for their home automation needs. Let me know if you have any questions or if you’ve tried something similar!

Cheers,
[Your Name]