I wanted to share my journey of integrating my blinds with ESPHome and OpenHab. It was a bit of a challenge, but the result was worth it! I have blinds from Jarolift, which use a remote control over 433 MHz. Instead of buying an expensive USB controller, I opted for an extra remote, which was much cheaper. The PCB was simple, with four push buttons: Reset, Up, Stop, and Down. I decided to interface only the Up, Stop, and Down buttons to avoid any issues with resetting the blinds.
I first tested the Sonoff RE5V1C modules, but they weren’t the right fit for my needs as they would require multiple IP addresses. Then, I turned to ESPHome, which was perfect for my project. I used a Wemos D1 Mini, which provided plenty of GPIO pins. I added three PNP transistors with 330Ω resistors to control the buttons. This setup allowed me to simulate button presses for Up, Stop, and Down commands.
ESPHome offered some helpful features like interlocking to prevent conflicting commands and momentary switch functionality to ensure the buttons were only pressed for a short duration. I also added a safeguard in OpenHab using an expire function to ensure the OFF command was sent after 2 seconds, preventing any accidental prolonged button presses.
To make it more user-friendly, I 3D printed an enclosure that provided access to the original buttons while allowing the Wemos LED and Jarlift LED to be visible. This project was a great success, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out. It was a fun DIY project that saved me money and provided a reliable solution for controlling my blinds. If you’re looking to integrate similar devices, I highly recommend exploring ESPHome and OpenHab for their flexibility and ease of use!