I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of integrating technology into everyday objects, and my recent purchase of a Flexispot standing desk was the perfect opportunity to put that passion into action. After discovering that the desk’s motor control box had an unused RJ45 port, I knew I had to explore its potential.
The first step was to understand how the desk communicated. By opening the controller, I found that the manufacturer had helpfully labeled the pin outputs, saving me hours of reverse engineering. Using a combination of an RJ45 to RS232 adapter and a CP2102 controller, I was able to start reading the incoming data streams. This setup allowed me to prototype and test various commands without any soldering or permanent modifications.
The real breakthrough came when I realized that many others had already tackled similar challenges. By leveraging existing research and community forums, I was able to identify the specific commands needed to control the desk’s height and preset positions. I decided to use Python for scripting since it’s more familiar to me than Arduino or C++. After testing the commands with a Raspberry Pi, I migrated the project to ESPHome for a more seamless integration with my Home Assistant setup.
One of the most rewarding aspects of this project was decoding the 7-segment display output. It was a bit of a puzzle, but once I figured it out, I could accurately report the desk’s height in real-time. The final result is a fully integrated smart desk that can be controlled via voice commands, track usage statistics, and even provide feedback on posture habits.
I’ve documented the entire process, including the custom Python scripts and ESPHome configurations, on my GitHub repository. I hope this project inspires others to explore the hidden potential of their own furniture and devices. It’s amazing how a little creativity and some open-source tools can transform a mundane object into a smart, connected device. 