Category Archives: IOT / Domoticz / Home Assistant

Reverse engineering Epaper Arduino for own image pusher

To display quotes, changing once per hour.

There is not much to be found for Waveshare 4.2 Epaper.
Except for an Arduino web example.
( see https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/E-Paper_ESP32_Driver_Board )

I reversed engineered the workings, and created a python upload script to push images.

Original workings are a mess.
Per 4 bit of color, high-low switched in a byte.
Black and red separated.
Using a till p encoding over curl commands.

My implementation uses a python script called as:

python3 epaper-pusher.py ~/Downloads/Untitled.png
http://10.1.0.99/EPDI_
30 times something like 
http://10.1.0.99/ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppiodaLOAD_
http://10.1.0.99/NEXT_
30 times something like
http://10.1.0.99/pbcdefghijjjjjjffffffoooooooaaabbbbbbeeeedddppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppiodaLOAD_
http://10.1.0.99/SHOW_
NOTES:
a = 0000
-
-
-
p = 1111 = 15

30 lines with 1000 bytes ( ending with iodaLOAD_ )

black pixels
first block 1
second block 0

red pixels
first block 0
second block 1

white pixels
first block 1
second block 1

PIXEL Example
RBRB
BWBW

First block 
1010 - letter K
0101 - Letter F - second nibble = white

Second block
0101 - Letter F
1111 - Letter P - second nibble white

Code

from PIL import Image
import numpy
import requests

url="http://10.1.0.99/" 

black_pixels = numpy.zeros((400,300))
red_pixels = numpy.zeros((400,300))



def classify_pixel_color(pixel):
    """
    Classify a pixel as black, white, or red.
    """
    r, g, b = pixel[:3]  # Ignore alpha if present

    # Define thresholds for classification
    if r < 128 and g < 128 and b < 128:
        return 'black'
    elif r > 200 and g > 200 and b > 200:
        return 'white'
    elif r > 128 and g < 100 and b < 100:
        return 'red'
    else:
        return None

def process_image(image_path):
    """
    Process the image and classify its pixels into black, white, or red.
    """
    image = Image.open(image_path)
    image = image.convert("RGB")  # Ensure the image is in RGB mode

    width, height = image.size
    pixel_data = image.load()

    color_counts = {'black': 0, 'white': 0, 'red': 0}

    for y in range (0, 299):
        for x in range (0, 399):
            black_pixels[x][y] = 0
            red_pixels[x][y] = 0

    for y in range(299):
        for x in range(399):
            color = classify_pixel_color(pixel_data[x, y])
            if color:
                color_counts[color] += 1
                if color == 'black':
                    black_pixels[x][y] = 1;
                if color == 'red':
                    red_pixels[x][y] = 1;
                if color == 'white':
                    black_pixels[x][y] = 1;
                    red_pixels[x][y] = 1;

    return color_counts, black_pixels, red_pixels

def number_to_letter(num):
    """
    Translates a number from 0 to 15 into a corresponding letter (a-p).

    Args:
        num (int): The number to translate.

    Returns:
        str: The corresponding letter (a-p).
    """
    if 0 <= num <= 15:
        return chr(ord('a') + num)
    else:
        raise ValueError("Number must be between 0 and 15, inclusive.")

def print_array_in_chunks(array, chunk_size=1001):
    current_chunk = ""
    for item in array:
        # Convert item to string and add to the current chunk
        item_str = str(item)
        if len(current_chunk) + len(item_str) + 1 > chunk_size:
            # Print the current chunk and reset it
            current_chunk += "iodaLOAD_"
            try:
                requests.get(url + current_chunk, verify=False)
                if not response.content:  # Equivalent to expecting an empty reply
                    pass
            except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
                # Catch any request-related errors
                pass
            current_chunk = item_str
        else:
            # Append the item to the current chunk
            current_chunk += (item_str)
    current_chunk += "iodaLOAD_"
    # Print any remaining items in the chunk
    if current_chunk:
        try:
            requests.get(url + current_chunk, verify=False)
            if not response.content:  # Equivalent to expecting an empty reply
                pass
        except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
            # Catch any request-related errors
            pass
        

def switch_in_pairs(arr):
    # Loop through the array with a step of 2
    for i in range(0, len(arr) - 1, 2):
        # Swap values at index i and i+1
        arr[i], arr[i + 1] = arr[i + 1], arr[i]
    return arr

if __name__ == "__main__":
    import sys

    if len(sys.argv) < 2:
        print("Usage: python3 script.py <image_path>")
        sys.exit(1)

    image_path = sys.argv[1]
    try:
        color_counts, black_pixels, red_pixels = process_image(image_path)
        try:
            requests.get(url + "EPDI_" , verify=False)
            if not response.content:  # Equivalent to expecting an empty reply
                pass
        except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
            # Catch any request-related errors
            pass

        
        lines=[]
        for y in range(300):
            for x in range(0,399,4):
                first = red_pixels[x][y]
                second = red_pixels[x+1][y]
                thirth = red_pixels[x+2][y]
                fourth = red_pixels[x+3][y]
                nibble = 0
                if (first ==  1):
                        nibble = nibble + 8
                if (second ==  1):
                        nibble = nibble + 4
                if (thirth ==  1):
                        nibble = nibble + 2
                if (fourth ==  1):
                        nibble = nibble + 1
                lines.append(number_to_letter(nibble))
        switched_array = switch_in_pairs(lines)
        print_array_in_chunks(switched_array)
        try:
            requests.get(url + "NEXT_" , verify=False)
            if not response.content:  # Equivalent to expecting an empty reply
                pass
        except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
            # Catch any request-related errors
            pass
        lines=[]
        for y in range(300):
            for x in range(0,399,4):
                first = black_pixels[x][y]
                second = black_pixels[x+1][y]
                thirth = black_pixels[x+2][y]
                fourth = black_pixels[x+3][y]
                nibble = 0
                if (first ==  1):
                        nibble = nibble + 8
                if (second ==  1):
                        nibble = nibble + 4
                if (thirth ==  1):
                        nibble = nibble + 2
                if (fourth ==  1):
                        nibble = nibble + 1
                lines.append(number_to_letter(nibble))
        switched_array = switch_in_pairs(lines)
        print_array_in_chunks(switched_array)

        try:
            requests.get(url + "SHOW_" , verify=False)
            if not response.content:  # Equivalent to expecting an empty reply
                pass
        except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
            # Catch any request-related errors
            pass

    except Exception as e:
        pass

Home Assistant and Dehumidifier

A while ago, I bought a small Dehumidifier for my wine cellar.
I liked it a lot, so I bought another for our bedroom.

I saw some posts about people asking which Dehumidifier is supported by Home Assistant.
This one is. The “Eeese Otto Dehumidifier”

This works with the LocalTuya integration.

There are many examples how to integrate LocalTuya in HA which can be found easily using a search on the net. So, I’m not going to explain that.

I could not find a configuration example, that’s why I’ll post that part here.

Pre config:

  • Install App on phone to connect Tuya device to cloud (one time only)
    You need this to extract the localkey
  • Add a developer account to https://eu.platform.tuya.com/
    (Enable devices and change from Read to Control)
    (Get localkey from API Explorer, here is also a hint to be found about the entities)
    See below pictures
  • Install LocalTuya to HA
End result after config

Gallery of config steps

Developer website information, where to find your credentials.
(And a list of entities)

Home Assistant Voice and OpenMqttGateway

Yesterday I got my Home Assistant Voice!

This is a Non-Cloud solution like Alexa and Google devices.
I only could play with it for a few minutes because I was working on Arduino code with an ILI9341 Display and a BME280 (Temperature/Humidity/Air pressure).

Today I got some new goodies in, one of these is a LilyGO LoRa display which works on 433 Mhz.

I flashed OpenMQTTGateway on this device.

In the past, I posted about the RFCOM Gateway using Domoticz.
This runs on a Raspberry Pi.
While looking for alternatives, I found a rtl-sdr solution.

https://github.com/merbanan/rtl_433

Using this:

But I liked the ESP32 solution more.
Now I can dismantle Domoticz, which served me well for many years.

How cool to see realtime updates!

Note: This is a receiver device only!
But I only use read-only sensors like : Door/window, doorbell, temperature/humidity and Firesensors.

These are automatically detected in Home Assistant.

No more RFXCOM with a Raspberry.

Display work

While working on a client project, I tested multiple displays.

  • ILI9341
  • 1.3inch SPI TFT LCD Display RGB (ST7789)
  • Waveshare 4.2 Epaper with ESP32 Controller

I thought it was fun to connect the Epaper to ESPHome.

This probably ends up being a Quote displayer
Universal e-Paper Driver Board with WiFi / Bluetooth SoC ESP32 onboard, supports various Waveshare SPI e-Paper raw panels

It was not without problems. For example, the ESPHome editor gave squiggly lines under type.
This has to be changed in the libraries.
(Already notified developers)

model: 4.20in-V2 does not work .. use model: 4.20in-v2

esphome:
  name: epaperqoute
  friendly_name: epaperqoute

esp32:
  board: esp32dev
  framework:
    type: arduino

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  encryption:
    key: "tzRSzZky3Jk+hUYtiybzT90kxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx="

ota:
  - platform: esphome
    password: "4f127e114a7a44fxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid: "Epaperqoute Fallback Hotspot"
    password: "yLSoxxxxxxxxxx"

captive_portal:


external_components:
  - source: github://pr#6209
    components: [ waveshare_epaper ]

text_sensor:
  - platform: homeassistant
    entity_id: input_text.epaper_display_text
    id: epaper_display_text
    on_value:
      then:
        - component.update: epaperdisplay
    
spi:
  clk_pin: GPIO13
  mosi_pin: GPIO14

# Upload own ttf to a directory in esphome/fonts using file editor in Home Assistant
font:
  - file: "fonts/newspaper.ttf"
    id: tahoma
    size: 64

http_request:
  verify_ssl: false

# image test
online_image:
  - url: "https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/epapertest.png"
    id: example_image
    format: PNG

#it.image(0, 0, id(example_image));

display:
  - platform: waveshare_epaper
    id: epaperdisplay
    cs_pin: GPIO15
    dc_pin: GPIO27
    busy_pin: GPIO25
    reset_pin: GPIO26
    model: 4.20in-v2
    reset_duration: 200ms
    update_interval: never
    lambda: |
           it.printf(0, 0, id(tahoma), "%s", id(epaper_display_text).state.c_str());  

BLD-305S and Arduino

Part of a client’s build for powerful DC motors, so no details

Controlling this with an Arduino is straightforward, except for the SV signal.

This controls the speed using a voltage level.
A Uno has analog inputs, no outputs.

The trick is using a digital potmeter.

256 steps potmeter MCP41100

#include <SPI.h>
int svpin = 5;
setup:
  pinMode(svpin, OUTPUT);

loop:
// SPI Digital potmeter
  digitalPotWrite(0x20);

Divers …

Running into some Ubuntu machines with keyboard mouse problems after upgrading to 24.04

fix:

apt get install xserver-xorg-input-synaptics
apt get install xserver-xorg-input-all

3D printing some test models generated with AI from a photo to make some boardgame pieces.

Meanwhile, I am testing big motor controllers for a new client.

Last week I was at a friend’s place, time to make a launcher creator in bash

#!/bin/bash
#
if [ $# -lt 2 ]; then
	echo "createlauncher.sh name (path/bin) path/name"
    exit 1
fi


cat << EOF > /tmp/$1
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Terminal=false
Name=$1
Icon=~/bin/icon/$1.png
Exec=$2 $3
EOF

cp /tmp/$1  ~/.local/share/applications/$1.desktop
update-desktop-database

Made a cable holder in my lab (Already modded)
Can be folded upwards.

Did a lot of work in my new lab/workshop.

Got some cool new tools in. Post later

Also working on a new arrangement for a bagpipe tune.

New tests for animatronics

Controlling windscreen wipers with Arduino for animatronics.

I was looking for a cheap solution to control movement, for example Halloween puppets.

I used a XY-160D dual 7A high amperage 12V controller to control a windscreen wiper.

Using a Arduino Uno and some simple code, I got movement out of the 12V motor.

Pins used:
Vcc – Arduino 5V
GND – Arduino GND
ENA – Arduino PWM pin
IN1 & IN2 (controls direction) – Two arduino output pins

Reconfiguring an old home automation controller.

After a long time, another post!
We have been to 4 states on the west coast of America for almost 4 weeks, after that a pneumonia kept me from doing stuff.

Slowly, I started finishing my Workshop/Lab for my new business.
So I didn’t have many things to post about.
So now I’ll post something about this Home Assistant solution, because there was not a decent post to be found about this solution.

Some history: A long time ago I made a 4 button 4 led controller with my friend Duncan.
At that time we were using Domoticz, and used a NodeMcu with ESP Easy to read the button states and made the leds act as status lights.

This is made using a NodeMCU (8266) but ESP32, Wemos, whatever will work also.
We wanted to repurpose the old NodeMCU, instead of building a new one.

So Migrating to Home Assistant:
How to install ESPHome is easy to find on the internet.

Below is an example for 4 push buttons which TOGGLE a Home Assistant entity.
And the LEDs will give a feedback of the state of an entity.

Note: There is 1 out of 4 configured like that. The other ones are generic.
One button toggles my shelly lab ledlight, and lights up a led when toggled!

switch.labled_relay_0 = shelly read state for led

on press toggle switch.shellyplug_s_0c5d08

 esphome:
  name: 4butttest
  friendly_name: 4butttest

esp8266:
  board: esp01_1m

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  encryption:
    key: "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx="

ota:
  - platform: esphome
    password: "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid: "4Butttest Fallback Hotspot"
    password: "xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"

captive_portal:

output:
  - platform: gpio
    id: status_led
    pin: GPIO15

binary_sensor:
  - platform: homeassistant
    id: labledstate
    entity_id: switch.labled_relay_0
    on_state:
      then:
        - lambda: |-
            if (id(labledstate).state) {
              id(status_led).turn_on();
            } else {
              id(status_led).turn_off();
            }
  - platform: gpio
    name: "PinGPIO2"
    pin: 
      number: GPIO2
      inverted: true
    on_press:
      - homeassistant.service:
          service: homeassistant.toggle
          data:
            entity_id: switch.shellyplug_s_0c5d08
  - platform: gpio
    name: "PinGPIO0"
    pin: 
      number: GPIO0
      inverted: true
  - platform: gpio
    name: "PinGPIO3"
    pin: 
      number: GPIO3
      inverted: true
  - platform: gpio
    name: "PinGPIO1"
    pin: 
      number: GPIO1
      inverted: true

switch:
  - platform: gpio
    pin: GPIO13
    name: OutGPIO13
  - platform: gpio
    pin: GPIO12
    name: OutGPIO12
  - platform: gpio
    pin: GPIO14
    name: OutGPIO14

Left the entities and don’t forget right … give the esphome device rights to perform HA actions!

Not the best pins chosen, because of design based on old setup.
Resistors are 330 ohm (didn’ t want bright leds)

Bash-completion, C64 Pico Amplifier and Laser cutting

Worked on bash autocompletion for QP

source below script to get
qp <tab><tab> shortcode

Not happy with both versions yet …

#/usr/bin/env bash

# Version 0.1
qpcompl()
{
  COMPREPLY=($(compgen -W "$(qp | cut -f2 -d \' )" "${COMP_WORDS[1]}"))
}
complete -F qpcompl qp
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# V 0.2
_qp_complete() {
    local cur prev opts
    COMPREPLY=()
    cur="${COMP_WORDS[COMP_CWORD]}"
    prev="${COMP_WORDS[COMP_CWORD-2]}"
    opts="add del"

    case "${prev}" in
        add)
            COMPREPLY=( $(compgen -d -- ${cur} ))
            return 0
            ;;
        del)
            COMPREPLY=( $(compgen -f -- ${cur}) )
            return 0
            ;;
        *)
            COMPREPLY=( $(compgen -W "$(echo add; echo del ;echo "" ; qp)" -- ${cur}) )
            return 0
            ;;
    esac
}

complete -F _qp_complete -o nospace qp

Game controllers : left into right setup

My Bus Manipulator

And a Jigsaw in progress (with our own made clock in the background)

C64 Pico Amplifier

My C64 had a problem with previous attached speaker.
It drew too much current to drive. And random characters where printed.
Choosing another speaker and a minimal amplifier solved the issue.
(Thanks to Bigred finding the problem at Bornhack 2024)

My minimal amplifier for:

Using below mini speaker:

QuickPath and laser cut designs

Today I made a Linux version of Tyrone’s QuickPath tool.

My friend Tyrone came up with a great idea.

A directory switching tool, to move around in often used directories.
You can use a keyword to move around. These keywords are configured in a config file.
Even starting Total Commander with preset directories.
Work/Private/Programming environments.
His version uses PowerShell, but he wanted a multiplatform version, so we have chosen to use Python on both environments.

My version uses Python and Bash.
(Bash is used for a change directory workaround on Linux and bash completion.)

Source will be in Tyrone’s git when finished.

Options:

  • qp – lists config items with number and short key
  • qp 1 or qp c64demo – changes directory to below example
  • qp add c64demo /data/store/git/projects/c64code2024 – add a entry
  • qp del 1 – removes entry
  • qp mc tmp c64demo – starts midnight commander with left and right directories

Tomorrow some laser cutting, so let’s design some things to cut.

  • Jigsaw test – using engraving and cutting
  • Make a front for my bus manipulator
  • Make some cases for the game controllers (These are beta, and will be 3D printed at a later stage. My old 3D printer is slow)