Smart plugs are everywhere these days — even budget stores like HEMA and Action have jumped on the smart home bandwagon. You can now pick up a WiFi-enabled plug for a fraction of what you’d pay at other retailers. But are they actually worth buying? Let’s take a closer look. The Budget Smart Plug Craze Both Action and HEMA now sell their own […]
Why You (Should or Shouldn’t) Buy a Smart Plug from Action Read More »
The ESP8685-WROOM-03 is one of Espressif’s most compact and efficient wireless modules, combining Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 LE connectivity with a RISC-V single-core processor and rich peripherals — all in a module only 15 × 17.3 mm in size. It is designed for modern IoT applications that demand reliability, low power consumption, and flexible integration. Whether you’re a maker or a professional engineer, this guide
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Circular displays are a unique twist for DIY electronics projects. While most LCDs are square or rectangular, the 1.28-inch round TFT display gives your project a modern, smartwatch-like look. It’s based on the GC9A01 controller, offers a 240×240 full-color IPS panel, and connects over SPI. In this guide we’ll explore what it is, how to wire it, how to drive
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When it comes to detecting motion in DIY electronics, the HC-SR501 PIR sensor is one of the most popular and affordable choices. It’s used everywhere: alarm systems, automatic lights, smart home devices, and even art installations. In this guide we’ll cover how the sensor works, its specifications, wiring, configuration, and how to use it with
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The 2.25 inch TFT LCD ST7789 SPI display is a compact but powerful module, perfect for all kinds of embedded projects. Whether you are using an ESP32, Arduino, or Raspberry Pi, this screen allows you to display sharp, colorful graphics. In this article, we will take a closer look at the specifications, pinout, and how
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When you need to measure light intensity in your projects — whether it’s for smart lighting, weather stations, or battery optimization — the BH1750 is one of the easiest and most reliable sensors to use. It’s a small, inexpensive I²C module that outputs light levels directly in lux, without the need for complex calibration or
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The SHT temperature and humidity sensors from Sensirion are among the most precise, reliable options out there for measuring environmental conditions. Whether you’re building a weather station, monitoring your greenhouse, or adding climate control to a smart home device, the SHT line offers features you need — with minimal fuss. In this guide, you’ll get
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Some projects never really get old. Even though I created this one quite a while ago, it is still one of the most downloaded and requested designs on my site: The Philips Hue Bridge Wall Mount. If you’re anything like me, you probably love a clean and organized setup. The Philips Hue Bridge is a
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If you’re building smart home systems, motion detection, lighting automation, or occupancy sensors, a radar module like the HLK-LD2410 offers a lot more than a standard PIR sensor. It can detect both moving and micro-movements (breathing, sitting still, slight motion), output distance estimates, provide configurable sensitivity, etc. In this guide we’ll go through what it is, how
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Introduction After the success of my previous project – the Halloween – Jack O’ Lantern – many of you asked for something even more dynamic, with smoother flame transitions and more LED action. So here it is: Ultimate Fire Effect, a fully reworked version with improved hardware and software, driven by the tiny but mighty ATtiny85. This project
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