HomeKit Compatible Freezer Temperature Monitoring System

HomeKit Compatible Freezer Temperature Monitoring System

Project Summary This post goes through the process of building a freezer temperature monitoring device. Here are the main features: It triggers an alarm signal whenever the freezer temperature goes above a predefined threshold for a certain period of time. Real time temperature readings are sent to Adafruit.IO private IoT portal. Device is fully compatible with Apple’s HomeKit. Therefore, Home automations can be setup to be executed upon high temperature alarm (i....

<span title='2023-07-12 00:00:00 +0000 UTC'>July 12, 2023</span>&nbsp;·&nbsp;8 min&nbsp;·&nbsp;L.R-S
CircuitPython and Version Control

CircuitPython and Version Control

A quick glance at the projects I’ve posted on this website makes it evident that I prefer to use CircuitPython when programming microcontrollers. Adafruit and the community have done an exceptional job maintaining the language and releasing libraries for a wide variety of sensors and peripherals. You can iterate, troubleshoot and finalize a project considerably faster than when using something like Arduino, for example. The Version Control Problem Just like coding on a computer, CircuitPython would benefit from some form of version control, like git....

<span title='2023-04-30 00:00:00 +0000 UTC'>April 30, 2023</span>&nbsp;·&nbsp;3 min&nbsp;·&nbsp;L.R-S
Building an ambient conditions sensor with a Bluefruit Sense board.

Building a portable ambient conditions sensor

This post describes how I put together a bluetooth connected ambient conditions sensor using a microcontroller and CircuitPython. Although this device can be used to monitor ambient conditions anywhere, I built it with a specific purpose in mind: monitoring temperature and humidity inside plastic containers storing 3D printer filament spools. Some 3D printer filaments are very susceptible to high humidity conditions (e.g. ABS) and can quickly degrade. Manufacturers recommend to keep them in areas with humidity conditions below 50% and ambient temperature not exceeding 30 Celsius....

<span title='2022-02-04 00:00:00 +0000 UTC'>February 4, 2022</span>&nbsp;·&nbsp;5 min&nbsp;·&nbsp;L.R-S
Wireless split mechanical keyboard

Building a Wireless Split Mechanical Keyboard

Background A few months ago I started looking for ways to alleviate the wrist and shoulder pain I’ve been dealing with for a long time. I adjusted my home office desk, chair and computer monitor to be as ergonomic as possible. I did some research on ergonomic computer peripherals and tried out several of them. It didn’t take me long to land in the fascinating and addictive world of mechanical keyboards....

<span title='2021-08-29 00:00:00 +0000 UTC'>August 29, 2021</span>&nbsp;·&nbsp;5 min&nbsp;·&nbsp;L.R-S
HomeKit Connected Fence Door Monitoring System

HomeKit Connected Fence Door Monitoring System

Summary The objective of this project is to create a solar powered, HomeKit connected outdoor fence door monitoring device. Once setup, the door’s state (i.e. open/close) can be monitored and used in automations within the HomeKit ecosystem. I’ve been using it for months now, and it has been working really well. See below a video of the system in action. This is not a difficult project, but there are several moving parts associated to it, so I’ll try to be thorough in the following sections....

<span title='2021-06-23 00:00:00 +0000 UTC'>June 23, 2021</span>&nbsp;·&nbsp;9 min&nbsp;·&nbsp;L.R-S