Originally published by Mar 2, 2020
Curious about the Internet of Things (IoT) technology?
Connecting sensors and Internet connectivity to non-traditional devices and contexts is the fundamental idea behind the Internet of Things. You can explore this exciting new tech trend with your do-it-yourself skills. All you need are the right parts, Raspberry Pi, sensors and instructions. We’ve got you covered!
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Table of Contents
1) Diving into IoT: Geekcraft your own Wi-Fi Switch!
2) Build Christmas Decorations Using IoT
3) Internet of Things Fun with LED Lights
4) An Advanced Internet of Things DIY Project: The Blinking LED
5) Programming LED Lights With A Schedule
6) Adding Analog Capability To DIY Internet of Things Projects
What DIY Project Will You Build First?
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1) Diving into IoT: Geekcraft your own Wi-Fi Switch!
Wireless networks, one of the most popular ways of using radio, is a great way to extend the capability of your IoT device. If you’ve ever wanted to explore the power of radio and networking, this project is for you. A Wi-Fi switch is a simple device that lets you turn the power on or off to any device. You can use a WiFi switch to control an electric machine. For example, you can use it to turn on electric heaters in your living room in winter before you get home from work so you’re comfortable when you get back.
Hardware Components needed for this project:
This is a partial list of the required components – get the full list here.
ESP32 Wroom (ESP32D0WDQ6 (revision 1))
12V power supply, 1A
Raspberry Pi Zero/Zero W/2 B+/3 B+
5.25V power supply
2x 12V automotive relays, >=8A
7805 voltage regulator
3-5W heatsink
Soldering iron, TS100 recommended
Solder, rosin core
Note that this project also requires that you have some skill with a soldering iron and resin. If you are uncomfortable with those areas, you might want to choose a different project for now.
2) Build Christmas Decorations Using IoT
Looking for a way to impress your friends and family at Christmas? Build this project, and you will be the talk of the family. Rather than buying Christmas lights from the store like everybody else, you will use your tech skills to build something new.
Critical Hardware Components For The Project:
Full-color LED (5mm recommended). Make sure they have red, blue and green color capabilities.
Raspberry Pi Model 2
Breadboard
Optional: Choose a Christmas ornament to modify. Choose a decoration where you can install the lights inside.
Once you have this project built, you can control the lights wirelessly. For example, you can set a light order (e.g. red, blue, green) and choose how long the lights stay. If you are looking for a more advanced version of this project, combined it with the Wi-Fi switch project outlined above.
3) Internet of Things Fun with LED Lights
Getting started with the Internet of Things (IoT) technology doesn’t have to be daunting. Sure, you can build complex projects like locks, security devices and more. When you’re getting started, it is best to use a project involving lights. Unlike other hardware, it is easy to tell if a light is working. That makes this kind of DIY project a great place to learn.
In this project, you will be using Raspberry PI, Python and WebIOPi software. Most of the programming work is done through a browser. Compared to other DIY projects, this project emphasizes software work more than hardware.
To build this project, start by finding the following hardware components.
Raspberry Pi
LED Light. We suggest using the GPIO3 (5-pin).
Breadboard
Cables
For step-by-step directions and code samples to build this project, read our full technical tutorial: Internet of Things Fun with LED Lights.
4) An Advanced Internet of Things DIY Project: The Blinking LED
As you develop skill in your IoT projects, you can add more features and challenges. Let’s say you are comfortable with the LED project. Rather than try something completely different, add a twist like a blinking LED light.
To build this project, you will need to obtain the hardware components described in the previous project. Creating the blinking LED effect does not require additional hardware. Instead, you will create that effect through software – specifically, programming through Python.
Advanced Tip: What if you wanted to use lights in other ways? For example, you might have a pet lizard that requires a certain heat level to stay comfortable. In that case, you could use a temperature sensor to gather information and connect it to a multi-color LED.
5) Programming LED Lights With A Schedule
Controlling your lights and appliances through Wi-Fi is fun. However, it is not always convenient. What if you forget to turn off everything when you leave home for a trip? You will end up wasting electricity. Instead, use this DIY project to control your LED light project with a schedule. From a skill perspective, this project is a good beginner level way to develop your skill with input and output capabilities.
If you have already built the above two projects, there is no need to purchase additional hardware. You will create the schedule and controls through programming instead. In our tutorial, you will learn how to set your LED to turn off after a certain number of hours or minutes with Python.
6) Adding Analog Capability To DIY Internet of Things Projects
Analog technology is back! You can add these capabilities to your DIY IoT project. Get started by adding analog input, namely an analog light sensor. However, there’s a challenge. So far, we have focused exclusively on digital hardware. To make this project work, we are going to need something else.
Required Hardware Components For The Project:
Includes the hardware described in project three above
A/D Converter (e.g., MCP3002-I/P – Analog to Digital Converter, 10 bit, 200 kSPS, Single, 2.7 V, 5.5 V, DIP). This circuit acts as the bridge between analog and digital devices.
Once you finish building the project, you can play sounds – including Internet radio – based on light levels. That means you can use this project as a light-sensitive alarm clock.
What DIY Project Will You Build First?
Through these projects, you’ve learned a few ways to use LEDs, light sensors and software to create Internet of Things devices. Add more sensors to extend the capabilities and see what you can achieve!
Related Articles
Learn more about the Internet of Things with our comprehensive guides:
Want to Make DIY Internet of Things Projects?
What is Raspberry Pi? Part 1
What is Raspberry Pi? Part 2
How to Build Your own IoT Alarm Clock using Blynk
Raspberry Pi WebIOPi IOT Part 1 – Installation & LED Blinking – Operating GPIO With a Browser
Raspberry Pi WebIOPi IOT Part 2 – Making a flashing LED button
The post Top 6 DIY Projects You Can Do to Expand Your IoT Projects appeared first on Device Plus.