Articles

This device is another one of those 16A "DIY" mini switch/breakers that has been seen with quite a few different MCUs, modules and PCB layouts. Without high expectations it was ordered in the off-chance something new and interesting was inside. This time there was! A Winner Micro... [Read more]

. I will present here a surface-mounted thermostat with LCD, external sensor and WiFi-based wireless control. The product shown here is compatible with the Tuya app and has a 5+2/6+1 programming function that allows you to set up to 6 different temperature settings for each day of... [Read more]

 Today, I would like to introduce an interactive Arduino music project. Using six obstacle avoidance modules and DF’s MP3 module, we will build a musical piano (originally, I had eight obstacle avoidance modules, but during assembly, I found that two were incompatible and lacked indicator... [Read more]

. Which silent light switch for the Home Assistant? Here is another product compatible with our Polish open source IoT software - ATLO-TB2-TUYA. This time without the relays. I will present here the double version, i.e. with two buttons, although you can get the same thing in a single... [Read more]

. I invite you to a short test, presentation of the interior and change of firmware of the "intelligent" power strip model SL-PS27. By the way, we will also find out what is the "laptop overload protection" that this power strip supposedly offers. We will start by purchasing the power... [Read more]

Hello, fellow engineers! As a newcomer, I've decided to post more articles to get my name out there (and earn some internet fees). Haha. Today, I'm going to talk about a simple magnetic levitation circuit. I've always wanted to try magnetic levitation, but some Arduino projects require... [Read more]

Quick look at an Aiyato CozyLife Homekit bulb I bought in November 2024 and forgot about. C37 homekit module - I had to de-can it to check the chip. Couldn't see much about it Googling - ESP8684H2 It's a DOIT (Doctors of Intelligence & Technology) ESPC2-05 module (datasheet attached)... [Read more]

Here I'll present my findings with a new Tuya device based on the Beken BK7238 MCU, packaged as a Tuya T1-U-HL module. For more general information relating to the T1 series and BK7238 uses see: T1, T1-M, T1-3S Tuya BK7238 module datasheet, pinout and flashing, Home Assistant NiceMCU... [Read more]

. Aqara Panel Hub S1 Plus is a smart panel that combines the functions of lighting control, switch and building automation centre. It has a 6.9-inch touchscreen, voice control and app integration. It works as a Zigbee hub and supports Matter, ensuring interoperability with Aqara and... [Read more]

How can you receive IR events on a Tuya BK7238 device (T1, T5) using a development board or a universal remote? How do you forward IR codes to Home Assistant in Tasmota JSON format? How can you trigger HA automations with any remote? And how can you control another device directly... [Read more]

Inspired by the "charts" driver with many functions and possibilities I thought about a small alternative, allowing to generate a simple SVG graph of data. I specially liked the possibility not to load JS code from "outside" my network but being able to store a small version in flash... [Read more]

. OpenStreetMap (OSM) is an open and free world map, used in many applications for navigation, data analysis or geolocation. One useful feature is reverse geocoding - that is, converting geographic coordinates into readable addresses. The public OSM API, however, imposes all sorts... [Read more]

Hi! This piece details building a two-wheeled self-balancing vehicle with a Raspberry Pi. It covers the rationale for choosing the Pi—repurposing idle hardware and learning Linux development via DIY work—lists components (Raspberry Pi, MPU6050, motor drivers, etc.), outlines development... [Read more]

T1 (BK7238) is a Tuya Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth 5.2 LowEnergy (LE) single-chip designed for low power and compact size IoT products. T1 is used by T1-M, T1-U-HL, T1-3S, T1-LC5-HL modules. T1 features 32-bit MCU running at up to 160 MHz, 2 MB SiP Flash, 288 KB RAM and 4-byte... [Read more]

. Today another short presentation of the inside of an old piece of equipment. This time it will be a 32-inch LG LCD TV premiered in 2007, equipment still with fluorescent backlighting, a screen with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. I'll show its interior here and see if anything... [Read more]

When it comes to getting a prototype built quickly and reliably, PCBWay has become a trusted name among engineers, makers, and product developers worldwide. With fast lead times, flexible order options, and a wide range of customization features, PCBWay makes it easy to turn a design... [Read more]

. Veo 3 is the latest video creator developed by Google DeepMind, officially unveiled at the Google I/O conference in May 2025. The current version of Veo 3 limits the length of clips to 8 seconds, but creates them together with sound and dialogue to match the scenes on screen. Here... [Read more]

. Here's another LED lighting controller offering control via WiFi. This time I'm also changing its firmware at the request of a reader - I'm reprogramming the WiFi module so that this controller can be connected to Home Assistant and controlled locally without the cloud. The controller... [Read more]

The RGB Light Bar (AM-RGB-LB-5) by Sky-Lighting has been available under various brand names since around July 2024, for example at Action DE and Amazon.de . It is usually integrated into the smart home using the LSC Smart Connect or Smart Life app. Manufacturer Sky-Lighting Model... [Read more]

With reference to the post: I would like to document my experience, or rather inexperience, in getting in OpenBK on to it. I traced the connections of the PCB as follows: I made some serious mistakes in attempting to de-solder the CBS Module. I wanted to see whether I can lift the... [Read more]

. I invite you to the second part of the adventure with a thermometer/hygrometer built from 0 based on a PIC18F2550, parts from a drawer and programmed in the SDCC compiler - without external libraries. In this part I will run the ADC, i.e. the analogue-to-digital converter, and realise... [Read more]

[line:91b847205b] OpenWrt is a highly flexible and customizable open-source operating system based on Linux. While it was originally created for embedded devices like routers, its versatility means it can run on a huge range of hardware—including travel routers, home gateways, Raspberry... [Read more]

LN882H is a WiFi & BT Wireless ARM Cortex-M4F SOC found in some IoT devices. LN882H features a simple UART flashing protocol that can be used to read and write flash memory contents, usually as part of the firmware change process or for development purposes. LN882H flashing protocol... [Read more]

. Do you also prefer classic mechanical buttons with a distinct click? In my opinion, they are much better than tactile ones - not only because they offer a better feel, but also because one button can trigger different actions. An example is this quadruple Zigbee controller, which... [Read more]

. I'd like to invite you to a brief analysis of another piece of television equipment. This time I received a slightly newer, but again decomposed device. Ariva T75 without power supply and remote control - this decoder has already been shown on our forum . From the outside, the whole... [Read more]

This guide will show you how to convert WRG1 and TYZS3 Zigbee gateways to OpenBeken. There are several known variants using this combination. 1. ZXGWZ-04 (internal board is named TYGWZW1), seen here 2. JMWZG1 (JMZ1-V1.2 or JMZ1-V1.3), seen here 3. TYZG1 (JZZWD-TY1.1), seen here If... [Read more]

I've been recently experimenting with simple flashing code for BW16E (RTL8720DN AmebaD) board, in theory also working for any of RTL872xDx family. RTL8720DN is a WiFi (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and Bluetooth (LE 5.0) module that features dual core CPU using KM4 and KM0 cores. It can be bought... [Read more]

Have you ever wondered what tools were used to develop games for consoles in the early days of the computer age? ATARI, for example, maintained a system based on the Data General MV/8000, a very expensive computer at the time, on which you could compile your program after subscribing... [Read more]

This is the cheapest AC that was available on Amazon. When I saw it had Wi-Fi and was a Tuya device, I knew I had to at least tear it down. (Eyes and tie are aftermarket upgrades) Teardown: The teardown itself isn’t too difficult but you have to remove all the plastic panels to get... [Read more]

Hi I would like to present another project of mine, this time it is a CNC controller. . . There are already a bunch of different types of CNC machine tool controllers on the market, but as usual I wanted to make something of my own. Key design considerations: - Location of all time-critical... [Read more]