IoT Smart Clock Dot Matrix Use Wemos ESP8266 - ESP Matrix

Intro: IoT Smart Clock Dot Matrix Use Wemos ESP8266 - ESP Matrix

Make your own IoT Smart Clock that can:

• Display Clock with a beautiful animation icon
• Display Reminder-1 to Reminder-5
• Display Calendar
• Display Muslim Prayer times
• Display Weather information
• Display News
• Display Advice
• Display Bitcoin rate
• Display Instructables Followers & Views counter
• Display Twitter follower counter
• Display Facebook Page like counter
• Display Instagram follower counter
• Display Youtube Subscribers (realtime) & Views counter

Easy to build just need a Wemos D1 Mini and MAX7219 LED Dot Matrix Panel. No need programming skill no need Laptop/PC to program Wemos ESP8266 microcontroller, just need Android phone to upload sketch/firmware to Wemos via USB OTG.

It runs completely autonomously and be configured and controlled via an Android app, with the app you can configure and setting IoT Smart Clock (ESPMatrix) device very easy with a simple interface.

STEP 1: Things Needed

Here are the things that you will need to make ESP Matrix:

• Wemos D1 Mini - ESP8266
• MAX7219 LED Dot Matrix Panel
• Dupont cable - Included in LED Dot Matrix Panel
• OTG Adapter
• Micro USB cable
• 3D Printed Case
• Pieces of transparent colored Acrylic 129x32x3mm
• Android phone (Installed ESP Matrix app)

STEP 2: Modify Pin

1) Remove the LED Dot matrix component in the first column that have the soldered header pin on pcb.

2) Twisted all male pin headers 180° using long-nose pliers, so that they point inward.

STEP 3: Wiring

1) Cut half of the existing dupont cable, so it becomes around 10cm.

2) Connect female header on dupont cable with male header on LED Dot matrix panel, see picture.

3) Separate the cable into two parts, 2 cables for VCC & GND, 3 cables for CLK DS & DIN. then enter into the hole on the pcb, see picture.

STEP 4: Before Soldering

1) Peel the end of the cable using a wire stripper tools.

2) Then cover all ends of the cable with tin.

STEP 5: Soldering

1) Solder to connect CLK to D5, CS to D6 & DIN to D7.

2) Solder to connect VCC to 5V & GND to G.

STEP 6: Putting It All Together

You can use double sided tape, to glue between the Wemos and the LED Dot matrix panel, see the picture. Also reinstall the LED Dot matrix component which is in first step removed

STEP 7: Placing to the 3D Printed Case

This 3d printed case is design more slim and pressing to make it look solid and robust, so to install it is not so easy need a little pressed.

ESP matrix can be made in two sizes, a short 32x8 pixel of LED use 1 panel LED Dot matrix and a long 64x8 pixels of LED use 2 panel LED dot matrix, so to make a 3D printed case depends on your choice.

- STL file for a short 32x8

- STL file for a long 64x8

STEP 8: Add Acrylic

To make the light of the LEDs be more clear and diffused, on the LED surface add black transparent colored acrylic.

There are two sizes of acrylic:

- A short: 129x32x3mm.

- A long: 257x32x3mm

STEP 9: Programming

1) To program the Wemos ESP8266 (ESP Matrix) very simple, you only need to connect Wemos (ESP Matrix) to an Android phone via a micro usb cable and OTG adapter, see picture.

2) Then install the ESP Matrix app from Google Playstore. https://goo.gl/b9YAth

3) In the first welcome screen tap UPLOAD button.

STEP 10: App Interface for Configuration

After programming is complete then it is necessary to set some parameters of the devices:

1) Connect ESP Matrix device to network internet using app.

2) You need Sign-up to get an API key from openweathermap.org, then copy the your API key to the weather option in app.

3) You need City ID from openweathermap.org, eg.2643743 for London, then copy the your City ID to the weather option in app.

STEP 11: Make a Long Type 64x8

If you feel dissatisfied with the short type because you can only see short messages, so you can make the long type the length of the size two times longer. For more details you can follow the tutorial in this video.

STEP 12: Enjoy

Hopefully you enjoy your ESP Matrix. If you do, please share your makes, share the link, like and subscribe. As always, if you have any questions please let me know!

Comments

[allenkwon76]

Hi~
When uploading from the app esp matrix, an error at 3~4%
How can I slove the error?
thanks!

[gareth820]

Hi... I just started building my kit but also get an error while uploading... stops at 6% everytime... did you manage to fix yours?

[MøĦsîñR]

press the flash button till the end 100% working for esp8266 nord MCU board

[engkozhe]

hi, i follow all the instructions but i stuck on the app says that "connection error" scroll down to refresh , i write the ip address on the sync to esp but same thing, the app no connection error. i am using android 7 samsung j7 prime. i also able to connect to my mifi network. after that i use the app interface still no connection errror. gelp me please ..tnx

[Eternel06]

I am having the same problem dude, everything seems to work fine with the ESP8266 connected to wifi and when you try to change some menus you get always the same sentence: Connection error, scroll down to refresh! Not sure if the problem is from the app or the Android version.

[MøĦsîñR]

because you don't set the IP in app like 192.168.4.1 and 2nd things is the app never connect if you connect the board to home router wifi

[Aristarco]

I can see this question has 4 years and the most recent is from 2 years ago, about the same problem a lot of us are having: after configuring the ESP8266 (Wemos D1 mini for me) the assembly connects successfully to the internet and shows a nice clock and weather info... for London! And no way to change it as the app keeps telling "Connection error. Scroll down to refresh." And that's it. No answer or explanation from the author. Not here and not in the GooglePlay page. App still there but is just unusable unless you live in London. This is September 2023 and still no solution? What a fraud!

[imtc.jz]

Hello i got problem with led block.. when i disconnect and connect one more time random block stop lighting.. any sugestion how to fix it? When i change block with connect DC they lighting ok but when i disconnect and connect one more time random block stop lighting.

[MøĦsîñR]

when you click on upload button press the flash button of esp8266 till the end of the file upload 100%working no need for wemos board only problem with esp8266 nordmcu

[Aristarco]

You have not flashed the firmware to the ESP8266. What you're seeing is the memory contents (random). You need to connect the ESP to your cell phone and install the firmware from the app.

[DaveC306]

I have this running for over two years with no problems, using the pro version of the app. Then two days ago the news api says error chech your api key is correct, (it is) but what I have noticed is News.org where the key come from are say they do not provide service io UK servers, I have tried loads different things from News setteigs but still no luck, anyone have an idea of how to resolve this, I have contacted developer of app but haven't replied as of yet, I think these are awesome so I just have to sort it out, any help would be grateful. thx

[Aristarco]

How did you get the pro version of the app? Mine has no option to get the pro version. Also always getting the "Conection error. Try scrolling down to refresh" window. I'm stuck with the factory settings. Can't change a thing.

[DaveC306]

Hi,I purchased the pro version about three years ago,and looking on the app now it don't seem as you can.I have been having problems with the two I have running,but it seems ok,was able to change one or two settings then put them back . Suggest try contacting developers see if they can help(wouldn't hold your breath though) I had an issue after purchase and had to get Google involved which they sorted that could be another reason that Google removed that facility,sorry can't help more .happy making .

[oumaiguo]

Can't set the time with google in china...so sad

[Aristarco]

Dude, I can't set the time at all! App is not working as of 2023.

[pabloriccetti]

HOLA buenas mi cosnsulta es que conecto todo Wemos ESP8266 (ESP Matrix) la matriz led le cable y el otg al cel y me dice que no esta coentado al ucb y si lo conecto directamente a una fuente si enciende cambio de nuevo y lo mismo ya he bajado varias apps de matrix y me dice lo mismo ¿ que recomendacion me dan
me falta probarlo de distinta forma todo sobre la proto boar y ver que pasa?
cual puede ser la pocible solucion

[josema53]

Tengo ese mismo problema con el conector tipo C se enciende la Matrix y me dice USB no conectado
Alguien puede darnos la solucion

[Aristarco]

Se fijaron bien que el adaptador sea OTG y no solo un adaptador USB-C a USB-A? A mí me pasa a veces cuando el OTG no hace buen contacto con el conector del cable o con el teléfono. De cualquier modo la app no quiere funcionar con Android actual así que aunque funcione... no funciona. :(

[Eternel06]

Hello,
Thank you for the awesome project.
I finished the whole project, everything connected, and the LEDs are working fine but the application "ESP Matrix" keeps giving me this message " Connection error, scroll down to refresh" I tried to refresh a lot of times but still nothing. The same error each time I try to change the time, city, or anything else. The whole menu is closed, the city is stuck on London with the whole origin setup.

[Aristarco]

Nothing has changed in 2 years. I ordered the parts and assembled it on September 2023 (today is Sept. 30th, 2023) and I have the same problem as you. A beautiful clock with weather info that is useful only for those living in London!! No way to change the settings. Not even the brightness, the font size or reset the settings. Total disappointment.