Introduction: Phone Controlled Home Automation Via Wifi

About: Hi, I'm Tamas. I like to build all kinds of electronic gadgets, hope you'll like my ideas. I'm not so active on the site these days, so sorry for the late replies. (Oh, and sorry for my broken English in these…

My home's main function is to give me and for my family a safe place, and I just want to make my house a little bit safer and smarter using the LinkIt One development board, that is one of the best board that I saw, but I'll write later abut the board. So in this Instructable I'll show you how to build adevice that's able to send you notifications if detects fire or motion in your room/house.

This Instructable contains two parts: The lights and other devices can be controlled with a smartphone or with an infrared remote controller. You can download both of the codes...

Why I made this gadget? Fire is one of the most terrible accidents in the world and that inspired me to make this home automation project with a build in fire sensor. On my mobile phone the data connection is almost always turned on, but I don't use for surfing on the internet, so if I get a new e-mail I can read it right now. This sytem can send an e-mail if detects fire. The fire emmits a lot of IR light that can be detected by an infrared led.

The fire causes 30,000 accidents per year, and I don't want to be the part of this number. With a simple device like this you may save your house, if you're not at home.

The LinkIt One board is connected to the local wifi network and using the Blynk application you can control devices with relays. In this instructable almost every sensor is made and designed by me. I made a 12 volt 3 chanell relay module, a 9 volt power supply, a fire sensor, and an 38kHz IR sensor with a test LED. The device has a simple transparent plexyglass cover that protects the circuits. The motion sensor is set to very sensitive and for 1.5 seconds. You'll need to have a basic knowledge about the LinkIt One and about the Blynk, because this instructable doesn't explains the basic informations, but don't worry, you can read many tutorials about the LinkIt One here at the Instructables. If you have questions please feel free to ask!

Step 1: Building the DIY Modules (Relay)

Of course if you have a relay module you can skip this step, but I'll explain here that howw I designed mine. So the circuit diagramm shows an input pin, that is connected to a digital pin on the LinkIt One, I used a 12v relay but works only with 9 volts because it's easier to make a 9 volt step up circuit. You can add a LED with a 2k resistor in paralell with the relay. If you're done you can test it with the LinkIt One and with a 9 volt battery. I used a 2n2222 transistor.

Step 2: Building the DIY Modules (9v Power Supply)

Following the circuit you can build this step up converter. Connect the output to the relay module's power input, and connect the circuit's input to the 3v3 pin of the LinkIt One.

Step 3: Building the DIY Modules (Fire Sensor)

The easiest part in the project is to make the fire sensor.

  1. Connect the IR reciever LED to the a 5v positive pin.
  2. Connect the negative leg of the leg to the GND with a 470k ohm resistor.
  3. The signal comes out in the middle, at the connection of the LED an the resistor.
  4. If detects fire the output signal will be high.

After building the circuit I made some tests with a candle and with the Blynk application's analog read function.

Step 4: Parts and Materials

If you have already modules you don't need soldering iron fir this project, but it's good to have a glue gun and a saw.

Parts:

  • Mediatek LinkIt One Developer Board
  • 1 Chanell Relay Module
  • Fire Sensor Module
  • IR Sensor (Optional)
  • IR Remote (Optional)
  • Motion Sensor
  • Wifi Antenna
  • GSM Antenna and SIM card (Optional for notification, I still can't make the SMS sending function but in the next weeks I'll make it)
  • USB Cable
  • Battery (Optional for prototyping)
  • Plexyglass
  • Plastic Pipes
  • A Lamp

And that's all you need for this project. It is much more easier with premade modules, but it's a bigger challenge if you make the modules.

Step 5: The Code

You can download here the IR decoder programm, the phone controlled code and the |R remote controlled code. Open serial monitor in the decoder file then press any button on your remote control. Or download the Blynk app and create a dashboard. You can see my decoded codes on the fourth image.

Step 6: Prototypes

Before making the main project I usually make some experiments and prototypes to be sure that everything works right.

Step 7: Build the Circuit

First connect the power supply to the LinkIt One then:

  1. pin 8 to relay signal pin
  2. pin 5 to motion sensor
  3. pin 11 IR Sensor (Optional)
  4. pin 3 to fire sensor
  5. pin 9 to signal LED

Step 8: The Cover

I just glued the parts on a pllexyglass then connected together the wires. After this I made some tests with my phone.

Step 9: The Roof

Glue plastic pipes on the main plexyglass then glue the other piece too.

Step 10: Connect the Lamp

Remove the switch from the lamp and connect the wires to the relay's endings. Now you should be able to control the lamp with the Blynk app.

Step 11: The End!

Find a right place for your project and you're done. Thanks for the Instructables for this developer board, and if you like my home automation conception please vote on me.

Epilog Contest Campaing: If I win a Laser Cutter I'll use in my project, but it's main function would be to help for me in my school projects. I'm in an architecture class and the laser cutter would be a very good tool.

Sorry for the little details I'll write more tomorrow but I hope you liked, in my next Instructable I'll make a smart bracelet... Thanks for watching!

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