Simon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014, and using Windows machines since 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go-to technician for all computer issues, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set to write about all things tech.
Since beginning his writing career, he has written for many different publications such as WorldStart, Listverse, and MakeTechEasier. However, after finding his home at MakeUseOf in February 2019, he would eventually move on to its sister site, XDA, to bring the latest and greatest in Windows, Linux, and DIY electronics.
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Summary
- You, too, can build a DIY CO2 temperature and humidity monitor with a 4.2" e-paper display.
- It runs on an ESP32, wakes up, takes measurements, updates the e-paper display, and sleeps again.
- It integrates with Home Assistant/MQTT, works offline, and runs for years on one charge.
One of the best parts about being a tinkerer is that you never have to purchase a household gadget again. Sure, you need to buy the components and build it yourself, but you also free yourself from proprietary services and from having to repurchase an entire device when one component breaks. Such is the case of this cool air quality detector you can make yourself, complete with Home Assistant integration.
This air quality detector can slot into your smart home, no problem
It also has a really sleek font
Over on the ESP32 subreddit, MrNiceThings made true to their name by showing off the cool project they've been working on. It's an air quality detector that can analyse CO2 levels, the current temperature, and how humid it is in the room, all via a 4.2'' e-paper display. Eagle-eyed tinkerers will spot that MrNiceThings is using an ESP-WROOM-32, which he does admit "is a massive overkill," but it was sitting around collecting dust and needed a job, so this is its life now.
Here's how the creator describes it:
It's made to sit on a shelf and be forgotten about: it wakes up, measures, refreshes the screen and goes back to deep sleep, so a single can last for years. It is meant to be used with Home Assistant (or any other platform that supports MQTT) but it can also be used completely offline as a display.
MrNiceThings hopes to have a 3D enclosure design done soon, but if you can't wait that long, you can get started on your own via the project's GitHub page.