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Building a LoRa-Based Mailbox Notifier: From PCB Design to Home Assistant Integration
0:00:02 Project Overview: The video details the complete process of building a LoRa-based mailbox notifier, covering PCB design, hardware assembly, testing, 3D printing enclosures, and Home Assistant integration.
0:00:41 Battery Choice Rationale: Non-rechargeable batteries were selected to simplify maintenance, as the device will be far from the house and has very low power consumption. The at tiny1614 and the e32 operate, reliably, down to 1.8 volts and 2.3 volt, respectively.
0:01:10 System Components: The system consists of a battery-powered Notifier (ATtiny1614 + E32 LoRa module) and a USB-powered Gateway (ESP32 + E32 LoRa module).
0:01:49 Communication Protocol: Communication utilizes LoRa modulation with an automatic repeat request system for reliability.
0:02:01 Home Assistant Integration: Integration with Home Assistant is achieved through MQTT with autodiscovery.
0:02:51 PCB Design (Notifier): A custom PCB was designed using EasyEDA, incorporating 1206 SMD parts, ground and VCC planes for reduced interference, and an updi programming header.
0:04:07 Pin Reassignment: GPIO pins were reassigned for better PCB layout, enhancing the routing on the board.
0:05:55 PCB Ordering Tip: Ordering PCBs in different colors for different versions helps with organization.
0:06:21 Soldering: Using binocular magnifier, and tips.
0:06:54 Connectors: Magnetic switches utilized different connector, mail and female, to avoid misconnection.
0:07:39 Incremental Testing: The Notifier was tested with a prototype Gateway before finalizing the Gateway build, to isolate potential issues.
0:08:00 Gateway Build: The Gateway uses a compact ESP32 mini board with an added tantalum capacitor for power stability.
0:09:01 Home Assistant Connection: Connecting the gateway to Home Assistant enables testing and visualization of results.
0:09:21 Home Assistant Autodiscovery: Autodiscovery is implemented for easy user setup, requiring the device to expose specific MQTT topics and send a JSON-formatted message.
0:10:51 Home Automation: The integration allows notifications (e.g., Telegram) and dashboard displays for mail arrival.
0:11:17 3D Printing: Enclosures were 3D printed using a parametric box design, taking advantage of a new, faster 3D printer (Bambu Lab P1S with AMS).
0:12:21 Hole Printing Tip: Printing holes slightly undersized and then using a reamer ensures a precise fit.
0:12:47 Final Mounting: The Notifier and Gateway were mounted to finalize the system, ready for mail delivery.