Smart Home Lighting with Arduino

Introduction:
This blog guides you through creating a smart home lighting system using Arduino. This project demonstrates how to control lights remotely via a web server, offering a practical application of IoT principles.

Prerequisites

Basic understanding of electronics, Arduino programming (C++), and HTML/CSS/JavaScript is helpful.

Equipment/Tools

• Arduino Uno (or similar)
• ESP8266 Wi-Fi Module
• Relay Module
• LED Light Bulb with appropriate holder
• Connecting wires
• Power Supply
• Computer with Arduino IDE & internet access

Advantages of using Arduino

• Open-source platform & extensive community support
• Cost-effective for prototyping
• Easy to learn and use
• Cross-platform compatibility
• Large library of available code examples

Disadvantages of using Arduino

• Limited processing power compared to other microcontrollers
• Can be challenging for complex projects
• Debugging can be difficult at times
• Not ideal for high-power applications

Setting up the Hardware

Connect the ESP8266 to the Arduino:

• ESP8266 VCC to Arduino 3.3V
• ESP8266 GND to Arduino GND
• ESP8266 TX to Arduino Digital Pin 2 (SoftwareSerial RX)
• ESP8266 RX to Arduino Digital Pin 3 (SoftwareSerial TX)

Connect the relay module:

• Relay VCC to Arduino 5V
• Relay GND to Arduino GND
• Relay IN to Arduino Digital Pin 4

Wire the light bulb to the relay output contacts according to the relay module's instructions. Ensure the circuit is safe and properly insulated.

Arduino Code

```c++ #include #include const char* ssid = "YOUR_WIFI_SSID"; // Replace with your Wi-Fi credentials const char* password = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD"; const int relayPin = 4; SoftwareSerial espSerial(2, 3); // RX, TX WiFiServer server(80); void setup() { Serial.begin(115200); espSerial.begin(115200); pinMode(relayPin, OUTPUT); WiFi.begin(ssid, password); while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) { delay(500); Serial.print("."); } Serial.println("WiFi connected"); server.begin(); Serial.println("Server started"); Serial.println(WiFi.localIP()); } void loop() { WiFiClient client = server.available(); if (client) { while (client.connected()) { if (client.available()) { String request = client.readStringUntil('\r'); Serial.println(request); if (request.indexOf("/on") != -1) { digitalWrite(relayPin, HIGH); // Turn light ON } else if (request.indexOf("/off") != -1) { digitalWrite(relayPin, LOW); // Turn light OFF } client.println("HTTP/1.1 200 OK"); client.println("Content-type:text/html"); client.println(); // Basic HTML web page client.println(""); client.println(""); break; } } client.stop(); } } ```

Code Breakdown

The code utilizes the SoftwareSerial library to communicate with the ESP8266. The ESP8266WiFi library handles Wi-Fi connection. A web server is created on port 80. When a client connects, it sends HTTP requests to control the relay and thus the light. "/on" turns the light on, and "/off" turns it off.

Running the Project

1. Install the necessary libraries (ESP8266WiFi, SoftwareSerial) in the Arduino IDE.
2. Replace "YOUR_WIFI_SSID" and "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD" with your Wi-Fi network details.
3. Upload the code to your Arduino board.
4. Open the Serial Monitor to find the IP address assigned to the ESP8266 by your router.
5. Open a web browser and enter the IP address. The web page with ON/OFF buttons will appear.

Conclusion

This project provides a practical and accessible way to build a basic smart home lighting solution with Arduino. You can further expand this by adding more features like dimming, scheduling, and integrating with other smart home platforms.