As a HVAC TECHNICIAN myself well done 👍. Add a compressor, lying discharge temperature sensor within 6 inches of the compressors discharge line . This will give you an indication if you run low on refrigerant for your condenser fan fails your compressor will start overheating . This can lead to short life of the compressor . I think you already mentioned, WATT or amp draw. that’s for the compressor itself is another good indicator of something going wrong .
Very cool project! Just searched and only one like it so far...I will be watching/hoping for update vids! Funny I was actually helping a neighbor troubleshoot his system the other day and thought how beneficial sensors would be for alerting when there are issues before looking at your thermostat and wondering why it says 80 degrees. Would love to see: -- CT clamp to monitor the amperage on the blower motor. Some higher end units are flow based so they ramp up power to maintain a certain flow rate and overcome static pressure from a dirty filter. But even just a simpler case in, one would have helped my neighbor, monitoring for zero amp draw for a blower not working at all when the rest of the system is still running. -- leak sensor for notifying when primary pan or secondary pan are seeing condensation buildup. -- air flow meter or maybe a temp sensor for the A-coil/evap coil to see if it gets frozen over or just track historically if it is increasingly restricting airflow (dirty)
for the hole i'd just drill with metal bit in multiple places and "connect them" with metal cutter or if you have angle grinder, just make a slit edit rewatched it and using the small drill to make small hole, putting the tip of the sensor 0:49 and make some kind of mount (maybe magnetic) to the duct might suffice
Look at the diffence between the high and low static. Take the number with a clean filter installed and double it. That is a good spot to set a filter change alarm.
ok who replaced jason with this tech dude?! nice work! this is much safer than electrics! 😂😂😂 jk, lovin this stuff jason! your totally in the zone for making crap thats actually totally not crap... in fact im impressed! 😊🎉 this seems so you! 😊 keep it up this is fun! 😊
Hi, thanks for taking the time to document your project! I'm looking to buy smart dampers to A) adjust the airflow from the main trunk to each room, so the rooms have equal temperatures and/or B) adjust the airflow to avoid heating rooms that are currently unoccupied or known to be unoccupied during specific date times. The issue is that the HVAC systems need to maintain a minimum airflow to avoid burning things out prematurely. Is it true all I need is to build sensors to measure the following 4 points (inbound before the air filter, inbound after the air filter, outbound before the A coil, and outbound after the A coil) to measure static pressure and CFM and then somehow keep an eye on these while I'm adjusting the smart dampters?
Nice work! I esphome'd my fridge and found the BME280 sensors did not appreciate being on a freezer's coil during defrost, above about 90% they start dropping out. For a while power cycling it worked but it died after a few months. I now use DS1822b or whatever they are in the freezer and bme280 only in the fridge compartment. I mention it due to the surprisingly high humidity your dashboard showed for the output - I'm wondering if it was maybe experiencing some condensation? I assume the humidity part of the bme range are all similar. Anyway great work, I am looking to do the same thing with our ducted AC system along with diy dampers for room-zoned automation - keeping an eye on static pressure to avoid issues when closing off zones.
@6:59 your humidity is way too high - assume you caught that? Means your blower fan is running too fast? Also, your static air pressure seems high too at 1.19; i'm not a HVAC expert but, like you, have been learning & maintaining my own systems and a typical static delta is 0.5 from all the systems I've worked on. I've seen 1.0 inWC here and there but it's usually a max value and yours is 1.19. How accurate are your sensors? Did you calibrate them? You could use static pressure delta to know when to change your air filter. I have a similar project but I'm trying to integrate actual line pressures and get subcool/superheat values into home assistant - get early indication of refrigerant leak or compressor failure.
Just some odd thoughts. I like this idea a lot. My AC is most likely the largest contributor to my utility bill. I placed a UV light in my HVAC system The UV light is set to run 24/7 but using two smart plugs I turn on the UV light when the when the blower motor come on and then turn it off five minutes after the blower motor goes off. The light was to last about one year, by running it part time I should get four or five years from it. I can also use the other plug to turn off the entire unit. I upgraded to Merv 13 or better filters. I have a 2.5 air quality Gauge but haven't found a way yet to turn on just the fan to "polish the air". Not sure where your pressure measurement are taken. Also I had a college HVAC text dated cira 1950, which I cannot now find, which plotted a comfort zone of temperature and humidity, it would seem that could be used to select the cheapest way to get from outside the zone to inside with an automation. Anyone seen a similar graph? Anyway great project. Looking forward to seeing if I can build one.
You should maybe consider doing something about the board so it doesn't short out so easily if it dangles just the wrong way and the bottom hits the metal wall. One idea for the board laying around could be to make a small wooden box that's open from the top and screw it in those studs on the right and then just drop the board assembly in that little box so it doesn't have anywhere to go. Something like that would make it so it's not stuck like with tape and you can easily get it out to tinker some more etc. Just an idea. Anyway, even if some may not agree with these projects, I think it's super cool you're trying new stuff and learning, even if it ends up jankier. I have air quality sensors in my home too and it's pretty cool to see what you breath in, so hey this is pretty useful!
a board cover is planned. In fact, I already am planning a new version with some ideas for improvements. This first device was more of a "lets learn how to do this" thing, so the best description would be a prototype LOL. this is why I didnt get much info on "How to" build it, because even though it works, I know it has many flaws. It's just the idea of what it can/is doing that fascinates me and so far has been wonderfully useful.
I don't have long term data to say you're right or wrong, so I will keep an eye on them :) I can say that the sht40's dont measure pressure though. For this project, I wanted to keep track of my HVAC so pressure was a deciding factor. Also, for the bme680's, once I supplied a good power source they seemed very accurate and consistent. To counter my own argument though, I planned on possible issues with these (or any) sensors and made the board have plugs so I can change them at any time. Thank you for feedback and I welcome more ideas! This is a straight up learning thing for me and I'd love to improve it. :)
I made something similar but with the esp-01 and DS18B20 sensors. It worked but I have trouble keeping the wifi connected. I'm now working with the MCP9808 so I can add an I2C OLED. I like your idea a little better so I can measure pressure too and it whould still work with the esp-01. I think I'll set up an esp32 or pi zero to receive the data and host it. I'm hoping I can run the rx/tx down with the thermostat wire and put the host device there for better wifi connection. Was going to use a battery but I can tap the 24v ac and use a buck converter there to power the esp32 and the esp-01. I can do the same thing with my DS18B20 esp-01 board to measure liquid and vapor temps.
I currently use Alexa for home automation. I have been hit with the problem of when the internet goes down, I lose all functionalities. I saw a video about home assistant and I said that is what I want. I have ordered Home Assistant Yellow, pie cm4, and hard drive. Then last night I saw your video.... The I have had some issues with my air-conditioning system. I want to monitor the system. I am very interested in the progress of your system. I want to duplicate it your system and it sounds like you have a lot of experience with home assistant. I will be following you and learning more about it all. Raymond Knapp
I will do my best to keep things updated! I do want to say though that I am just "YOLO"ing most of this and learning as I go. I get excited when I learn something new and want to share it. Hopefully our journeys end well :)
@@Bytemybits I am waiting for any more information. Have you published the wiring diagrams of your boards yet? When you do I will be very interested in seeing it.
This is amazing. I've been planning on doing a similar monitoring project on my combi boiler. Logging temps going in and out, calls for heat, etc. I definitely want to incorporate something like this. Maybe I missed it, but why is the humidity out so high? Shouldn't it be much lower?
Unrelated but not sure where to ask, do you still use the Silverstone for your NAS? Do you regret it? I'm considering getting one and am not sure if it's worth it!
Great work I was wondering how I could build something to monitor my a/c unit here in PHX to get an idea of performance and when the air filters may need to be changed due to reduced air flow.
already have Sense Power monitor displaying my hvac usage. Then got the A coil cleaning comb to remove the dirt from below the A Coil. No Form spray. Surge protection device - a separate one than the whole house one in the main breaker box - for the outside compressor unit. this was missing - more data!. thank you......might consider putting the $35-40 particle sensor box to check how clean is the air going to vent. so i don't have to change the filter based on time.
What's the lifespan of these sensors? The capacitive humidity sensors can fail very rapidly, weeks to months, when exposed to high humidity. The buck convertor might fry if the input voltage drops too close to, or below, the output voltage.
The manufacturer claims 10 years, which I always take with a grain of salt. I planned on possible issues with these (or any) sensors and made the board have plugs so I can change them at any time. This is a straight up learning thing for me and I'd love ideas to improve it. You know of better, more reliable sensors that work like these and can give the same readings?
Interesting, but your sensors are in the wrong spot. Supply temp sensor shouldn’t be in line of sight of the coil. Pressure sensor for your furnace should be before the coil. I don’t recommend drilling that with your set up or you will hit the coil.
I have used this sensor for 5 boards I have around the house and it is wildly inaccurate for co2. I have compared that against a real co2 sensor. Temp and humidity is ok on this sensor nut personally I would not use this sensor again.
69 all summer long would triple my electric bill. What's your electric company's ticker symbol? Good that these sensors exist. IME as long as the indoor humidity stays below the high 50s(%) it's okay to the mid 70s(degrees F). Most annoying is to step outside and find my glasses fogged up and my phone is suddenly wet to the touch.
As a HVAC TECHNICIAN myself well done 👍.
Add a compressor, lying discharge temperature sensor within 6 inches of the compressors discharge line .
This will give you an indication if you run low on refrigerant for your condenser fan fails your compressor will start overheating .
This can lead to short life of the compressor .
I think you already mentioned, WATT or amp draw. that’s for the compressor itself is another good indicator of something going wrong .
Very cool project! Just searched and only one like it so far...I will be watching/hoping for update vids! Funny I was actually helping a neighbor troubleshoot his system the other day and thought how beneficial sensors would be for alerting when there are issues before looking at your thermostat and wondering why it says 80 degrees. Would love to see:
-- CT clamp to monitor the amperage on the blower motor. Some higher end units are flow based so they ramp up power to maintain a certain flow rate and overcome static pressure from a dirty filter. But even just a simpler case in, one would have helped my neighbor, monitoring for zero amp draw for a blower not working at all when the rest of the system is still running.
-- leak sensor for notifying when primary pan or secondary pan are seeing condensation buildup.
-- air flow meter or maybe a temp sensor for the A-coil/evap coil to see if it gets frozen over or just track historically if it is increasingly restricting airflow (dirty)
for the hole i'd just drill with metal bit in multiple places and "connect them" with metal cutter
or if you have angle grinder, just make a slit
edit rewatched it and using the small drill to make small hole, putting the tip of the sensor 0:49 and make some kind of mount (maybe magnetic) to the duct might suffice
Look at the diffence between the high and low static. Take the number with a clean filter installed and double it. That is a good spot to set a filter change alarm.
Your way smarter than me, it is extremely awesome. I think you could have a great project to make some $$. Do a PCB and sell it as a kit!
Cool projects, keep up the good work
Thanks!
Jason, you're making me want to get Home Assistant up and running.... I don't have time for that! Lol
It is a deep.. dark.. rabbit hole..
Do it. :)
ok who replaced jason with this tech dude?! nice work! this is much safer than electrics! 😂😂😂
jk, lovin this stuff jason! your totally in the zone for making crap thats actually totally not crap... in fact im impressed! 😊🎉 this seems so you! 😊 keep it up this is fun! 😊
TY :)
also..it is crap but I am learning haha
Awesome Project! Looking forwared to version 2.0 and lessons learned from v1.0! Please include a parts list and wiring diagram for v2. Thanks!
Love this! Been meaning to get something going at home since I have bunch of ESP32s laying around. Keep em coming!
Awesome! Thank you!
In home assistant, are you storing data in a data base. This allows you graph all sensors on time. If you are not I can give you more info.
Hi, thanks for taking the time to document your project!
I'm looking to buy smart dampers to A) adjust the airflow from the main trunk to each room, so the rooms have equal temperatures and/or B) adjust the airflow to avoid heating rooms that are currently unoccupied or known to be unoccupied during specific date times. The issue is that the HVAC systems need to maintain a minimum airflow to avoid burning things out prematurely. Is it true all I need is to build sensors to measure the following 4 points (inbound before the air filter, inbound after the air filter, outbound before the A coil, and outbound after the A coil) to measure static pressure and CFM and then somehow keep an eye on these while I'm adjusting the smart dampters?
Nice work! I esphome'd my fridge and found the BME280 sensors did not appreciate being on a freezer's coil during defrost, above about 90% they start dropping out. For a while power cycling it worked but it died after a few months. I now use DS1822b or whatever they are in the freezer and bme280 only in the fridge compartment. I mention it due to the surprisingly high humidity your dashboard showed for the output - I'm wondering if it was maybe experiencing some condensation? I assume the humidity part of the bme range are all similar.
Anyway great work, I am looking to do the same thing with our ducted AC system along with diy dampers for room-zoned automation - keeping an eye on static pressure to avoid issues when closing off zones.
I built something similar, good content
so as you are smart home the whole house for yourself, have you looking into "SmartWings Motorized Blackout Cellular Shades Hazel" ???
Brilliant! Thanks for this! I'm monitoring temp now, but I wanted to monitor pressure to detect filter or freeze-up issues.
Very, very cool man! 🤙 By the way, killer channel name.
First improvmenett is using (old) mobile charger instead 12V. Also module is overcmplicated. But if it works for you - it's great!
@6:59 your humidity is way too high - assume you caught that? Means your blower fan is running too fast? Also, your static air pressure seems high too at 1.19; i'm not a HVAC expert but, like you, have been learning & maintaining my own systems and a typical static delta is 0.5 from all the systems I've worked on. I've seen 1.0 inWC here and there but it's usually a max value and yours is 1.19. How accurate are your sensors? Did you calibrate them? You could use static pressure delta to know when to change your air filter. I have a similar project but I'm trying to integrate actual line pressures and get subcool/superheat values into home assistant - get early indication of refrigerant leak or compressor failure.
Nice project.
Love the video! Can we get a pin-out for the connections?
Thanks!
Its in the ESPHome code. sda and sla are labeled on the sensors;
i2c:
- id: "bus_a"
sda: GPIO23
scl: GPIO33
- id: "bus_b"
sda: GPIO19
scl: GPIO32
This Bro needs a stepper bit like yesterday.
Just some odd thoughts. I like this idea a lot. My AC is most likely the largest contributor to my utility bill. I placed a UV light in my HVAC system The UV light is set to run 24/7 but using two smart plugs I turn on the UV light when the when the blower motor come on and then turn it off five minutes after the blower motor goes off. The light was to last about one year, by running it part time I should get four or five years from it. I can also use the other plug to turn off the entire unit. I upgraded to Merv 13 or better filters. I have a 2.5 air quality Gauge but haven't found a way yet to turn on just the fan to "polish the air". Not sure where your pressure measurement are taken. Also I had a college HVAC text dated cira 1950, which I cannot now find, which plotted a comfort zone of temperature and humidity, it would seem that could be used to select the cheapest way to get from outside the zone to inside with an automation. Anyone seen a similar graph?
Anyway great project. Looking forward to seeing if I can build one.
You should maybe consider doing something about the board so it doesn't short out so easily if it dangles just the wrong way and the bottom hits the metal wall. One idea for the board laying around could be to make a small wooden box that's open from the top and screw it in those studs on the right and then just drop the board assembly in that little box so it doesn't have anywhere to go. Something like that would make it so it's not stuck like with tape and you can easily get it out to tinker some more etc. Just an idea. Anyway, even if some may not agree with these projects, I think it's super cool you're trying new stuff and learning, even if it ends up jankier. I have air quality sensors in my home too and it's pretty cool to see what you breath in, so hey this is pretty useful!
a board cover is planned. In fact, I already am planning a new version with some ideas for improvements. This first device was more of a "lets learn how to do this" thing, so the best description would be a prototype LOL. this is why I didnt get much info on "How to" build it, because even though it works, I know it has many flaws. It's just the idea of what it can/is doing that fascinates me and so far has been wonderfully useful.
Those dht11 humudity sensors are hughly unreliable. That might explain your issue with voltage. My current favourite is a sht40.
I don't have long term data to say you're right or wrong, so I will keep an eye on them :)
I can say that the sht40's dont measure pressure though. For this project, I wanted to keep track of my HVAC so pressure was a deciding factor. Also, for the bme680's, once I supplied a good power source they seemed very accurate and consistent.
To counter my own argument though, I planned on possible issues with these (or any) sensors and made the board have plugs so I can change them at any time.
Thank you for feedback and I welcome more ideas! This is a straight up learning thing for me and I'd love to improve it. :)
came here just to say dht11 is trash
I made something similar but with the esp-01 and DS18B20 sensors. It worked but I have trouble keeping the wifi connected. I'm now working with the MCP9808 so I can add an I2C OLED. I like your idea a little better so I can measure pressure too and it whould still work with the esp-01. I think I'll set up an esp32 or pi zero to receive the data and host it. I'm hoping I can run the rx/tx down with the thermostat wire and put the host device there for better wifi connection. Was going to use a battery but I can tap the 24v ac and use a buck converter there to power the esp32 and the esp-01. I can do the same thing with my DS18B20 esp-01 board to measure liquid and vapor temps.
I currently use Alexa for home automation. I have been hit with the problem of when the internet goes down, I lose all functionalities. I saw a video about home assistant and I said that is what I want. I have ordered Home Assistant Yellow, pie cm4, and hard drive. Then last night I saw your video.... The I have had some issues with my air-conditioning system. I want to monitor the system. I am very interested in the progress of your system. I want to duplicate it your system and it sounds like you have a lot of experience with home assistant. I will be following you and learning more about it all. Raymond Knapp
I will do my best to keep things updated! I do want to say though that I am just "YOLO"ing most of this and learning as I go. I get excited when I learn something new and want to share it. Hopefully our journeys end well :)
@@Bytemybits I am waiting for any more information. Have you published the wiring diagrams of your boards yet? When you do I will be very interested in seeing it.
This is amazing. I've been planning on doing a similar monitoring project on my combi boiler. Logging temps going in and out, calls for heat, etc. I definitely want to incorporate something like this. Maybe I missed it, but why is the humidity out so high? Shouldn't it be much lower?
Saw that too...My guess is that the sensor is so close to the coil its picking up the humidity from the condensation on the coil itself?
ESP32 and pcbway is your next logical step - powers some might consider.......unnatural
0:56 nice.
Unrelated but not sure where to ask, do you still use the Silverstone for your NAS? Do you regret it? I'm considering getting one and am not sure if it's worth it!
Great work I was wondering how I could build something to monitor my a/c unit here in PHX to get an idea of performance and when the air filters may need to be changed due to reduced air flow.
Rather than drilling a large hole in the duct, I'd say drill two small holes and cut between them to make a slot.
@Byte My Bits : Did you every learn, specifically, why the buck converter (and it's different voltage) solved the conversion deviation issue?
already have Sense Power monitor displaying my hvac usage. Then got the A coil cleaning comb to remove the dirt from below the A Coil. No Form spray. Surge protection device - a separate one than the whole house one in the main breaker box - for the outside compressor unit. this was missing - more data!. thank you......might consider putting the $35-40 particle sensor box to check how clean is the air going to vent. so i don't have to change the filter based on time.
get a step bit kit, holes on tap
SO OF A BITCH!
(ok sry)
I actually have multiple of those and didn't even freakin think about it! argggggggggg
I'm dumb af.
@@Bytemybits your honesty is endearing and any courage to forge ahead has its own value if it gets things done to a modicum of success.
What's the lifespan of these sensors? The capacitive humidity sensors can fail very rapidly, weeks to months, when exposed to high humidity. The buck convertor might fry if the input voltage drops too close to, or below, the output voltage.
The manufacturer claims 10 years, which I always take with a grain of salt. I planned on possible issues with these (or any) sensors and made the board have plugs so I can change them at any time. This is a straight up learning thing for me and I'd love ideas to improve it. You know of better, more reliable sensors that work like these and can give the same readings?
You wouldn't have happened to have created a wiring diagram for this?
not yet because I dont have enough confidence in my design to share it. I have plans to improve though, so later I might :)
@@Bytemybits I’m an hvac mechanic and happen to think you’ve done a great job
ah, you're near Wichita... odd how many channels I watch are either in KC or Wichita.
Interesting, but your sensors are in the wrong spot. Supply temp sensor shouldn’t be in line of sight of the coil. Pressure sensor for your furnace should be before the coil. I don’t recommend drilling that with your set up or you will hit the coil.
I have used this sensor for 5 boards I have around the house and it is wildly inaccurate for co2. I have compared that against a real co2 sensor.
Temp and humidity is ok on this sensor nut personally I would not use this sensor again.
69 degrees? Damn, that's about $900/month in power
$500-$600 😬
may?
june?
69 all summer long would triple my electric bill. What's your electric company's ticker symbol? Good that these sensors exist. IME as long as the indoor humidity stays below the high 50s(%) it's okay to the mid 70s(degrees F). Most annoying is to step outside and find my glasses fogged up and my phone is suddenly wet to the touch.
I like the cold :) $500-$600 a month in elec bills tho..
Sell it and I’m buying the finished product
first like
First, S**K it Nathaniel
It's never good being stuck in the heat man! I hope it works out for ya