The pinnacle of DIY home automation is creating your own touchscreen dashboard that seamlessly integrates all the smart features of your home. Add the new ENS160+AHT21 combined air quality sensor, a must-have for any smart home enthusiast, to the mix, and you’ve got an ideal starting point for those new to the field. In a single package, this versatile sensor is capable of monitoring air:
- temperature,
- relative humidity,
- concentration of Carbon Dioxide equivalents (CO2e), and
- concentration of total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC).
For a concise yet detailed guide, be sure to check out our new video.
Hardware
In this case, the essential components you’ll need are the ESP8266 microcontroller, the ENS160+AHT21 sensor, and a 5V power supply. Make sure your power supply can deliver at least 1A to power all the components adequately. Follow the wiring diagram below to connect everything:
The ENS160+AHT21 sensor is sensitive in several ways, requiring careful handling:
- Data Wire: Firstly, keep the wires short to minimize the risk of communication disruptions.
- Soldering: Secondly, be quick and precise when soldering to prevent overheating the sensor.
- Air Flow: When monitoring air, make sure there’s good air circulation around the sensor to achieve consistent readings.
- Power Supply: Lastly, ensure that the power supply is stable and has sufficient rating. Adding an additional capacitor between the
VINandGNDpins may improve stability when needed.
Casing for monitoring air quality
After completing your own ESP8266 air quality station, you are still left with the bare hardware. Still, this is aesthetically not very pleasing and your device is vulnerable to any unwanted physical contact. Nevertheless, you can address this by downloading the printable model of our universal thermometer enclosure from any of the sources below and print it for yourself. View the results in the included gallery.
