Let’s automate your garage!

Tired of fumbling for keys or remote controls? It’s time to upgrade your garage with a smart keypad! In this guide, we’ll show you how to build a custom solution using an ESP8266 D1 Mini, a Wiegand keypad, and the powerful ESPHome framework.

Understanding the Code

Before we dive into the hardware, let’s break down the ESPHome code:

YAML

esphome:
  name: garage-keypad

esp8266:
  board: d1_mini

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:

ota:
  platform: esphome
  password: 

wifi:
  ssid: "YOUR_SSID"
  password: "YOUR_PASSWORD"

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid:   1. www.makeriot2020.com www.makeriot2020.com "Garage-Keypad Fallback Hotspot"
    password: "FALLBACK_PASSWORD"

captive_portal:


wiegand:
  - id: mykeypad
    d0: D1
    d1: D2
    on_tag:
      then:
        - homeassistant.tag_scanned: !lambda 'return x;'

This code sets up a basic ESPHome configuration for a D1 Mini, enabling WiFi connectivity, logging, and communication with Home Assistant. The magic happens with the wiegand component, which reads data from the keypad and sends it to Home Assistant. Additional information can be found on https://esphome.io/components/wiegand.html

Gather Your Gear

To build your smart garage, you’ll need:

• ESP8266 D1 Mini development board
• Wiegand keypad (Amazon Link)
• Power supply (5V)
• Soldering iron and basic electronics tools

Let’s Build!

1. Connect the keypad: Attach the Wiegand keypad to the D1 and D2 pins on your D1 Mini.
2. Power it up: Connect the D1 Mini to a 5V power supply.
3. Configure ESPHome: Replace the placeholder values in the code with your WiFi credentials and OTA password.
4. Compile and flash: Use the ESPHome CLI to compile the code and flash it to your D1 Mini.

Integrate with Home Assistant

1. Add the device: Incorporate your ESPHome device into Home Assistant.
2. Create automations: Set up automations to control your garage door based on the keypad input. For example, you can open the garage when a specific tag is scanned.

Extra Tips

• Security: Protect your system with strong passwords and consider adding encryption.
• Error handling: Implement error handling to gracefully handle unexpected situations.
• Expand functionality: Explore adding features like access logs, user management, or integration with other smart home devices.

By following these steps, you’ll have a smart garage system that’s convenient and secure. Enjoy the freedom of keyless entry!