Mini Environmental Sensor

Mini Environmental Sensor

It´s an autonomous, low-cost mini environmental monitoring station specifically designed for Cuban conditions. It combines an ESP32-C3-VROOM-02 with BME280 sensors (temperature, humidity, pressure) and SPG40-D-R4 (air quality/CO2) on a compact PCB that runs on battery power and charges via USB-C. It's perfect for monitoring environmental conditions in homes, workplaces, or even small farms.

Living in Cuba, we face unique realities:

• Power instability affects conventional measuring equipment
• Imported equipment is expensive and difficult to repair
• Environmental monitoring is crucial for agriculture, health, and home comfort
• We need solutions that work autonomously during blackouts

My motivation was to create a solution that is:

• Accessible - basic components and open design
• Autonomous - runs on battery during power outages
• Locally Sourced - uses ESP32-C3 which is easier to find
• Useful - provides critical data for agriculture, home health, and energy efficiency
• "Born from necessity, designed for resilience"

Operation Flow:

Dual Power Supply:

• Lithium battery for autonomous operation
• USB-C as alternative power source and for charging
• TPS62203 regulator (95% efficiency) maximizes battery life

Integrated Sensors:

• BME280: Monitors outdoor/indoor temperature, humidity (crucial for crops), and atmospheric pressure (for predicting weather changes)
• SPG40: Detects indoor air quality, essential when we spend more time at home during blackouts

Key Technical Features:

• Ultra-low consumption. Autonomy: 15-20 days with 500mAh battery

This project demonstrates that with creativity and technical knowledge, we can solve real problems with limited resources. Every component was selected considering its availability, cost, and energy efficiency - essential principles for technology in Cuba.

All design files, including schematics and Gerbers, are available on my Github

If you’re interested in bringing this project or a similar one to life, I’d love to collaborate. Let’s make it real together!