Published August 17, 2015 © GPL3+

ESP8266 IFTTT Easy Button

The classic Staples Easy Button with an IFTTT twist.

BeginnerFull instructions provided78,659

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Espressif ESP8266 ESP-01

Staples Easy Button

Software apps and online services

IFTTT Maker service

NodeMCU firmware

Hand tools and fabrication machines

FTDI Serial TTL-232 USB Cable

ESP8266 ADAPTER AND BREAKOUT BOARD KIT

Story

The AmazonDash button its all the buzz lately. Regardless whether you think it is the greatest invention or just a passing fad, it is a nice little IoT device. There is already work underway to try and make it work with custom code.

There are a couple crowdfunding projects (flic and btn) that are attempting to create a custom IoT button as well. But both come with a high price tag (around $100).

This is where the up and coming ESP8266 MCU can shine. For under $3 you can have a wifi chip plus a programable micro-controller. You just need to add a cheap button (like the Staples Easy Button for around $7.) Add good ol' IFTTT and you will be set to go with your custom IoT button for about $10.

UPDATE: I created a v2 version that is more energy efficient plus it has OTA wifi configuration! Check it here.

ESP8266 ADAPTER AND BREAKOUT BOARD KIT with FTDI Serial TTL-232 USB Cable

UPDATE: I created a v2 version that is more energy efficient plus it has OTA wifi configuration! Check it here.

First you need to flash your ESP-01 with the latest NodeMCU firmware. I used this nice breakout board from the hackaday store, but all you really need is a USB-to-Serial cable adapter and provide separate 3.3v to the ESP-01. Here is a really nice tutorial on how to program the ESP-01.

Head over to IFTTT Maker Channel and create key with a trigger named "button".

Once you have uploaded the latest NodeMCU firmware. All yo need is to upload init.lua, button.lua and ifttt.lua. Don't forget to modify your SSID, password, IFTTT trigger and key.

Open the Easy Button (you can find more detailed pictures in here). Remove the original speaker. Make a square opening to leave enough space for the ESP-01. Solder the button in the existing board and wire it all up.

That was easy!

1 / 2 • The button is connected to GPIO02 and GND

1 / 9

*This version is not energy efficient. The 2 AA alkaline batteries will last about 2 days. I am working on a more energy efficient version by either putting the ESP-01 to deep sleep or using CH_PD to wake/shutdown.

UPDATE: I created a v2 version that is more energy efficient plus it has OTA wifi configuration! Check it here.

Code

--button.lua
buttonPin = 4 -- this is ESP-01 pin GPIO02
gpio.mode(buttonPin,gpio.INT,gpio.PULLUP)

function debounce (func)
    local last = 0
    local delay = 200000

    return function (...)
        local now = tmr.now()
        if now - last < delay then return end

        last = now
        return func(...)
    end
end

function onChange()
    if gpio.read(buttonPin) == 0 then
        print("That was easy! ")
        dofile("ifttt.lua") 
        tmr.delay(500000)
    end
end

gpio.trig(buttonPin,"down", debounce(onChange))

--ifttt.lua
conn = nil
conn=net.createConnection(net.TCP, 0) 

conn:on("receive", function(conn, payload) 
     print(payload) 
     end) 
     
conn:on("connection", function(conn, payload) 
     print('\nConnected') 
     conn:send("GET /trigger/button/with/key/<MAKER-CHANNEL-KEY>"
      .." HTTP/1.1\r\n" 
      .."Host: maker.ifttt.com\r\n"
      .."Accept: */*\r\n" 
      .."User-Agent: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; esp8266 Lua; Windows NT 5.1)\r\n" 
      .."\r\n")
     end) 
     
conn:on("disconnection", function(conn, payload) 
      print('\nDisconnected') 
      end)
      
print('Posting to ifttt.com')                                    
conn:connect(80,'maker.ifttt.com')

Credits

Noel Portugal

2 projects • 60 followers

ESP8266 IFTTT Easy Button

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Schematics

IFTTT Easy Button

Code

init.lua

button.lua

ifttt.lua

Credits

Noel Portugal

Comments

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ESP8266 IFTTT Easy Button

ESP8266 IFTTT Easy Button

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Schematics

IFTTT Easy Button

Code

init.lua

button.lua

ifttt.lua

Credits

Noel Portugal

Comments

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