Monitoring Temperature, Humidity and Air Quality with the BME680
Building a wireless environment monitor with a BME680 sensor and an ESP32 running Tasmota, sending temperature, humidity and air quality data over MQTT.
Taste The Code latest blog posts
Latest blog posts from Taste The Code about electronics, coding, and making.
Latest posts
Repairing a Weather Station Without Replacing Parts
A brand new RS485 weather station arrived completely dead, and the fault turned out to be one solder joint that looked perfect but carried no current.
Flashing and Configuring ESP Claw on UNIHIKER K10 ESP32-S3 Board
I flash the DFRobot UNIHIKER K10 with ESP Claw firmware and let an AI agent write its own scripts to control its LEDs and screen.
DIY Multi-Zone Drip Irrigation with Tasmota and an Isolated Relay Board
Upgrading my DIY irrigation controller to water three garden zones independently using Tasmota, a NodeMCU, and a washing machine valve.
Building a Smart Pellet Stove Monitor with HC-SR04, ESP8266 and Tasmota
Building a Tasmota-powered pellet stove level sensor using an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor, NodeMCU ESP8266, and 3D printed magnetic enclosures.
Using OpenPLC to Run Industrial Control Logic on an Arduino Uno
Turning an Arduino Uno into a real industrial PLC using the free OpenPLC editor and ladder logic programming.
How I Built a DIY Bench Power Supply Enclosure with the Longer B1 Laser
Building a laser-cut wooden bench power supply enclosure with the Longer B1 40W, including a surprising direct copper etching test.
Disposable Vape Teardown: Free 850mAh Battery, USB-C Charger and a Tiny Display
Salvaging an 850mAh lithium cell and a working USB-C charging circuit from a disposable vape and examining what is on its PCB.
DM9 Digital Microscope Unboxing, Setup, and First PCB Tests
Testing a 7-inch digital microscope for PCB inspection, solder joint analysis, and SMD work to see how much detail it can really reveal.
18650 Battery Tester Review: Measuring Capacity and Internal Resistance
Testing salvaged 18650 cells from old laptop batteries using a 4-channel tester to measure capacity and internal resistance on each cell independently.
Diagnosing and Repairing a SANKEI TCR95 Studio Mixer from the 80s
I opened up my mom's vintage boombox to bring it back from the dead. A bad switch contact and a possible short were keeping it from working at its full potential again.
Full Electrical Isolation for Your ESP32 Power Switch Using an Optocoupler
Using an optocoupler instead of a transistor in a custom PCB power switch gives full electrical isolation and removes noise from MPPT solar charge controllers.
Inside a Plasma Ball: Testing, Replacing, and Learning from Failure
I attempt to repair a USB-powered plasma ball by diagnosing a blown transistor, replacing it, and exploring why the lightning effect stopped working.
Building a Simple Indoor Asset Tracking System With RYUW122_DK
I set up an ultra-wideband asset tracking system using Reyax RYUW122_DK kit to precisely track an RC car's position in real-time.
Touch Control Made Easy: A Beginner's Guide to TTP223 Sensors and ESP32 Touch Pins
Learn how to add touch control to your DIY electronics projects using the affordable TTP223 sensor module and the ESP32's built-in touch pins.
How I Fixed a Broken Charging Port by Upgrading the Speakers to USB-C
Learn how I easily fixed two broken speakers by replacing the old USB port with an affordable USB-C breakout connector.
Building a Field Power Kit: Pairing the PocketPD with a DIY Battery Adapter
I built a simple portable power supply using tool batteries and PocketPD to get adjustable voltage for electronics projects anywhere.
Meshtastic N39 GPS Tracker: Assembly, Setup, and a Real-Life Rescue Simulation
In this article I walk you through assembling and setting up the Meshtastic N39 kit with the Heltec V4 board, flashing the firmware, and testing GPS tracking in a real-world park scenario.
Sensor Power Switch Using an ESP32 and P-Channel MOSFET
I walk you through the design and prototyping of a P-channel MOSFET switch controlled by an ESP32 to efficiently power external sensors only when needed.
How Much Distance You Can Actually Get From an nRF24L01
I tested the real-world range of two nRF24L01 modules, from indoor walls to open-field distances, to see how far they can actually communicate.
Building a Real-Time LoRaWAN Class C Relay Controller Using the ESP LoRa 32
Build a real-time LoRaWAN Class C relay controller using the ESP LoRa 32 in this step-by-step guide covering hardware setup, TTN configuration, and instant downlink control.
How to Build a Smart Keypad Access System with an ESP32 (EEmentor Kit Review)
Learn how to build a smart keypad-controlled access system using an ESP32 while exploring the strengths and shortcomings of the EEmentor IoT Starter Kit in this practical, hands-on guide.
Replacing a Broken AC Wi-Fi Module with an ESPHome IR Bridge
I built a simple infrared controller using an ESP-01 and ESPHome to reconnect my GREE air conditioner to Home Assistant after its original Wi-Fi module failed.
Building a LoRaWAN Class A Sensor Node with ESP8266, BME680, and RYLR993
I built a LoRaWAN sensor that sends temperature, humidity, and pressure data to The Things Network and goes into deep sleep to save power between transmissions.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Testing LoRaWAN Gateway Connectivity
I built a simple, portable DIY device to test and verify that a newly installed LoRaWAN gateway was operational and could successfully communicate with end nodes.
How I Fixed a Dead Panasonic TV for Less Than $15
Follow along this step-by-step investigation, from a confusing no-power issue to finally finding and replacing the faulty backlight LEDs, to fix my Panasonic TV on a tiny budget.
Testing the TOOCAA L2 Laser Cutter with a Custom WLED Wall Sign Project
A hands-on review of the TOOCAA L2 laser cutter featuring a DIY project where I build a WLED controlled RGB wall sign from recycled PC motherboards to test its precision and performance.
Hands-On With Meross Smart Sensors: Presence, Water Leaks, and Sprinkler Control
I set up a presence sensor, a water leak sensor, and a smart sprinkler timer to see how well they perform with Home Assistant and the Meross app.
Turning a Cereal Box into a 3D Printer Filament Dryer
I built a custom, automated filament dryer from a cereal box to effectively remove moisture from 3D printing filament using a controlled heating system.
How to Build a Meshtastic Node: A Hands-On Review of Meshnology's N30 and N32 Kits
I built and tested the Meshnology N30 and N32 kits to start exploring Meshtastic as a LoRa communication network
ZBDongle-E Setup: Adding Thread & Matter Support to Home Assistant
Learn how to set up Matter devices in Home Assistant using the ZBDongle-E, avoiding deprecated add-ons and running Zigbee and Thread networks reliably.
Exploring ESP-NOW: Wireless Communication Between ESP32 Modules
Learn how to set up ESP-NOW for fast, low-power wireless communication between ESP32 devices, including indoor and outdoor range tests and long-range mode.
How I Save Data on the ESP32 – Even After Powering It Off
Learn how I used RTC memory and SPIFFS on the ESP32 to save data during deep sleep and even across full power resets.
Building a Bluetooth to LoRa Gateway for Emergency Communication
I built a Bluetooth-to-LoRa emergency communication gateway with the Reyax RYLR999 module that works without cell service or any other network.
Edge Lit Acrylic Night Lamp with 3D Printed Base and Custom PCB
Learn how to build a stylish edge-lit night lamp with a 3D-printed base, custom PCB, and CNC-engraved acrylic for a professional DIY lighting project.
Home Assistant-Controlled LED Light with a 3D Printed Base
Learn how to build a stable, Home Assistant-controlled LED light with a 3D printed base filled with plaster for weight, including wiring and smart switch setup.
Zigbee Switch Hack: Automate Unrelated Lights with Home Assistant
Discover how to hack a Zigbee 3-gang switch like the Zemismart K6 to control unrelated lights using Home Assistant automations - no extra hardware needed!
DIY Custom PCB in Altium for Edge-Lit Acrylic Signs
Learn how to design a custom PCB for edge-lit acrylic signs—from schematic creation in Altium to 3D-printed enclosure fit checks—in this beginner-friendly DIY electronics guide.
How to Build a Multi-Voltage Power Supply for Your Electronics Workshop
I used a computer power supply, an XH-M229 breakout module, a SK35 buck-boost converter and a 3D printed enclosure to make a bench power supply for my workshop!
Modbus RS485 Wind Speed Sensor to Arduino
Learn how to connect an RS485 Modbus wind speed sensor to an Arduino using a TTL converter, read data reliably over long distances, and display real-time wind measurements.
Hands-On Review: Elecrow’s Arduino Kit for Absolute Beginners
Discover the Elecrow All-in-One Arduino Starter Kit – perfect for beginners with 15 sensors, 21 step-by-step lessons, and everything you need to start coding & building projects fast (no experience required)!
Power Bank from Scratch with 18650 batteries and LX-LBU2C
I used a LX-LBU2C module and salvaged 18650 batteries to make highly functional DIY power bank with special red light.
Cloud-Controlled DIY Devices Without Coding - KME Smart
Learn how to build cloud-controlled DIY devices without coding using the KME Smart platform - control relays, sensors and automations from your phone easily!
RYB2340 - Add Bluetooth to ANY Project in Minutes!
Learn how to easily add Bluetooth control to your Arduino or ESP8266 projects using the RYB2340 module, so you can wirelessly control devices from your smartphone!
Smart Home Dashboard with ESPHome and CrowPanel HMI Advanced Screen
This project demonstrates how to create a smart home dashboard using the CrowPanel ESP32-S3 display integrated with ESPHome and Home Assistant..
Making a PCB with a laser engraver - ACMER S1 Review
I tested the ACMER S1 laser engraver and put it through its paces to engrave on different materials and to create a PCB with it.
Gridfinity: The Perfect 3D Printed Storage System for Your Desk
Discover how Gridfinity, a modular 3D-printed storage system, can transform your cluttered desk into an organized workspace with customizable boxes and base plates.
Setting up Zigbee Dongle on Home Assistant in a Proxmox VM
I've installed a Sonoff Zigbee dongle to my Home Assistant setup via Proxmox so that I can now add Zigbee smart devices to my smart home setup.
ThinkNode G1 LoRaWAN gateway setup and testing
In this article, I go over how I setup the ThinkNode G1 gateway for maximizing the area that I could cover as this is the only gateway in my town for now.
How I Built a DIY Digital Microscope For My Electronics Workbench
Learn how I build a DIY digital microscope for my electronics workbench! I cover 3D printing a camera mount, upgrading to a rechargeable battery, and transforming a handheld microscope into a powerful tool for PCB inspection and repair.