Step One: First Things First
Step Two: Setting Up for Sketch Upload
Step Two: Uploading the Code to the ESP8266 Module
Step Three: Testing with a Power Supply
Step Four: Creating Your Blynk App
Step Five: Open a beer

Published July 11, 2018

Monitoring Temperature Remotely with Blynk for Dummies

Monitor your living room temperature remotely using DHT-11, ESP8266 WiFi module, and Blynk.

BeginnerWork in progress1 hour23,556

Monitoring Temperature Remotely with Blynk for Dummies

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Espressif ESP8266 ESP-01

DHT11 Temperature & Humidity Sensor (4 pins)

Breadboard (generic)

Arduino UNO

Jumper wires (generic)

Software apps and online services

Blynk

Arduino IDE

Fritzing

Story

As my first attempt to automate my electric heater, I have decided to develop a remote temperature monitoring system. This is the Part I of this project.

My background is mechanics and hydraulics so don't expect details on why do electrons flow opposite to the theoretical representation of current! :)

I will try to be as thorough as possible on my explanations.

Step One: First Things First

Install libraries:

Blynk

DHT-11

ESP8266

Don't know how? Check the link below:

https://www.arduino.cc/en/guide/libraries

Visual guy? Get sleepy reading? Check this youtube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5eakzVo5mY

Step Two: Setting Up for Sketch Upload

Set up as per Fritzing schematics.

1 / 3 • Setup for sketch upload

Step Two: Uploading the Code to the ESP8266 Module

Extracted of instructions from: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-use-the-ESP8266-01-pins/

When programming the ESP8266 using the Arduino IDE (see ESP8266-01 Wifi Shield) you sometimes (often) get an error messages in the Arduino IDE like:-esp_com open failederror: Failed to open COM33error: espcomm_open failederror: espcomm_upload_mem failed

In that case follow these steps to get it working:-

1. Check you have ESP8266 board selected in the Arduino Tools menu

2. Check you have selected a COM port in the Arduino Tools menu

3. Power cycle the ESP8266 with GPIO0 grounded (clean power application, see below)

4. If 3) does not fix it, unplug the USB cable from the computer wait few secs and plug it back in

5. If 4) does not fix it, uplug USB cable from PC, close Arduino IDE, open Arduino IDE, plug USB cable back in.

To upload your sketch to ESP-8266 Module follow the following steps:

Step Three: Testing with a Power Supply

1 / 2 • Testing the sketch with power supply

Step Four: Creating Your Blynk App

Extracted of instructions from: http://docs.blynk.cc/

Getting Started With The Blynk App

1. Create a Blynk Account

After you download the Blynk App, you’ll need to create a New Blynk account. This account is separate from the accounts used for the Blynk Forums, in case you already have one.

We recommend using a real email address because it will simplify things later.

2. Create a New Project

After you’ve successfully logged into your account, start by creating a new project.

3. Choose Your Hardware

Select the hardware model you will use. Check out the list of supported hardware!

4. Auth Token

Auth Token is a unique identifier which is needed to connect your hardware to your smartphone. Every new project you create will have its own Auth Token. You’ll get Auth Token automatically on your email after project creation. You can also copy it manually. Click on devices section and selected required device :

And you’ll see token :

NOTE: Don’t share your Auth Token with anyone, unless you want someone to have access to your hardware.

It’s very convenient to send it over e-mail. Press the e-mail button and the token will be sent to the e-mail address you used for registration. You can also tap on the Token line and it will be copied to the clipboard.

Now press the “Create” button.

5. Add a Widget

Your project canvas is empty, let’s add a button to control our LED.

Tap anywhere on the canvas to open the widget box. All the available widgets are located here. Now pick a button.

Widget Box

Drag-n-Drop - Tap and hold the Widget to drag it to the new position.

Widget Settings - Each Widget has it’s own settings. Tap on the widget to get to them.

Select "Labeled Value"

Drag-n-Drop - Tap and hold the Widget to drag it to the new position.

Widget Settings - Each Widget has it’s own settings. Tap on the widget to get to them.

The most important parameter to set is PIN . The list of pins reflects physical pins defined by your hardware. If your value is connected to Virtual Pin 5 - then select V5 (V - stands for Virtual).

6. Run The Project

When you are done with the Settings - press the PLAY button. This will switch you from EDIT mode to PLAY mode where you can interact with the hardware. While in PLAY mode, you won’t be able to drag or set up new widgets, press STOP and get back to EDIT mode.

You will get a message saying “Arduino UNO is offline”. We’ll deal with that in the next section.

Click on Play Icon

Here's how it looks like when the project is running with no connection.

The red number one should go when connected

Step Five: Open a beer!

Code

ESP8266 code

/* This sketch send data to Blynk server and back to mobile phone.
   The DHT11 data is not working. Some issues with the data aquisition.
*/

#define BLYNK_PRINT Serial
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <BlynkSimpleEsp8266.h>
#include <SimpleDHT.h>

char auth[]= "YourAuthToken"; // Your Auth token
char ssid[]= "YourNetworkSSID";
char pass[]= "Yourpassword";

const int pinDHT11 = 2; // GPIO2 on your ESP8266 Wifi Module
SimpleDHT11 dht11;
BlynkTimer timer;

void sendSensor()
{
  // start working...
  Serial.println("=================================");
  Serial.println("Sample DHT11...");
  
  // read without samples.
  byte temperature = 0;
  byte humidity = 0;
  int err = SimpleDHTErrSuccess;
  if ((err = dht11.read(pinDHT11, &temperature, &humidity, NULL)) != SimpleDHTErrSuccess) {
    Serial.print("Read DHT11 failed, err="); Serial.println(err);delay(1000);
    return;
  }
  // for debug purposes.
  Serial.print("Sample OK: ");
  Serial.print((int)temperature); Serial.print(" *C, "); 
  Serial.print((int)humidity); Serial.println(" H");
  // DHT11 sampling rate is 1HZ.
  delay(1000);
  Blynk.virtualWrite(V5, temperature);

}

void setup()
{
  // Debug console
  Serial.begin(9600);

  // Sending authentication token to blynk. Getting access to your WiFi with SSID and password
  Blynk.begin(auth, ssid, pass);

  // Setup a function to be called every second
  timer.setInterval(1000L, sendSensor);
}

void loop()
{
  Blynk.run();
  timer.run();
}

Credits

Cmtelesann

5 projects • 15 followers

Keeping my head busy! Looking for challenges! Trying to keep up with evolution! IoT is the future!

Thanks to Hackster.io, Youtube, Google, and Instructables.

Monitoring Temperature Remotely with Blynk for Dummies