Dylan Herrada Goes No-Code with an Adafruit WipperSnapper-Powered IoT Power Outlet Tutorial

Maker Dylan Herrada has penned a guide to creating your own Internet of Things (IoT)-connected power outlet, powered by an Adafruit FunHouse — and without writing a single line of code, thanks to WipperSnapper.

"Want to turn on and off any device that plugs into a normal outlet? Then this project is for you," Herrada writes by way of introduction. In this project, you'll connect an electronically controlled surge protector with a built-in relay. You'll connect the FunHouse to Adafruit IO WipperSnapper and be able to control the device over the internet. Oh, and did I mention that you'll be doing this without having to write any code at all?"

WipperSnapper is the key to the code-free approach: Currently available on Adafruit IO as a beta in active development, WipperSnapper is designed for interacting with selected microcontrollers — including the Espressif ESP32 at the heart of the Adafruit FunHouse — from within a web browser.

Rather than writing lines of code, WipperSnapper lets you choose from a selection of common components using a graphical interface — and to interact with them, whether it's by toggling a pin on and off or taking a reading from an analog input, with a simple mouse click or touchscreen tap.

Coupled with a smart extension socket with built-in relay, which offers programmatic control over four surge-protected power outlets without having to get involved with the inner workings of mains-powered hardware, you've got possibly the simplest approach to building your own IoT power socket - with zero soldering or code-writing required.

The full guide is now available on the Adafruit learning portal, with more information on the WipperSnapper beta available in the dedicated quick-start guide.