PricelessToolkit's ESPClicker Aims to Make It Easy to Convert Disconnected Devices to the IoT
Designed to be wired into a control panel, the compact ESPClicker simulates button presses — and includes isolated AC power monitoring, too.
Pseudonymous maker "PricelessToolkit" is looking to make it easier to bring disconnected devices to the Internet of Things (IoT) with the ESPClicker — a compact Espressif ESP8266-based development board with three integrated relays and two low-side switches.
"ESPClicker is a small device that you can use to integrate not-IoT devices into your smart home setup," PricelessToolkit explains of the board's purpose. "It connects directly to the push buttons of the device, which you want to control, and then simulates pressing them. You can simulate button clicks, hold time, and multiple clicks."
In terms of hardware, the ESPClicker is — as the name suggests — built around an Espressif ESP8266 module — giving it a single Tensilica L106Micro core running at 80MHz and integrated 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity. Elsewhere on the board are a trio of signal relays offering 24V support with a maximum load of 500mA, along with two low-side switches with a 300mA maximum load — designed to drive larger external relays.
While the primary goal of the ESPClicker is to make it possible to control disconnected devices by simulating physical button presses, the board also includes two inputs to make things smarter: an analog to digital converter (ADC) pin and a contactless alternating current (AC) power detection input.
The latter feature offers an isolated approach to checking if AC power is running through a cable: simply wind a wire around the mains- or high-voltage wire, without removing the insulation. "Sensitivity can be adjusted by the number of turns [in the wire]," PricelessToolkit explains. "This is an experimental feature, and stability depends on the environment."
The board's Gerber files have been released on GitHub under an unspecified license, while assembled boards can be purchased from the PricelessToolkit website for €35 plus shipping (around $38.)