Automation Using Amazon Echo Alexa and NodeMCU Without IFTTT

Control relays attached to NodeMCUs using Amazon Echo Alexa without IFTTT.

BeginnerProtip30 minutes7,139

Automation Using Amazon Echo Alexa and NodeMCU Without IFTTT

Things used in this project

Hardware components

NodeMCU ESP8266 Breakout Board

RobotGeek Relay

Jumper wires (generic)

Amazon Alexa Echo Dot

Software apps and online services

Amazon Alexa Alexa Voice Service

Arduino IDE

Story

Control NodeMCU

The number of relays that you can control are limited only by the number of digital IO pins on the NodeMCU. In this case, I have used a Wemos D1 mini, but you can use any other NodeMCUs.

By using a fauxmo server and not using IFTTT and MQTT brokers, our reliance on third party services is removed and this provides better control and privacy.

The code that I have attached has initialization for three devices, but you can expand it depending on the availability of IO pins. Also, you can use as many NodeMCUs as you can, but the only criteria being that the device names should be non-identical (two devices cannot be assigned same names). By creating groups on the Alexa app, you can simultaneously control multiple devices.

AmazonEcho_Home_Automation_NodeMCU

/**********************************************************************************
  * Code for controlling multiple devices connected to one NodeMCU using Amazon Echo
  * 
  * Written by Sid for Sid's E Classroom
  * 
  * https://www.youtube.com/c/SidsEClassroom
  *********************************************************************************/
#include <Arduino.h>
#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include "fauxmoESP.h"

#define WIFI_SSID "**********"//change your Wifi name
#define WIFI_PASS "*********"//Change your Wifi Password
#define SERIAL_BAUDRATE                 115200

fauxmoESP fauxmo;
//declare switching pins
//Change pins according to your NodeMCU pinouts
#define Kitchen D1
#define Bedroom D2
#define Living D3
// -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Wifi Setup
// -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

void wifiSetup() {

    // Set WIFI module to STA mode
    WiFi.mode(WIFI_STA);

    // Connect
    Serial.printf("[WIFI] Connecting to %s ", WIFI_SSID);
    WiFi.begin(WIFI_SSID, WIFI_PASS);

    // Wait
    while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
        Serial.print(".");
        delay(100);
    }
    Serial.println();

    // Connected!
    Serial.printf("[WIFI] STATION Mode, SSID: %s, IP address: %s\n", WiFi.SSID().c_str(), WiFi.localIP().toString().c_str());
}
// -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
// Device Callback
// -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
void callback(uint8_t device_id, const char * device_name, bool state) {
  Serial.print("Device "); Serial.print(device_name); 
  Serial.print(" state: ");
  if (state) {
    Serial.println("ON");
  } else {
    Serial.println("OFF");
  }
  //Switching action on detection of device name
  if ( (strcmp(device_name, "Kitchen Lights") == 0) ) {
    // adjust the relay immediately!
    if (state) {
      digitalWrite(Kitchen, HIGH);
    } else {
      digitalWrite(Kitchen, LOW);
    }
  }
  if ( (strcmp(device_name, "Bedroom Lights") == 0) ) {
    // adjust the relay immediately!
    if (state) {
      digitalWrite(Bedroom, HIGH);
    } else {
      digitalWrite(Bedroom, LOW);
    }
  }
  if ( (strcmp(device_name, "Living Room Lights") == 0) ) {
    // adjust the relay immediately!
    if (state) {
      digitalWrite(Living, HIGH);
    } else {
      digitalWrite(Living, LOW);
    }
  }
}

void setup() {
    //Initialize pins to Low on device start
    pinMode(Kitchen, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(Kitchen, LOW);
    pinMode(Bedroom, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(Bedroom, LOW);
    pinMode(Living, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(Living, LOW);
    
    // Init serial port and clean garbage
    Serial.begin(SERIAL_BAUDRATE);
    Serial.println("FauxMo demo sketch");
    Serial.println("After connection, ask Alexa/Echo to 'turn <devicename> on' or 'off'");

    // Wifi
    wifiSetup();

    // Device Names for Simulated Wemo switches
    fauxmo.addDevice("Living Room Lights");
    fauxmo.addDevice("Kitchen Lights");
    fauxmo.addDevice("Bedroom Lights");
    fauxmo.onMessage(callback);
}

void loop() {
  fauxmo.handle();
}