Internet of Things on ESP8266

    We have developed an interesting device - WIFI relay MP3500 for 2 channels. The heart of this device is the currently most popular ESP8266 chip. The first thing you thought about was the Internet of Things! Yes, you are absolutely right.



    Why is the ESP8266 chip so interesting or, as it is called, “people's wi-fi”? In the photo you can see him, he is blue. The fact is that the ESP8266 is one of the most highly integrated and inexpensive solutions for working with Wi-Fi and can be easily used as the “brain” of a future product. There are two main applications in the structure of ready-made devices - providing Wi-Fi communication and organizing the logic of controlling home appliances using free resources of the built-in microcontroller.


    Master KIT released the MP3500 module on a universal, virtually “debugging” board. It has a power source with a wide input voltage range, although, in the case of a relay, the board must be connected strictly to a 12 volt source. There is a connector for connecting an external microcontroller, for example, Arduino-compatible. The same connector can be used to reprogram the ESP8266 module. All you need is a USB-UART adapter.

    In the near future there will be new Wi-Fi solutions on the same board.

    The MP3500 will be a pleasant discovery for those who like to use Android gadgets. We made a demo program for the smartphone with an intuitive interface. Having connected the relay to electrical devices, we tested it under different conditions ... But we will write separate reports about this.



    Let's take a closer





    look at the unit itself: Technical features of the MP3500

    Thanks to the screw terminals, the connection will not take much time, and fully assembly and configuration takes only about 15 minutes.

    MP3500 technical specifications:

    Supply voltage: 12 V
    Maximum current consumption: 450 mA
    Type of supply: constant
    Number of outputs: 2 pcs
    Switching voltage: 220 V
    Maximum allowable load current: 10 A
    Module length: 75 mm
    Module width: 38 mm
    Module height: 20 mm
    Weight, no more: 100 g

    How does the module work?

    There are two options for the module - this is distribution from your own WI-FI network and connecting the MP3500 to an existing home network. Complete with the device is a clear instruction and free program WIFI_2RELE.apk for Android, with which you can control each of the two relays installed on the board.

    In addition to the presented WIFI_2RELE program, a system of built-in AT commands is also available, knowing which you can access the module control from your own applications, on any platform that supports the TCP / UDP protocol. Using the HERCULES terminal utility from HWgroup, which you can find at www.HW-group.com , you can visually study the process of sending commands and receiving a response from the module at the protocol level.

    Examples of module AT commands:

    ! SetR0_1 - turn off relay 1
    ! SetR1_1 - turn on relay 1
    ! SetR0_2 - turn off relay 2
    ! SetR1_2 - turn on relay 2

    Possible applications of Wi-Fi relay:

    It is possible to connect 2 electrical devices through two outputs. You can use the relay anywhere at home, the main thing is to observe the technical restrictions on the power of the connected load. After connecting the power supply, load control occurs through normally closed contacts. When the power is turned off, the relay status is not saved. Master Kit recommends supplying power to the load and the module from one phase of 220 V and through 1 automatic machine.

    Application options:

    1.) Smart Home projects
    2.) Lighting, ventilation, shutters, gates control
    3.) Connecting household appliances, such as a multicooker
    4.) Feeding pets

    An example of a solution

    Our female employee has a rather intrusive cat at home who wakes her up in the morning at five o’clock to feed him. I think the situation is familiar to many. Previously, a timer was used to solve the problem. But the problem was that the programmed time did not always coincide with the cat’s desire to eat. After connecting the relay to the feeder and to the lighting in the kitchen - the problem disappeared by itself. Now in the mornings, when the cat starts to wake her, she presses two buttons on the phone - the light in the kitchen lights up and feed is poured in the feeder, the cat is fed, and she sleeps further. And for his vigor in the morning, immensely grateful to this invention.

    By the way, we will also describe the design of the feeder and the technical part in the next publication.

    To summarize:

    1. The MP3500 is a proprietary Master Kit development using the ESP8266 chip, which is two remotely controlled relays.
    2. Small size, and then I think the “nano version” will appear
    3. Ease of use
    4. Attractive price for a ready-made solution
    5. Suitable for different needs

    With the advent of such a module, even home developers of various arduino solutions of “smart homes” appear the ability to connect your devices to a Wi-Fi network without "troubles" with programming at the microcontroller level.

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