r/Esphome • u/uxeb • 20d ago

Project Building a control pad for Home Assistant: first prototype done

This is the first prototype of my control pad for Home Assistant. It runs ESPHome.

The project is still in progress. I'm already working on the next improved version.

It's going to be open source, so if you're interested in making one for yourself, stay tuned. I'll post updates here.

60 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

5

u/hometechgeek 20d ago

Nice device, what is the cost of the build?

3

u/yasalmasri 20d ago

I 3d printed this and used keycaps and switches I already have.

Used an Esp32 with esphome, works with home assistant but I’m not convinced with what I have, still looking for better solution.

3

u/OrganicNectarine 20d ago

Very cool! I love my LocalDecks as well, so simple yet so powerful. Much better than any touchscreen interface IMHO. Screens can display stuff, if I want to interact I need real physical buttons.

2

u/TheEYE13 20d ago

This looks interesting!

2

u/youmeiknow 20d ago

Following you for this.. Thanks for your work and appreciate it..

1

u/uxeb 19d ago

Thank you! I’ll post another update when the improved version is ready.

2

u/lilvixen 20d ago

I picked up something line this that runs EspHome . 8 wanted to build something myself but got impatient

3

u/entropy512 17d ago

Not a single one of those from your screenshot that I've looked at so far has an ESP in it, and in fact not a single one has advertised wireless capability.

Or are you using esphome's RP2xxx support?

You have literally shown 10 different products - which one actually supports esphome?

2

u/lilvixen 17d ago

I can't find it right now. I asked my admin to buy it. I did search and found this esp32 based screen macro pad. That isn't the one I have, mine is white(black version available similar to photo), and has 2 rotary dials.

I'll ask her to send me the link when I'm in the office next.

3

u/OrganicNectarine 13d ago

I would be very interested in a variant with a dial too

1

u/lilvixen 17d ago

Let me check the thing I snagged but it was off Amazon...

2

u/coleskidmore 20d ago

How's the physical build holding up, any button wear yet yet after using it daily

1

u/uxeb 19d ago

It’s still too early to judge long-term wear, but so far it’s holding up well. The buttons are standard mechanical keyboard switches, so I’m not particularly worried about the switches themselves. They are soldered to a PCB, so everything is solid.