Every Apartment needs this Upgrade! (WhatsApp/Telegram Notifications)
TLDRIn this video, the creator discusses a common problem of missing the doorbell while working on electronics projects and listening to music. To solve this, he designs a system that sends push notifications to his smartphone via WhatsApp or Telegram when the doorbell rings. The project involves identifying a voltage change in the intercom system, creating an ESP8266 microcontroller to detect this change, and sending a notification through the internet. After testing different services for sending messages, the creator opts for a Telegram Bot Library for its speed and ease of use. The final step involves merging the ESP with the intercom, powering it, and housing it in a custom 3D-printed enclosure. The result is a quick notification system that ensures he never misses a doorbell again.
Takeaways
- 🎵 The creator enjoys soldering while listening to music but often misses the doorbell, which is a problem because the postman delivers project components.
- 🏡 The apartment's intercommunication system is connected, so replacing the old intercom with a smart one is not an option.
- 💡 The solution is to build a small, inconspicuous device that sends push notifications to a smartphone via WhatsApp or similar when the doorbell rings.
- 🛠️ The project plan involves identifying a voltage change in the intercom system, creating an ESP8266 microcontroller device, and finding a way to power the new electronics.
- 🔌 The intercom system's control PCB is connected through four wires, with two for the TwinBus system and two for the bell ring button.
- 🕹️ The TwinBus system uses a data bus for communication, which is not publicly available, but some internet users have reverse-engineered parts of it.
- 🔍 The most important pins identified were GND and the ring signal, which rises to 5V when the doorbell is rung.
- 📱 Two services for sending WhatsApp notifications with an ESP board were considered: Twilio and CallMeBot.
- 🚫 Twilio was more complicated and incurred costs, so it was not chosen.
- 🤖 CallMeBot was easy to use but had a delay in message delivery, making it unsuitable.
- 🤖 The Universal Telegram Bot Library was used instead, which was fast, required no registration, and worked well with the ESP board.
- ⚙️ A voltage divider was added to the ESP to handle the 5V from the intercom, and the device was powered using a nearby 5V supply.
- 🏗️ The project was completed by connecting the intercom PCB pins to the ESP, designing and 3D printing an enclosure, and installing everything.
Q & A
What is the main problem the speaker faces while soldering?
-The speaker often misses the doorbell while soldering because they are listening to music, which is a problem as the postman frequently arrives to deliver components for their next project.
Why can't the speaker replace the existing intercom with a smart system?
-The speaker lives in an apartment house with an intercommunication system that is connected for all the families, so they cannot simply replace the old intercom with a smart system without potentially disrupting the entire system or upsetting the landlord.
What is the primary function of the device the speaker wants to build?
-The speaker wants to build a device that sends push notifications to their smartphone through WhatsApp or a similar service as soon as someone rings the doorbell.
How does the speaker plan to detect when the doorbell rings?
-The speaker plans to find a point in the intercom's circuit that changes its voltage level when the doorbell rings and use that as an indicator.
What microcontroller does the speaker decide to use for the project?
-The speaker decides to use an ESP8266 microcontroller for the project.
How does the speaker plan to send push notifications to their smartphone?
-The speaker initially considers using Twilio and CallMeBot services but ultimately chooses to use the Universal Telegram Bot Library, which allows for faster notifications without additional registration.
Why does the speaker not integrate the ESP board into their existing home-assistant system?
-The speaker mentions that push notifications from their home-assistant system, which includes a Raspberry Pi server, can sometimes be sluggish, and they want their doorbell alarm to be more responsive.
What is the voltage level change that the speaker uses to detect a doorbell ring?
-The speaker uses a voltage level change from ground (GND) to 5V as the indicator that someone has rung the doorbell.
How does the speaker power the new ESP device without overloading the intercom system?
-The speaker uses a nearby 5V power supply that was already in use for their door alarm system, splitting its USB wire to power both the door alarm and the new ESP device.
What method does the speaker use to house the new ESP device inconspicuously?
-The speaker designs a small enclosure, 3D prints it, and attaches it to the wall next to the intercom using Velcro tape.
What is the final outcome of the project?
-The final outcome is a successful setup where the speaker receives a Telegram message on their smartphone quickly whenever the doorbell rings, ensuring they no longer miss the doorbell.
Outlines
🔍 Doorbell Upgrade Project Overview
The speaker introduces a project to upgrade their doorbell system to receive push notifications on their smartphone via WhatsApp or similar services when the doorbell rings. They explain the need for this due to missing the doorbell while working on electronics projects and listening to music. The project aims to be unobtrusive and not anger the landlord, and it could also be used for other alarms and triggers. The video is sponsored by Altium and their Altium Designer software, which is highlighted for its cloud integration and design sharing features. The speaker outlines a three-step plan: inspecting the intercom system, creating an ESP8266 microcontroller device to send push notifications upon voltage change detection, and figuring out how to power the new electronics.
🛠️ Building the Doorbell Notification System
The speaker details the process of building the doorbell notification system. They begin by inspecting the intercom system's PCB and identifying the voltage change point when the doorbell rings. They then discuss the use of the ESP8266 board to send WhatsApp notifications quickly, comparing services like Twilio and CallMeBot before settling on a Telegram Bot Library for its speed and ease of use. The speaker describes the technical aspects of connecting the ESP8266 to the intercom, including adding a voltage divider and sourcing power from an existing 5V supply. The project concludes with the physical assembly, which includes 3D printing an enclosure, reinstalling the intercom PCB, and securing the new components with Velcro tape. The result is a system that sends a Telegram message quickly upon the doorbell ringing, ensuring the speaker will no longer miss deliveries.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Soldering
💡Doorbell
💡Intercom System
💡ESP8266
💡Push Notification
💡Altium Designer
💡TwinBus System
💡Voltage Divider
💡Telegram Bot Library
💡3D Printing
💡Power Supply
Highlights
The creator is working on an electronics project that requires soldering and often misses the doorbell.
A solution is needed to receive push notifications on a smartphone when the doorbell rings.
The project aims to build a small, inconspicuous device that integrates with the existing intercom system.
The video is sponsored by Altium and their Altium Designer software for creating schematics and PCBs.
The software includes Altium 365 for cloud storage and design sharing to increase productivity.
The intercom system's circuit will be inspected to find a voltage change point when the doorbell rings.
An ESP8266 microcontroller will be used to detect voltage changes and send push notifications.
The project will explore using Twilio and CallMeBot to send WhatsApp notifications.
Twilio is more complicated and costs money, leading to the search for alternatives.
CallMeBot is easier to use but has a delay in sending messages, making it unsuitable for the project.
A Universal Telegram Bot Library is discovered, allowing for faster message sending without additional registration.
The ESP8266 board will be connected to the intercom system and powered by a nearby 5V supply.
A voltage divider is added to the ESP to handle the 5V signal from the intercom.
The final code is uploaded to the ESP, and the device is powered using a 24V DC supply.
The ESP device is housed in a custom 3D-printed enclosure and connected to the intercom.
The project is completed, and the creator receives Telegram messages quickly upon the doorbell ringing.
The creator hopes viewers enjoyed the project and learned something new, and encourages support through Patreon.