Motorized MQTT Blinds

⚠️ This project is archived in favor of using ESPHome

🛠️ Migration to ESPHome (Recommended)

Notice: This project is officially archived. I have migrated my entire fleet to ESPHome for better stability, native Home Assistant integration, and easier maintenance.

If you wish to follow this path, I recommend using a modular package structure to keep your configuration clean.

⚠️ MQTT Removed - Since this project was based on MQTT blinds, I feel I need to point out that I removed MQTT in my setup for this since I just tie into Home Assistant. It can easily be added back if you follow the ESPHome documentation.

1. The Global Packages

Create a packages folder in your ESPHome directory and add the following files to handle shared logic.

A. Network & API (packages/common_wifi.yaml)

# packages/common_wifi.yaml
wifi:
  ssid: "YOUR_SSID"
  password: "YOUR_PASSWORD"
  min_auth_mode: WPA2
  fast_connect: true

time:
  - platform: homeassistant
    id: home_time

api:
  port: 6053
  reboot_timeout: 15min

ota:
  - platform: esphome

Handles WiFi, Home Assistant API, and OTA updates.

B. The Diagnostic HUD (packages/base_diagnostics.yaml)

Provides a unified set of health sensors for every device.

# packages/base_diagnostics.yaml
logger:
  level: DEBUG

esphome:
  on_boot:
    priority: -10 
    then:
      - text_sensor.template.publish:
          id: esphome_version_sensor
          state: !lambda 'return ESPHOME_VERSION;'

sensor:
  - platform: uptime
    name: "Uptime"
    id: uptime_sensor
    type: timestamp
    entity_category: diagnostic

  - platform: wifi_signal
    name: "WiFi Signal"
    update_interval: 60s
    entity_category: diagnostic

text_sensor:
  - platform: wifi_info
    ip_address:
      name: "IP Address"
      entity_category: diagnostic
    ssid:
      name: "Connected SSID"
      entity_category: diagnostic

  - platform: version
    name: "ESPHome Version"
    id: esphome_version_sensor
    entity_category: diagnostic

  - platform: template
    name: "Last Compiled"
    icon: mdi:clock-check
    entity_category: diagnostic
    lambda: 'return { __DATE__ " " __TIME__ };'

button:
  - platform: restart
    name: "Restart"
    entity_category: config

C. Blind Logic (packages/base_blinds.yaml)

The core hardware logic for stepper-based blinds.

# packages/base_blinds.yaml
stepper:
  - platform: a4988
    id: blinds_stepper
    step_pin: ${step_pin}
    dir_pin: ${dir_pin}
    max_speed: ${max_speed}
    acceleration: ${acceleration}
    deceleration: ${acceleration}

switch:
  - platform: gpio
    pin: ${sleep_pin}
    id: stepper_sleep_pin
    inverted: true
    restore_mode: ALWAYS_OFF

button:
  - platform: template
    name: "Set Current as Open (Zero)"
    icon: mdi:home-edit
    entity_category: config
    on_press:
      then:
        - lambda: 'id(blinds_stepper).report_position(0);'

cover:
  - platform: template
    name: ${friendly_name}
    id: blind_entity
    device_class: blind
    optimistic: true
    open_action:
      then:
        - cover.template.publish:
            id: blind_entity
            current_operation: OPENING
        - switch.turn_on: stepper_sleep_pin
        - delay: 100ms
        - stepper.set_target:
            id: blinds_stepper
            target: 0
        - wait_until:
            timeout: 15s
            condition:
              lambda: 'return id(blinds_stepper).current_position == 0;'
        - switch.turn_off: stepper_sleep_pin
        - cover.template.publish:
            id: blind_entity
            state: OPEN
            current_operation: IDLE
    close_action:
      then:
        - cover.template.publish:
            id: blind_entity
            current_operation: CLOSING
        - switch.turn_on: stepper_sleep_pin
        - delay: 100ms
        - stepper.set_target:
            id: blinds_stepper
            target: ${max_steps}
        - wait_until:
            timeout: 15s
            condition:
              lambda: 'return id(blinds_stepper).current_position == ${max_steps};'
        - switch.turn_off: stepper_sleep_pin
        - cover.template.publish:
            id: blind_entity
            state: CLOSED
            current_operation: IDLE
    stop_action:
      then:
        - stepper.set_target:
            id: blinds_stepper
            target: !lambda "return id(blinds_stepper).current_position;"
        - wait_until:
            condition:
              lambda: 'return id(blinds_stepper).current_position == id(blinds_stepper).target_position;'
        - switch.turn_off: stepper_sleep_pin
        - cover.template.publish:
            id: blind_entity
            current_operation: IDLE

2. Individual Device Setup

With the packages in place, a single device file (e.g., kitchen-blind.yaml) becomes incredibly simple:

substitutions:
  node_name: "blinds-001"
  friendly_name: "Kitchen Blinds Left"
  static_ip: "10.0.20.111"
  # Motor Hardware Config
  step_pin: GPIO13
  dir_pin: GPIO12
  sleep_pin: GPIO14
  # Calibration
  max_steps: "1000"
  max_speed: "700 steps/s"
  acceleration: "600"

packages:
  device_base: !include packages/base_diagnostics.yaml
  network_base: !include packages/common_wifi.yaml
  blind_logic: !include packages/base_blinds.yaml

wifi:
  use_address: ${static_ip}

esphome:
  name: ${node_name}
  on_boot:
    priority: -100
    then:
      - cover.template.publish:
          id: blind_entity
          state: !lambda 'return id(blinds_stepper).current_position == 0 ? COVER_OPEN : COVER_CLOSED;'

esp8266:
  board: nodemcuv2
  restore_from_flash: true

---

The Original Video

This repository is to accompany Rob's Motorized_MQTT_Blinds video:

Parts List

Affiliate links to support Rob!

Stepper Motors: https://amzn.to/2D5rVsF

Stepper Drivers: https://amzn.to/2OZqW1W

NodeMCU: https://amzn.to/2I89xDF

12V Power Supply: https://amzn.to/2G2ZJrf

Buck Converter: https://amzn.to/2UsQ7jA

3D Printing

Download the correct STL file(s) for your style of tilt rod. You will find all the 3D Print file in the extra/files folder.

Wiring Schematic

Dont forget to cut the center trace on the stepper motor as shown in the youtube video

---

Legacy Setup (Highly recommend you use ESPHome instead)

I recommend using VSCode with the PlatformIO extension. So these instructions will only support this method:

First-Time Setup

1. Clone the project or download/unzip the files from the browser
2. Open in VSCode
3. Rename user_config.h.sample to user_config.h
4. Fill out user_config.h with your information for your setup.
5. When you are ready to build, click on the PlatformIO icon in the left panel.
6. In the Project Tasks window, drill into env:d1_mini* > General > Click Build!
7. You will find your new bin file in the build/d1_mini folder.
8. Plugin your device and use some kind of flashing tool to do your initial flash. Recommended: Tasmotizer

ℹ️ While the project actually uses a Wemos D1 Mini, this code should still work with no issues on a NodeMCU like in the schematic picture.

⚠️ You should leave "STEPS_TO_CLOSE" at 12 to start with. It can be adjusted for your specific blinds

OTA Updates

For future updates it is easier to update them in place rather than taking down the blinds and re-flashing. I could never get ArduinoOTA to work for me, so instead I changed to using an HTTP Update Server.

1. Get your bin file following steps 1-7 above.
2. Get the IP address of the device on your network.
3. Navigate to http://YOUR-DEVICE-IP/firmware (unless you changed the update path in your user_config.h file)
4. Click browse under Firmware and locate your new bin file
5. Click 'Update Firmware'
6. It will likely redirect you to a 404 page after it successfully updates. However, it should have updated successfully.

Home Assistant YAML

Replace "BlindsMCU" with your MQTT_CLIENT_ID if you changed it in the file setup

cover:
  - platform: mqtt
    name: "Motorized Blinds"
    command_topic: "BlindsMCU/blindsCommand"
    set_position_topic: "BlindsMCU/positionCommand"
    position_topic: "BlindsMCU/positionState"
    state_topic: "BlindsMCU/positionState"
    retain: true
    payload_open: "OPEN"
    payload_close: "CLOSE"
    payload_stop: "STOP"
    position_open: 0
    position_closed: 12

If you changed your "STEPS_TO_CLOSE" in your user_config.h file then make sure to update the position_closed value here.

KNOWN ISSUES:

• Blinds default to the Open position when they reboot for some reason.
  • This is my main reason for forking this project. So expect it to be fixed soon hopefully.

Recommended Tools

Ender3 3d Printer: https://amzn.to/2GcznnZ

Dupont Crimper and Connector Set: https://amzn.to/2X1Oeap

Breakout Board GERBER Files (Optional)

I wanted something a little cleaner for when I do the actual installs. So I created a breakout board for this. I have included the GERBER files if you want to have your own printed.

Here is a 3d render of the board:

Unlike Rob, I do not support an Alexa based code-base