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Comment on Everything is just an ESP32 away

For those toss ESPhome on it and check for a config for your specific device or make your own. A good tinkering weekend of poking should be able to get you there for most devices

I have an automatic cat food dispenser just like that, but now has ESPhome flashed to it and hooked into HA

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SatansMaggotyCumFart@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Can you flash it on any cheap amazon cat food dispenser or did you have to find a specific type?

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- cm0002@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  It’s a crap shoot, some do some don’t. I find the SOLOs (the brand I have) to typically use a flashable ESP32
  
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Landless2029@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Wait. So you can crack open some branded smart devices and if you find a ESP32 you can flash the OEM crap off?

I need to up my game.

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- meyotch@slrpnk.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
  You can but it requires some fancy soldering usually and some makers bury the needed pins so thoroughly you can’t get access without ruining the device.
  
  And you often need external circuitry to get serial communication going. And if your soldering is not clean the line can be too noisy to get the firmware flashed.
  
  So yes you can and it’s a fun challenge. But if your time is worth anything, it may not be economical.
  
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  - Landless2029@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Yeah this sounds like way too much of a PITA to me. I do see brands made for which is better to aim at.
    
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    meyotch@slrpnk.net ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
    Exactly. The best reason to do it is as a skill challenge, not a cost savings. It is empowering to be able to subvert a smart device. But once is enough
    
    I suggest we reward the makers who let us hack their hardware as a general practice, instead.
    
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