The hacked IKEA VINDRIKTNING can now be read by ESPHome

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A whiff of innovation wafted through the air when IKEA released their low-cost VINDRIKTNING air quality sensor. As expected, it didn't take long for the hacking community to dive in and tinker with its potential. Like a gust of wind carrying the scent of blooming flowers, ESPHome officially embraced the hacked VINDRIKTNING and began supporting it in the very next release (version 2021.8.0).

The spark behind the PM1006 component

Sören Beye, a trailblazer in the field, was the creative spark behind ESPHome's PM1006 Particulate Matter Sensor component. His work inspired the developers, and they crafted a user-friendly configuration that requires a mere seven lines of YAML code. To get ESPHome and VINDRIKTNING to dance harmoniously together, one must configure the UART bus, linking the RX pin to the PM1006's TX pin. However, this dance doesn't allow for an interval setting, as the component passively listens to the data shared by the integrated MCU.

Finding the perfect nesting spot

The Home Assistant Community has been abuzz with chatter, trying to figure out the optimal spot to nestle the ESP8266 or ESP32 within the VINDRIKTNING's enclosure. The prevailing wisdom suggests positioning it beneath the fan, ensuring the airflow remains unobstructed. One resourceful user even managed to snugly fit a small 5V to 3.3V converter and an ESP-01 alongside the VINDRIKTNING's circuitry.

A hacked IKEA VINDRIKTNING running ESPHome on an ESP-01 to deliver data to Home Assistant.
An ESP-01 in an IKEA VINDRIKTNING (credit: olealm in the Home Assistant Community)

About Liam Alexander Colman

is an experienced Home Assistant user who has been utilizing the platform for a variety of projects over an extended period. His journey began with a Raspberry Pi, which quickly grew to three Raspberry Pis and eventually a full-fledged server. Liam's current operating system of choice is Unraid, with Home Assistant comfortably running in a Docker container.
With a deep understanding of the intricacies of Home Assistant, Liam has an impressive setup, consisting of various Zigbee devices, and seamless integrations with existing products such as his Android TV box. For those interested in learning more about Liam's experience with Home Assistant, he shares his insights on how he first started using the platform and his subsequent journey.

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