Have you ever thought about revitalizing outdated wired alarm systems or saving money while improving your home security? The hornet's nest alarm center, which includes hackers [Patrick van Oosterwijck] contributes to doing exactly that. Designed for home automation enthusiasts, it offers 42 sensor zones and seamless integration with Home Assistant and ESPHome. This open source gem uses the wESP32 board, which combines an ESP32 with Ethernet and Power over Ethernet (PoE) for robust, reliable connectivity. For more information, see the Crowd Supply campaign.
What makes this hornet's nest so special? Aside from being hackable, it repurposes existing wired sensors, reducing waste and costs. Unlike WiFi-dependent solutions, the PoE-powered ESP32 ensures stable performance, even in hard-to-reach locations. The optional USB programming port is awesome – it's there when you need it, but doesn't clutter up the board when you don't. With its isolated circuits, long cable safety, and smart combination of Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, this system meets all DIY needs.
Hackaday has introduced more PoE-based DIY projects that provide more inspiration for intelligent automation enthusiasts.
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