Instant Control of Appliances with XinaBox and Blynk

Learn how to automate your home with XinaBox and Blynk with a simple demonstration of turning lights ON and OFF using the Blynk app button.

XinaBox produces a range of 80+ modular xChips, which include cores/CPUs, sensors, power, communication, output, and storage, using a connectivity standard without wires, soldering, breadboards or hardware knowledge

xChip CW01 (Wi-Fi Core) is a Microprocessor and Wi-Fi module, enabling users to send/receive data to/from the cloud.

xChip OC03 (Relay Out) is a low-voltage control relay module capable of switching AC and DC loads up-to 40V.

In the previous tutorial “Control Your Appliances with XinaBox and Google Home”, we have demonstrated how to control electrical appliances using voice commands. The lights turned ON/OFF with some delay after giving a voice command due to some delay from Google Home and IFTTT.

In this tutorial, we will demonstrate how to control control appliances instantly using the Blynk App only. When the button in Blynk App is touched, the Bynk App sends a signal to update the status of the virtual pin. If the button is turned ON, the app sends binary ‘1’, otherwise it sends binary ‘0’.

Requirements

• 1x CW01 - Wi-Fi Core (ESP8266/ESP-12F)
• 1x IP01 - USB Programming Interface (FT232R)
• 1x OC03 - Relay Out (PCA9554A)
• 1x XC10 - 10-Pack xBUS Connectors
• 1x 5V Power Supply
• 1x 5V Relay module. A 5V SRD-05DC-SL-C relay is used in this tutorial, but any 3.3V or 5V relay module can be used with changes in the code and connections.
• 1x Light bulb. An 11-W Fluorescent light bulb is used in this tutorial. However, any light bulb can be used.
• 1x Light bulb socket
• Blynk App

Step-by-Step

1. Hardware Setup
2. Installing Arduino Libraries
3. Setting Up the Blynk App
4. Code
5. Result
6. Summary

1. Hardware Setup

1. Connect xChips CW01, OC03 and IP01 together using the XC10 xBus connectors. You may connect it as shown in the diagram below. Please see this guide on how to assemble xChips generally.

2. Connect VCC and GND of the Relay module to the Power Supply VCC and GND.

Relay module pinout

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Relay module pinout can be different depending on what relay module is used. Double check before connecting.

3. Connect IN/Signal pin of the Relay module to the GND or VCC (Depending on the trigger type) passing though xChip OC03 connectors. My Relay module is LOW-level trigger, therefore I have to connect to GND passing though xChip OC03 connectors.

Connections of Signal, GND and VCC pins of Relay module

4. Connect NO of the Relay module to the Neutral of the light bulb socket, and connect COM of the Relay module to Neutral of AC plug (See Relay module pinout image above).

5. Connect the Hot wire of the AC plug with the Hot wire of the light bulb socket.

2. Installing Arduino Libraries

1. Install Arduino IDE 1.8.8.

2. Install these libraries into Arduino IDE:

• ESP8266 Core
• xCore Library
• xOC03 Library
• Blynk Library

NOTE: If you are not familiar with how to Install libraries, please refer to the link: Installing Arduino libraries.

3. Setting Up the Blynk App

1. Download the Blynk App.

2. Create your Blynk account and receive an Auth Token. For details see this guide.

3. Create Button Widget:

Select V5 pin:

4. Code

*************************************************************
  Download latest Blynk library here:
    https://github.com/blynkkk/blynk-library/releases/latest

  Blynk is a platform with iOS and Android apps to control
  Arduino, Raspberry Pi and the likes over the Internet.
  You can easily build graphic interfaces for all your
  projects by simply dragging and dropping widgets.

    Downloads, docs, tutorials: http://www.blynk.cc
    Sketch generator:           http://examples.blynk.cc
    Blynk community:            http://community.blynk.cc
    Follow us:                  http://www.fb.com/blynkapp
                                http://twitter.com/blynk_app

  Blynk library is licensed under MIT license
  This example code is in public domain.

/* Comment this out to disable prints and save space */
#define BLYNK_PRINT Serial
#define DELAY_TIME 1000


#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <BlynkSimpleEsp8266.h>
#include <xOC03.h> // https://github.com/xinabox/arduino-OC03
#include <xCore.h>

xOC03 OC03;

// You should get Auth Token in the Blynk App.
// Go to the Project Settings (nut icon).
char auth[] = "";

// Your WiFi credentials.
// Set password to "" for open networks.
char ssid[] = "";
char pass[] = "";

// This function will be called every time Slider Widget
// in Blynk app writes values to the Virtual Pin V5
BLYNK_WRITE(V5)
{
  int pinValue = param.asInt(); // assigning incoming value from pin V1 to a variable

  if(pinValue==1)
  {
    Serial.println("Lights turned on");
    OC03.write(HIGH);
  }else if(pinValue==0){
    Serial.println("Lights turned off");
    OC03.write(LOW);;
  }
  
}

void setup()
{
  // Debug console
  Serial.begin(115200);

  #ifdef ESP8266
    Wire.pins(2,14);
  #endif
    
  // Start the I2C Communication
  Wire.begin();
  
  // Start the OC03 port expander
  OC03.begin();

  Blynk.begin(auth, ssid, pass);
  // You can also specify server:
  //Blynk.begin(auth, ssid, pass, "blynk-cloud.com", 80);
  //Blynk.begin(auth, ssid, pass, IPAddress(192,168,1,100), 8080);
}

void loop()
{
  Blynk.run();
}

5. Result

6. Summary

In this project we have shown you how to make an immediate response Home Automation project using XinaBox and Blynk App.