The System
Upgrade any home with a high-performance visual alert system. This plug-and-play solution uses wireless ESP-NOW protocols to bridge the gap between sound and sight.
Installation Strategy: The Leader is placed directly next to the chime of your existing doorbell. Its volume trigger threshold is set high enough that it's only triggered by the specific chime and won't react to conversations or TV noise.
Unlimited Scalability: You can deploy as many Follower nodes as your house requires. Because the system uses ESP-NOW Broadcast, the Leader triggers every Follower in range (~200m line-of-sight, or 40-60ft through typical walls) simultaneously with zero lag.
The Leader (Ears)
Live RMS volume meter. Mirrors the physical status LED.
The Follower (Eyes)
Flashes 8x8 matrix on trigger. Pulsing heartbeat when idle.
Configuration & Tuning: Settings are reached by connecting to the device's WIFI Access Point. The built-in captive portal takes you right to the live dashboard.
Lab Demo & Real-World Hardware
Real-world testing and hardware fabrication. Watch the lights trigger live from inside the lab, and inspect the physical 3D-printed enclosures deployed in-situ.
Hardware In Action (Lab Bench)
Live video demonstration from inside the lab showing the acoustic trigger firing the high-intensity 8x8 LED matrix strobe over ESP-NOW wireless broadcast.
Leader Node (Ears): Wall Installation
Custom teal 3D-printed enclosure with a multi-layer geometric bird crest, mounted above door trim directly adjacent to the mechanical chime. Equipped with bottom acoustic intake ports and clean low-voltage wiring.
Follower Node (Eyes): Desktop Alert Matrix
The compact 8x8 WS2812B matrix in its custom angled 3D-printed mount with grid diffusion baffles, providing intense, room-filling strobe illumination when triggered.
Firmware & Deployment
Set up this project on any brand-new computer in three steps:
1. Python Environment
Install Python from python.org. Ensure you check the box "Add Python to PATH" during setup.
2. PlatformIO Core
Open a terminal (PowerShell) and run the core installer:
3. One-Click Upload
Download the firmware package for your device. Extract the .zip, connect your ESP32-C3, and run upload.bat.
Power & Assembly
Assembly: Solder wires directly to the 5V and GND pins. Use Hot Glue generously for insulation and stress relief where cables meet the 3D-printed mounts.
The ESP32s are kept mostly out in the open for optimal cooling and visible status monitoring.
Hardware Pinouts
| Device | Function | Pin | Function Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leader | I2S Data (SD) | 0 | Mic Input |
| Leader | I2S Clock (SCK) | 1 | Mic Clock |
| Leader | Status LED | 8 | Volume Reactive PWM |
| Follower | 8x8 Matrix | 4 | WS2812B Data |
| Follower | Heartbeat LED | 8 | Status LED |
Hardware (BOM)
Custom Builds & Commissioning
Interested in having a turnkey system built and configured for your space? Below is the exact cost and labor breakdown derived from the BOM hardware, 3D printing requirements, hand assembly, and firmware setup.
Leader Node
Acoustic Chime Listener
- Hardware & Materials $12
- Assembly & Solder 1.25 hrs ($63)
- 3D Printed Mount Custom PETG Enclosure
- Firmware Setup Flashed & Audio Tested
Includes ESP32-C3 SuperMini, INMP441 I2S digital mic, dual-tone 3D printed bird enclosure, internal potting, and low-voltage power harness.
Follower Node
8x8 Visual Strobe Display
- Hardware & Materials $15
- Assembly & Solder 1.0 hr ($50)
- 3D Printed Mount Diffuser Grid + Stand
- Wireless Network ESP-NOW Sync Verified
Includes ESP32-C3 SuperMini, 64-LED WS2812B matrix panel, custom angled desktop holder, and snap-fit honeycomb baffle diffuser.
Starter Kit
1 Leader + 1 Follower
- Hardware Included 1 Leader + 1 Follower
- Network Configuration Pre-Paired Out of the Box
- Firmware Flashing Tested & Verified
- Extra Follower Units +$65 each
Pre-paired and ready to plug in. Simply power the units with 5V USB and place the Leader next to your existing mechanical chime.
System Setup & In-Home Acoustic Tuning
Pre-Configured Turnkey Kits ($140): Both nodes come fully soldered, enclosed, pre-flashed, and MAC-address paired over ESP-NOW broadcast. Plug them into any standard 5V USB power source and they communicate instantaneously across rooms without touching your home Wi-Fi network.
Local In-Person Setup: Philomath & Corvallis, OR ($50 | 1.0 hr labor): For local residents needing hardware mounting, clean power wire routing along door trim, and live captive portal calibration. We record your chime's exact acoustic signature at `192.168.4.1`, locking in a Mean Absolute Deviation (MAD) trigger threshold that fires 100% on chime strikes while rejecting speech, door slams, and barking dogs.
Regional In-Person Setup: Portland, OR ($120 | 1.5 hrs labor + Saturday Train Travel): Available on Saturdays via regional train transit. Includes full in-home installation, hardware mounting, cable management, captive portal acoustic threshold tuning, and round-trip transit coordination.
| Item / Task | Materials Cost | Labor Time | Labor Cost (@ $50/hr) | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leader Node (Acoustic Chime Listener) | $12.00 | 1.25 hrs | $63.00 | $75.00 |
| Follower Node (8x8 Alert Display) | $15.00 | 1.00 hr | $50.00 | $65.00 |
| Pre-Flashing & ESP-NOW Network Pairing | $0.00 | 0.50 hr | $25.00 | Included in Starter Kit |
| Local In-Home Setup (Philomath / Corvallis, OR) | $0.00 | 1.00 hr | $50.00 | $50.00 |
| Regional In-Home Setup (Portland, OR; Saturday Train) | $0.00 | 2.40 hrs | $120.00 | $120.00 |
3D Fabrication
Download the STL files for assembly. Print in PETG or PLA with 15% infill.