Milner Automations
Join me on my quest to automate literally anything and everything. Check out some of my projects below.
My Projects
Chasing Mountain Sunrises and Capturing Northern Lights: A DIY Sunrise Ranking and Aurora Detection Project
Check out how I used Python to automatically retrieve and rank images of mountain sunrises, and automatically refresh my computer background to show the latest “cool” sunrise! As an added bonus, I also wrote a script to detect northern lights!
Automated Drapes: Your Key to Sunrise on Demand
Check out how I automated my new drapes to open and close on demand using a stepper motor, ESP8266 microcontroller, and Home Assistant!
Advanced Blind Control
Check out how I used Home Assistant with my smart blinds to automatically adjust the brightness in my kitchen based on the outdoor brightness!
Advanced Window Control (plus a new window actuator!)
Check out how I used my smart windows to cool my house automatically! Also, some significant updates to the original window actuator system!
How I Automated My Windows to Open/Close with The Push of A Button
Check out how I used ESP Home and Home Assistant to create an actuator system which opens and closes my windows. I was able to couple a DC motor to the window using a custom coupling printed on my 3D printer. Then, I connected a limit switch to determine when the window was closed and connected these components to a micro controller with an ESP8266 chip. I also created a custom enclosure for the system to hide it from sight.
How I Automated My Blinds to Tilt With The Push of a Button
Check out how I was able to connect a servo motor to the shaft inside my blinds. This was done using some custom gears which I designed and printed with my handy 3D printer. The motor was then connected to a micro controller with an ESP8266 chip. With the help of ESP Home and Home Assistant, I was able to control the system via a wireless button.
How I created a better wireless light switch remote for less.
Check out how I used a wireless button with multiple triggers and Home Assistant to control several different lights in my house for less than $10. Using my 3D printer, I created some custom parts to hold the button within the light switch hole and cover it to mimic a light switch. The new wireless light switch is an improvement over products such as the Lutron Pico remote as it can control up to three separate light systems rather than a single system within the Lutron environment. Controlling the system through Home assistant allows for not only lights to be triggered, but rather any system exposed to Home Assistant.