No-Code IKEA Vindriktning Air Quality Sensor Hack with Adafruit IO

by Brent Rubell

published November 29, 2023, last updated March 08, 2024

posted in Hacks Sensors/ Temperature & Humidity Internet of Things - IOT/ Adafruit IO STEMMA

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Updated

Beginner

Project guide

Overview

The IKEA Vindriktning is an inexpensive air-quality monitor that's readily available online (from Ikea's website) or at a retail IKEA store.

Inside the Vindriktning is a Cubic PM1006 air quality sensor and fan assembly, making it capable of capturing PM2.5 particulate concentration measurements (PM2.5 refers to particles that are 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter). On the front of the Vindriktning is an LED light bar that changes color based on the air quality around it.

While looking at the air quality on the Vindriktning can inform you about the current air quality in your room, wouldn't it be even better to log this data to the Internet and analyze the air quality over time?

In this guide, you will modify the IKEA Vindriktning air quality sensor by adding a microcontroller (an Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3) inside it. You'll also add a BME280 sensor inside the Vindriktning, giving it the capability to also read temperature, relative humidity, and air pressure in addition to air quality.

Then, you will load Adafruit's No-Code "WipperSnapper" firmware on the QT Py ESP32-S3 and configure the QT Py to send data from its sensors to the Internet.

Finally, using Adafruit IO, you will create a stunning web dashboard to display environmental data from the "hacked" IKEA Vindriktning.

This guide is a remix of Liz Clark's excellent Ikea Vindriktning Hack with QT Py ESP32-S3 and Adafruit IO guide. Instead of programming in CircuitPython, this guide uses the no-code WipperSnapper firmware to send data from the QT Py to Adafruit IO. Additionally, this guide includes instructions for incorporating a BME280 environmental sensor into the Vindriktning enclosure and obtaining data from it.

Parts

1 x IKEA VINDRIKTNING

IKEA VINDRIKTNING Air quality sensor

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Angled shot of small purple microcontroller.

Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3 WiFi Dev Board with STEMMA QT

The ESP32-S3 has arrived in QT Py format - and what a great way to get started with this powerful new chip from Espressif! With dual 240 MHz cores, WiFi and BLE support, and native...

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Adafruit BME280 I2C or SPI Temperature Humidity Pressure Sensor

Bosch has stepped up their game with their new BME280 sensor, an environmental sensor with temperature, barometric pressure and humidity! This sensor is great for all sorts...

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$14.95

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1 x Stranded-Core Wire

Silicone Cover Stranded-Core Wire - 30AWG in Various Colors

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1 x USB A to USB C Cable

Pink and Purple Woven USB A to USB C Cable - 2 meters long

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The following part is optional and not required for the completion of this project. However, if you would like to set up SMS alerts, as described later in the guide, you will need an upgraded Adafruit IO subscription (Adafruit IO Plus).

For information on what is included with an Adafruit IO Plus subscription, visit io.adafruit.com/plus

Adafruit IO+ Subscription Pass – One Year

The all-in-one Internet of Things service from Adafruit you know and love is now even better with IO+. The 'plus' stands for MORE STUFF! More feeds, dashboards,...

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Get Started with Adafruit IO

Adafruit IO is integrated with your adafruit.com account so you don't need to create yet another online account! You need an Adafruit account to use Adafruit IO because we want to make sure the data you upload is available to only you (unless you decide to publish your data).

I have an Adafruit.com Account already

If you already have an Adafruit account, then you already have access to Adafruit IO. It doesn't matter how you signed up, your account will make all three available.

To access Adafruit IO, simply visit https://io.adafruit.com to start streaming, logging, and interacting with your data.

Create an Adafruit Account (for Adafruit IO)

An Adafruit account makes Adafruit content and services available to you in one place. Your account provides access to the Adafruit shop, the Adafruit Learning System, and Adafruit IO. This means only one account, one username, and one password are necessary to engage with the content and services that Adafruit offers.

If you do not have an Adafruit account, signing up for a new Adafruit account only takes a couple of steps.

Begin by visiting https://accounts.adafruit.com.

Click the Sign Up button under the "Need An Adafruit Account?" title, below the Sign In section.

This will take you to the Sign Up page.

Fill in the requested information, and click the Create Account button.

This takes you to your Adafruit Account home page. From here, you can access all the features of your account.

You can also access the Adafruit content and services right from this page. Along the top of the page, you'll see a series of links beginning with "Shop". To access any of these, simply click the link.

For example, to begin working with Adafruit IO, click the IO link to the right of the rest of the links. This is the same for the other links as well.

That's all there is to creating a new Adafruit account, and navigating to Adafruit IO.

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Install WipperSnapper

The WipperSnapper firmware and ecosystem are in BETA and are actively being developed to add functionality, more boards, more sensors, and fix bugs. We encourage you to try out WipperSnapper with the understanding that it is not final release software and is still in development. If you encounter any bugs, glitches, or difficulties during the beta period, or with this guide, please contact us via http://io.adafruit.com/support

What is WipperSnapper

WipperSnapper is a firmware designed to turn any WiFi-capable board into an Internet-of-Things device without programming a single line of code. WipperSnapper connects to Adafruit IO, a web platform designed (by Adafruit!) to display, respond, and interact with your project's data.

Simply load the WipperSnapper firmware onto your board, add credentials, and plug it into power. Your board will automatically register itself with your Adafruit IO account.

From there, you can add components to your board such as buttons, switches, potentiometers, sensors, and more! Components are dynamically added to hardware, so you can immediately start interacting, logging, and streaming the data your projects produce without writing code.

Sign up for Adafruit.io

You will need an Adafruit IO account to use WipperSnapper on your board. If you do not already have one, head over to io.adafruit.com to create a free account.

Add a New Device to Adafruit IO

Log into your Adafruit IO account. Click the New Device button at the top of the page.

wippersnapper_setup__board_selector__web__new_device_1.png

After clicking New Device, you should be on the board selector page. This page displays every board that is compatible with the WipperSnapper firmware.

wippersnapper_setup__board_selector__web__selector_maion.png

In the board selector page's search bar, search for the QT Py ESP32-S3. Once you've located the board you'd like to install WipperSnapper on, click the Choose Board button to bring you to the self-guided installation wizard.

Follow the step-by-step instructions on the page to install Wippersnapper on your device and connect it to Adafruit IO.

If the installation was successful, a popover should appear displaying that your board has successfully been detected by Adafruit IO.

Give your board a name and click "Continue to Device Page".

You should be brought to your board's device page.

Next, Visit this guide's WipperSnapper Essentials pages to learn how to interact with your board using Adafruit IO.

Feedback

Adafruit.io WipperSnapper is in beta and you can help improve it!

If you have suggestions or general feedback about the installation process - visit https://io.adafruit.com/support, click "Contact Adafruit IO Support" and select "I have feedback or suggestions for the WipperSnapper Beta".

Troubleshooting

If you encountered an issue during installation, please try the steps below first.

If you're still unable to resolve the issue, or if your issue is not listed below, get in touch with us directly at https://io.adafruit.com/support. Make sure to click "Contact Adafruit IO Support" and select "There is an issue with WipperSnapper. Something is broken!"

I don't see my board on Adafruit IO, it is stuck connecting to WiFi

First, make sure that you selected the correct board on the board selector.

Next, please make sure that you entered your WiFi credentials properly, there are no spaces/special characters in either your network name (SSID) or password, and that you are connected to a 2.4GHz wireless network.

If you're still unable to connect your board to WiFi, please make a new post on the WipperSnapper technical support forum with the error you're experiencing, the LED colors which are blinking, and the board you're using.

I don't see my board on Adafruit IO, it is stuck "Registering with Adafruit IO"

Try hard-resetting your board by unplugging it from USB power and plugging it back in.

If the error is still occurring, please make a new post on the WipperSnapper technical support forum with information about what you're experiencing, the LED colors which are blinking (if applicable), and the board you're using.

"Uninstalling" WipperSnapper

WipperSnapper firmware is an application that is loaded onto your board. There is nothing to "uninstall". However, you may want to "move" your board from running WipperSnapper to running Arduino or CircuitPython. You also may need to restore your board to the state it was shipped to you from the Adafruit factory.

Moving from WipperSnapper to CircuitPython

Follow the steps on the Installing CircuitPython page to install CircuitPython on your board running WipperSnapper.

If you are unable to double-tap the RST button to enter the UF2 bootloader, follow the "Factory Resetting a WipperSnapper Board" instructions below.

Uploading this sketch will overwrite WipperSnapper. If you want to re-install WipperSnapper, follow the instructions at the top of this page.

Moving from WipperSnapper to Arduino

If you want to use your board with Arduino, you will use the Arduino IDE to load any sketch onto your board.

First, follow the page below to set up your Arduino IDE environment for use with your board.

Setup Arduino IDE

Then, follow the page below to upload the "Arduino Blink" sketch to your board.

Upload Arduino Blink Sketch

Uploading this sketch will overwrite WipperSnapper. If you want to re-install WipperSnapper, follow the instructions at the top of this page.

Factory Resetting a WipperSnapper Board

Sometimes, hardware gets into a state that requires it to be "restored" to the original state it shipped in. If you'd like to get your board back to its original factory state, follow the guide below.

Factory Reset Adafruit ESP32-S2 TFT Feather

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Disassembly

Using a long and thin screwdriver, remove the four screws from the back of the air quality monitor.

Slide out the front panel of the air quality monitor. You'll see the PM1006 module and fan plugged into the PCB.

Unplug the PM1006 and fan connectors from the PCB.

Remove the three screws mounting the PCB to the front panel.

Lift the PCB out of the front panel. Now you're ready for soldering.

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Soldering

You'll be soldering to three test points on the PCB: 5V, GND and REST. They are located next to the plug for the PM1006 sensor and below the large capacitor on the PCB.

Solder a piece of wire to each of the following test points: 5V (red wire), GND (black wire) and REST (green wire).

Solder the 5V connection to the BAT+ pad on the back of the QT Py (red wire). Then solder the GND connection to the - (GND) pad on the back of the QT Py (black wire).

Solder the REST connection to the RX pin on the QT Py (green wire).

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Reassembly and Hot Glue

Place the PCB back onto the front plate of the air quality monitor. Secure it with the three screws.

Plug the PM1006 and fan connectors back into the PCB.

Connect a STEMMA QT / Qwiic JST SH 4-Pin Cable to the STEMMA QT connector on the QT Py.

Connect the other end of the STEMMA QT cable to the STEMMA QT connector on the BME280 breakout.

Place the BME280 in the enclosure and push it flush against the enclosure's perforations.

Ensure that its placement doesn't block the bottom of the PM1006 fan and that the BME280 will receive sufficient airflow from outside the enclosure.

Add a small dot of hot glue to the top of the inside of the case, above the PM1006 sensor. Press the QT Py into the hot glue to secure it with the USB port facing out. This way if you need to adjust the code, you can still access the USB port.

If you ever want to remove the QT Py, you can use some isopropyl alcohol to remove the hot glue.

Close up the case with the four screws.

Now you're ready to start logging the readings from the Vindriktning to Adafruit IO!

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Configure QT Py using Adafruit IO

This page assumes that you have installed WipperSnapper on your QT Py and registered it with Adafruit IO. If you have not done this yet, please go back to the "Install WipperSnapper" page in this guide and follow those instructions.

Now to use Adafruit IO to add the sensors to the QT Py and configure them to periodically send data to the cloud.

Add PM1006

First, enable and configure the PM1006, the air quality sensor connected to the IKEA Vindriktning.

From the Adafruit IO device page, select the Qt PY ESP32-S3.

This is the "device page". From here, you can configure and interact with your device. To add the PM1006 air quality sensor to your QT Py, click the "+" button (or the "New Component" button).

The component picker is a list of all the parts that can connect to your device!

Type IKEA into the component picker's search bar and the Vindriktning component appears.

Click the Vindriktning component.

The Send Every option configures how often data from the Vindriktning's air quality sensor will be sent to Adafruit IO.

Set Send Every to an interval of your choosing (we selected Every Minute) and click Create Component.

The device page should now show the Vindriktning air quality sensor. After a minute elapses, the QT Py automatically reads the air quality sensor's measurement and sends it to Adafruit IO.

Add BME280 Sensor

Next, configure and add the BME280 sensor to the QT Py.

Again, click the "+" sign or "New Component" button to bring up the component picker.

On the component picker's search bar, search for the BME280.

Click the BME280 component.

Unlike the PM1006 sensor, the BME280 sensor has multiple options.

Select which readings from the BME280 sensor you'd like to send to Adafruit IO and how often.

Click Create Component.

The device page should refect the addition of the BME280 sensor. As the QT Py reads values and sends them to Adafruit IO, they will appear on this page.

The device page shows the most recent value of a sensor. While this is useful for seeing the status of the IKEA Vindriktning at a glance, Adafruit IO's free plan stores data points for up to 30 days (and 60 days if you are on an Adafruit IO Plus plan).

On the next page, you'll create an Adafruit IO Dashboard to display data from the IKEA Vindriktning and share the dashboard with others.

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Build Adafruit IO Dashboard

You can create a quick and simple UI for your electronics project using Dashboards in Adafruit IO. Dashboard blocks such as charts, sliders, and buttons are available to help you quickly create an interactive dashboard for your IoT Project without the need for any custom code.

If you haven't created a dashboard before, don't fret - this page will walk you through the process.

Create a New Dashboard

When you log in to your io.adafruit.com account, you will be directed to your account overview page. Click the Dashboards link in the header to navigate to the "dashboards" page.

Your list of dashboards will only have the Welcome Dashboard when it is first loaded. You can start the dashboard creation process by clicking the New Dashboard button.

sensors_adafruit_io_Cursor_and_IO_-_Dashboards_New_dash.png

Enter the name and description of your new dashboard, then, click the Create button once you are finished.

Once the new dashboard has been created, click on the name of your new dashboard to visit its page.

You should now see your new, blank, dashboard.

Why is nothing here yet? Why is this page blank?

Adafruit IO Dashboards start out as a blank webpage. From this page, you can add blocks, to create an interactive webpage to interact with (or view) your electronics project.

Add Line Graph Block

A dashboard is a webpage that you can edit. Blocks are widgets that you can add to your dashboard. The line graph block allows you to visualize numeric data over time, making it perfect for us to chart air quality.

To add a new block to your dashboard, click the gear on the top right of the dashboard page. From the dropdown, click Create New Block.

You will then be presented with a list of block types to choose from.

Select the line graph block.

sensors_IO_-_My_IKEA_Vindriktning_Dashboard_🔊.png

On the next screen, under the heading for QT Py, select the Vindriktning's feed.

Fill out the Block Settings to customize the block and click Create Block when finished.

The dashboard now contains a line graph block! The block's data will update when the WipperSnapper device sends new data.

Add Gauge Blocks

The gauge block allows you to quickly view the current value of a numeric feed. This is perfect for displaying the temperature and relative humidity from the BME280 sensor.

Add two gauge blocks to the dashboard, one to display the temperature and another to display the relative humidity.

To add a new block to your dashboard, click the gear on the top right of the dashboard page. From the dropdown, click Create New Block.

From the block selector, pick the gauge block.

From the feeds list, select the BME280: Temperature Sensor

In the Block Settings, configure the gauge block's display options.

Once completed, click Create Block.

The dashboard now contains a line graph block for the air quality sensor and a gauge block.

To add a block to display the BME280's relative humidity sensor, repeat the steps above but select the BME280: Humidity Sensor feed during block creation.

The final dashboard should look like the following screenshot.

To learn more about Adafruit IO Dashboards, and instructions for sharing your dashboard with others, visit the following guide:

Adafruit IO Basics: Dashboards

By Todd Treece

Overview

View Guide

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(Optional) Enable SMS Notifications

SMS message alerts are only available for IO+/IO Plus (Paid) accounts. To upgrade your Adafruit IO Free account to Adafruit IO Plus, visit io.adafruit.com/plus!

You can set up Actions in Adafruit IO to alert you when certain values are logged. This can be especially handy for this project to let you know if your air quality is becoming unhealthy.

To receive an SMS message Action alert, you'll need to add your phone number to your Adafruit account. Note that SMS message alerts are only available for IO+ accounts. Other alert types are available for free tier accounts, such as email and web hooks.

In Adafruit IO, go to the Actions tab and click on + New Action.

Then, you'll choose an Action type. Click on Reactive.

This lets you set up the Action, which is done through a logic tree with dropdown menus:

Select the feed that you're monitoring
Select the greater than or equal dropdown and enter the value that you want to monitor for the threshold
Select the action notification type (SMS message, email, etc)
Select the feed again and customize the message that you'll receive when the action is triggered

Further down the page, you can select the frequency for notifications and if you'd like to be notified when the value returns below the threshold that you're monitoring. Then you'll click Submit to save the Action.

This returns you to the Action page, where you can see the Action you just set up.

hacks_edited_Screenshot_2023-06-28_at_10.29.49_AM.jpg

When the Action is triggered, you'll receive the notification with the message that you entered.

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Usage

Plug the IKEA Vindriktning into a USB-C cable and an appropriate power supply. The QT Py will receive power from the Vindriktning's PCB and should connect to Adafruit IO.

It will take longer for the QT Py to connect to Adafruit IO than it will take for the Vindriktning to start up. This is because the QT Py needs to establish both a WiFi connection and authenticate itself with Adafruit IO.

After less than a minute, the QT Py appears "online" on the Adafruit IO devices page.

While the graph block on the Adafruit IO Dashboard may initially be sparse, it will populate with readings over time as the PM1006 air quality sensor obtains readings.

If you've set up notifications using Actions, you'll receive SMS alerts if the air quality declines past your defined threshold.

Image by Liz Clark, https://learn.adafruit.com/ikea-vindriktning-hack-with-qt-py-esp32-s3-and-adafruit-io/use

Image by Liz Clark, "Ikea Vindriktning Hack with QT Py ESP32-S3 and Adafruit IO"

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No-Code IKEA Vindriktning Air Quality Sensor Hack with Adafruit IO

Overview

Parts

Get Started with Adafruit IO

I have an Adafruit.com Account already

Create an Adafruit Account (for Adafruit IO)

Install WipperSnapper

What is WipperSnapper

Sign up for Adafruit.io

Add a New Device to Adafruit IO

Feedback

Troubleshooting

"Uninstalling" WipperSnapper

Moving from WipperSnapper to CircuitPython

Moving from WipperSnapper to Arduino

Factory Resetting a WipperSnapper Board

Disassembly

Soldering

Reassembly and Hot Glue

Configure QT Py using Adafruit IO

Add PM1006

Add BME280 Sensor

Build Adafruit IO Dashboard

Create a New Dashboard

Add Line Graph Block

Add Gauge Blocks

(Optional) Enable SMS Notifications

Usage

Search

Categories

Overview

Parts

Get Started with Adafruit IO

I have an Adafruit.com Account already

Create an Adafruit Account (for Adafruit IO)

Install WipperSnapper

What is WipperSnapper

Sign up for Adafruit.io

Add a New Device to Adafruit IO

Feedback

Troubleshooting

"Uninstalling" WipperSnapper

Moving from WipperSnapper to CircuitPython

Moving from WipperSnapper to Arduino

Factory Resetting a WipperSnapper Board

Disassembly

Soldering

Reassembly and Hot Glue

Configure QT Py using Adafruit IO

Add PM1006

Add BME280 Sensor

Build Adafruit IO Dashboard

Create a New Dashboard

Add Line Graph Block

Add Gauge Blocks

(Optional) Enable SMS Notifications

Usage

OUT OF STOCK NOTIFICATION

Search

Categories