Introduction
This guide takes you through the steps to building your devices. In this stage we will show you how to:
- upload firmware to the ESPS32S board
- set up a network between two Yo-Yo devices
- assemble the hardware
Do take your time to go through each the steps. If you have any problems or need support you can visit our FAQs pages.
Once you have finished the assembly you can move to Stage 2 and build your own enclosures.
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Download the USB driver so the ESP32 board can communicate with your computer. The Windows version can be found here.
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Unzip the download and open the installer CP210xVCPInstaller_x64.
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Click Next to go through the installation wizard.
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After installing successfully, the wizard should report that the driver is ready to use. Click Finish to exit the wizard.
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Unzip the downloaded app and open the contents of the extracted folder. The app should be inside the extracted folder.
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Plug your ESP32S board into your computer with the USB cable. You should see a red light on the board, which means it is powered up.
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Open the Yo-Yo Firmware Uploader and select the device in the drop down menu. You may need to press “refresh list” if you do not see it in your list.
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Your board's serial port should appear as something along the lines of COM# (COM3 in this case).
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Leave the 'Erase Wifi Details' box unticked.
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Use the 'project' drop-down menu to select which device you are making.
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When you're ready, click on Upload to upload the latest firmware.
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When prompted, hold the BOOT button on your board to set it to "programming mode". You can let go of the button once you see the text "Writing" in the console text.
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When the uploader finishes transferring the firmware to the device, it will say "Success!" If you have another device to set up, you can repeat this process with the new ESP32S board.
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Power up the first ESP32S (with uploaded firmware) using a USB port or USB power supply and wait 10 seconds.
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If you are setting up two devices in the same space, turn on the second ESP32S at least 10 seconds after the first. If you are setting them up remotely, you do not need to synchronise in this way. You should still wait at least 10 seconds before proceeding so the ESP32Ss can establish a network.
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With your mobile device or computer, connect to the newly created Wi-Fi network named “Yo-Yo-####” with the password “blinkblink”. If you are viewing these instruction online on our website, use another device to connect to the new network so you can keep the instruction open. This procedure is the same whichever method you are using.
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A captive portal should open automatically.
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Fill in the prompts with credentials for the Wi-Fi network that you want to connect to.
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Copy the text under the heading “Your Yo-Yo Code”.
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Send your Yo–Yo Code to your partner via SMS, email, etc., in exchange for the one from their device.
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Enter the Yo-Yo Codes for the partner devices in the text field named “Remote Yo-Yo Code”. It should be in the same format as yours eg: “4289 423988”. Once the forms are complete, press “Save”.
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Wait for the devices' blue LEDs to blink 3 times to confirm the local wifi details are correct. If these details have been inputted incorrectly, please reconnect to the Yo-Yo-#### network and try again.
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Once both devices have confirmed they can connect to their respective wifi networks, the connection between the devices can be tested. This is done by pressing the “BOOT” button of one device to blink the on-board led of the other.
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Gather your components and take a moment to identify them.
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SIG = Signal
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VDD = Supply voltage
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GND = Ground
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Place one side of the ESP32S onto the other side of the breadboard. The side used should be the same side as the button labelled EN.
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Place the MOSFET module on the top left side of your breadboard.
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They have sockets that are electrically connected in rows. The connected sockets are shown as green lines in the diagram shown here.
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Put the leads from the solenoid into the V+ and V- screw terminals of the MOSFET module. Most solenoids are supplied with two black leads as shown in the photograph, so it does not matter which way around they are placed.
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Using a jumper wire, connect the MOSFET module's VIN terminal to the breadboard socket the lines up with ESP32S's VIN pin.
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Some solenoids are supplied with a white connector on the end of the leads. In this case, you can either remove the connector, trim the leads and screw directly into the MOSFET module, or use two male-to-male jumper leads between the white connector and the MOSFET.
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The orange arms of the Wago connector can be very stiff, but two on each connector will need to be opened to the vertical position as shown in the picture.
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Trim the lead insulation a little to expose at least 1cm of wire.
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Insert the red lead of the piezo into one slot on the Wago and shut the arm. Add a red jumper lead in adjacent slot and close. Using another Wago, repeat these steps for the black leads.
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Attach the 1M (1 megohm) resistor between GND and D34 of the ESP32S on the breadboard.
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Connect the piezo sensor's red wire to pin D34 on the breadboard.
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Connect the piezo sensor's red wire to pin D34 on the breadboard.
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To increase sensitivity of the sensor, add two jumper leads between ground (GND) and D26 & D25 on the ESP32S.
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To set a mid-range sensitivity (which is a little higher than the default setting), add one jumper lead between ground (GND) and D25 on the ESP32S.
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To decrease sensitivity of the sensor, add one jumper lead between ground (GND) and D26 on the ESP32S.
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Plug in your USB micro cable.
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Make another Knock Knock device using the same steps.
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Tap on the first device's piezo sensor to make a unique knock sequence. You should be able to see your secret knock played back on the second device's solenoid.
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Try this again on the second device. You should see your knock played back on the first device's solenoid.
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Now that your device is working you can now think about what kind of enclosure you want to encase it in.
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We have a few examples in the 'Enclosure' section of the website. Or feel free to invent your own!
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Your electronics are ready for use in an enclosure!
Your electronics are ready for use in an enclosure!