# Need help choose env sensor hardware

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/need-help-choose-env-sensor-hardware/78937>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [4 June 2023 09:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/need-help-choose-env-sensor-hardware/78937 "2023-06-04T09:35:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![brendonhatcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@brendonhatcher](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/brendonhatcher)\
**Post date:** [4 June 2023 09:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/need-help-choose-env-sensor-hardware/78937/1 "2023-06-04T09:35:10Z")

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I am developing an educational resource for teaching IoT to teens.  
I want to create an open build that other people can replicate.  
My core unit is a Raspberry Pi running Node-RED etc.  
I want to add a secondary unit with a range of environmental sensors and have that communicate with the core unit via MQTT.

I have made a lot of progress using a Wemos D1 mini with a BME280 sensor.  
However, I have decided that I really want to simplify the build for others.  
So I would prefer a widely available off-the-shelf product rather than something that needs soldering.  
Most of the units I have found require a hub, which adds some complication and cost.  
I would prefer something configurable via mobile app (to connect the device to wifi) and then have it communicate with node red via MQTT.

Can anyone suggest hardware that meets my needs?

Thanks  
Brendon

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**Author:** ![jbudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f8ce5/32.png) [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)\
**Post date:** [4 June 2023 10:38 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/need-help-choose-env-sensor-hardware/78937/2 "2023-06-04T10:38:54Z")

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You could consider the Witty Cloud ESP8266 board as your starting point.

It has a sensor and an indicator - a light dependent resistor and an RGB LED - on the board, so no soldering at all for first lessons.

It comes with headers already soldered too so only the 4 pin header on your BME sensor board has to be soldered to use it for environmental monitoring.

You might find my recent post in Share your projects interesting. ESP and BME with Tasmota firmware.

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**Author:** ![dynamicdave](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/dynamicdave/32/96_2.png) [@dynamicdave](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dynamicdave)\
**Post date:** [4 June 2023 11:00 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/need-help-choose-env-sensor-hardware/78937/3 "2023-06-04T11:00:23Z")

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Maybe a bit off the topic... This is what I use for my class of 12 IoT students at our 'After-school-club'.

> [@Raspberry Pi-Zero-W Mini-Tower](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/raspberry-pi-zero-w-mini-tower/20217):
>
> Just finished building a couple of mini-towers for my IoT Club. The idea is the towers can be kept in a cupboard at school and just brought out when I run the IoT Club. All I would need to do is plug the 6-port PSU into the mains and switch-on the Club's WiFi router. Should save a lot of time as previously I had to cobble together a number of Raspberry Pi(es),of various vintages, and then at the end of the session take the whole lot apart!!! [wifi\_1\_small] [wifi\_3\_small] [wifi\_2\_small] Tues…

Two mini-towers of 6 RPi-Zero-W running Node-RED that talk to the club's router. In the IT room, where we run the club, there are 24 PCs networked via Ethernet to the school's network. I issue each student with a WiFi dongle which they plug into a PC - so making the PC WiFi activated to the club's router. The IT Support Staff are happy as we aren't connecting to the school's network - just local in the classroom.

We have about 40 breadboards on which the students build all sorts of circuits. The breadboards are powered by an USB power lead from a USB port of the PC. Here's a selection of breadboards.

 ![leds](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/d/3/d307e5631a11cbb41fa5e4d6afd2493b56fbaf21.jpeg)

 ![oled_panel](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/4/e/4e3916678e542da8d4508f022b9321f43d59907c.jpeg)

 ![infrared](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/4/5/453b5e4ddc8edc551516c5b86f0e4ac1b11e3957.jpeg)

 ![neo-pixels](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/d/0/d03a98ec6c03e611c2dd73b6f77520853c63aaee.jpeg)

 ![touch-buttons](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/3X/b/2/b264f13d9b429f3715366873207e3132241ef195.jpeg)

We tend to use the Wemos D1 Mini as it is inexpensive and, as you can see, fits a breadboard nicely.

Hope this is useful to you.

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**Author:** ![brendonhatcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@brendonhatcher](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/brendonhatcher)\
**Post date:** [7 June 2023 18:43 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/need-help-choose-env-sensor-hardware/78937/4 "2023-06-07T18:43:57Z")

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Thanks for the input. I am looking for something even more basic - ideally a completely consumer-oriented, off-the-shelf product.

I have a Tuya bulb and I can communicate directly between Node-RED and the bulb, without a hub.  
I guess I could use a Tuya compatible sensor such as this one?  
[https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005048786873.html](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005048786873.html)

Thanks

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**Author:** ![E1cid](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/e1cid/32/77971_2.png) [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)\
**Post date:** [7 June 2023 19:20 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/need-help-choose-env-sensor-hardware/78937/5 "2023-06-07T19:20:13Z")

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Have you looked at [shelly uni](https://www.shelly.cloud/en-gb/products/product-overview/shelly-uni)

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [6 August 2023 19:20 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/need-help-choose-env-sensor-hardware/78937/6 "2023-08-06T19:20:16Z")

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