Building an IoT-Based Temperature Monitoring System with Custom PCB

Introduction

In the era of smart technology, IoT (Internet of Things) applications are revolutionizing industries. One of the most practical implementations of IoT is temperature monitoring, used in industries like agriculture, healthcare, and home automation. In this article, we will design and develop an IoT-based temperature monitoring system, integrating a custom PCB manufactured by PCBONLINE, a trusted leader in PCB fabrication and assembly.

Project Overview

This project involves designing a temperature monitoring system using a DHT11 temperature and humidity sensor, an ESP8266 Wi-Fi module, and a custom PCB. The data collected will be sent to an IoT platform for real-time monitoring.

Components Required:

• DHT11 Temperature and Humidity Sensor
• ESP8266 (NodeMCU) Wi-Fi Module
• Custom PCB (Designed using KiCad/Altium and manufactured by PCBONLINE)
• Resistors and Capacitors
• 5V Power Supply

Circuit Design & PCB Layout

To create a reliable and compact design, we use PCBONLINE’s services to fabricate our custom PCB. The PCB will integrate the ESP8266 module, DHT11 sensor, and necessary supporting components, ensuring a robust and efficient IoT device.

Pin Connections:

Steps to Create the PCB:

1. Schematic Design: Using KiCad/Altium, we design the circuit, connecting the DHT11 sensor to the ESP8266.
2. PCB Layout: The schematic is converted into a PCB layout with optimized trace routing.
3. Gerber File Generation: The design files are exported in Gerber format.
4. Manufacturing with PCBONLINE: Upload the Gerber files to PCBONLINE for high-quality PCB fabrication.

Generating Gerber Files

Once the PCB layout is completed in KiCad/Altium, follow these steps to generate Gerber files:

1. Go to File > Plot and select Gerber as the output format.
2. Ensure layers like Top Layer, Bottom Layer, Silkscreen, and Solder Mask are selected.
3. Click Generate Drill Files to include drill hole data.
4. Upload the generated Gerber files to PCBONLINE for fabrication.

Why Choose PCBONLINE?

PCBONLINE offers premium-quality PCB fabrication and assembly services, ensuring precision and durability for IoT applications. Their multilayer PCB, flexible PCB, and HDI PCB options are ideal for smart devices. With competitive pricing and global shipping, PCBONLINE is the perfect partner for engineers and innovators.

IoT Platform Integration

Once the PCB is assembled, the ESP8266 module sends temperature data to an IoT platform like ThingSpeak or Blynk, allowing real-time monitoring via a mobile app or web dashboard.

If you are new please read this: Setting Up ThingSpeak for Your IoT Project

Code for Temperature Monitoring System

Upload the following code to the ESP8266 module using the Arduino IDE:

#include <ESP8266WiFi.h>
#include <DHT.h>

#define DHTPIN 2      // DHT11 connected to GPIO2 (D4)
#define DHTTYPE DHT11

const char* ssid = "YOUR_SSID";
const char* password = "YOUR_PASSWORD";
const char* server = "api.thingspeak.com";
String apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

DHT dht(DHTPIN, DHTTYPE);
WiFiClient client;

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(115200);
    delay(10);
    WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
    while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
        delay(500);
        Serial.print(".");
    }
    Serial.println("Connected to WiFi");
    dht.begin();
}

void loop() {
    float temp = dht.readTemperature();
    float humidity = dht.readHumidity();
    if (isnan(temp) || isnan(humidity)) {
        Serial.println("Failed to read from DHT sensor!");
        return;
    }
    if (client.connect(server, 80)) {
        String url = "/update?api_key=" + apiKey + "&field1=" + String(temp) + "&field2=" + String(humidity);
        client.print(String("GET ") + url + " HTTP/1.1\r\n" +
                     "Host: " + server + "\r\n" +
                     "Connection: close\r\n\r\n");
        client.stop();
    }
    Serial.print("Temperature: ");
    Serial.print(temp);
    Serial.print(" °C, Humidity: ");
    Serial.print(humidity);
    Serial.println(" %");
    delay(20000);
}

Conclusion

This project demonstrates how to build a compact and efficient IoT-based temperature monitoring system with a custom PCB. By leveraging PCBONLINE’s expertise in PCB manufacturing, developers can create high-quality IoT solutions that ensure reliability and performance. Visit PCBONLINE today to get started with your PCB manufacturing needs!