#101 Long lasting DIY 'Amazon Dash Button' using an ESP8266

In this video I show how to build devices which do not use any energy during "deep sleep" and so can be used for a long time. The only prerequisite: A mechanical activation through a button or a magnet.

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[johneslaughter]

I've had an ESP8266 in my postal mailbox for sometime. It uses the same concept. When the mailman opens the box, it powers up the ESP8266 and keeps the power on until done sending a message. I've enjoyed your videos and they have inspired me to do more projects.

[StuartGrimshaw]

We have a side gate at our house that the kids are forever leaving open, for ages I've wanted to fit some kind of sensor to warn us when it's been left open, but without power I was stuck how to solve it. With the idea in this video to use a relay to let the processor control when it switches off is just what I need, Thanks Andreas.

[lubeda]

Now that dash buttons aren't sold anymore this is a good tool for my needs

[cbmamiga]

This is my comment to help your channel. Keep doing such a good stuff. Greetings from Poland!

[Perspectologist]

This was an interesting concept. The ESP8266 really got me interested in programmable microcontrollers again. Having such easy wifi connectivity is awesome.

[burakcan]

Brilliant idea to deploy mosfet/relay instead of deepsleep. Wonderful. Thank you so much!

[DonRideauxCrenshaw]

Brilliant, elegant simplicity. I have a sensor gizmo that uses an ESP8266 to take readings every 30 minutes. I use deep sleep (timing isn't critical), a LiPo battery and a solar panel. To move this out of the sunshine, I'm thinking I could use a clock with alarm function to trip the relay.

[olexiybagriy]

Can’t stop myself watching your channel this morning - it gives so much ideas! Thanks a lot for this.

[fifaham]

Very smart. I had very similar project back in 2007 and I used an external RC circuit to wake up the MCU via IRQ pin. When the Switch is pressed and the Cap is charged the MCU wakes up via the IRQ pin. When the Switch is released the Cap is discharged via R and the MCU is powered off. So you press the Switch and the Cap charges via the Resistor, it reaches the trigger level - when you release the switch the Cap begins to discharge until the MCU is shut down. It worked perfect - I didn't care about time precision for when the MCU should shut down. You may use an SCR device with low channel resistance (and a Darlington Transistor - if having weak signal coming from somewhere) as well.

[ivantito]

This is one of my favorite youtube channels, although I'm a Spanish, I like your accent. Thanks you so much for you videos. I'm so glad to recommend your channel.

[John_Ridley]

Thank you for doing unusual things with the 8266. There are thousands of videos of people doing all the same thing. Good job doing something different.

[shakyknees]

Perfect for an alarm for door left open on the old refrigerator in my garage. Thanks, and Happy Sechseläuten!

[stryk]

I really enjoy watching your channel. I think it has something to do with the way you explain things. Please keep the videos coming, as long as you enjoy making them. Cheers!

[ImAnAutie]

How did I not think of this? It's a brilliant method.

[simonzhou]

really like this unique power saving strategy

[RubenLensvelt]

I don't always have as much time for tinkering around as I want, so then I watch your video instead. Thanks!

[DltaLabs]

hello from Sydney. keep bringing the small projects in the esp8266. Ive only just stumble soon the esp8266 after watching the new wifi jammers using this board. then after a quick YouTube search on the nodemcu I found your channel a diamond in the rough, great content. it's a pitty the smaller new channels don't get more exposure to new veiwers. awesome work :)

[jndb]

I have used a similar concept for my mailbox but instead of just a p-channel mosfet I also added an ATtiny85. It waits in deep sleep for an external interrupt (or two) and powers the ESP8266. When the ESP is done is signals the ATtiny to go into deep sleep. In deep sleep th ATtiny and mosfet together use less than 1uA. With the ATtiny you can have more than one interrupt like for on and off buttons. So the same circuit can be used to trigger two separate functions.

[jims]

Very nice video, and I'm so glad that you did not go with the relay solution... too much power required, even if only for the short time while the microcontroller runs. I was looking for a latching "soft power on" circuit that does not draw any power when off and haven't found one yet, but they must exist... at least I hope so. Cheers,

[structure]

I've been saving this video for awhile and finally have used for my mailbox notification setup! I am using with a WeMos D1 Mini because I will need an external antenna. However, I found that while the mosfet (NDP6020P) would turn the WeMos off, that it continued to draw current (not sure how much). The only thing that stopped it was removing the battery or pressing the WeMos reset button. My solution was to use ESP.restart(); in lieu of digitalWrite(4, HIGH) to "turn off" the mosfet. Just thought I'd share. Thank you Andreas.