Solar iBoost - remote control now available in HA

hollytree · 7 August 2025 13:37

Bought a new bridge rectifier (£6) from RS and some thermal paste. Soldered the new rectifier in and all working again

timswf · 24 August 2025 10:33

I’m keen to build this project - but the specific boards recommended earlier in the thread are ‘currently unavailable’ from Amazon. Which are the current known good ones to get please? Best regards Tim

timswf · 31 August 2025 09:33

I’m keen to build this project - but the specific boards recommended in the thread are ‘currently unavailable’ from Amazon. Which are the current known good ones to get please? Best regards and thanks Tim

armstrn2 · 31 August 2025 16:27

I have listed the ones I used - and worked, if they are no longer available then someone else will need to suggest one - or for the money they cost just give one a go.

timswf · 31 August 2025 17:46

Appreciated thank you

timswf · 20 September 2025 17:35

Hi again - I ordered some boards, wired them up, and tried to follow the Home Assistant set up from GitHub - but I’m stuck. The d1 board installs fine with the standard yaml - but the project sends the wifi connection into a loop. In HA I don’t get the new sensors. Yaml and board pics attached. The Dupont sockets on the d1 don’t quite line up with the labels but I think I’ve used the right ones. You’re right that soldering on the small board was tricky. I haven’t attached the aerial yet. I changed the yaml to give it a static IP and added the wifi credential to secrets. Now I’m stuck. Any pointers on troubleshooting please? Best regards Tim

esphome:
name: cc1101

libraries:
- SPI

esp8266:
board: d1_mini
framework:
version: latest

external_components:

source:
type: git
url: GitHub - JNSwanson/ESP-Home-iBoost: ESPHOME Marlec iboost integration
#type: local # Alternative. Clone from git and point to the local files:
#path: “C:\Users\\iboostSrc\ESP-Home-iBoost\esphome\components”
components:
- cc1101
- iboost

cc1101:
text_sensor:

Enable logging

logger:

Enable Home Assistant API

api:
password: “”

ota:

platform: esphome
password: “”

wifi:
ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
password: !secret wifi_password
manual_ip:
static_ip: 192.168.1.23
gateway: 192.168.1.1
subnet: 255.255.255.0

Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails

Optional MQTT support

#mqtt:

topic_prefix: “iBoost”

discovery: false

broker: !secret mqtt_broker_ipaddress

port: 1883

username: !secret mqtt_user

password: !secret mqtt_password

discovery_prefix: homeassistant

Optional Web configuration entry

web_server:
port: 80
version: 1

captive_portal:

sensor:

platform: iboost
id: iboost_iboost_id

heating_import:
name: “iBoost Import”
unit_of_measurement: “W”
accuracy_decimals: 0
icon: “mdi:solar-power”

heating_power:
name: “iBoost Power”
unit_of_measurement: “W”
accuracy_decimals: 0
icon: “mdi:solar-power”
device_class: power

heating_today:
name: “iBoost Today”
unit_of_measurement: “Wh”
accuracy_decimals: 0
device_class: energy
icon: “mdi:solar-power”
state_class: total_increasing

heating_yesterday:
name: “iBoost Yesterday”
unit_of_measurement: “Wh”
accuracy_decimals: 0
icon: “mdi:solar-power”
device_class: energy
state_class: total_increasing

heating_last_7:
name: “iBoost Last 7 Days”
unit_of_measurement: “Wh”
accuracy_decimals: 0
icon: “mdi:solar-power”
state_class: total_increasing
device_class: energy

heating_last_28:
name: “iBoost Last 28 Days”
unit_of_measurement: “Wh”
accuracy_decimals: 0
icon: “mdi:solar-power”
device_class: energy
state_class: total_increasing

heating_last_gt:
name: “iBoost Total”
unit_of_measurement: “Wh”
accuracy_decimals: 0
icon: “mdi:solar-power”
device_class: energy
state_class: total_increasing

heating_boost_time:
name: “iBoost Boost Time Remaining”
unit_of_measurement: “Min”
accuracy_decimals: 0
device_class: duration
icon: “mdi:solar-power”

Ensure `text_sensor:` is at the correct level

#text_sensor:

- platform: cc1101

- platform: iboost

heating_mode:
  name: "iBoost Mode"
  icon: "mdi:solar-power"

heating_warn:
  name: "iBoost Warn"
  icon: "mdi:solar-power"

button:

platform: template
name: “iBoost Manual Boost START”
id: BoostStart
icon: “mdi:solar-power”
on_press:
then:
- lambda: |-
id(iboost_iboost_id)->boost(id(boostTime).state);
platform: template
name: “iBoost Manual Boost CANCEL”
id: BoostCancel
icon: “mdi:solar-power”
on_press:
then:
- lambda: |-
id(iboost_iboost_id)->boost(0);

number:

platform : template
name: “iBoost Manual Boost Time”
id: boostTime
icon: “mdi:solar-power”
unit_of_measurement: “Minutes”
optimistic: true
initial_value: 15
min_value: 0
max_value: 120
step: 15

wiring pics to follow

armstrn2 · 22 September 2025 12:45

if you connect direct to the board - what part of the boot-up is it getting to ?

Also when is it discovered in HA - and you use the standard .YAML can you post that config as well - as it might be the board model is using the wrong drivers etc…

But for me the only time I got a boot loop was when I did the wiring incorrect.

So lets see the wiring picture of both boards connected

timswf · 22 September 2025 16:51

Hi thank you for this - I think you’re right about wiring. With small board attached I get the same boot loop/radio reset with the default yaml:
esphome:
name: cc1101
friendly_name: cc1101

esp8266:
board: esp01_1m

Enable logging

logger:

Enable Home Assistant API

api:
encryption:
key: “lgyqLJAy9Qj60R6A7U82iz7WXt7GNR1kEvt/KAeE+O0=”

ota:

platform: esphome
password: “5205193c5a6211ec89534d5eaeecd56e”

wifi:
ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
password: !secret wifi_password

Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails

ap:
ssid: “Cc1101 Fallback Hotspot”
password: “63QZGO2O8ckf”

captive_portal:
I’ve combined images due to forum limitations

armstrn2 · 23 September 2025 08:09

I cannot see the wires that should be crossed connected ( the red ones on my photo ) (D6 and D2 both go to the MISO on the CC1101 )

Re-check all your wiring - i think you have the wired into the CC1101 wrong

timswf · 23 September 2025 08:51

Thank you re-checking now - yellow from small board is linked to two pins on the larger one. My problem may be the sockets not lining up with the labels.

armstrn2 · 23 September 2025 13:53

if yours is a clone board… maybe the pin out is not quiet aligned ?

the D2 looks different here ?

Good luck.

timswf · 23 September 2025 16:38

Thank you - found the AZ_delivery board pin diagram pdf and am resetting everything and starting again https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1509/1638/files/AZ276_A20-13_EN_B08BTYX1WL.pdf?v=1721128536

timswf · 4 October 2025 14:53

Things are looking more promising but when adding to Home Assistant I keep getting the error “Unable to connect to the ESPHome device. Make sure the device’s YAML configuration includes an api section.”
The original GitHub yaml had this (that didn’t work):

Enable Home Assistant API

api:
password: “”

I tried adding a key - and that didn’t work either.

Enable Home Assistant API

api:
encryption:
key: “O0UF4lC+BAJKRnD8QRLKbIZLyB86KoFGeUSBxSZOGfU=”
Where am I going wrong please?

Solar iBoost - remote control now available in HA

Enable logging

Enable Home Assistant API

Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails

Optional MQTT support

topic_prefix: “iBoost”

discovery: false

broker: !secret mqtt_broker_ipaddress

port: 1883

username: !secret mqtt_user

password: !secret mqtt_password

discovery_prefix: homeassistant

Optional Web configuration entry

Ensure text_sensor: is at the correct level

- platform: cc1101

- platform: iboost

Enable logging

Enable Home Assistant API

Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails

Enable Home Assistant API

Enable Home Assistant API

Ensure `text_sensor:` is at the correct level