Weekend IoT build guides

Twelve beginner-friendly projects, each about $5–60 and done in an evening or a weekend. Every guide keeps what to buy apart from what to install, starts with ready-made firmware where it exists, and names the pitfalls most tutorials skip.

🌱

Thirsty-plant alert

I want my phone to tell me when my houseplant needs water. Where do I start?

$8–15 · 1 evening

 📬

LoRa mailbox notifier

My mailbox is 150 m from the house and WiFi doesn't reach. How do I get a 'you've got mail' alert?

$30–55 · 1 weekend

 🚦

CO₂ traffic light

How do I build a light that turns red when my room needs fresh air?

$30–60 · 1 evening

 🌡️

Coin-cell thermometer

Can a coin cell run a temperature sensor for a year?

$15–25 · 1 weekend

 🚪

Door-left-open alert

Can my phone warn me when the back door is left open?

$6–12 · 1 evening

 🧺

Washing-machine-done alert

How do I get a phone alert when my washing machine finishes, without touching mains power?

$8–15 · 1 evening

 ☀️

Solar weather station

I want a weather station in the garden that never needs charging.

$30–50 · 1 weekend

 💧

Water-leak alarm

How do I get warned before a leak under the sink floods the kitchen?

$6–12 · 1 evening

 🧊

Freezer-too-warm alarm

How can I get an alert if my freezer is left open and warms up?

$6–12 · 1 evening

 🟢

Kids' wake-up light

How do I make a light that turns green when my kid is allowed to get up?

$10–18 · 1 evening

 🐦

Bird-feeder camera

I want photos of birds at my feeder sent to my phone.

$15–30 · 1 weekend

 ☕

Coffee-running-low scale

Can a scale under my coffee jar tell me when to buy more beans?

$10–18 · 1 evening

På svenska · به فارسی

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