ESP32 – CAM

How to flash an ESP32 CAM using ESPhome Dashboard and integrate it in Home Assistant.

Connect the ESP32 CAM device to the computer using a USB to serial converter.

ESP32 Pin	Serial Adapter Pin
5V*	VCC
GND	GND
UOR	TX
UOT	RX
GND -> IO0**

Run ESPhome Dashboard by running the following script “start_esphome_dashboard.sh” (Note: need to install docker and download esphome container):

#!/bin/bash -e
# this script to start the ESPHOME Dashboard using docker.

sudo docker run --rm -p 6052:6052 -e ESPHOME_DASHBOARD_USE_PING=true -v "${PWD}":/config -it esphome/esphome
exit

The ESPhome Dashboard is accessible at url 0.0.0.0:6052

A typical configuration file (yaml) for ESP32 Cam can be found below:

substitutions:
  name: "esp32-cam"
  friendly_name: "ESP32-Cam"
  
esphome:
  name: ${name}
  friendly_name: ${friendly_name}

esp32:
  board: esp32dev
  framework:
    type: arduino

wifi:
  ssid: "Sotong_Purnama"
  password: "15sotong15"

  manual_ip:
    static_ip: 192.168.86.25
    gateway: 192.168.86.1
    subnet: 255.255.255.0
    dns1: 192.168.86.1
    dns2: 8.8.8.8

# Enable logging
logger:

web_server:
  port: 80

sensor:
  - platform: uptime
    id: sensor_uptime
  - platform: template
    id: sensor_uptime_timestamp
    name: ${friendly_name} Uptime
    device_class: "timestamp"
    accuracy_decimals: 0
    update_interval: never
    lambda: |-
      static float timestamp = (
        id(time_homeassistant).utcnow().timestamp - id(sensor_uptime).state
      );
      return timestamp;
  - platform: wifi_signal
    name: ${friendly_name} Signal
    update_interval: 60s

# to fix the fact that there is an ESP_FAIL return
external_components:
  - source:
      type: git
      url: https://github.com/MichaKersloot/esphome_custom_components
    components: [ esp32_camera ]
# After addition of the above block, the camera works well

time:
  - platform: homeassistant
    id: time_homeassistant
    on_time_sync:
      - component.update: sensor_uptime_timestamp

captive_portal:

ota:
  password: "15sotong15"

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  encryption:
    key: "pOvaU0RjFfCahr2K84IWhrEAiDgTuMRQLwEpntgZHsE="

esp32_camera:
  id: espcam
#  name: esp-cam
  external_clock:
    pin: GPIO0
    frequency: 20MHz
  i2c_pins:
    sda: GPIO26
    scl: GPIO27
  data_pins: [GPIO5, GPIO18, GPIO19, GPIO21, GPIO36, GPIO39, GPIO34, GPIO35]
  vsync_pin: GPIO25
  href_pin: GPIO23
  pixel_clock_pin: GPIO22
  power_down_pin: GPIO32
#  resolution: 800x600
  jpeg_quality: 10  # max. 63
  max_framerate: 20.0fps
#  idle_framerate: 0.2fps
  vertical_flip: false
#  horizontal_mirror: false
#  brightness: 2 # -2 to 2
#  contrast: 1 # -2 to 2
#  special_effect: none
  # exposure settings
#  aec_mode: auto
#  aec2: false
#  ae_level: 0
#  aec_value: 300
  # gain settings
 # agc_mode: auto
#  agc_gain_ceiling: 2x
#  agc_value: 0
  # white balance setting
#  wb_mode: auto

  # Image settings
  name: Esp32-Cam

output:
# white LED
  - platform: ledc
    channel: 2
    pin: GPIO4
    id: espCamLED
# red status light
  - platform: gpio
    pin:
      number: GPIO33
      inverted: True
    id: gpio_33

light:
  - platform: monochromatic
    output: espCamLED
    name: esp-cam light
  - platform: binary
    output: gpio_33
    name: esp-cam led

switch:
  - platform: restart
    name: esp-cam restart

binary_sensor:
  - platform: status
    name: esp-cam status
# motion sensor connected on GPIO2
  - platform: gpio
    pin: 2
    name: "PIR Sensor"
    device_class: motion

Once the code seems ok, SAVE the yaml file (top right corner) and INSTALL (top right corner).

For the 1st installation, try the 2nd option. If it does not work, try the 4th option using the Legacy pattern.

For successive installations (updates), use the Wireless option.

Flash the binary using ESP Flasher. Binary can be found in th Downloads folder of the computer running ESPhome Dashboard.