Smart Home Automation Forum - Development

Best Practices for Scaling IoT Projects with ESP32 & DevOps?

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:42:16 +0800

Hi everyone,
I’ve been working on a few ESP32-based automation projects recently (mostly using ESPHome + Home Assistant), and I’m now reaching a point where things are getting more complex, multiple devices, integrations, and frequent updates.
While the hardware side (like KC868 boards) is quite flexible, managing firmware updates, monitoring, and deployment across multiple nodes is becoming a challenge.
That got me thinking about bringing DevOps concepts into IoT development, things like:

CI/CD pipelines for firmware updates
Version control for configurations (ESPHome / Arduino)
Automated testing before deploying to live devices
Monitoring uptime and performance across nodes

I recently came across some discussions about teams using accurate DevOps Services Sharjah to manage scalable infrastructures, especially for automation-heavy environments. It seems like a similar approach could be useful even for advanced DIY or semi-professional IoT setups.
Would love to hear from the community:

Are you using any DevOps-style workflows for your ESP32 or KinCony projects?
How do you manage updates across multiple devices?
Any tools or best practices for maintaining stability at scale?
Has anyone tried integrating GitOps or containerized services with their IoT backend?

Looking forward to learning from your experiences. Thanks in advance!

Change in Web Interface?

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 04:13:51 +0800

I was wondering about a slight change in the User Interface to your RF Settings screens?

For each IR or RF thats learned, can you place in a field that will let us "nickname" the learned code command? For example, I might have 100+ IR commands, and I would have to write down what #32 IR is.. But if you let me put in input on this line at number 32.. I could place in "Front room Fan, Turn ON".

This would eliminate me having to create a spreadsheet just to find which one is my command..

Thank you

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How can I control 170 small 6V bulbs with MOSFET outputs (PWM dimming)

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 14:55:03 +0800

Hi everyone,
I am building a lighting control system for about 170 mini incandescent bulbs.
Load

Bulbs: 6V, 0.2A each
Total: ~170 bulbs

Hardware Plan
I plan to use multiple Kincony KC868-A32M (32-channel MOSFET output controllers) to get enough channels.
Wiring Idea
I want to use a common +6V bus and low-side MOSFET switching:

Code:
+6V bus → bulb → MOSFET output → GND

All controllers and the 6V supply will share a common ground.

Questions

Is this the correct wiring method for KC868-A32M outputs?
Can these MOSFET channels support PWM dimming for incandescent bulbs, or only ON/OFF?
What is the best way to control multiple KC868-A32M boards from a PC (LAN/MQTT/Modbus)?
Any important power or wiring concerns for a 170-bulb system?

Thanks for any advice!

Adding dashboard for kfs firmware

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:53:00 +0800

Hi im new user
I knew that "KCS" firmware is not an open source .
so its up on your developers to consider adding a way to implement selfe edited dash board on the KC868 itself
im sure it will be A large jump on your firmware

sourcecode https://github.com/ayushsharma82/ESP-DASH

withe love

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KC868-COLB Network Connection

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 09:20:59 +0800

Hello,

My KC868-COLB is no longer visible on my network,

The UDP Blue LED and Server Yellow LED are flashing on and off together for approx 2 sec on, 2 sec off.

I have tried pressing and holding the Ethernet M button as described in the user guide but the LED's are not lighting up to switch modes. Nothing happens when i hold this button in.

Is there a way to do a reset on this board?

KC868-COLB Analog Sensor Data in Home Assistant

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 21:08:54 +0800

Hi

I have configured MQTT in home assistant, and connected my KC868-COLB and KC868-H32B boards successfully to home assistant.

I am able to control relay outputs on KC868-H32B, and can see digital inputs on KC868-COLB change when connecting . However Analog Inputs are staying at 0.0V. I am using a 0-5VDC sensor and have confirmed i am getting a valid signal from the sensor using a multimeter (0-2.5 Bar Pressure sensor, reading goes up to 0.5V when i blow into sensor)

I am using YAML code from https://www.kincony.com/mqtt-input-modul...stant.html, with device ID entered in

sensor:
- name: COLB-A1
unique_id: COLB-A1
state_topic: COLB/99e80c000000c11d13155107/state
unit_of_measurement: "V"
value_template: "{{ value_json.A1.value }} "

What else do i need to do to get a reading to register on home assistant?

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KC868-COLB Tuya Integration

Sat, 06 Dec 2025 07:52:26 +0800

I have connected my KC868-COLB to wifi and verified connection to my router, entered Tuya Licence details sent through, generated the QR Code and connected device to Tuya App. It is always showing as offline in Tuya app and I cannot get it connected. I have also tried just with ethernet, and with both ethernet and wifi connected.

What else do i need to do to get my device online in Tuya App?

Delay Relay

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 14:36:35 +0800

Subject: Request: Sequential 8-relay example for F8 (ESP32-S3), 1.5s step, reverse on shutdown

Message:
Hello KinCony team,

I am using the KinCony F8 (ESP32-S3) board with the PCF8575 I/O expander to control 8 relays. I would like to have an Arduino example that performs the following:
• Sequential ON: Relay1 → Relay8, with 1.5 seconds delay between each relay.
• Sequential OFF: Relay8 → Relay1, with the same 1.5 seconds delay.
• Arduino IDE, using I2C with SDA = GPIO8, SCL = GPIO18, and PCF8575 address = 0x24 (please confirm).

My questions are:
1. What is the exact GPIO mapping for each relay on the F8 hardware revision?
2. Do you have an official Arduino example implementing this sequence?
3. If there is a recommended library or header file for this board, could you please share the link?

Here is a sample code I tested so far (for reference):
#include
#include

#define I2C_SDA 8
#define I2C_SCL 18
#define PCF8575_ADDR 0x24

PCF8575 pcf(PCF8575_ADDR);
const uint8_t RELAY_PINS[8] = {P0, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7};

void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200);
if (!pcf.begin(I2C_SDA, I2C_SCL)) {
Serial.println("PCF8575 not found!");
while (1);
}
for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
pcf.write(RELAY_PINS[i], HIGH); // OFF at start
}
}

void loop() {
// Sequential ON
for (int i = 0; i < 8; i++) {
Serial.print("Relay ON: "); Serial.println(i+1);
pcf.write(RELAY_PINS[i], LOW);
delay(1500);
}

// Sequential OFF
for (int i = 7; i >= 0; i--) {
Serial.print("Relay OFF: "); Serial.println(i+1);
pcf.write(RELAY_PINS[i], HIGH);
delay(1500);
}
}

KC868-A8: Read voltage on Analog Input A1 to A4 not working?

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 17:26:17 +0800

Since the Inputs A1 to A4 have an internal pull up resistor the analog voltage should read 3V when the input is open. For some reason I am unable to read the voltage of a open input and it returns 0.075V.

Am I correct that the reading should read around 3V because of the internal Pull-up resistor?

The input config is:

sensor:
- platform: adc
pin: GPIO14
name: "Analog Input A1"
update_interval: 5s

What am I doing wrong?

Stepper Motor

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 23:54:09 +0800

I have a Kincony KC868 A16 board and want to control a stepper motor with variable speed.

I have connected the board up to the stepper motor driver, software works with another ESP32 board.

But I do not get a pulses out of the GPIO pins.

Do I need to set any other parameters to get the pulses out of the GPIO pins ?

Thanks

Looking for a 4-8 channel ESP32 Energy monitor

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:46:25 +0800

Hi I have just bought 3x F16 Smart controllers and want to know if you have something that can do the something to control some heating elements.

I want to monitor the current on 4 elements to see if theyre turned on (I dont need to count the power consumption) just on or off, and then I need to have 4 relay outputs so that I can turn the elements on or off through a 3 phase contactor.

Do you have anything like that (an 8 channel would be good).

I really like the DIN rail design of the F16 so something like that would be great.

KC686-A6 and KC868-A16 not working INPUTS

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 01:36:59 +0800

Good afternoon, I have a problem. with  KC686-A6 and KC868-A16 panel

I installed new firmware,I connected everything and everything works.
but,On the web browser and on the phone  Only relay outputs work fully!!
like INPUT or ACD NOT!!! There are no errors, nothing.That is, they can be registered and something can be done with that.
You can make whatever you want with programming that.
the phones are not pressed either
Also, when connecting buttons or sensors, they do not give any sign of life.
Maybe there is something missing in the code Well, as I understand it, the firmware has everything included, just like in the video on the official website

What could be wrong or where is the problem please tell me ?

Thank you very much have a nice day

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Need Help: SIM7600E Doesn’t Answer Call for Relay Command

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 14:38:40 +0800

Hello Admin,
I’m using the ESP32-S3 2-channel relay module – KC868-A2v3 with the GSM SIM7600E, and I tried the IFTTT method to control the relay. However, when I call the number of the SIM card inserted in the GSM module, it doesn’t answer automatically so that I can type in the code with # to turn the relay on or off. Instead, the call hangs up after a few rings.
I’ve attached screenshots of my configuration using the web browser.
Could you please guide me on what I might be missing or doing wrong?

Looking forward to your reply.

Thanks in advance.

With regards,
Hamshini

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First Steps, need help

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 18:21:44 +0800

Hi

I am, new at KinCony and new to this Forum and struggle to beginn.

Maby someonbe can give me some valueble information.

I bought my first Kincony KC868-A8 to run a larger automation project with the software I created. The plan is to use several of these units. The Kincony KC868-A8 is supposed to communicate via MQTT. I've now put the first device into operation and am trying to configure it.

Unfortunately, I'm not having any success. I can't find any information about getting started, and ChatCPT couldn't help me either.

I can connect the device to Windows and ping it via the address 192.168.1.200, but unfortunately, I can't configure the device with Vircom software so that I can even reach it on the normal network, because Vircom don't find the unit, even if I set it to the correct IP range and Firewall is disabled.

Is there a guide somewhere on how to get started with the device, so I can even begin to get to grips with it?

My first questions are:
·[size=1]         [/size]Is there an appropriate “first steps” documentary somewhere?
·[size=1]         [/size]How can I configure the device so that I can access it over the network?
·[size=1]         [/size]How can I install the appropriate software to work with the device via MQTT?
·[size=1]         [/size]And is there any documentation on the topic of MQTT?

I am looking forward for your kind answers, to start with my project.

Best regards from Germany

KC868-AG GPIO use with KCS firmware

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 22:37:25 +0800

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Hello,
I received a kc868-ag module the other day and was able to learn an ir remote key fob for our little propane generator and then re-transmit the signal using the transmit function on the ir part of the index menu of the webserver. This worked well. The application I have is to use a couple of gpio inputs from our solar/battery inverter dry contacts in order to start our little remote start generator up (start ir transmitter signal) and shut it down (stop ir signal) for charging. I cannot find Inputs or Outputs anywhere in the webserver index for using the gpio's. Online, it appears that inputs and outputs via gpio can be assigned via ifttt/custom protocols. I have the KC868.ag 2.2.14 bin file loaded on the module now. Is it possible to use the KCS firmware to enable the inputs to work with external, dry contacts with the ag model? I have the regular ag unit and not the pro unit. Thanks in advance!! Matt