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Adrian A. Baumann 8bdae1da9b Update docs and firmware for ESPHome bridge migration

- Replace gauge.py (MicroPython) references with gaugecontroller.yaml (ESPHome)
- Update CLAUDE.md and README.md to document ESPHome-native API integration
- Update LED wiring docs for separate main/indicator strips (D22/D36)
- Refactor Arduino firmware to drive two WS2812 strips independently
- Add per-gauge physical offset caching for main and indicator LEDs
- Frame-limit breathe effect (16ms) to reduce unnecessary strip refreshes

2026-04-29 19:03:22 +02:00

README.md

arduino_gauge_controller

A dedicated gauge controller for Arduinos.

Overview

This repository contains:

Gaugecontroller/Gaugecontroller.ino: the Arduino Mega firmware for the stepper gauges, LEDs, and integrated HV5812-based VFD
gaugecontroller.yaml: the ESPHome-based ESP32 firmware that exposes the gauges and VFD to Home Assistant via the native API

VFD Support

The integrated gauge controller now includes a 4-digit VFD with:

4 alphanumeric digits
decimal point indicator
alarm bell indicator

On the merged Arduino firmware, the HV5812 control pins are:

D46 -> DATA
D47 -> CLOCK
D48 -> STROBE
D49 -> BLANK/OE

The standalone VFD sketch used D51/D52/D53/D49, but 51/52/53 conflict with the gauge stepper pins in the integrated controller.

Arduino Serial Commands

The merged Arduino firmware accepts:

VFD clears the display and turns off decimal point and alarm bell
VFD 1234
VFD 0123
VFD DEAD
VFD 8888.
VFD BEEF!
VFD 12AF.!

Rules:

up to 4 characters are displayed
valid characters are 0-9, A-F, and -
. enables the decimal point
! enables the alarm bell
shorter values are right-aligned
leading zeroes are preserved if they are part of the input

Home Assistant Integration

The ESPHome firmware in gaugecontroller.yaml exposes entities to Home Assistant via the native API:

Gauge Controls

Number entities for each gauge's target value (with unit conversion)
Number entities for speed and acceleration (diagnostic)
Rezero buttons for each gauge and all gauges

VFD Display

VFD Display: text entity for the displayed value
VFD Decimal Point: switch entity
VFD Alarm: switch entity

The display is intentionally exposed as a text entity rather than a numeric entity so that:

leading zeroes are preserved
hexadecimal values like DEAD or BEEF work
clearing the display is possible with an empty value

LED Controls

RGB light entity for each gauge's backlight with effects (Blink, Breathe, Double Flash)
Binary light entities for each gauge's red/green indicators and status lights

Diagnostics

WiFi signal sensor
Uptime sensor
IP address and SSID text sensors
Arduino Last Message sensor