ESPHome Oil Tank Level Monitor

This project uses ESPHome to configure an ESP32 device for monitoring the oil level in a tank. The device utilizes a VL53L0X distance sensor to measure the distance to the oil surface and calculates the remaining oil volume, daily consumption, and estimated time to depletion. Integration with Home Assistant provides real-time data visualization and tracking.

Features

• Real-Time Monitoring: Tracks oil height, volume, daily consumption, and estimated days until empty.
• VL53L0X Sensor Integration: Measures distance to the oil surface using I2C.
• Customizable Deviation Correction: Adjusts measurements for environmental or sensor-specific deviations.
• Daily Consumption Tracking: Logs hourly changes to calculate daily oil usage.
• WiFi Connectivity: Includes fallback access point (AP) mode for easy troubleshooting.
• Home Assistant API: Secure integration with Home Assistant using encrypted communication.
• Over-The-Air (OTA) Updates: Enables secure firmware updates.

Sensors

• VL53L0X Sensor: Measures raw distance to the oil surface.
• Template Sensors:
  • Oil height in inches.
  • Estimated gallons remaining.
  • Daily consumption rate in gallons/day.
  • Days until the tank is empty.

Number Component

Allows manual adjustment of deviation correction via Home Assistant.

Hardware Requirements

• ESP32-C3 DevKitM-1 https://a.aliexpress.com/_mtii2Ax
  • VL53L0X Distance Sensor http://t.ly/2mWMY
• Oil tank dimensions (customizable in the YAML file).

Installation Instructions

1. Hardware Setup:

   • Connect the VL53L0X sensor to the ESP32 on the specified I2C pins (GPIO 4 for SDA and GPIO 5 for SCL).
   • Ensure the sensor is mounted securely above the oil tank.

2. ESPHome Configuration:

   • Clone this repository or copy the YAML file into your ESPHome project.
   • Update the WiFi credentials and secure keys as needed.

3. Compile and Deploy:

   • Use ESPHome to compile and upload the YAML configuration to the ESP32.
   • Add the device to Home Assistant using the API.

4. Calibrate:

   • Adjust the deviation_correction value to ensure accurate oil level measurements.

Monitoring and Usage

• Home Assistant Dashboard:

  • Monitor real-time oil height, volume, and usage trends.
  • View the estimated time until empty based on daily consumption.

• Adjustable Parameters:

  • Modify the deviation correction or other global variables as needed via Home Assistant.

Notes

• Ensure proper alignment of the VL53L0X sensor for accurate readings.
• Regularly check the daily consumption sensor to optimize usage and plan refills.
• Use the OTA feature to deploy updates without reconnecting the device to your computer.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.