Smart Boat 19: Digital Gauges with ESP32 and INA219

In this video, I will demonstrate how to add a digital gauge alongside an existing analog gauge. Specifically, I will focus on setting up a digital fuel tank level gauge. This method is versatile and can be applied to a variety of resistance-based sensors and analog gauges, such as those for water tank levels, engine coolant temperatures, engine oil pressure etc.
✔ ESP32 - 38 pins
🎁 Amazon: Select 38pin model
geni.us/esp32-38pin
🎁 AliExpress:
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFE...
✔ ESP32 38 pins Breakout Board
🎁 Amazon:
geni.us/esp32-38pin-breakout
🎁 AliExpress:
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdP...
✔ ESP32 - 30 pins
🎁 Amazon: Select 30pin model
geni.us/esp32-30pins
geni.us/esp32-30pin-kit
🎁 AliExpress: Mirco USB or USB C models
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdF...
✔ ESP32 30 pins Expansion Breakout Board
🎁 Amazon:
geni.us/esp32-30pin-breakout
🎁 AliExpress:
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DFM...
✔ 12v to 5v Converter
🎁 Amazon:
geni.us/12v-5v-converter
🎁 AliExpress: Select the 12V to 5V 3A option
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Deu...
✔ INA219 Module:
🎁 Amazon:
geni.us/yE8oa
🎁 AliExpress: Select soldered option or ask them
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_Dd2...
✔ Dupont breakout cables:
🎁 Amazon:
geni.us/Dupont-cables
🎁 AliExpress:
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DdQ...
✔ Junction Box (80mm x 80mm):
🎁 Amazon:
geni.us/n9oc7
geni.us/a3xe
🎁 AliExpress: Select 83x81x56mm
s.click.aliexpress.com/e/_DBO...
If you'd like to support me so that I can buy extra sensors and equipment for future projects:
💖 Buy Me a Coffee:
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Some links above are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase. Your support helps fund valuable content. Thank you!
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
2:39 My Boat
2:49 ESP32 and INA219 Overview
3:50 Soldering INA219 pins
5:41 Wiring up INA219 and ESP32
8:15 Wiring Diagram
8:55 Connect Tank Sender
9:59 Add to Home Assistant
13:44 Sensor Configuration
15:59 Add Gauge to Dashboard
17:32 Outro

[@Jmarty34]

Fantastic video😊

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

Thanks!

[@yannistsopelas7217]

Great video, Rob! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.⛵

[@billlindner]

I will not be back to my boat until mid April in North Carolina. I recently got Home Assistant working, in a docker container, on a Raspberry pi 5 with 500 Gb SSD. The pi5 also has Openplotter automatically booting with necessary charts and services running. I look forward to re-watching your videos and implementing my HA smart boat. I realize there is hardware cost involved but wondering if a video showing Home Assistant running on a pi5 in a docker container might be in order. This spring I'll be testing Openplotter pypilot running on a pi4, an arduino, an IBT-2 motor controller using a RV awning motor. I made my own steering wheel (disc) similar to the commercially available CPT autopilot. Works well from home. I'll also be testing the bluetooth autopilot app, by Pieter Oskam, using an esp2, arduino, ibt-2, and motor. Since it runs on a esp32, I'm wondering if it would be useful to integrate it into Home Assistant.

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

Sounds like you have a lot going on! Home Assistant on a separate Rpi is the easiest but you can also install it in supervised mode along side other Linux apps. community.home-assistant.io/t/installing-home-assistant-supervised-on-a-raspberry-pi-with-debian-11/247116

[@SVRockChalk]

Great new video!

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

Thank you!

[@DirkJacobsz]

great job Rob

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

Thanks!

[@svtosca3371]

Great video! You manage to make it really simple.

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

Thanks!. That is the plan.

[@buraqvoilier6924]

Good job.

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

Thank you!

[@davidgallefoss1254]

great video! I have been tinkering with making a potmeter, current leak sensor between the hull (metal) and batteries, with the INA219B and esp2, i got the adafruit feathers. initially i looked to make a device with a tiny screen with microphyton, but now i am looking to get home assistant and get more smart boat stuff, such as your brilliant videos with relays! thanks for sharing!

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

Thanks. Home Assistant with EspHome make integrating INA219 really easy. See esphome.io/components/sensor/ina219.html

[@laurieroberts4387]

Can you explain where your ground goes, as with your explanation the voltage is floating. Also worth noting that if you add a second board, make sure you solder the A0 or A1 address tabs on the board.

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

See my article for more info smartboatinnovations.com/ina219-voltage As I mention in the video to ensure accurate voltage measurements with the INA219, the ground (GND) of the INA219 needs to be connected to the same ground reference as the voltage source being measured. This is crucial for maintaining a common reference point and avoiding measurement errors.

[@orzechsailor]

Hi Rob, very interesting video. Could you please tell what is the sensor type. I have on my boat sensors for detecting water level in the tanks and I am using KUS 0-190 Ohm sensor. Will the solution you presented also work for that type of sensor? The fee on the sensor is 12VDC. Do you really need the eps32? Can't this INA219 be plugged directly to Arduino or PI ? Thank you!

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

Yes this should work with your resistance sensor with a 12v supply. The INA219 will measure the voltage and this needs to correlated with a % tank full. With Home Assistant it is much easier to use an esp32 for this type of project. The HAOS is a managed OS and accessing GPIO pins is not straightforward. But if you are using another OS then the Rpi has I2c GPIO pins you can attach the INA219.

[@yannistsopelas7217]

I was wondering if the analogue gauge could be omitted in the set-up i.e. connect the sensor directly to the INA219 and get readings on HA, only. I would like to add a level sensor for my water tank but I don't want to install an analogue gauge, too.

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

The analogue gauge supplies a constant voltage so you would need to emulate that. In theory it should be possible. Just need to use a buck converter like we power the ESP32 with and setup a voltage divider with a single resistor. The 2nd resistor would be the resistance of the sensor.

[@ATARI_1962]

Hey Rob, thanks for making these videos. I have been trying to find a suitable semsor for my Rpi5 mcarthur hat set up that will meaure diesel and water tank levels. Both tanks are metal. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

If you already have an internal tank sender then you can use the method I showed in this video. Or you have nothing then maybe install a Ultrasonic Level Sensor on the top of the tank. But I think it would require an entry hole to be made.

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

There are some Ultrasonic sensors available that can be installed outside the steel tank. Only complication is that they need to be installed under the tank which is not always easy on a boat

[@ATARI_1962]

The mopeka sensor would work, but I'm not sure I can sync that to a dashboard in open plotter. Trying to avoid having several apps.

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

​@@ATARI_1962I understand your concern about managing multiple apps. It sounds like a great opportunity to consider transitioning to Home Assistant. Home Assistant is a robust platform that is rapidly growing and widely supported by a vibrant community. It offers the flexibility to integrate a vast array of sensors and devices, which could simplify your setup by bringing everything under one roof. While OpenPlotter has been a fantastic tool, you might find that Home Assistant’s extensive capabilities and ongoing enhancements provide a comprehensive solution that can meet all your needs more efficiently.

[@laurieroberts4387]

{% set volts_empty = 0.1 * volts_half - volts_full %} Can you explain what this does, I could not get gauge to scale with this in place, and ended up placing just a constant in here like the lines above but for empty voltage.

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

My original yaml was {% set volts_empty = 2 * volts_half - volts_full %} I am not sure why you have 0.1 instead of 2 This line is a calculation for the empty voltage. If you know the actual empty voltage then a constant is fine. I hope this helps.

[@laurieroberts4387]

@@SmartBoatInnovations Thanks Rob. Great videos by the way.

[@MV2Umbrellas]

Amazon breakout board is not available !! Yikes seems there are many Amazon reviews on various boards that they don’t actually fit

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

The Aliexpress one is available and they sell the breakout board to suit. From Amazon you need to buy the 38pin esp32 that has no mounting holes in the corner. This model will fit the breakout boards the best.

[@SmartBoatInnovations]

I have updated the Amazon link to a breakout board that is available.

[@andrepallotta8633]

Hello great video. Could you explain how to handle current sensor 0 to 20 mA? An other connexion option would be to send data to nmea network in order to share with both home assistant and also boat screens.