Smart applications · Climate

Nimbus: measuring indoors, following outdoors

Nimbus brings indoor and outdoor climate together on one small screen. It also sends local measurements to Home Assistant so the home can actively respond to heat.

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ESP32-C3
ESPHome
Home Assistant
DHT22
OLED
3D printing

Nimbus climate display with visible copper traces, OLED screen and climate sensor

Climate at a glance

The OLED screen divides its information into two clear columns. Locally measured indoor temperature and humidity appear on the left, identified by a home icon. Nimbus shows outdoor temperature and humidity from Home Assistant on the right.

The weather icon changes with the conditions: a cloud for overcast weather, a sun on a clear day and a moon at night. The time sits centrally at the top. One compact screen therefore gives immediate context for indoor and outdoor conditions.

Information in both directions

Direction	Data
Home Assistant → Nimbus	Time, outdoor temperature, outdoor humidity and weather status
Nimbus → Home Assistant	Indoor temperature and indoor humidity

From measuring to acting

Home Assistant can use the climate data for automatic sun protection. During a heatwave, the room’s shutters and blinds can close while direct sunlight is hitting the windows.

Direct sunlight leaves this room at around 5 pm. The automation can account for both heat and the period when shading is genuinely useful, keeping the room cooler without covering the windows longer than needed.

Electronics designed to be seen

Nimbus deliberately avoids the usual circuit board inside a closed enclosure. Its components sit directly on a green 3D-printed carrier. Copper foil forms the visible electrical traces and the connections are soldered by hand.

This appearance is a deliberate design choice rather than an unfinished stage. The controller, display, sensors and their connections remain visible as parts of one experiment.

The components

Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-C3 as the compact controller.
DHT22 for local temperature and humidity measurements.
128 × 64 OLED screen for time, icons and climate values.
LDR/light sensor as a visible additional sensor on the carrier.
3D-printed carrier as the mechanical base.
Copper foil and soldered connections instead of a conventional circuit board.
ESPHome for firmware and Home Assistant integration.

What makes this project interesting

Indoor and outdoor values gain meaning together on one screen.
Nimbus receives data from Home Assistant while sending local measurements back.
The measurements can directly contribute to more comfortable shading during hot weather.
The electronics are not hidden but deliberately form the project’s appearance.
3D printing and copper foil replace the usual combination of enclosure and circuit board.

Nimbus does more than show what the climate is doing. It connects measuring, displaying and responding automatically in one visible experiment.

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