Integrating the SenseCAP Indicator with Home Assistant – Complete Guide MQTT & ESP32

Introduction

Unlock the full potential of your smart home by integrating the SenseCAP Indicator with Home Assistant . This powerful combination allows you to monitor and control your environment with remarkable simplicity and flexibility.

In this comprehensive guide, you will learn how to connect the SenseCAP Indicator to Home Assistant via MQTT , flash the ESP32 firmware, configure entities, and create an interactive dashboard to view your data in real time.

Prerequisites

• A SenseCAP Indicator
• A server or device running Home Assistant (Green, Yellow or Raspberry Pi)
• Stable network connection (Wi-Fi)
• Familiarity with MQTT and YAML configuration files

Before you begin, consult the SenseCAP Indicator Board User Guide to familiarize yourself with its hardware and software features.

1. Install Home Assistant OS

Home Assistant is an open-source home automation platform that prioritizes privacy and local control. You can install it on Home Assistant Green (out-of-the-box solution) or on Home Assistant Yellow for complete customization.

Once the installation is complete, access your Home Assistant interface (default http://homeassistant.local:8123 ) to proceed to the next step.

2. Install the necessary add-ons

In Home Assistant OS or Yellow, add-ons allow you to extend functionality without complex procedures. Install the following two modules:

• Mosquitto Broker – for MQTT communication
• File Editor – for easily editing the configuration.yaml file

Enable the “Show in sidebar” option for quick access to the file editor.

3. Configure the MQTT integration

The MQTT protocol is essential for connecting your SenseCAP Indicator to Home Assistant. It allows for bidirectional exchange of data (measurements and commands).

1. Go to Settings → Devices & Services → Integrations
2. Search for MQTT and add the integration
3. If it is not detected automatically, enter the Mosquitto broker's IP address.

Creating an MQTT user

For secure communication, create a dedicated user:

• Username: indicator-usr1
• Password: indicator-password

Save your data, then restart the Mosquitto broker. Use these credentials in the SenseCAP Indicator's MQTT settings.

4. Prepare and flash the ESP32 firmware

Before integration, install the firmware suitable for the SenseCAP Indicator.

1. Download or clone the official project:

    git clone https://github.com/Love4yzp/sensecap-indicator-ha

2. Access the folder:

    cd sensecap-indicator-ha

3. Compile and flash the firmware:

    idf.py -p PORT build flash monitor

Replace PORT with the serial port of your device:

• Windows: COMx (Device Manager)
• Linux/macOS: /dev/ttyUSBx

Once the flashing process is complete, the device will display Wi-Fi and MQTT connection messages from the SenseCAP Indicator. Ensure it is on the same network as Home Assistant.

5. Add the SenseCAP Indicator to Home Assistant

Step 1: Modify the MQTT configuration

In the File Editor , open configuration.yaml and add the following MQTT entities:

 mqtt:
 sensor:
 - name: "Temperature SenseCAP"
 state_topic: "sensecap/indicator/temperature"
 unit_of_measurement: "°C"
 - name: "SenseCAP Humidity"
 state_topic: "sensecap/indicator/humidity"
 unit_of_measurement: "%"
 - name: "CO2 SenseCAP"
 state_topic: "sensecap/indicator/co2"
 unit_of_measurement: "ppm"

Save, then reload the configuration via Developer Tools → YAML → Reload Configuration .

Step 2: Check the entities

After restarting, the SenseCAP Indicator entities will appear automatically. You can use them in your automations or scripts.

6. Create a custom dashboard

To view your SenseCAP data in Home Assistant:

1. Go to Settings → Dashboards
2. Click on Add a dashboard (e.g., “SenseCAP Indicator”)
3. Add Gauge or Entity type cards to display temperature, humidity, CO₂, etc.

You can also activate the “Raw Configuration Editor” mode to import a custom YAML.

7. Resources and technical support

• GitHub Project: SenseCAP Indicator HA
• SenseCAP Documentation: Complete Indicator Board User Guide
• Home Assistant Guide: Installation and configuration
• Seeed Forum / Discord: Community and technical support

Thank you for choosing Seeed Studio and SenseCAP for your smart home projects. The DistrIoT team will assist you in implementing your local LoRaWAN and IoT solutions.