Tasmota is a fork of Tasmoco, open-source firmware for WiFi-enabled ESP32 microcontrollers.
Sonoff has created Tasmota to provide home automation users with their Tasmota compatible code without the need to buy expensive hardware and put it together themselves.
Sonoff uses Tasmota to offer its customers products that are both affordable and easy to use. Tasmota enables you to control your Sonoff Devices automatically and manually.
Read on to discover what Tasmota controllers can do and how to install Tasmota in your home.
I will discuss some of the intricate details of Tasmota use, including zoning. We will look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of using Tasmota for your home automation needs. Let’s get to it!
What is Tasmota?
Tasmota is a platform for Tasmota firmware that allows you to control Sonoff devices from the Tasmota web interface.
Tasmota is a DIY Home Automation system, which can be used with other hardware as well. Tasmota can be used with Tasmota firmware, the Tasmota web interface, and Home Assistant.
The Tasmota platform is open source and free for use under the MIT license.
Tasmota provides a broader range of possibilities than Sonoff alone to get your devices connected and control them from anywhere in the world (your phone).
You can program an internet-enabled voice assistant like Alexa to do it on your behalf.
Tasmota is an open-source firmware for WiFi-enabled ESP32 microcontrollers.
Tasmota enables you to take full control over your Sonoff devices, either automatically or manually.
With Tasmota installed on a compatible device, the user can update their product using OTA (over-the-air) updates from our servers or from the device itself.
How To Install Tasmota
Tasmota is free and open source, meaning that Tasmota can be installed on any Sonoff device.
Manual installation is simple with the provided instructions. Tasmota has two ways of installation:
- Automatic Installation (recommended) – Tasmota firmware will automatically install onto a compatible device if the Wi-Fi connection is established with its servers.
- Manual Installation – If you cannot establish a Wi-Fi connection with its server, you can follow some simple steps provided with your device to upload Tasmota firmware onto your Sonoff device manually.
If Automatic Installation Fails, To Manually Install You Will Need:
- Wi-Fi enabled device (your router) with USB port and Internet connection.
- A self-powered hub if the router does not have a built-in one.
- Tasmota compatible device.
- Tasmota firmware update package for your router and Tasmota compatible device (download the appropriate file from the Tasmota website)
To Setup Home Automation System with Tasmota Firmware:
- Configure Your Wi-Fi Router For Tasmota Project. If you have not done this before, check out our tutorial on configuring a Wi-Fi router for a home automation project. In addition, make sure that both the router and hub connected via USB are turned off at this point!
- Find The Device MAC Address on the Tasmota Website. Tasmota will show you the MAC address of your Tasmota compatible device in their database, and this is what we need to get it working with Tasmota firmware!
- Configure Your Tasmota-Compatible Device for Home Automation With Tasmota Firmware.
Sonoff devices are mainly used for Home Automation purposes, but they can also be configured as a wireless remote control for different Tasmota-compatible devices.
The Tasmota web interface is the core of the Tasmota system, and it provides all functions to control your devices.
Your browser must be connected to the Tasmota web interface for you to use other features like Tasmota mobile app on a smartphone or TTS integration with Alexa assistant, etc.
What Is Home Automation?
Home automation is the ability to control a house with Tasmota devices automatically.
You can set your home up so that Tasmota devices will respond when certain events happen, such as motion detection or if someone turns on/off lights in one room of the house.
Home automation uses electronic devices, communication technologies, and home networks to monitor and control the activities inside a house.
Tasmota is one sure way to get your house automated for less than $100 if you are interested in DIY projects.
The Tasmota server runs on Linux-based machines.
It connects to a Tasmota Server running inside each Sonoff device through publish/subscribe messaging protocol. The Tasmota software package contains all you need:
- Firmware for any supported hardware platform
- Web interface frontend
- Command-line tools allow user configuration via API calls from anywhere on any internet-connected device (PC, phone).
Home automation with Tasmota has three phases:
- Monitoring Phase – Tasks such as observing data, collecting sensor information, and monitoring environmental indicators.
- Control Phase – Tasks such as controlling the environment to reach the desired state or performing an action that other systems do not perform automatically. This task may involve just one device, multiple devices in the same system, or many sensors working together to control different aspects of a home’s climate.
- Logging Phase – Tasks such as monitoring environmental indicators or recording sensor information over time to detect changes that may indicate a problem with one’s home or property. This task often includes logging data related to different sensors on your Tasmota platform, which can occur automatically based on set parameters or manually when you look back at how things were done before an event occurred.
You might also want certain devices activated during specific times only, such as turning off the lights when the sun goes down or turning on a fan to maintain an optimal temperature.
Video recording and home security are other important capabilities of this system. Tasmota is excellent for these types of things!
How Does Tasmota Work?
Tasmota works with Sonoff devices.
Tasmota firmware will work with Sonoff devices, but Tasmota is not limited to this.
Tasmota can be used together with other hardware as well.
To see a list of compatible devices, head to Tasmota’s website or go with a Sonoff device.
Tasmota software runs on a host computer, connects to the Tasmot server, and then automatically controls all the connected Tasmota enabled devices in your home from any internet-connected device (phone or PC).
The installation process for TASMOTA only takes about five minutes, and there’s no programming required!
Once updated, Tasmota enables users complete control over their devices from either the cloud or locally via a serial port terminal.
As Tasmota is a fully featured firmware, the Tasmota interface supports all features of Sonoff devices.
What Are Some of Tasmota’s Features?
The Tasmota Firmware allows you to control and manage your home automation devices with Wi-Fi or a serial port.
Tasmota can be accessed via any Internet-enabled device to configure your Sonoff/Sonoff RF settings without being near it.
In addition to configuring Tasmotas’ Wi-Fi settings from a remote location, users can access their serial ports for configuration directly through an ESP32 development board wirelessly connected using a USB cable.
This feature also provides Tasmota to Tasmota communication.
Tasmota firmware is designed with the user in mind. It provides remote access to your Sonoff/Sonoff RF devices via a web browser or an Internet-enabled device and allows for configuration settings without being near it.
Tasmota Zones and How They Work
Tasmota’s zones are designated spaces where you can control what happens.
These configurable boundaries help to provide a more detailed and individualized experience for your home automation needs.
Zones are Tasmota’s way of grouping devices.
Zones allow you to control multiple Tasmota device groups with one single TASMOTA Web UI login on your smartphone or other supported device.
You can create additional zones as needed and rename them accordingly.
Tasmota Zones vs. Security System Sensors: Tasmota’s zones don’t replace security system sensors but rather complement their functionality in an emergency by adding another layer of protection.
The Benefits of The Sonoff Home Automation Platform?
Tasmota on the Sonoff Home Automation Platform comes with various benefits and features that enhance the conveniences of your home. Some of the services of Tasmota include:
- Automating tasks like lights or appliances with ease; managing different electrical circuits (rooms) separately from one device using Tasmoton’s zoning features.
- Tasmota can be installed and configured using a browser, so no programming skills are required.
- Tasmota also runs on the Linux operating system, which is open source and free to use.
- Tasmota is a fresh start. It can be installed and configured using a browser, so no programming skills are required.
- Installation is easy for anyone with little background in DIY projects or electronics.
Tasmota has been designed with home automation in mind, starting from scratch without any old code inherited from previous Sonoff Home Automation Platforms like Wi-Fi or Z Wave.
With Tasmota, you will be able to do all of these things and more:
- Create custom rules in Tasmota’s rule engine. These range from one toggle per rule up to ten different actions triggered by a single button press.
- Play your favorite audio file or radio station at home automatically on time without any manual input required.
- Schedule automated tasks inside Tasmota using their task scheduler module.
- Configure “lazy mode” so lights turn off after being left on for 30 minutes straight
Tasmota will take care of everything from sending you alerts when your doorbell rings, turning on lights inside the house when you leave the room, etc.
There’s also no need to worry about network coverage because TASMOTA uses mesh networking technology which ensures a stable wireless connection throughout every corner of your property.
The Disadvantages of Using Tasmota
Though Tasmota is a unique and technologically advanced home automation system, it has a few disadvantages. The disadvantages that Tasmota offers include.
- Tasmota zones are not a replacement for security systems, but Tasmota zones are an addition to the system activated via the Sonoff Wifi switch.
- Tasmota has some lack of compatibility with all operating systems. (works on Windows (XP or newer), Mac OS, or Linux Kernel version)
- Tasmota is open source -This means that any developer can take the code, modify it, and share their version, including adding new functions such as the weather forecast module, which queries data at home automatically every hour.
- Tasmota compatible devices can a bit more expensive than other home automation appliances If you’re not sure if Tasmota can work with your device, please contact the seller before purchase.
Some disadvantages of the Tasmota home automation system are that it cannot send notifications, but Tasmota has a mobile app with push notification capabilities.
How Much Does Tasmota Cost?
Tasmota is free and open source.
Tasmota has been created by the community of Tasmota users interested in home automation for a reasonable price.
Tasmota’s development was motivated by Sonoff, an automation firmware project with limited features which is not suitable for use on routers.
Tasmota is compatible with Sonoff smart devices. Here is one example of a Sonoff smart device that can be used with Tasmota for home automation.
Sonoff Smart Light Switch
The Sonoff TX Smart Light Switch sold on Amazon is a smart switch that offers easy installations and various ways to control with Tasmota for a price of $19.99.
The Sonoff TX Smart Light Switch is easily one of the best smart switches on the market.
- You can turn your electronics on and off from anywhere using the Tasmota App. The switch requires a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection.
- Schedule Automatic Control with just your voice using the Tasmota app.
- The Sonoff TX Smart Light Switch comes with a 1-year warranty.
The Sonoff TX Smart Light Switch is one of the best and most reasonable prices on the market.
The Sonoff TX Light Switch can be automated easily with Tasmota.
This is one example of the many compatible devices that can be used with Tasmota.
Tasmota Capabilities for Home Automation
Tasmota also has limited device support and cannot add new devices.
Tasmota is not available for all devices. Below is a list of some currently supported hardware by Tasmota plugins (some popular ones like Sonoff):
- Siemens T20H340 GSM Alarm System
- Everspring WiFi Module ESP32
- Arduino MKR1000
- HitLight LED Controller HC – 4025/4050 RGB Multicolored LED Strips
If you want to use Tasmota with your device, there are two ways: either the manufacturer has created a Tasmota plugin for it, or one has already been developed and published.
Frequently Asked Questions About Installing or Using Tasmota
Though Tasmota offers step-by-step installation and usage instructions, people still have some common questions when using Tasmota for home automation.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about installing or using Tasmota.
Do I Need a Computer For The Installation?
Tasmota is designed so it doesn’t need any additional software and can be installed through an app from Google Play Store.
No, Tasmota can be installed and controlled on a variety of devices.
Tasmota is compatible with Raspberry Pi boards which are low-cost computers that can use Tasmota as their operating system.
It’s also available for other Linux-based systems like Beaglebone or UDOO (both single board computers), but these require an additional microSD card if you want Tasmota preinstalled there.
For Android users, we recommend installing Tasmota using Tasker App since this will enable the TASMOBILE feature in the app to automatically connect your mobile phone to Sonoff switches whenever they’re powered ON/OFF.
If I Use Tasmota on My Laptop Then Transfer To A New One, Will It Still Work?
The Tasmota software can be installed once only in the system.
Tasmota allows you to set up your Home Automation System without having any previous knowledge of electronics or programming. Just plug in modules and watch them connect automatically!
There are many great tutorials for getting started with Tasmota online.
Tasmota’s website also offers detailed instructions for downloads and transfer to new devices.
Is It Difficult To Install Tasmota?
Tasmota is an easy-to-install open-source firmware designed for IoT devices.
Tasmota has a simple installation process that can be done in just a few minutes using the included installer on Windows/Linux or any Android device with Tasker App installed.
TASMOBILE feature is also automatically enabled when you use Tasker App to install Tasmota, which means it’s super simple to control your Sonoff switches from anywhere without having an internet connection.
It’s as easy as downloading, clicking on “Install,” and following the instructions in the app.
What If My Device Does Not Work After Installing Tasmota?
If there is no change in the functionality of your device, then we suggest checking whether your firmware was updated successfully by opening up the Sonoff-Tasmota website.
There are options to troubleshoot our hardware and instructions on the installation of Tasmota.
What is Tasmota? Conclusion
Tasmota is a fork of Tasmoco, open-source firmware for Wi-Fi-enabled ESP32 microcontrollers.
Sonoff has created it to provide home automation users with their own Tasmota compatible code without the need to buy expensive hardware and put it together themselves.
You can update your product by uploading new software through the web interface or using Message Queue Telemetry Transport.
With Tasmota installed on a compatible device such as a Sonoff, you have more control over what goes on inside your electronics than ever before.
