Door-left-open reminder

What you will work towards

Get a reminder when a shed or garage door has stayed open.

CAIBI’s proposed addition: Add a delay, bounded notifications, reconnection handling and aligned mounts.

Guide version 1.0. AI can help explain, adapt and debug; you still measure, assemble and test the physical result.

Start with the original

Tutorial foundation

• Random Nerd Tutorials · open source material ↗

Primary tutorial read; hardware and current dependency compatibility untested

See the original source for its photos and demonstrations. We have not copied imagery without confirmed reuse rights. A source prototype is not a photo of this proposed CAIBI build.

Parts to confirm before buying

• ESP32 and reed switch with matching magnet
• Low-voltage power and insulated wiring
• Source Telegram bot setup, stored privately
• Two measured mounting pieces for switch and magnet

Use the source wiring and bill of materials as the starting point. Confirm exact variants, availability, tools and complete cost before ordering.

The completion route

1. Read the actual reed-switch level reliably before adding network messages.
2. Add debouncing, an adjustable open delay and one recovery message. Queue or retry sensibly after a connection failure.
3. Fit the magnet and switch temporarily and measure the working gap through the door's full movement.
4. Print or adapt small mounts and check cable routing and repeatability.

Prompts to move it forward

Copy a prompt into your AI tool with the source material and your actual parts. Work through one small step at a time and check the output before using it. Choose an AI tool or practise the skills first.

Adapt the linked door-status example to read the actual pin state, not toggle an assumed state on every interrupt. Add debounce, configurable open delay, one open reminder and one closed recovery message. Use current compatible libraries, TLS verification, retry limits and secrets outside published code.

Source: https://randomnerdtutorials.com/esp32-door-status-telegram/

Ask for the door material, measured switch and magnet sizes, working gap, fixing method and cable direction. Design adjustable mounts so alignment can be tuned without reprinting everything.

Source: https://randomnerdtutorials.com/esp32-door-status-telegram/

Create a test log for Door-left-open reminder. Intended outcome: Get a reminder when a shed or garage door has stayed open. Separate expected behaviour from observed results. Include power restart, disconnected inputs, communication failure and the actual physical use. Ask me to provide results, firmware versions, changes, photos and unresolved problems. Never mark a test passed without my evidence.

Source: https://randomnerdtutorials.com/esp32-door-status-telegram/

What to test and record

• Open briefly and close before the delay; no reminder should be sent.
• Leave open beyond the delay; receive one reminder.
• Close the door and check a single recovery message.
• Restart or lose Wi-Fi while open and verify no notification flood.

Keep photos, exact parts and software versions with the test log. Failed or incomplete attempts are useful evidence too.

A possible next version

Add a local indicator or another notification service if it fits the actual household workflow.