What are your favorite cheap accessories for M5Stack projects?
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I’ve been using M5Stack modules for a few personal projects lately, and I’m starting to look for low-cost add-ons, things like sensors, displays, small batteries, or even cases. I figured it might be helpful if we all shared what’s worked well for us (and what hasn’t).
Have you come across any cheap accessories that surprised you with how well they worked? Or maybe something you found online that saved you a few bucks?
I recently stumbled on some good amazon discounts while browsing, so figured I’d check here too and see what others are using.
Would love to hear your suggestions, what’s worth grabbing, and what to skip.
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@williamsmaith said in What are your favorite cheap accessories for M5Stack projects?:
helpful if we all shared what’s worked well for us (and what hasn’t).
Have you come across any cheap accessories that surprised you with how well they worked? Or maybe something you found online that saved you a few bucks?
I recently stumbled on some good amazon discounts while browsing, so figured I’d check here too and see what others are using.
Would love to hear your suggestions, what’s worth grabbing, and what to skip.
Hey @williamsmaith, cool topic.
For me, basic jumper wires and small breadboards have been super handy and really cheap. I’ve also used a few Grove sensors (like the PIR motion sensor) that worked better than expected for the price.
One thing I’d skip is the super cheap OLED displays a few of mine had issues or stopped working fast.
Would love to see what others are using too.
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@williamsmaith Do you know how to code?
do you understand electronics?
Have you tried any of the M5Stack accessories?
Have you looked in the documents and tried to replicate and of the M5Stack devices? -
@ajb2k3 Yes, I know how to code and have a solid understanding of electronics, especially when it comes to working with microcontrollers like the ESP32, which M5Stack devices are built around. I’ve spent a lot of time digging into M5Stack’s documentation and exploring their ecosystem from the Core2 and Atom series to various accessories like the ENV sensor, LoRa modules, and small displays. While I can’t physically test them myself, I’ve gone through many example projects, helped replicate setups based on their docs, and even debugged code using UIFlow, Arduino, and PlatformIO. If you're experimenting with M5Stack gear or want help combining modules or writing custom code, I'm all in; I love this kind of stuff.
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@williamsmaith Thank you, Your question could have been interpreted in many ways but, now we know your base level of understanding we can give details.
One of my projects uses a Mio robot I got cheep from a toy store. I removed the circuit board and found the M5Stack core fits it perfectly (you can find the project on hackster).
The biggest none m5stack range you can try is technic lego, the options it offers is amazing. I use the pressure sensor to expand the ability of technic pneumatics.I have an old lego computer interface that I can control from a core.
We had one member controlling DJI drones and RC cars. -
I like this question and I think another question should be on the features of the software that are most powerful.
sensors
For the sensors, after M5 with display, we are mainly using the M5Atom and then connecting the various plugin sensors (like QR scanner, Speaker, GPS, or others) - and the GROVE cable to stand along like sensors for LUX, Motion, Buttons (especially for disabled users). But either GROVE or directly into the M5Atom using the pins to control things like buzzers, and motors. For Motors, we need the 5v power.
software features
As for software, I've built a really cool framework that incorporates the BLE, and the WIFI (with MQTT and web POST/GET) messaging. But for us, the ability to update already fielded systems requires the OTA capability. So any partition scheme without OTA isn't used.
Object Oriented Design
I still code entirely in C and now C++. I feared C++ was too heavyweight for that small M5Atom - but it turns out it works nicely - and let me wrap those various sensors in an Object Oriented (plug compatible) feature that is adaptable at runtime via BLE/MQTT messages - basically tell it to use the GPS or QR OO Class, and also pins 28 and 32, etc. This is without modifying the installed code (or use OTA to add new sensor options). (I also use Xcode as the editor)
backend web and message processing
Note for the MQTT and other to work, there needs to be cloud processing. I have the ability to send any messages to all my devices. So the web needs the MQTT host, and if you want HTTP GET messages to work, there should be a node.js based controller (I use node-red.org). - Also for OTA, there needs to be an "http" host (not https).
If anyone is interested in more of our projects, which we are open sourcing, let me know. We are using 3d printed housing as well.
Check out at least:
https://github.com/konacurrents
https://github.com/konacurrents/SemanticMarkerAPI
and more..Cheers,
scott
