By Adrelien in Heltec — Feb 26, 2024

How To Add Telemetry Sensor To Heltec Lora v3 Meshtastic Node With BME280

We'll walk you through adding a Telemetry module to your existing Heltec V3 Lora ESP32 Meshtastic Node. This guide will work also for any ESP32 boards but slight changes might be required.

Case Link: thangs.com

In this guide, we'll walk you through adding a telemetry sensor (BME280) module to your existing Heltec V3 Lora ESP32 Meshtastic Node to measure air pressure, temperature, and humidity. This guide will work also for any ESP32 boards but slight changes might be required.

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Heltec v3 LoRa Official Store AliExpress Price: 21 USD | Amazon US Price 23.99USD

Hardware

Now let's get started with the hardware you need:

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BME280 sensor comes in two flavors 5V and 3.3V. Choose either 5V or 3.3V based on your system requirements

1x BME280 Module - AliExpress Price: 4.20USD | Amazon US Price 8.99USD
4x Female to Female Pin Connector AliExpress Price: 0.42USD | Amazon US Price 5.49USD
1x Soldering Iron + 60/40 Solder Wire (Optional - You can go to a nearby electronic shop to solder the headers on the board)

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The hardware selection can be changed but we went with easy-to-get parts. One thing to note here is that soldering will be needed only to solder headers to the Heltec and the BME280 module. This task can be outsourced to any nearby electronic shop and save you the money and the hassle.

Assembly

The hardware is all ready and set now to the wiring. For this, we will follow the following Schematics.

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Please keep in mind we are assuming here you already soldered the headers on the board so it will be a matter of connecting pins to the right place.

BME280 Telemetry Module - Heltec V3 Lora ESP32

VCC/VIN -> 5V For BME280-5V OR 3.3V For BMP280-3.3V
SCL -> PIN 42
SDA -> PIN 41
GND -> GND

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The BME280-5V Module Will Not Work With a Battery, It Works Only With USB

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Capacitors are good practice for decoupling one part of a circuit from another

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It's Important To Note That The Order Of The Connections Might Vary. Follow The Labels And Io Ports On Your Specific Components And The Provided Schematics To Ensure Accurate Wiring. Paying Attention To These Details Ensures That You Establish The Correct Connections And Avoid Potential Issues or Damaging Your Components

Once all the wiring is completed. Double-check your connections and ensure they match the suggested layout before proceeding to the next steps.

Meshtastic Settings

Open Meshtastic App (IOS for this guide)
Go to the Settings page
In the module configuration section go to Telemetry (Sensor)
Scroll down to the Sensor Options
Toggle the switch Enable and other switches according to your preference

In conclusion, adding a Telemetry module to your existing Heltec V3 Lora ESP32 Meshtastic Node is a straightforward process that enhances the functionality of your device. The chosen hardware components, including the BME280 Module and header pins, provide a reliable and readily available solution. Soldering may be required, but it can be outsourced to electronic shops for convenience. By following this guide, users can easily integrate a BME280 module into their Meshtastic Node, expanding its capabilities for telemetry tracking and enhancing overall functionality.