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A More Realistic Electric Fireplace

Made by gusgonnet / Holidays

About the project

Add some sound FX to your electric fireplace!

Project info

Difficulty: Moderate

Platforms: Blynk, Particle, Raspberry Pi

Estimated time: 1 hour

License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA version 4.0 or later (CC BY-NC-SA 4+)

Items used in this project

Hardware components

	Raspberry Pi 3 Model B	x 1
	Raspberry Pi Zero Case	x 1
	Raspberry Pi 1 Model B+ Starter Pack - Includes a Raspberry Pi 1	x 1
	Mini Speaker - PC Mount 12mm 2.048kHz	x 1

Software apps and online services

	Blynk
	Particle Pi

Story

Some time ago we added a magical element to our living room: an electric fireplace.

The feeling and the ambiance it gives to our home is great, I totally recommend you to get one if you were thinking about it.

Now the little detail that this appliance is missing is the sound of fire burning that one hears with real wood and flames.

But hey, let's fix that right now!

Install the fireplace

Install the appliance in your home. Check beforehand the electrical requirements since it may consume some serious power depending on the heating it provides.

These electric fireplaces can be installed by hanging them on the wall or recessed into one, your choice.

It's also your choice to buy one or build your very own as described in this write-up by Ben Eagan.

On my side, I created a box with some 2x4's regularly used in building walls and I finished it with drywall. This is very popular in North America. You'll need some DIY skills or a friend who has them. You can find some guidance here.

I decided to build a box and install the fireplace recessed as shown in the following picture:

;

1 / 2 • The fireplace installed

I've added a step by step animation for reference in the second image.

Install the speakers

Right before the fireplace was installed in its final position, I left behind a couple of speakers plugged into a Raspberry Pi:

;

1 / 2 • Powered speaker connected to a Raspberry Pi

In my case I used a Rasp Pi 1 that I had around with a wifi usb adapter. You can use any Raspberry Pi in this project I believe.

Connect the Pi to the Particle Cloud

In case you did not know you could add your Raspberry Pi to the Particle Cloud read this blog post.

Please follow the instructions here. As soon as you finish converting your Raspberry Pi into a Particle Pi, it becomes one of your Particle devices (in case you have Photons, Electrons, Bluz(es), ReadBear Duos, etc).

Choose your special effects

I chose to download the mp3 of a Youtube video like this one:

Nice fire sounds!

Convert that video to mp3 and upload it to your Raspberry Pi under /home/pi/fire.mp3

The Blynk app

To easily control the sound effects and volume, I created a Blynk app. Don't know Blynk? You are missing out on something big!

Fireplace sound FX Blynk app

To load the FX app scan this QR with your Blynk Android or iOS app:

Blynk QR

or open this link on your phone:

http://tinyurl.com/yctnrm6g

Blynk Getting Started instructions are here in case you need to read a bit.

NOTE: if you receive an error while scanning it with your iPhone it may be due to an incompatibility between projects created with Android and iOS. Not much to do here...

Flash the Particle Pi

You are now ready to flash the firmware of your Particle Pi.

Grab the software I attached below, or click on this shared Particle app link, and flash it to your Particle Pi.

NOTE: Don't forget to select your Particle Pi while building on Particle Build or your will receive compilation errors!

If you are using Visual Studio Code as I previously documented in this write-up (totally awesome development environment), change the compile task definition in the file YOUR_PRJ_PATH/.vscode/tasks.json by changing photon for pi:

"args": ["pi", "${workspaceRoot}", "--saveTo", "${workspaceRoot}/firmware.bin"],

Let it play

Once the Pi has loaded the firmware, the mp3 is in the right place and the stars align in your favor, you can start the sound effects.

I have hard coded three levels of volume, but feel free to tweak them to your liking:

    volumeLevel = "-1800";
    volumeLevel = "-1000";
    volumeLevel = "-1";

You can find more info about setting the volume on omxplayer here.

The test drive

Wait for a cold night (or a very cold winter streak like the one we suffered last week - lowest temperatures recorded in the last 146 years!), grab two glasses of red wine, invite your better half, sit together by the fireplace and turn the fireplace and the sound effects on. Close your eyes and relax!

I can now hear logs burning...

Next steps

If you remember my Infrared replicator you will be able to figure out what is going to be my next move with this fireplace remote:

Automating/Blynk'ing this guy is one of my next projects... coming soon!

Need help?

If you require professional help with your projects, don't hesitate to write me a line about your needs at gusgonnet@gmail.com. Thank you!

Code

Pi firmware

Flash it to your Particle PiParticle App link: https://go.particle.io/shared_apps/5a4d9d89b7a129684e000133

// Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
// This is a human-readable summary of (and not a substitute for) the license.
// Disclaimer
//
// You are free to:
// Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
// Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
// The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
//
// Under the following terms:
// Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
// NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
// ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.
// No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
//
// Notices:
// You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
// No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
//
// github: https://github.com/gusgonnet
// hackster: https://www.hackster.io/gusgonnet
//
// Free for personal use.
//
// https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

#include <blynk.h>

#define BLYNK_BUTTON_ON_OFF V27
#define BLYNK_SLIDER_VOLUME V28
#define BLYNK_BUTTON_VOLUME V29

// DO NOT SHARE YOUR BLYNK TOKEN
char auth[] = "123720194708912734981273408912";

bool soundOn = false;
bool volumeHigh = false;
String volumeLevel = "-1800";

// auto on in the morning
const String timeOn = "09:00AM";
// auto off at midnight
const String timeOff = "11:59PM";


void setup() {

  //set time zone and format
  Time.zone(-5);
  Time.setFormat(TIME_FORMAT_ISO8601_FULL);
    
  Particle.function("playSound", playSound);
  Particle.function("stopSound", stopSound);
  Blynk.begin(auth);
}

void loop() {
  Blynk.run();
  
  // get time. Example: 10:38PM
  String timeNow = Time.format(Time.now(), "%I:%M%p");

  if (timeNow == timeOn)
  {
    soundOn = true;
    playSound("");
  }
  if (timeNow == timeOff)
  {
    stopSound("");
    soundOn = false;
  }  
  
 // this delay will slow down this rasppi particle agent process so the pi keeps its cool ;)
 // without this delay, top (the command line util on the pi) shows 100% CPU use (of the firmware.bin process)
 // with this delay in place, top shows 2% CPU use, which is much better
 delay(1000);
}


int playSound( String dummyParameter ) {
    
  // set the volume to your liking as explained here: 
  // https://stackoverflow.com/questions/33162820/adjust-audio-volume-level-with-cli-omxplayer-raspberry-pi
  Process proc;
  
  proc = Process::run("omxplayer --vol " + volumeLevel + " --loop /home/pi/fire.mp3 &");      
  Particle.publish("Napoleon Sound Fx", "Sound on", PRIVATE);
  
  proc.wait();
 
  return 0;
}

int stopSound( String dummyParameter ) {
    
  Process proc = Process::run("sudo killall omxplayer.bin");
  proc.wait();
  Particle.publish("Napoleon Sound Fx","Sound off", PRIVATE);
  return 0;
}

BLYNK_WRITE(BLYNK_BUTTON_ON_OFF)
{
  // background: in a BLYNK push button, blynk sends 0 then 1 when user taps on it
  // source: http://docs.blynk.cc/#widgets-controllers-button
  if (param.asInt() == 1)
  {
    soundOn = true;
    playSound("");
  } else
  {
    stopSound("");
    soundOn = false;
  }
}

BLYNK_WRITE(BLYNK_BUTTON_VOLUME)
{
  // background: in a BLYNK push button, blynk sends 0 then 1 when user taps on it
  // source: http://docs.blynk.cc/#widgets-controllers-button
  if (param.asInt() == 1)
  {
    volumeHigh = true;
  } else
  {
    volumeHigh = false;
  }

  if ( soundOn )
  {
    stopSound("");
    playSound("");
  }

}

BLYNK_WRITE(BLYNK_SLIDER_VOLUME)
{
  // background: in a BLYNK push button, blynk sends 0 then 1 when user taps on it
  // source: http://docs.blynk.cc/#widgets-controllers-button
  if (param.asInt() == 1)
  {
    volumeLevel = "-1800";
  }
  if (param.asInt() == 2)
  {
    volumeLevel = "-1000";
  }
  if (param.asInt() == 3)
  {
    volumeLevel = "-1";
  }
  
  if ( soundOn )
  {
    stopSound("");
    playSound("");
  }

}

Credits

gusgonnet

If you need professional help with a project, contact me at gusgonnet@gmail.com

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Product of the Week

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A More Realistic Electric Fireplace

About the project

Project info

Items used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Install the fireplace

Install the speakers

Connect the Pi to the Particle Cloud

Choose your special effects

The Blynk app

Flash the Particle Pi

Let it play

The test drive

Next steps

Need help?

Code

Pi firmware

Credits

gusgonnet

Leave your feedback...

Shop

Project Hub

Video

Blog

Shop home

3D printing

Single Board Computers

Development kits

Sensors

Internet of things

Robotics

Accessories

Product of the Week

Electromaker Educator

The Electromaker Show

The Electromaker Podcast

A More Realistic Electric Fireplace

About the project

Project info

Items used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Story

Install the fireplace

Install the speakers

Connect the Pi to the Particle Cloud

Choose your special effects

The Blynk app

Flash the Particle Pi

Let it play

The test drive

Next steps

Need help?

Code

Pi firmware

Credits

gusgonnet

Leave your feedback...

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