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This beginner-friendly project turns an Oxocard Connect into a low-voltage thermostat demonstrator: a thermistor measures temperature, the display shows an estimate, a piezo sounds above 30°C (86°F), a servo moves in response, and MQTT can send readings to a broker. It is an educational prototype—not a controller for a furnace, boiler, air conditioner, or mains-powered heater.
Make: rates its version Easy and estimates about one hour. Allow extra time if you are new to breadboards, NanoPy, or MQTT.
What you will build
The project combines five separate functions:
- Measure: a 10 kΩ NTC thermistor and a 2.2 kΩ resistor form a voltage divider. The Oxocard reads the divider voltage on an analog input.
- Display: NanoPy converts the reading to an estimated temperature and shows it on the Connect’s 240 × 240 display.
- Alert: a piezo buzzer sounds when the temperature is above 30°C (86°F).
- Move: a microservo provides a visible mechanical response to temperature.
- Report: optionally, the program publishes temperature readings to an MQTT broker.
The servo is an indicator or simulated actuator. The described kit project does not provide a certified HVAC interface or a mains-rated relay, and MQTT publishing does not itself provide remote HVAC control. Do not connect this prototype to household heating or cooling equipment.
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Parts and setup
- Oxocard Connect and its breadboard cartridge
- 10 kΩ NTC thermistor and 2.2 kΩ resistor
- SG92R microservo and piezo buzzer
- Jumper wires
- USB power source (not included with the Connect, according to the official product page)
- Computer, tablet, or Mac/PC with a modern browser
- Wi-Fi access if you plan to use MQTT
Kit descriptions vary by edition. Oxocard describes its standard Innovators Kit as including the Connect, breadboard cartridge, and 96 components. The Make: Edition project page describes a different assortment—around 30 electronic components—and specifies an ESP32-S3. The general Connect page identifies an ESP32-family controller. Check the exact kit listing and board documentation rather than assuming every edition has identical contents or specifications.
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Use the browser-based NanoPy editor for the project workflow. NanoPy is a Python-inspired language based on MicroPython; the NanoPy repository contains source and examples. Oxocard also publishes hardware designs and related resources through its open-source page.
How the thermistor circuit works
An NTC thermistor’s resistance falls as it warms. Paired with a fixed resistor, it creates a voltage divider: the voltage at the junction changes with temperature, and the Oxocard’s analog-to-digital converter (ADC) reads that voltage. Software then uses the thermistor’s characteristics to estimate temperature.
3.3 V ── thermistor (10 kΩ NTC) ──┬── IN06
│
2.2 kΩ resistor
│
GND
This is the logical connection order; place the parts in separate breadboard rows so their leads are not accidentally shorted together. Connect the divider’s top to the board’s documented 3.3 V supply, its bottom to ground, and the junction to IN06. Follow the cartridge’s pin labels and Oxocard documentation for the physical supply and ground contacts.
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The project’s example reads IN06 with an averaging argument of 100. That reduces short-term noise, but it does not calibrate the thermistor. The conversion function must match the thermistor’s characteristics and the circuit arrangement. Verify it against the kit’s current example or documentation; do not substitute an arbitrary equation. Treat the result as an estimate unless you have calibrated and checked it against a suitable thermometer.
Read and display temperature
In the NanoPy editor, connect to the Oxocard and start with the project’s known-good example. The core loop is conceptually:
while true:
clear()
adcValue = readADC(IN06, 100)
T = calculateTfromA(adcValue)
drawText(10, 90, "T = " + T + "°C")
update()
delay(1000)
This illustrates the Make: tutorial’s program flow, not a guarantee that every name or syntax detail matches every current NanoPy version. Use the current NanoPy examples for the exact runnable code. In the loop, the ADC read collects samples, the conversion helper produces a temperature, the display is refreshed, and the one-second delay sets an approximate update interval.
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Before attaching the buzzer or servo, check that the display shows a plausible, reasonably stable room-temperature value. Briefly warming the thermistor between your fingers should make an NTC-based reading rise. Avoid prolonged handling during calibration; your fingers heat the sensor and change the reading.
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The Make: example connects the piezo to IO02, uses a 50 Hz PWM setup, and activates the output when temperature exceeds 30°C:
if T > 30:
writePWM(IO02, 4096/2)
else:
writePWM(IO02, 0)
Use the current NanoPy reference and the buzzer’s requirements to confirm the precise PWM setup and duty-cycle behavior. If it is silent, test it with a standalone tone example and confirm the pin and wiring before changing the sensor logic. A passive piezo may need an oscillating signal appropriate to that component.
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This simple threshold has no hysteresis: a reading that fluctuates around 30°C can switch the alarm rapidly on and off. A more comfortable design uses separate turn-on and turn-off points—for example, turn on at 30°C and remain on until the reading falls to 29°C. Implement the state logic using syntax verified for your NanoPy version, and show the alarm state on-screen while testing.
Add the servo carefully
The project uses an SG92R microservo and a 50 Hz PWM signal. Map a useful temperature interval to a limited servo position; do not pass an unbounded sensor value directly to the servo. Clamp the output to a conservative range supported by the servo and the Oxocard setup, test first at a fixed neutral position, and never force the horn against a mechanical stop.
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Servos can draw more current while moving than a small controller output can comfortably supply. Follow Oxocard’s power guidance for the cartridge and servo. If the documentation permits an external servo supply, use the correct voltage and connect grounds as directed; do not assume a separate supply is safe or necessary without checking the hardware guidance. Jitter or resets may indicate wiring, PWM, mechanical load, or power problems rather than a temperature-code error.
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Optional: publish readings over MQTT
MQTT sends values to a broker; it does not create one. Before running the example, have a broker reachable from the Oxocard, know its address and required port/protocol, and obtain valid credentials if authentication is enabled. During initial testing, a broker on the same local network is often simpler than a remote service.
uri = "mqtt://broker-address"
connectMQTT(uri, username, password)
publishMQTT("home/lab/oxocard/temperature", T)
The Make: example uses connectMQTT() and publishMQTT(); its sample URI is a placeholder, not a working server. Replace it with the broker’s reachable address and use the actual NanoPy syntax and connection options documented for your version. Publish a numeric Celsius value and choose a topic that identifies the device and location, rather than relying on a generic topic such as Temperature.
mqtt:// does not mean the connection is encrypted with TLS. Confirm what the broker and NanoPy support before sending data over an untrusted network. Do not expose an unauthenticated broker to the public internet. A robust program should display connection status, retry with a delay if Wi-Fi or MQTT drops, and continue local sensing and display updates when the broker is unavailable.
Save and run
The Make: project describes saving the script to the breadboard cartridge’s EEPROM and enabling autostart so it runs when the cartridge is inserted. Use the current editor and device documentation for the exact transfer, save, and autostart controls; interface labels can change. First confirm the program runs manually, then save it to the cartridge and test a restart. If an autostart program depends on Wi-Fi or a broker, include a timeout or offline path so a network outage does not prevent local operation.
Troubleshooting
Temperature is implausible or unstable
- Check the 3.3 V and ground connections, the divider junction, and that the junction reaches
IN06. - Confirm the resistor is 2.2 kΩ and the thermistor is the expected 10 kΩ NTC part.
- Check that the conversion helper matches the actual thermistor and circuit. A floating ADC input or incorrect calibration can produce extreme values.
- Move the sensor away from warm fingers and nearby electronics. Increase averaging only if the display remains noisy after wiring and conversion are checked.
Display is blank
- Confirm USB power and that the editor recognizes the correct Oxocard.
- Run a minimal display example, then add sensor conversion after the display has been verified.
- Re-transfer the known-good script and check for errors that stop execution before the first screen update.
Alarm is silent
- Test the piezo independently, confirm its wiring and output pin, and check the PWM configuration.
- For diagnosis only, temporarily lower the threshold or display the current alarm state; restore the intended threshold afterward.
Servo jitters or does not move
- Verify signal, power, and ground connections and test at a fixed neutral position with 50 Hz PWM.
- Limit the position range and remove mechanical load. Check the documented power capability before changing the supply arrangement.
MQTT connection fails
- Check Wi-Fi, broker address, port, protocol, credentials, and whether the broker is reachable from the device’s network.
- Test the broker with another client on the same network. Show connection errors on the Oxocard and retry rather than assuming a one-time connection always succeeds.
Ways to extend the prototype
Once the basic build is stable, useful additions include a joystick- or potentiometer-adjustable setpoint, a moving average, minimum/maximum history, an on-screen alarm and network status, and a last-publish time. A digital temperature sensor may offer better repeatability than an inexpensive thermistor divider, though it changes the circuit and code. Any real actuator experiment needs a separately designed, appropriately rated and isolated control stage; the servo in this tutorial is not that stage.
The kit makes sense for learners who want a guided combination of breadboarding, programming, display output, PWM, and Wi-Fi experiments in one ecosystem. It is less compelling if all you need is a one-off temperature reading, or if your goal is a production-ready home thermostat. The standard kit’s component count and the Make: Edition’s description are not interchangeable; check the exact edition before buying. The Make: project page displays $90, but that is an article-page price signal, not a verified current retail price.
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