e-WeatherDry – Smart Outdoor Laundry Drying Assistant

1. What is your project about?

e-WeatherDry is an intelligent weather assistant designed to help people decide when it is best to dry laundry outdoors. The project combines real-time weather data from OpenWeather with my proprietary drying algorithm running on an ESP32-S3 CrowPanel device with an e-paper display.

Unlike traditional weather applications, e-WeatherDry does not simply display forecasts. It analyzes multiple weather parameters, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, cloud cover, UV index, sunrise and sunset times, dew point, and expected rainfall, to provide a simple decision:

“Hang the laundry outside” or “Dry laundry indoors.”

The system also estimates drying time and warns users when rain is approaching, helping prevent laundry from getting wet.

2. How does it work?

Step 1 – Weather Data Collection

The ESP32-S3 connects to Wi-Fi and retrieves current and forecast weather data from the OpenWeather API.

Step 2 – Smart Analysis

The proprietary algorithm evaluates:

• Temperature

• Relative humidity

• Dew point difference

• Wind speed

• UV radiation

• Cloud coverage

• Sunrise and sunset

• Rain probability

• Expected rainfall timing

Step 3 – Drying Index Calculation

The algorithm calculates a Laundry Drying Index ranging from 0 to 100.

Step 4 – Decision Making

Based on the calculated index, the device recommends:

• Hang the laundry outside

• Dry the laundry indoors

• Bring the laundry in immediately if rain is approaching

Step 5 – User-Friendly Display

The result is shown on a low-power e-paper display, which remains readable even in bright sunlight and consumes very little energy.

3. Hardware Used

• CrowPanel ESP32-S3

• 4.2-inch E-Paper Display

• Wi-Fi Connectivity

• OpenWeather API

4. Key Features

• Proprietary laundry drying algorithm

• Real-time weather analysis

• Rain warning system

• Drying time estimation

• Ultra-low power consumption

• Outdoor-readable e-paper interface

• Automatic updates every 15 minutes

5. Why is this project useful?

Many people waste time checking weather forecasts and still struggle to decide whether laundry will dry outside. e-WeatherDry transforms complex weather information into a simple and practical recommendation.

The project can help households:

• Save time

• Avoid re-washing rain-soaked laundry

• Reduce energy consumption from tumble dryers

• Make better use of natural drying conditions

6. Future Development

Future versions may include:

• Mobile app integration

• Push notifications

• AI-enhanced drying predictions

• Support for multiple locations

• Historical performance analysis

e-WeatherDry demonstrates how embedded systems, weather data, and intelligent algorithms can solve an everyday household problem in a simple and practical way.

Installation Guide – e-WeatherDry

Overview

e-WeatherDry is a smart outdoor laundry drying assistant running on the CrowPanel ESP32-S3 with a 4.2-inch e-paper display. The device retrieves real-time weather data from OpenWeather and uses a proprietary drying algorithm to determine whether laundry should be dried outdoors.

Hardware Requirements

• CrowPanel ESP32-S3 4.2" E-Paper Display
• USB-C cable
• Wi-Fi connection
• Computer with Arduino IDE installed

Software Requirements

Install the following software:

Arduino IDE

Download and install Arduino IDE:

https://www.arduino.cc/en/software

ESP32 Board Package

1. Open Arduino IDE.
2. Go to File → Preferences.
3. In Additional Board Manager URLs, add:

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/gh-pages/package_esp32_index.json

4. Open Tools → Board → Boards Manager.
5. Search for ESP32.
6. Install the latest ESP32 package by Espressif.

Required Libraries

Install the following libraries through the Arduino Library Manager:

• GxEPD2
• Adafruit GFX Library
• ArduinoJson

To install:

1. Open Sketch → Include Library → Manage Libraries.
2. Search for each library.
3. Click Install.

OpenWeather API Setup

1. Create an account at:

https://openweathermap.org

2. Generate an API key.
3. Open the file:

e-WeatherDry_English_ready_ESP32S3.ino

4. Replace:

String apiKey = "YOUR_OPENWEATHER_API_KEY";

with your own API key.

Wi-Fi Configuration

Replace the following placeholders with your own credentials:

const char* ssid_home = "YOUR_WIFI_NAME";
const char* pass_home = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD";

const char* ssid_travel = "YOUR_SECOND_WIFI_NAME";
const char* pass_travel = "YOUR_SECOND_WIFI_PASSWORD";

Location Configuration

Set your location coordinates:

String lat_home = "49.9775";
String lon_home = "18.9416";

You can obtain coordinates from Google Maps.

Uploading the Firmware

1. Connect the CrowPanel ESP32-S3 via USB-C.
2. Select the correct ESP32-S3 board in Arduino IDE.
3. Select the correct COM port.
4. Click Upload.
5. Wait until flashing is complete.

How It Works

The device:

1. Connects to Wi-Fi.
2. Downloads weather data from OpenWeather.
3. Calculates the Laundry Drying Index.
4. Displays one of the following recommendations:

• Hang the Laundry
• Dry Laundry Indoors
• Take Laundry In

5. Updates automatically every 15 minutes.

Power Saving

The ESP32-S3 enters Deep Sleep mode after each update and wakes automatically every 15 minutes, significantly reducing power consumption.

Project Author

Adam Mrozek

e-WeatherDry – Smart Outdoor Laundry Drying Assistant