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Product Wiki: 10.1-Inch Home Assistant Smart Control Panel (Elecrow CrowPanel ESP32-P4)

Table of Contents

  1. What Is This Product?
  2. Key Features
  3. Hardware Specifications
  4. System Architecture and How It Works
  5. Unboxing Checklist and Prerequisites
  6. Ten-Minute Quick Start
  7. Part One: Home Assistant Server Setup
  8. Part Two: Panel Setup
  9. Daily Use
  10. Firmware Updates
  11. Troubleshooting
  12. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  13. Security and Privacy Information
  14. References
  15. Glossary

1. What Is This Product?

This is a 10.1-inch, ready-to-use Home Assistant wall-mounted control panel, built on the Elecrow CrowPanel Advanced 10.1" ESP32-P4 HMI platform (SKU: DHE01101C).

It ships with dedicated Home Assistant firmware preinstalled. You do not need to write ESP32 programs or develop an LVGL interface. Setup consists of just three steps:

  1. Configure the network — Connect the panel to Wi-Fi;
  2. Enter the settings — Enter your Home Assistant server address and account credentials on the panel;
  3. Install the add-on — Install the official companion add-on on your Home Assistant server.

Once setup is complete, the panel displays the dashboard you already have in Home Assistant—the same cards, scenes, switches, and entities. Changes you make to your dashboard in Home Assistant automatically appear on the panel, without requiring you to maintain a separate interface on the panel.

It is not a standalone hub. The panel cannot replace a Home Assistant server and does not include an automation engine. It is an "always-online" wall-mounted control terminal (thin client).

Note: The 10.1-inch display ships without a housing (the official product page explicitly states: This 10.1-inch screen does not include the housing).

Use Cases

Always-on wall-mounted central control panels, lighting and scene control, temperature and humidity monitoring and HVAC monitoring, energy consumption dashboards, EV charging control, solar power generation dashboards, security and sensor dashboards, and home/building automation.

Typical Users

Users who already have a Home Assistant server and want a dedicated touchscreen without having to configure ESP32 firmware and develop an HMI interface themselves.

2. Key Features

Feature Description
Home Assistant Ready Preinstalled firmware; configure Wi-Fi and enter the server address to get started
Ready to Use No ESP32 programming or HMI development required
10.1" IPS Touchscreen 1024 × 600 resolution with responsive capacitive touch
Direct Wi-Fi Connection Connects directly to your existing Home Assistant server
No Interface Development Required Reuses existing dashboards, cards, scenes, and controls
Powerful ESP32-P4 Processing Dual-core RISC-V processor for smooth HMI rendering
Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 6 with BT 5.3 / BLE support
Built-In Audio Dual speakers + microphone for interactive control, with provisions for voice features
Extensive Expansion Options GPIO, UART, I²C, USB-C, SD card, and optional wireless modules

3. Hardware Specifications

3.1 Processor and Memory

Item Specification
Main Chip ESP32-P4NRW32
CPU / SoC ESP32-P4; HP system: 32-bit dual-core RISC-V, up to 400 MHz; LP system: 32-bit single-core RISC-V, up to 40 MHz
System Memory 768 KB L2MEM (HP), 32 KB SRAM (LP), 8 KB TCM, 32 MB PSRAM
Storage 128 KB ROM (HP), 16 KB ROM (LP), 16 MB Flash
Development Environment ESP-IDF, Arduino IDE (no development required for everyday use of this product)
Firmware Preinstalled Home Assistant firmware (Ready-to-use)

3.2 Display

Item Specification
Size 10.1 inches
Resolution 1024 × 600
Panel Type IPS
Touch Capacitive touch, single-touch / 5-point multitouch
Viewing Angle 178°
Brightness 400 cd/m² (typical)
Color Depth 16.7M (8-bit)

The 1024 × 600 resolution is critical: the server-side add-on captures the display at a fixed resolution of 1024 × 600. The panel resolution must match; otherwise, the image will be cropped or scaled.

3.3 Wireless Connectivity (Onboard Antenna)

Item Specification
Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz (Wi-Fi 6), 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.3 + BLE
Optional Zigbee, LoRa, nRF2401, Matter, Thread, Wi-Fi HaLow (requires an additional wireless module)

3.4 Interfaces and Functions

Item Specification
Interfaces USB 2.0, UART, I²C, GPIO female headers, SD card slot, battery connector, speaker connector, camera pin header, module female headers, etc.
Functions Audio power amplifier, battery charging management, USB-to-UART, microphone, dual speakers

3.5 Buttons and Indicators

Item Description
Reset Button Included; press to reset the device
Boot Button Included; press and hold the power button to flash a program
Power Button Turns the device on or off
PWR Indicator Indicates whether the device is on or off
CHG Indicator Lithium battery charging status / low-battery status

3.6 Physical Specifications and Mounting

Item Specification
Total Weight (Including Packaging/Accessories) Approximately 960 g
Mounting Method Mounting holes around the perimeter (M3, 3.2 mm)
Speaker Connector Model BX-PH 2.0-2PWT, 1×2P, 2 mm pitch, 8 × 8.5 × 5.6 mm, horizontal SMT mount
Housing Not included

4. System Architecture and How It Works

Understanding this architecture helps explain most of the behavior you will observe during use.

System Architecture and How It Works

The text diagram below illustrates the same architecture for viewing in plain-text environments:

┌───────────────────────────────────────┐
│   Home Assistant Server               │
│   (HA OS + Supervisor)                │
│                                       │
│   ┌─────────────────────────────────┐ │
│   │ Add-on: Elecrow ESP32P4          │ │
│   │ Display (crow_ws_panel)         │ │
│   │                                 │ │
│   │  · Xvfb virtual display         │ │
│   │  · Headless Chromium            │ │
│   │    opens the HA dashboard       │ │
│   │  · Image tiling + change        │ │
│   │    detection                    │ │
│   │  · JPEG compression of changed  │ │
│   │    tiles only                   │ │
│   │  · WebSocket service:3000       │ │
│   └─────────────────────────────────┘ │
└───────────────────┬───────────────────┘
                    │  Binary WebSocket (image tiles sent to panel + touch events returned)
                    │  Container port 3000
                    ▼
┌───────────────────────────────────────┐
│   10.1" ESP32-P4 Panel                 │
│   · Draws image tiles                 │
│   · Returns touch / navigation events │
│   · Does not run a browser engine     │
└───────────────────────────────────────┘

Key Mechanisms:

  • The image is not rendered on the panel. The panel displays an image stream rendered by headless Chromium on the server. The panel handles "drawing tiles" and "reporting touch input"; the browser, login, and cookies are all managed on the server.
  • Incremental transmission. The add-on divides the image into tiles and sends only changed tiles after JPEG compression, using significantly less bandwidth than streaming the entire screen.
  • Fixed parameters (current version): Capture resolution: 1024 × 600; frame rate: 15 fps; start page: http://homeassistant:8123. The start page uses Supervisor's internal hostname, so it does not depend on your external or local network address.
  • Single client. Each add-on instance currently serves only one panel. A new connection disconnects the previous panel and restarts the capture process (officially identified as a "limitation of the current version").
  • Session persistence. After the first successful login, the Home Assistant frontend session (hassTokens) is saved to /data/tokens/<id>.json using the panel's id. Subsequent connections reuse the session and skip the login page.
  • Credentials are transmitted in plaintext through the WebSocket query string. This is explicitly identified as a limitation of the current version, so the panel and Home Assistant must be on a trusted network.

Port Overview:

Port Location Purpose
3000 Add-on container (can be mapped to a host port) WebSocket channel for the image stream + touch input; this is the port entered in the panel's WS Port field
8123 Home Assistant HA web interface accessed by the add-on's internal browser

5. Unboxing Checklist and Prerequisites

Prerequisites (Official Requirements)

  • A running Home Assistant server;
  • An available Wi-Fi network (2.4 GHz);
  • Home Assistant login credentials (username + password);
  • A USB cable that supports data transfer (not a charge-only cable).

Items to Prepare for Setup

  • The 10.1" ESP32-P4 panel (housing not included);
  • A USB power cable and 5V power adapter;
  • M3 mounting screws (for wall mounting, use the 3.2 mm mounting holes around the perimeter);
  • Your Home Assistant server address (for example, http://homeassistant.local:8123 or a local network IP address such as http://192.168.x.x:8123).

6. Ten-Minute Quick Start

For detailed instructions, see Section 7 and Section 8.

  1. Server: Home Assistant → Settings → Add-ons → ⋮ in the upper-right corner → Repositories → Add https://github.com/fintros/crow-ha.
  2. Server: Search for and install the Elecrow ESP32P4 Display add-on, enable Start on boot and Watchdog, click Start, and wait for the status to change to Running.
  3. Panel: Connect power using a USB cable and wait for startup (the first startup may take 1–2 minutes).
  4. Panel: Tap the gear icon in the upper-right corner to open Settings → Wi-Fi, select your network, and enter the password.
  5. Panel: If a firmware update prompt appears, select Update (do not disconnect power during the update).
  6. Panel: Open Settings → Home Assistant, enter the server address and account credentials, and set WS Port to 3000.
  7. Panel: Return to the Home Assistant interface. The panel automatically connects and opens your dashboard.

7. Part One: Home Assistant Server Setup

Complete this before setting up the panel. Original section title in the official manual: Setting Up Your Home Assistant Server.

Step 1: Open Home Assistant in a Browser

Use a browser to access your Home Assistant instance (for example, http://homeassistant.local:8123) and sign in with an administrator account.

Step 2: Open the Add-on Store

Settings → Apps / Add-ons → Install app.

Step 3: Open Repository Management

Click the three-dot menu ⋮ in the upper-right corner and select Repositories.

Step 4: Add the Third-Party Repository

Click Add and enter the repository address:

https://github.com/fintros/crow-ha

Confirm the addition.

Step 5: Return to the Add-on Store

Click the back arrow to exit the "Repositories" page.

Step 6: Search for the Add-on

Enter Elecrow in the search field and locate the Elecrow ESP32P4 Display add-on.

Step 7: Install the Add-on

Open Elecrow ESP32P4 Display, click Install, and wait for the installation to complete.

The add-on pulls the prebuilt image grovety/crow-ws-server rather than building it locally, so installation is usually quick.

Step 8: Enable Key Options

Open the installed add-on's page and enable:

  • Start on boot — Recommended;
  • Watchdog — Recommended.

Step 9: Start the Add-on and Confirm Its Status

Click Start. Wait for the status to change to Running.

Verification Checklist:

  • The add-on status shows Running;
  • Both Start on boot and Watchdog are enabled;
  • The add-on's Log shows that the WebSocket service is listening on port 3000 (a connection entry will appear after the panel connects).

Changing the Port (Optional): The add-on's WebSocket service always listens on container port 3000. To use a different host port, open the add-on's Network panel, map 3000/tcp to the desired host port, and restart the add-on. Then enter the new port in the panel's WS Port field.

8. Part Two: Panel Setup

Original section title in the official manual: Panel Setup. Complete the server setup in Section 7 first.

Step 1: Connect Power and Start the Panel

Connect the panel to power using a USB cable and wait for it to start.

The first startup may take 1–2 minutes. Please wait patiently and avoid repeatedly disconnecting power.

During startup, the screen displays Waiting for WiFi..., and Wi-Fi and gear icons appear in the upper-right corner.

Step 2: Open Settings

Tap the gear icon in the upper-right corner to open Settings.

Step 3: Select a Wi-Fi Network

Open the Wi-Fi tab and select your network from the Available Networks list (the list shows signal strength, such as -64 dBm).

Step 4: Enter the Password and Save

Enter your Wi-Fi password in the password dialog and tap Confirm. A Show button lets you temporarily view the password in plaintext.

Confirm the Connection: The network name should show a Connected status.

If Your Network Is Not Listed: Exit the Wi-Fi page and reopen it to trigger another scan.

If the network does not show "Not connected", do not proceed to the next step.

Step 5: Install a Firmware Update (If Prompted)

If the panel displays a Firmware update available prompt (showing the current and target versions):

  1. Expand Release notes to view the changes;
  2. Tap Update to begin the update;
  3. Do not disconnect power or disconnect the panel during the update or restart.

Strong Recommendation: Update the firmware to the latest version before configuring Home Assistant. Older versions may have connection or TLS issues (such as those addressed by fixes like 1.1.1: TLS replace request).

Step 6: Open the Home Assistant Settings Page

On the panel, open: Settings → Home Assistant.

This page contains four sections:

Section Description
Server URL Home Assistant server address
Account Login username (Login) and password (Password)
WS Port WebSocket port, default: 3000
Setup via QR Scan a QR code to configure from your phone (displays Connected to <your Wi-Fi> and Setup Page <IP>)

Status badges on the right: CONFIGURED = configured; DEFAULT = using the default value.

Step 7: Enter the Server Address

In Server URL, enter your Home Assistant server address, for example:

http://homeassistant.local:8123

Tip: If your router or network environment has limited mDNS (*.local) support, entering the local network IP address directly is more reliable, for example, http://192.168.0.109:8123.

Be sure to enter the complete address including port 8123, which is the port used by the Home Assistant web interface.

Step 8: Enter Your Home Assistant Account Credentials

In Account, enter your Home Assistant username and password.

Official Recommendation: Create a separate Home Assistant user for the panel (for example, panel). This makes it easier to: - Manage the panel's access permissions for entities and dashboards separately; - Revoke or replace the panel's credentials at any time without affecting your primary account.

Step 9: Enter the WS Port

In the WS Port field, enter:

3000

(If you changed the add-on's host port mapping in Section 7, enter the corresponding new port here.)

Step 10: Return and Connect

Return to the Home Assistant interface. The panel automatically connects to the server and opens your Home Assistant dashboard.

Verification Checklist:

  • Server URL, Account, and WS Port each show CONFIGURED (or DEFAULT) on the right;
  • The panel successfully loads your Home Assistant dashboard;
  • Touch input responds, and you can switch tabs and scroll;
  • A panel connection entry appears in the server-side add-on logs.

Alternative QR Code Setup: The bottom of the Home Assistant page provides Setup via QR. Scanning the QR code with your phone opens the panel's configuration page (the address is the IP shown under Setup Page, such as 192.168.0.102). You can enter and submit your Home Assistant connection details directly from your phone. Similarly, the Wi-Fi page provides a Setup via mobile QR code (1. Connect to ESP32-P4-Config / 2. Open setup 192.168.4.1) for network setup when no screen is available or keyboard input is inconvenient.

9. Daily Use

Interface Access

The panel's main interface is your Home Assistant dashboard. Two persistent icons appear in the upper-right corner:

  • Wi-Fi Icon — Network status;
  • Gear Icon — Opens Settings.

Settings Page Structure

Three tabs are arranged vertically on the left:

Tab Contents
System System settings, including checking for and installing firmware updates
Wi-Fi Network selection, password, connection status, and Wi-Fi setup by scanning a QR code with a phone
Home Assistant Server address, account credentials, WS port, QR code setup, and the HA OS Application entry

The ← back button in the lower-left corner exits settings.

Editing the Dashboard

No action is required on the panel. Edit dashboards, add or remove cards, and adjust entities in Home Assistant; the panel's display updates automatically (the server renders and streams the image in real time).

Using Multiple Panels

The current version of the add-on supports a single client: each add-on instance serves only one panel, and a new connection replaces the previous connection. To operate multiple panels simultaneously, deploy multiple add-on instances (or wait for support in a future version).

10. Firmware Updates

From CrowPanel_Quick_Update_Guide_v3.pdf: If the panel is not working properly or behaves abnormally, the first step is to check for firmware updates.

Ensure the panel is connected to Wi-Fi before updating.

Step Action
Step 1 Tap the Settings icon on the main screen
Step 2 Select System in Settings, then tap Check in the Firmware update section
Step 3 If an update is available, a confirmation dialog appears; tap Update
Step 4 Wait for the firmware to finish downloading and installing.
Step 5 After restarting, go to Settings → System again, check the version number shown in the Firmware update section, and confirm that the update completed successfully

Update Notes:

  • You must connect to Wi-Fi first; otherwise, updates cannot be checked;
  • Power loss during the update may cause device malfunctions. Ensure a stable power supply;
  • The panel's built-in version prompt displays both Current version and New version, along with Release notes;
  • Keeping the server-side add-on updated is recommended (the add-on page has an Auto update switch).

11. Troubleshooting

Server Side (Add-on)

Symptom Possible Cause and Resolution
Panel displays a black screen / connection refused Confirm that the add-on is in Started status and that you are connecting to the host port mapped in the Network panel
Stuck on the login screen Check whether the username and password entered on the panel are correct; search the add-on logs for [JS] Login failed
Display is cropped or scaled The capture resolution is fixed at 1024 × 600. Set the panel to the same resolution
Force a new login Log out from the Home Assistant interface, or stop the add-on and delete /data/tokens/<id>.json
Dashboard is incorrect / HA cannot be accessed The add-on's start page is fixed at http://homeassistant:8123 and cannot be configured in the current version. If your HA is not reachable at this address, adjust HA or wait for the add-on to support custom addresses
Add-on is not visible after installation Close and reopen the repository dialog, then wait for Home Assistant to refresh the add-on list

Panel Side

Symptom Possible Cause and Resolution
No response for a long time after first boot The first startup takes 1–2 minutes. This is normal; please wait
My network is not listed in the Wi-Fi list Exit the Wi-Fi page and re-enter it; the panel will scan again. Confirm that you are using the 2.4 GHz band
Continuously shows Not connected Check the password; confirm that AP isolation or MAC filtering is not enabled on the router
Failed to connect to the server Confirm that the Server URL format includes http:// and :8123; use the LAN IP instead of homeassistant.local
Display does not refresh / is frozen First check for firmware updates; then confirm that the server-side add-on is still running; finally check network stability
Panel behaves abnormally Check for firmware updates first (see Section 10)

General Troubleshooting Order

  1. Is the panel actually connected to Wi-Fi? (Settings → Wi-Fi, check Connected)
  2. Is the panel firmware up to date? (Settings → System → Check)
  3. Is the server-side add-on Running? (HA → Add-ons → Elecrow ESP32P4 Display)
  4. Is WS Port set to 3000 (or the host port you mapped)?
  5. Try replacing *.local in Server URL with the LAN IP?
  6. Are the HA account credentials correct, and is the user enabled?

12. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Do I need to write programs or design an interface for the panel myself?
No. The firmware is preinstalled, and the interface directly reuses your existing Home Assistant dashboard. No ESP32 programming or LVGL development is required.

Q2: Can the panel work independently?
No. It is not an independent smart home hub and requires a running Home Assistant server.

Q3: Does the panel render locally or mirror the screen remotely?
It mirrors the screen remotely. The server-side add-on renders Home Assistant pages in headless Chromium, compresses them into tiles, and pushes them to the panel via WebSocket. The panel renders the tiles and sends touch events back.

Q4: Why must WS Port be set to 3000?
The WebSocket service inside the add-on container listens on port 3000 by default. The panel uses it to receive the display and send touch input back. You only need to enter a different port if you modify the add-on's host port mapping.

Q5: Should Server URL be homeassistant.local:8123 or an IP address?
Either works, but using the LAN IP is recommended (for example, http://192.168.0.109:8123). mDNS resolution may be unstable on some routers or network environments.

Q6: Can I log in to the panel using my main account?
Yes, but it is recommended to create a separate Home Assistant user for the panel to simplify permission isolation and credential revocation.

Q7: Can multiple panels be connected simultaneously?
The current version of the add-on supports a single client: one panel per add-on instance. Multiple panels require multiple instances.

Q8: Can I disconnect power while updating the firmware?
No. Power loss during the update or restart may prevent the device from booting. Also ensure that Wi-Fi is connected before starting the update.

Q9: Does it include an enclosure from the factory?
No. The official product page clearly states that the 10.1-inch display does not include an enclosure.

Q10: What is the screen resolution?
1024 × 600, IPS, capacitive touch, 178° viewing angle, and 400 cd/m² brightness.

Q11: Does it support voice control?
The hardware includes dual speakers and a microphone. The official description states that it "supports interactive control and reserves space for future voice applications." Touch interaction is currently the primary method.

Q12: Does data pass through the cloud?
No. Rendering takes place on your local Home Assistant server, and the panel connects directly to the server over WebSocket on the LAN.

13. Security and Privacy Notice

Be sure to understand the current-version limitations explicitly identified in the official documentation:

  1. Credentials are transmitted in plain text. The panel sends the Home Assistant username and password in the WebSocket query string, without encryption. Therefore:
  2. Keep the panel and Home Assistant server on a trusted LAN and do not expose them to the public internet;
  3. Creating a separate, permission-limited Home Assistant user for the panel is recommended.
  4. The server side stores a long-lived session. The add-on stores the Home Assistant frontend session, including a non-expiring refresh_token with full account privileges, in plain text at /data/tokens/<id>.json. Protect the Home Assistant host.
  5. To force a new login: stop the add-on → delete the corresponding /data/tokens/<id>.json for the panel → restart the add-on.
  6. The add-on has no standalone display interface. It only serves connected physical panels; its output can be viewed only on the panel.

14. References

Workspace Documentation

  • User_Manual_of_10.1inch_ESP43-P4_Display_for_Home_Assistant.pdf — Official Setup Guide for CrowPanel with Home Assistant (server-side configuration + panel configuration, 10 steps)
  • CrowPanel_Quick_Update_Guide_v3.pdf — Official quick firmware update guide (5 steps)

Online Resources

15. Glossary

Term Meaning
Home Assistant (HA) An open-source local smart home platform; the server-side software this product depends on
Add-on / 加载项 / 插件 An extension application that runs in a container on Home Assistant OS. This product requires the Elecrow ESP32P4 Display add-on
Supervisor The component in Home Assistant OS that manages add-ons and the system
Server URL The Home Assistant address the panel connects to, such as http://homeassistant.local:8123
WS Port The WebSocket port used for the add-on's display stream and touch channel; the default is 3000
WS / WebSocket A full-duplex network protocol used by this product to transmit display tiles and touch events
Tile A rectangular region into which the display is divided; the add-on compresses and sends only regions that have changed
ESP32-P4 Espressif's high-performance dual-core RISC-V MCU, used as the product's main controller
PSRAM Pseudo-static random-access memory, 32 MB, used for graphics buffering
IPS Wide-viewing-angle LCD panel technology with a 178° viewing angle
mDNS / .local LAN hostname resolution; homeassistant.local is resolved this way, but it may be unstable on some networks
hassTokens Home Assistant frontend login session tokens, which the add-on stores persistently
thin client The product's architecture: the local device handles only display and input, while computation and rendering occur on the server
Firmware The ESP32 software on the panel, which can be updated online through Settings → System