rgrs.xyz

Enchanted Liquor Cabinet

Enchanted Liquor Cabinet
3 min read
code Home Automation

An ESPHome-powered lighting and audio makeover for a built-in liquor cabinet using WS2812B LEDs, reed switches, and an ESP32.

Enchanted Liquor Cabinet

This started as a project to replace the terrible lighting in a built‑in cabinet. I wanted even illumination across the whole cabinet, which meant placing lights throughout — and then things escalated quickly from there.

Repo: https://github.com/abnormalend/enchanted_liquor_cabinet

Videos

First working song

Other routines

Goals

  • Even, bright lighting across shelves and compartments.
  • Automatic on/off behavior tied to door state.
  • Fun: programmable animations and optional sound effects.
  • Integrate cleanly with Home Assistant via ESPHome.

Hardware

See the full BOM in hardware/README.md in the repo. Core components I used:

  • Two 16‑pixel WS2812B rings (accent lighting)
  • One 5m WS2812B LED strip, 60 LED/m (shelf lighting)
  • Four magnetic reed switches (door sensors)
  • DFPlayer mini + 3W 40mm speakers + PAM8403 amplifier (sound effects)
  • ESP32 dev board (WROOM‑32)
  • 5V power supply sized for your total LED load
  • Printed fittings and mounts (STLs in the repo)

Hardware README: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/abnormalend/enchanted_liquor_cabinet/HEAD/hardware/README.md

Wiring Notes

  • Power the WS2812B LEDs with a stable 5V supply. Inject power at both ends for long runs.
  • Common ground between the ESP32, LEDs, DFPlayer, and amplifier.
  • Level shifting for data can improve signal integrity on long runs; short runs often work direct from the ESP32.
  • Place reed switches so they reliably change state with door movement; debounce in software if needed.

ESPHome Overview

The project runs on ESPHome for easy configuration, OTA updates, and Home Assistant integration. Typical features to configure:

  • Binary sensors for each reed switch (cabinet doors)
  • Light outputs for the LED rings and the strip with preset effects
  • Automations to react to door open/close events (turn on lights, start animation, play sound)
  • Optional UART/serial control of the DFPlayer mini for audio cues

If you’re starting from scratch, the ESPHome docs have excellent examples for light:, binary_sensor:, and DFPlayer integrations.

Behavior

  • Doors open → lights fade in to a preset brightness and animation.
  • Doors closed → lights fade out after a short delay.
  • Optional: trigger a chime or ambient sound effect on first open.
  • Expose controls in Home Assistant to select scenes/animations.

Lessons Learned

  • Budget ample power and plan for power injection on longer LED runs.
  • Keep wiring tidy and serviceable; printed mounts help a lot.
  • Reed switch placement matters — test alignment before committing.
  • ESPHome makes iteration fast; split config logically to keep it readable.

What’s Next

  • Add more scene presets (holiday themes, ambient modes).
  • Smooth ambient audio loop with volume control.
  • Presence‑based dimming at night.
  • Optional override button inside the cabinet.

Gallery

Original cabinet lighting before the upgrade
New 3d printed LED lighting
Electronics that run the cabinet (ESP32, amplifier, power, etc.)
Finished cabinet with ESPHome-powered illumination and effects