Smart Plug Hardware Mod for 100% Local Home Assistant ESPHome Integration • FEIT Electric

Human written script, human filmed footage and HUMAN VOICE. Unfortunately, that's actually my human face as well!.

Only the backdrop image was created using AI.

Exact product I used in this video (Amazon Affiliate Link):
* https://amzn.to/3ZNu3iR

ESP-01 Pack of 5 (if you look for cheaper ones, often you'll receive more than one "dud"... these work well in my experience!)
* https://amzn.to/3OAagkq

USB Programmer for the ESP-01 (I kept calling it FTDI, this one is a CH340 UART):
* https://amzn.to/46jGuGJ

** UPDATE **
If you're using Windows to program ESP-01 boards, the above is not the best choice (driver issues with the CH340 chip) and becomes a nightmare. On Linux (Pi or otherwise) it "just works".

This video is somewhat technical, but the principal should be universally understandable: Your devices are gathering more and more data, under the guise of being "Smart". Yet we continue to accept the Terms of Use and install the app, and volunteer our data to an overseas (or even domestic) company just for a minor convenience feature.

This is NOT required to be the case. There is NO REASON a "smart plug" has to connect to anything outside of your own home!

** I nearly forgot to link the YAML file. Here it is with a .txt extension for browser compatibility, just keep the indentation correct as YAML is extremely picky on that!
* https://justinnelsonsprojects.com/ha/feit-switch.yaml.txt

I'm hoping the term "Unshittification" catches on. See the video for the white-board definition I drew up ❌💩✖️

I don't know if I'm the first to use it, but it accurately describes the process of removing "lockout" features from a device and putting YOU back in control.

I refuse to buy into the "YOU WILL OWN NOTHING, AND YOU WILL BE HAPPY" nonsense. Fight for Right to Repair!

Speaking of, I used a still from a Louis Rossmann video, which you can watch here:
▶ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLeorZWkWGE

Thanks for Watching!

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Unless otherwise noted, all Video Content and music is original, and © 2026 by Justin Nelson via JRN Enterprise, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Otherwise Noted:
The background image is AI generated; no AI is used to misrepresent or make something appear real that is not. It's an obviously cartoonish image of a messy electronics office...

The child-like whiteboard drawings on the other hand are my own... 🤣

Some stock video clips used are licensed by Storyblocks via MAGIX Vegas Pro license.

Please reach out to my Storyblocks Account Manager, Shelby Wolford, at shelby@storyblocks.com if you have any questions.

EULA for Vegas Pro:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13ayZ4j4oGMqSVRh4lpFngTxCmAPhrXFH/view?usp=sharing

** Chapters for YouTube **
00:00 - Premise
00:46 - New Home Automation Series
01:09 - DIY vs Modify?
02:45 - How These are Constructed
04:28 - Measure & Confirm Voltages
05:07 - Which Microcontroller to Use?
05:30 - Problems with the ESP32 C3 Super Mini...
05:59 - The Choice has been Made
07:32 - Test the Micro before Soldering
08:20 - The Wiring Diagram
09:02 - Enough FO, let's Find Out!
09:45 - I Coin a New Term (maybe?)
09:56 - Reassembly
10:40 - Upcoming ESPHome Projects
11:15 - Leave Comments! And Subscribe!

Видео Smart Plug Hardware Mod for 100% Local Home Assistant ESPHome Integration • FEIT Electric канала Justin Nelson's Projects