RFID card readers, which often use a Wiegand interface as a standard, can be found in businesses and other areas that need to restrict access to certain areas. We featured an ESP8266 WiFi breakout meant to work with these readers earlier this year, and Vedran Alajbegovic of AdvanceIT wrote in to let me know that he has come up with a new upgraded version.
The most obvious difference is its larger size and expanded screw terminals. This allows it to take in a single 12V power source for the board, reader, and lock, simplifying wiring tasks. It can take input from a doorbell button on the reader, either taking this in as an input , or directly passing it on the chime/buzzer. The device also has a tiny onboard relay, allowing it to control a locking mechanism connected directly to the board or via external power.
Vedran has a nice explainer video seen below, and the device looks like a very useful tool to keep certain areas secure. Along with securing doors, one could see other applications for this type of reader, perhaps using one or several as a unique home automation or robotics input device.
If you’d like to see your product featured here, or want to let us know about a significant upgrade, don’t be afraid to ping @Tindie on Twitter!
