Unit PoE CAM-W v1.1 Home Assistant Integration

This tutorial describes how to connect Unit PoE CAM-W v1.1 to Home Assistant.

Preparation

• Home Assistant host
• Install and enable ESPHome Builder in Home Assistant
• W5500 Datasheet
• OV3660 Datasheet
• View the latest configuration examples on ESPHome:
  • Ethernet
  • ESP32 Camera

Note

• In this tutorial, the kit is compiled and uploaded under ESPHome 2025.10.3. If you encounter compilation / upload issues, consider switching ESPHome to this version.

Create Device

1. Open ESPHome Builder, click NEW DEVICE in the lower right corner to create a new device.

2. Click CONTINUE in the pop-up window.

3. Select New Device Setup to create a new configuration file.

4. Name the new configuration file.

5. Select the device type, keep the default configuration here, and select ESP32.

6. Copy the Encryption Key for backup, and click SKIP to skip.

Configuration

1. Click EDIT under the generated configuration file card to edit.

2. Open the configuration file for modification, and configure Wi-Fi or Ethernet according to the network type you wish to use.

If using the Ethernet component, the Wi-Fi component needs to be commented out.

# Wi-Fi or Ethernet, you can only enable one of it
# wifi:
#   ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
#   password: !secret wifi_password

#   # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
#   ap:
#     ssid: "unit-poe-cam-w-v1-rev1"
#     password: ""

ethernet:
  type: W5500
  clk_pin: GPIO23
  mosi_pin: GPIO13
  miso_pin: GPIO38
  cs_pin: GPIO4
  clock_speed: 20MHz

3. Add the I2C component and ESP32 Camera component.

i2c:
  - id: cam_i2c
    sda: GPIO14
    scl: GPIO12

esp32_camera:
  name: "OV3660 Camera"
  i2c_id: cam_i2c
  external_clock:
    pin: GPIO27
    frequency: 20MHz
  data_pins: [GPIO32, GPIO35, GPIO34, GPIO5, GPIO39, GPIO18, GPIO36, GPIO19]
  vsync_pin: GPIO22
  href_pin: GPIO26
  pixel_clock_pin: GPIO21
  reset_pin: GPIO15

4. Add button components and LED components.

binary_sensor:
  - platform: gpio
    name: "Button"
    pin:
      number: GPIO37
      inverted: true

output:
  - platform: ledc
    pin:
      number: GPIO0
      inverted: true
    id: status_led

light:
  - platform: monochromatic
    output: status_led
    name: "Status LED"
    id: sled
    restore_mode: RESTORE_DEFAULT_ON

5. After the modification is complete, click SAVE and INSTALL, and select Manual Download in the pop-up options.

6. After the compilation is complete, click the Download button and select Factory Format to download the firmware.

Download and Burn Firmware

1. Connect the kit to the host via the burner board, open ESPHome Web, and click CONNECT to connect the device.

2. Click INSTALL and select the previously compiled firmware for uploading.

3. Click INSTALL again to burn, and wait for the burning to complete.

Start Using

1. After completing the firmware burning, the device will automatically perform Wi-Fi connection when powered on. The Home Assistant service will automatically discover the new device. Select the new device in Notifications and click Check it out -> CONFIGURE, following the pop-up steps to add the device to the specified area to complete the configuration.

2. If you do not receive a new device notification, you can also navigate to Settings -> Device & services to view the device status. Click Add to add the device to Home Assistant.

Dashboard Example:

Click on the camera entity to view the real-time preview screen.

Video