NodeMCU
R 179.00
In Stock — 71 available

🔌 NodeMCU ESP8266 WiFi Development Board — Tasmota / ESPHome / WLED / Arduino Ready

The NodeMCU is a popular ESP8266-based WiFi development board with a built-in USB-to-serial adapter (CP2102/CH340), voltage regulator, and breadboard-friendly pin layout. Flash Tasmota, ESPHome, WLED, or custom Arduino/Lua firmware over USB — no external programmer needed. The go-to board for Home Assistant DIY projects, IoT sensors, LED controllers, and smart home automation. 4MB flash, 11 GPIO pins, 1× ADC.

ESP8266 development boards:

NodeMCU ESP8266 D1 Mini ESP8266
🚚
Free Delivery
Orders over R2,500
🇿🇦
Local Stock
Ships from Gauteng
📶
WiFi Built-In
2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n
⚡
USB Powered
Micro USB

⚡ Key Features

  • ESP8266 WiFi SoC — 80/160 MHz Tensilica L106, 2.4 GHz WiFi, 4MB flash memory
  • Built-In USB Programmer — CP2102 or CH340 USB-to-serial chip; flash firmware directly via Micro USB cable — no FTDI adapter or soldering needed
  • Breadboard Friendly — 30-pin DIP layout fits standard breadboards; wider than the D1 Mini, providing more room for jumper wires
  • 11 GPIO Pins — digital I/O, PWM, I²C, SPI, 1-Wire; plus 1× 10-bit ADC (A0, 0–3.3V)
  • 3.3V Logic — on-board voltage regulator powers the ESP8266 from 5V USB; GPIO pins are 3.3V (not 5V tolerant)
  • Tasmota Ready — flash Tasmota via USB for instant smart switch/sensor functionality with MQTT and Home Assistant auto-discovery
  • ESPHome Ready — define your device in YAML, compile, and flash OTA from Home Assistant; supports sensors, relays, LEDs, displays, and more
  • WLED Ready — flash WLED for instant control of WS2812B/SK6812 addressable LED strips with 200+ effects and a built-in web UI
  • Arduino IDE Compatible — program in C++ using the Arduino framework with thousands of available libraries
  • OTA Updates — once initially flashed via USB, all subsequent firmware updates can be pushed wirelessly over WiFi

🏠 Perfect For

🌈

LED Strip Controller (WLED)

Flash WLED onto the NodeMCU. Connect a WS2812B LED strip to GPIO2 via a 330Ω resistor. Instant smartphone control with 200+ effects, music sync, and Home Assistant integration.

🌡️

DIY Sensor Node

Connect a DHT22, BME280, DS18B20, or any I²C/SPI sensor. Flash ESPHome with a simple YAML config. The sensor appears in Home Assistant automatically — temperature, humidity, pressure, soil moisture, anything.

🔌

Smart Relay Controller

Wire a relay module (like the 8-channel relay) to the GPIOs. Flash Tasmota for a custom multi-channel smart switch with web UI, MQTT, and Alexa/Google voice control.

🏡

Home Assistant Projects

The NodeMCU is the backbone of countless Home Assistant DIY builds — garage door openers, irrigation controllers, mailbox sensors, water tank monitors, energy meters, and more. Pair with a Homekit Box for Apple Home integration.

🔀 NodeMCU vs D1 Mini — Which to Choose?

Both use the same ESP8266 chip and run the same firmware (Tasmota, ESPHome, WLED, Arduino). The main differences are physical:

NodeMCU — larger (48×25mm), 30 pins, more GPIOs broken out, fits breadboards with space on the sides, on-board RST and FLASH buttons. Better for prototyping and projects with multiple sensors/peripherals.

D1 Mini — compact (34×25mm), 16 pins, fewer GPIOs but enough for most single-purpose projects (LED strip, relay, sensor). Better for permanent installations where space is limited (fits inside project boxes and switch enclosures).

💡 First time with ESPHome? Install the ESPHome add-on in Home Assistant, create a new device, select "ESP8266", and paste in your YAML config. Click "Install" → "Plug into this computer" for the initial USB flash. After that, all updates happen wirelessly over WiFi (OTA). The Homekit Box comes pre-loaded with Home Assistant if you don't want to set it up yourself.
⚠️ 3.3V logic only. The ESP8266 GPIO pins operate at 3.3V and are NOT 5V tolerant. Connecting 5V signals directly to a GPIO will damage the chip. Use a level shifter or voltage divider when interfacing with 5V sensors or modules. The VIN/5V pin provides pass-through USB voltage for powering 5V peripherals — but do NOT feed 5V back into GPIOs.

🔗 Pair With

ESP8266 · Compact · WiFi

D1 Mini ESP8266

Same ESP8266 chip in a smaller form factor. Ideal for permanent installations where space is limited. Same firmware compatibility.

View Product →
Pre-Built · Home Assistant · Apple Home

Homekit Box (HomeBridge Server)

Pre-built Home Assistant / HomeBridge server. Discover and manage your ESPHome devices instantly. Apple Siri + HomeKit integration.

View Product →
LED · 5V · 300 LEDs · Indoor

WS2812B LED Strip (IP20)

5m addressable RGB LED strip. Flash WLED onto the NodeMCU for instant smart lighting with 200+ effects.

View Product →
Relay · 8 Channel · 5V Logic

8-Channel Relay Module

Control up to 8 mains circuits from the NodeMCU. Flash Tasmota for MQTT and eWeLink-compatible multi-switch control.

View Product →

📋 Technical Specifications

Product NodeMCU ESP8266 WiFi Development Board
SoC ESP8266 (Tensilica L106, 80/160 MHz)
Flash Memory 4MB
WiFi 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n
GPIO Pins 11 usable (D0–D8, RX, TX)
ADC 1 × 10-bit (A0, 0–3.3V input range)
Interfaces I²C, SPI, UART, PWM, 1-Wire
Operating Voltage 3.3V (on-board regulator from 5V USB)
USB Connector Micro USB
USB-to-Serial Chip CP2102 or CH340 (varies by batch)
Logic Level 3.3V (NOT 5V tolerant)
Board Size ~48 × 25 mm
Pin Count 30 (15 per side)
Compatible Firmware Tasmota · ESPHome · WLED · Arduino · NodeMCU Lua
Home Assistant ESPHome (native) · Tasmota (MQTT) · WLED integration

📌 GPIO Pin Reference

Pin GPIO Notes
D0 GPIO16 Wake from deep sleep; no PWM/I²C
D1 GPIO5 I²C SCL (default)
D2 GPIO4 I²C SDA (default)
D3 GPIO0 FLASH button; pulled HIGH at boot
D4 GPIO2 Built-in LED; WLED data pin; pulled HIGH at boot
D5 GPIO14 SPI CLK
D6 GPIO12 SPI MISO
D7 GPIO13 SPI MOSI
D8 GPIO15 SPI CS; pulled LOW at boot
A0 ADC0 Analog input (0–3.3V, 10-bit)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between NodeMCU and D1 Mini?
Both use the same ESP8266 chip and run identical firmware. The NodeMCU is larger (30 pins, more GPIOs, breadboard-friendly) and better for prototyping. The D1 Mini is smaller (16 pins) and better for compact permanent installations. If you're building a WLED controller or single-sensor node, either works. If you need more GPIOs or breadboard prototyping, choose the NodeMCU.
Which USB driver do I need?
Depends on the USB-to-serial chip on your board: CP2102 → Silicon Labs CP210x driver. CH340 → CH340 driver. Most modern OS versions (Windows 10/11, macOS, Linux) include these drivers automatically. If your computer doesn't detect the board, download the driver from the chip manufacturer's website.
Can I flash Tasmota over USB?
Yes. Use Tasmota Web Installer in Chrome/Edge — plug in the NodeMCU via USB, click "Connect", select the port, and flash. No soldering, no extra hardware. After the initial flash, all subsequent updates happen wirelessly (OTA).
Is it compatible with Home Assistant?
Yes — it's one of the most popular Home Assistant DIY platforms. Flash ESPHome for native HA integration (auto-discovery, YAML config, OTA updates from the HA dashboard). Or flash Tasmota for MQTT-based integration. Both approaches give you full local control with no cloud dependency. If you want a ready-made Home Assistant server, the Homekit Box comes pre-installed.
Can I power it from a battery?
Yes, but the ESP8266 draws ~70–80mA while active (WiFi on), which drains small batteries quickly. For battery projects, use deep sleep mode (wakes periodically to read sensors and send data, then sleeps). A 18650 Li-ion cell with a TP4056 charger module can power a deep-sleep sensor node for weeks to months depending on wake interval.

🤝 Need Help? We're Here for You!

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Jason: 084 505 7481

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Weltevreden Park, Roodepoort
Gauteng, 1709

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Email

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Build Something Smart 🔌

The ESP8266 board that powers thousands of Home Assistant projects worldwide.