SmartHomeShop Docs

Hardware Versions

WaterFlowKit comes in two hardware versions. Both are ESPHome-based, but WaterFlowKit V2 is significantly more capable than V1.

Note: The current WaterFlowKit V2 is the active version for new installations. It adds WiFi, Ethernet, PoE support, and 4 flow inputs.

Comparison at a glance

Feature V1 V2
Chip ESP32 ESP32-C6
WiFi ✅ ✅
Ethernet ❌ ✅
PoE ❌ ✅
Thread (Thread firmware) ❌ ✅
WiFi Cloud firmware ✅ ✅
Ethernet Cloud firmware ❌ ✅
Flow inputs 2 4
NTC temperature inputs 2 4
Captive portal ✅ ✅
Improv BLE ✅ ✅
Improv Serial ✅ ✅
Firmware Type selector WiFi (local), WiFi + SmartHomeShop App (cloud) Same, plus Ethernet (local) and Ethernet + SmartHomeShop App (cloud)

How to identify your version

The fastest way is through Home Assistant or ESPHome:

Version Recognition
V1 runs on ESP32 and only has WiFi-based variants
V2 runs on ESP32-C6 and has both WiFi and Ethernet variants

Prefer checking:

  • the Hardware Version sensor in Home Assistant
  • the active firmware variant in ESPHome
  • whether you see 2 or 4 flow inputs available

V1

WaterFlowKit V1 is the original hardware release.

What you get on V1

  • WiFi
  • WiFi Cloud variant
  • 2 flow inputs
  • 2 NTC temperature inputs
  • HDC1080 for ambient temperature and humidity
  • captive portal onboarding
  • Improv BLE and Improv Serial provisioning

Best for

  • monitoring 1 or 2 water lines
  • simple WiFi installations
  • local Home Assistant setups
  • compact installations without Ethernet

V1 limitations

  • no Ethernet
  • no PoE
  • maximum 2 measurement points
  • no Ethernet Cloud variant

V2

WaterFlowKit V2 is the current generation.

What you get on V2

  • ESP32-C6 hardware
  • WiFi
  • Ethernet
  • PoE support
  • WiFi Cloud variant
  • Ethernet Cloud variant
  • 4 flow inputs
  • 4 NTC temperature inputs
  • HDC1080 for ambient temperature and humidity
  • captive portal onboarding
  • Improv BLE and Improv Serial provisioning
  • firmware selector with four variants
  • Thread firmware for local use with Home Assistant

Why V2 is the stronger option

  • double capacity: 4 water lines instead of 2
  • wired networking available
  • better suited for cabinets, utility spaces, and technical rooms
  • more flexibility between local and cloud use
  • easier to scale for advanced installations

Connectivity by version

V1 network options

V1 supports:

  • WiFi
  • WiFi Cloud

V1 does not support:

  • Ethernet
  • Ethernet Cloud
  • PoE

V2 network options

V2 supports:

  • WiFi
  • Ethernet
  • WiFi Cloud
  • Ethernet Cloud
  • Thread (Thread firmware, local only)

For V2 this means:

  • the device usually ships with WiFi firmware
  • Ethernet requires the Ethernet firmware variant
  • Ethernet and WiFi are separate firmware variants
  • the firmware selector determines which update source is active

Sensor capacity

V1

  • Flow 1
  • Flow 2
  • Water temperature 1
  • Water temperature 2

V2

  • Flow 1
  • Flow 2
  • Flow 3
  • Flow 4
  • Water temperature 1
  • Water temperature 2
  • Water temperature 3
  • Water temperature 4

Examples where V2 is the better fit:

  • shower + washing machine + kitchen + garden line
  • multiple circuits in a technical installation
  • heat pump or boiler setups with more measurement points

Firmware variants

V1

  • waterflowkit-v1/waterflowkit-wifi.yaml
  • waterflowkit-v1/waterflowkit-wifi-cloud.yaml

V2

  • waterflowkit-v2/waterflowkit-wifi.yaml
  • waterflowkit-v2/waterflowkit-ethernet.yaml
  • waterflowkit-v2/waterflowkit-wifi-cloud.yaml
  • waterflowkit-v2/waterflowkit-ethernet-cloud.yaml
  • waterflowkit-v2/waterflowkit-thread.yaml

The WiFi and Ethernet variants are also exposed through the firmware selector in Home Assistant. You install the Thread firmware with the ESPHome Device Builder, see Connect via Thread.

Current recommendation

For new customers, WaterFlowKit V2 is the only relevant choice.

Main reasons:

  • 4 flow inputs
  • Ethernet
  • PoE
  • WiFi, Ethernet, WiFi Cloud, and Ethernet Cloud variants
  • more modern hardware

V1 is only relevant as a legacy reference for existing installations that are already in the field.