ESP32 - Control Fan
This tutorial instructs you how to use ESP32 to control a fan.
Hardware Used In This Tutorial
How to Control Fan
- If we connect a 12V power supply to a 12V fan, the fan spins at full speed.
- If we connect a 12V PWM signal to a 12V fan, the fan spins at a speed in proportion to the PWM's duty cycle.
This tutorial instructs you how to use ESP32 to turn on/off a fan. Controlling the speed of a fan will be presented in another tutorial.
Because the fan uses the high voltage, we cannot connect it directly to ESP32, we need to connect fan to ESP32 indirectly via a relay. We have specific tutorials about relay (pinout, how it works, how to program ...), learn about relay in the ESP32 - Relay tutorial
Wiring Diagram

This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image
ESP32 Code
The below code periodically turns the fan ON/OFF in every 10 seconds.
Quick Instructions
- If this is the first time you use ESP32, see how to setup environment for ESP32 on Arduino IDE.
- Do the wiring as above image.
- Connect the ESP32 board to your PC via a micro USB cable
- Open Arduino IDE on your PC.
- Select the right ESP32 board (e.g. ESP32 Dev Module) and COM port.
- Copy the above code and paste it to Arduino IDE.
- Compile and upload code to ESP32 board by clicking Upload button on Arduino IDE
- See the fan's state
Line-by-line Code Explanation
The above ESP32 code contains line-by-line explanation. Please read the comments in the code!
Video Tutorial
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