IoTextra modular automation boards with 4 inputs, 4 outputs work with Raspberry Pi and ESP32 MCU boards

Last week, we wrote about the Olimex PICO-EVB automation board equipped with four relays and four isolated inputs and designed for Raspberry Pi Pico-compatible boards.

Make Things Happy does something similar, but in a modular way, with the IoTextra family of carrier boards with four inputs and four outputs for automation, and supporting a range of IoTsmart MCU boards based on Raspberry Pi RP2350, ESP32-S3, etc…

There are currently six IoTextra boards shipping or in development, all measuring 56×47 mm and featuring 3750 Vrms galvanic isolation per channel.

Module	Configuration	Status
IoTextra Octal	4 inputs + 2 transistor outputs + 2 relays	Shipping
IoTextra Octal2	4 inputs + 4 transistor outputs (Darlington)	Shipping
IoTextra Octal3	4 inputs + 4 latching relays (DPDT, zero standby power)	Launching this week
IoTextra Octal4	4 inputs (ISO1211) + 4 SPST relays	Samples ready
IoTextra Combo2	4 analog inputs (18-bit Microchip ADC) + 2 relays + 2 isolated outputs	Samples ready
IoTextra Omni	2 analog inputs + 2 digital inputs + 2 digital outputs + 2 relays	Prototyping stage

All IoTextra modules support different MCU platforms via horizontally or vertically mounted IoTsmart SoM carriers based on Waveshare RP2350 and ESP32-S3 modules, Seeed Studio XIAO boards, and others, all connected via the HOST connector.

All IoTextra 8-channel modules support several software ecosystems out of the box:

• IoTflow framework for no-code programming of distributed MCU nodes over MQTT and Node-RED; used to build custom Node-RED nodes and scale automation from a single node to a full industrial network without writing firmware for each device.
• MQTT integration with Blynk, and Tasmota for reliable MQTT-based telemetry and remote control, including full Home Assistant integration.

Each board’s combination has a different level of support, and you’ll find a compatibility matrix along with the source code and resources to get started on GitHub.

Some target applications for the IoTextra/IoTsmart ecosystem include:

• Industrial automation – Transistor outputs drive start/reverse signals to a conveyor’s VFD, while relays switch a stack light or an electromagnetic brake
• Industrial IoT – Digital inputs monitor circuit breaker status, while latching relays hold their position with zero power draw during outages
• Smart Agriculture – Inputs track water levels, relays activate irrigation with a short pulse, and hold the valve open at zero energy cost
• Smart Home – Inputs connect to gate position sensors and buttons, relays control blinds or gates, and retain their last position after a power cut

You’ll find the various 4-input/4-output IoTextra boards and compatible IoTsmart MCU boards on the Make Things Happy website, along with other boards. I find navigating the website confusing, but maybe that’s just me. Prices for the IoTsmart modules range from $7 to $10, and the IoTextra Octal boards go for $15.50 to $21 for now. I was told the company was previously featured on CNX Software under the Bokra name, with products such as the IoThing Digital 300V I/O board and the SAMD21 Lite stamp-sized MikroBus-compatible board.

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