ESP32-S3 2.8" Touchscreen RFID Dashboard Case

A 3D printed enclosure for the Hosyond ESP32-S3 2.8" 240x320 IPS capacitive touchscreen module with room for an internal speaker, a 2000mAh lithium battery, and an RC522 RFID/NFC reader module.

I designed this as a small wall/desk-mountable Home Assistant / ESPHome control terminal. The screen can show dashboards, device states, battery voltage, RFID scan status, and touch controls for things like locks, garage doors, lights, scenes, or other automations.

Features

• Fits the Hosyond ESP32-S3 2.8" touchscreen module

• Integrated space for RC522 RFID reader

• Internal speaker support using the board’s speaker port

• Space for a 2000mAh battery

• Access to USB/power

• Designed for ESPHome dashboard/control use

• Works well as an RFID control panel, access terminal, or small Home Assistant touchscreen

• Can be used for projects like:

  • RFID keychain scanner

  • Front door lock control

  • Garage door control

  • Battery-powered dashboard

  • Home Assistant scene controller

  • ESP32-S3 IoT touchscreen terminal

Hardware Used

• Hosyond ESP32-S3 Touchscreen Module
  2.8" 240x320 IPS LCD, WiFi/Bluetooth, capacitive touch

• RC522 RFID module

• Small speaker connected to the board’s speaker port

• 2000mAh lithium battery

• Jumper wires / Dupont connectors

• Optional screws, heat-set inserts, tape, or adhesive depending on your preferred assembly style

Amazon module used:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKG7WRWV

Wiring Notes

The ESP32-S3 board exposes limited pins, so the RC522 is wired using the available expansion pins.

Suggested RC522 wiring:

ESP32-S3 Board        RC522
3V3                  VCC
GND                  GND
IO2                  SCK
IO3                  MOSI
IO14                 MISO
IO21                 SDA / SS / CS
RST                  disconnected, or tied to 3V3
IRQ                  disconnected

The speaker connects to the board’s built-in speaker connector. The battery connects to the board’s battery connector.

Firmware

I’m using ESPHome with:

• ILI9341 display over SPI

• FT63x6 capacitive touch

• RC522 RFID over SPI

• I2S speaker/media player support

• Battery voltage monitoring

• RGB status LED

• LVGL dashboard UI

• Home Assistant API integration

The ESPHome config can be adapted to show RFID scan status, battery voltage, lock/garage states, and dashboard buttons. My current firmware exposes the RFID tag scanner, speaker, battery voltage, WiFi info, touch display, RGB LED, and Home Assistant integration.

Example Use Cases

RFID access terminal

Assign one RFID keychain to toggle a front door deadbolt and another to open/close a garage door through Home Assistant automations.

Home Assistant dashboard

Use the touchscreen to show:

• Front door lock state

• Garage door state

• Battery voltage

• WiFi status

• Last scanned RFID tag

• Action buttons for common devices or scenes

Portable IoT controller

With the internal battery and speaker, this can be used as a small portable touchscreen controller for ESPHome or Home Assistant experiments.

Print Notes

Recommended starting settings:

• Material: PLA, PETG, or similar

• Layer height: 0.2mm

• Walls: 3

• Infill: 15–25%

• Supports: depends on orientation and your printer

• Brim: optional, useful if printing large flat panels

For best results, test-fit the screen, battery, speaker, and RFID module before final assembly. Depending on your printer tolerances and the exact battery/speaker/RC522 module variant, minor sanding or small adjustments may be needed.

Assembly Tips

• Test the ESP32-S3 screen and RFID module before installing them in the case.

• Confirm the RC522 scans reliably before closing the enclosure.

• Keep RFID wiring short if possible.

• Do not power the RC522 from 5V.

• Make sure the battery is protected and not pinched.

• Avoid compressing lithium batteries inside the case.

• Use adhesive foam, tape, or printed retainers to keep the battery from moving.

• Route wires so they do not press against the back of the display.

Safety Notes

Lithium batteries can be dangerous if punctured, crushed, shorted, or charged incorrectly. Use a protected cell or a board with proper charging/protection circuitry. Do not leave experimental battery-powered builds unattended while charging.

If using this to control locks, garage doors, or access devices, keep the actual security logic in Home Assistant or another trusted controller. RFID tags can be copied, so this is best treated as a convenience controller rather than a high-security access system.

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