From b1fa10e78ef7e1bcf7d2e5fe9e9c1d2f8da6a0ac Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Joshua King <joshuaking.mba@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 2026 14:48:07 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] Enhance camera image tuning and add gain ceiling selection
 for improved chamber monitoring

---
 esphome/esp32-h2c-camera.yaml | 50 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------
 1 file changed, 41 insertions(+), 9 deletions(-)

diff --git a/esphome/esp32-h2c-camera.yaml b/esphome/esp32-h2c-camera.yaml
index 8b7a896..e73cb7d 100644
--- a/esphome/esp32-h2c-camera.yaml
+++ b/esphome/esp32-h2c-camera.yaml
@@ -80,17 +80,21 @@ esp32_camera:
   vertical_flip: true
   horizontal_mirror: false
 
-  # Image tuning for chamber monitoring through tinted door
-  brightness: 1
-  contrast: -1
+  # Image tuning for chamber monitoring through tinted door.
+  # Low contrast + high brightness lifts the shadows; the LED strips are
+  # allowed to blow out since the chamber is what matters.
+  brightness: 2
+  contrast: -2
   saturation: 0
 
-  # Auto-Exposure & Gain tuning (AEC2 + AE Level lift shadows away from bright LEDs)
+  # Auto-Exposure & Gain tuning (AEC2 + AE Level lift shadows away from bright LEDs).
+  # The gain ceiling is the main lever for the tinted door: 8X was capping how
+  # far AGC could amplify, leaving everything outside the LED strips black.
   aec_mode: auto
   aec2: true
-  ae_level: 1
+  ae_level: 2
   agc_mode: auto
-  agc_gain_ceiling: 8X
+  agc_gain_ceiling: 128X
   wb_mode: auto
 
 # Camera endpoints:
@@ -160,7 +164,7 @@ number:
     min_value: -2
     max_value: 2
     step: 1
-    initial_value: 1
+    initial_value: 2
     optimistic: true
     set_action:
       - lambda: |-
@@ -172,7 +176,7 @@ number:
     min_value: -2
     max_value: 2
     step: 1
-    initial_value: -1
+    initial_value: -2
     optimistic: true
     set_action:
       - lambda: |-
@@ -184,10 +188,38 @@ number:
     min_value: -2
     max_value: 2
     step: 1
-    initial_value: 1
+    initial_value: 2
     optimistic: true
     set_action:
       - lambda: |-
           sensor_t *s = esp_camera_sensor_get();
           if (s) s->set_ae_level(s, (int)x);
 
+select:
+  # Caps how far AGC may amplify. Higher = brighter but noisier; back this off
+  # if the chamber image gets too grainy at 128X.
+  - platform: template
+    name: "${friendly_name} Gain Ceiling"
+    optimistic: true
+    initial_option: "128X"
+    options:
+      - "2X"
+      - "4X"
+      - "8X"
+      - "16X"
+      - "32X"
+      - "64X"
+      - "128X"
+    set_action:
+      - lambda: |-
+          sensor_t *s = esp_camera_sensor_get();
+          if (!s) return;
+          int idx = 6;
+          if (x == "2X") idx = 0;
+          else if (x == "4X") idx = 1;
+          else if (x == "8X") idx = 2;
+          else if (x == "16X") idx = 3;
+          else if (x == "32X") idx = 4;
+          else if (x == "64X") idx = 5;
+          s->set_gainceiling(s, (gainceiling_t)idx);
+