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This project is an open-source controller for addressable LED strips, combining a wide range of features such as power measurement, IR sensors, and easy integration into various installations. The project is designed with a focus on low power consumption and user safety.
Includes:
- ESP32-C3-WROOM-02 as the main processor.
- Integrated power measurement (ACS722 and voltage divider).
- Relay for LED power control.
- Surge and ESD protection.
- Introduction
- What makes this project interesting?
- Features
- Why did I decide to create this project?
- Development
- Documentation
- Would I like to sell it?
- What is my motivation?
- What have I learned?
- What is its actual use?
- Software
- Conclusion
- Contributions
- License
- Version: 2.0 in the works. Evherything should be ready to order and test.
Power measurement!
I wanted to know how much energy I was consuming, so I decided to use ACS722 and a voltage divider. However, I haven’t seen a similar project that includes this kind of measurement.
- ESP32-C3-WROOM-02
- Onboard relay for minimal standby current
- Integrated 10A fuse for LED strip protection
- Power measurement using WLED usermod (ACS722, voltage divider)
- Input for an external button
- Temperature sensor
- IR sensor
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- Easy-to-use screw terminals (default)
- Compatible with PhoenixContact PCB connector
- ESP protection (PTC resettable fuse, ESD protection, diodes)
- Surge protection for 5V and 3.3V
- Boot button can be used as a WLED button
- Buck converter powered from Vin
- Unused GPIOs are exposed on the board
- USB-C connector
- 5V logic output
I wanted to build something of my own—something I could improve and customize as needed. I also wanted to contribute to the open-source community and to create something properly designed.
This project includes several motivations:
- Power measurement: To monitor energy consumption.
- Relay: To disconnect LED strips.
- Low standby power: To minimize energy usage in standby mode.
- Ease of integration: To simplify use in various installations.
- To learn: To gain experience with new technologies.
- To share: To contribute to the open-source community.
- To create something nice: To have a functional and visually appealing solution.
I've been working on this project for quite a while.
The first prototype didn’t look great, but it worked well despite forgetting to power the SN74AHCT125 IC—something I fixed with a solder bridge.
Version V0.31 was the first to include all desired features but had a few bugs.
V1.0 was the first fully functional version but still had issues, like components on both sides of the PCB causing assembly difficulties and a suboptimal USB-voltage mixer.
V2.0 addressed all known issues and is fully functional. It is still in development, but it feels complete—though you never know what might come up. 😅
A great beginer video can be found here YouTube.
KiCad files are in the Board directory.
Schematics and PCB layouts are in the Documentation directory.
And the Builds directory contains the binary for the ESP32-C3.
The enclosure is in the Case directory.
Photos of the completed project are in the Images directory.
Yes, in the near future, I would like to sell this project as a finished product so that everyone can use this controller.
It would also enable me to continue its development and create interesting new projects.
- Installing LED strips in 2021.
- Problems with ESP32 (damaged power, failed updates).
- Creating a robust and user-friendly solution.
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In 2021, I installed addressable LED strips for the first time and was amazed. However, working with bare ESP32 boards came with problems. My first controller released "magic smoke" after I accidentally applied 12V to a GPIO pin. The second ESP32 got damaged while fixing an update while still powered. These experiences inspired me to start this project.I’ve learned a lot, including:
- PCB design
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- Using ACS722
- Using a voltage divider
- Using an IR sensor
- Using a temperature sensor
- Using a relay
- Using a USB-C connector
- Using a buck converter
- Using ESP32-C3
- Using WLED
- Using PlatformIO
- Using ESP-IDF
I learned how to combine all these into a functional solution—and I enjoyed the process. 😀
- Controlling addressable LEDs: Precise control of individual LEDs.
- LED light shows: Ideal for creating dynamic effects.
- Holiday decorations: Perfect for festive displays.
- Easy integration: Fits into various DIY projects.
- Smart home: Great for lighting automation.
I use the WLED project, which is very user-friendly and feature-rich. You can download the binary here. My usermod is included in GitHub PR #4108. Apologies for any mistakes—I appreciate feedback. Also, I’m not experienced with Git, so I welcome patience with any errors in my PRs.
This project has been both a challenge and an opportunity to push my skills forward. I’ve learned many new technologies and methods while creating a functional solution I’m proud of. The process confirmed that sharing knowledge and embracing open technologies hold great potential.
I hope this project inspires others and saves time for their own ideas. I welcome feedback, improvement suggestions, or support to continue developing this project.
Thank you for your interest I’m excited about what the future holds!
Honestly, I’m not sure I just felt inspired and supported by my family! This open-source project was born from that.
If you have ideas for improvements or spot errors, feel free to open a pull request or issue. All help is welcome. :)
If anyone would like to participate in the development, I would be glad for any help. 😊
And if anyone would like to support me financially for further development not just this project, I will be glad for any help. 😊
The project is currently licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, allowing sharing and modifications for non-commercial use. A future transition to CERN-OHL-S is planned after recovering development costs.
CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 (CC) → CERN-OHL-S (OSI Approved OSHW License)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
This licensed work is provided "as is," without any warranties, including implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The author(s) and copyright holder(s) bear no liability for claims, damages, or other liabilities.
I used AI to assist with translation and grammar corrections. Thank you for understanding.

