Chinese webstores offer the I presume by now well known Mini Ledstrip controllers that depending on the model work with WiFi, WifFi/RF, or Bluetooth.
| Model | Color | Voltages | Control | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LC01 | RGB | 5-28V | WiFi | ~€7 | Banggood |
| LC02 | RGBW | 9-12V | WiFi | ~€14 | Banggood |
| LC03 | RGB | 5-28V | WiFi/IR | ~€9.50 | Banggood |
| LC04 | RGBW | 9-12V | WiFi/IR | ~€11 | Banggood |
| LC08 | RGBWW | 5-28V | WiFi | ~€10 | Banggood |
| LC09 | RGB | 5-28V | WiFi/RF | ~€11 | Banggood |
| LC10 | RGBW | 9-28V | WiFi/RF | ~€12 | Banggood |
| LC11 | RGBWW | 9-28V | WiFi/RF | ~€10 | Banggood |
| LC12 | WS2812 | 12-24V | WiFi | ~€10 | Aliexpress |
| LC13 | RGBW | 12-24V | Bluetooth | ~€6 | Aliexpress |
I added the links (and prices) only as an example, they may or may not be cheaper at Aliexpress (check here for other brand names as well) or at another supplier. One example of unexpected price difference for instance is the LC10/LC11 difference, where the controller with more functionality is in fact 2 euro cheaper.
Here, I will focus on the WFi controller.
There are basically 3 models: one with 4 pins, one with 5 pins and one with 6pins. The 4 pin model is for an RGB strip and the one with 5 pins is for an RGBW strip, the one with 6 pins, so you can control RGB, warmwhite and coolwhite. The remaining pin is usually the common anode. And then there is a model to be used with WS2812 programmable LED’s.
The models can take various voltages (see table above) and usually work with a 12 Volt LEDstrip. At this moment it isnt quite clear to me whether attaching 28 Volt will still make it useable for a 12 Volt strip (as I have no 28 Volt PSU), but for now I am not risking anything trying that.
The WiFi model is usually controlled by the MagicHome App or MagicHomePro App.
The setup for it to recognize your device is not that hard, but not always intuitive. You should be able to do it within a matter of minutes though. Roughly the process consists of the app recognizing the controller, then you switch to its WiFi accesspoint (it is the one with the weird name in your SSID list) and fill out your WiFi credentials.
With your device a little card should come that contains the link to a full instruction PDF
Once you have done that, the app allows you to switch to direct contact, so your commands will be sent to the device within your network, so you are not depending on a server somewhere in China. Upto 8 phones will be able to control the device.
Inspite of its less than perfect rating on the play store, it has some cool features. It can synchronize your lights with music or a microphone….if you are in that sort of thing
Many people though will be interested to control their devices from within their own home automation system.
there are in fact various possibilities to do that.
1-Open a MagicHome account, if you havent already done so.
You can do that via your App, as described in the instruction PDF
Then use either GoogleHome or Alexa to add the MagicHome service and you should be ready to go. As per now, I understand the GoogleHome App offers more functionality for this device than Alexa.
2-You don’t have/don’t want GoogleHome or Alexa (no worry, google knows you don’t want it and has your name on a list that will resurface when they rebrand themselves to SkyNet)
Well, if you happen to have OpenHAB, there is a binding that will let you control this device directly. The process is described thoroughly in the given link, but it comes down to the following steps:
Power up the LED Strip
open PAPER UI and install the WIFI LED Binding
in PaperUI inside THINGS should be something like “AK001-ZJ100” (WiFi LED Device) with corresponding MAC-Adress
click on it and u see something like: “wifiled:wifiled:DC30B89D35CE:power”
add this to your xxx.items File, using the following channels:
{channel=”wifiled:wifiled:DC30B89D35CE:power”}
{channel=”wifiled:wifiled:DC30B89D35CE:white”}
{channel=”wifiled:wifiled:DC30B89D35CE:color”}
{channel=”wifiled:wifiled:DC30B89D35CE:programSpeed”}
3-You just want to use python
Then this is for you: After installing the flux_led software, you will be able to use command line commands to control your WiFi LED
4-You do not have OpenHAB, or Alexa, or GoogleHome (but still want your own access)
Though I am sure that if the controller can be controlled from OpenHAB, it can be controlled from other Domotix systems such as HAS, but I am not sure if anyone already developed that. In that case, you have the option of flashing your controller, as it has an ESP8266 in it. It is not as easy as reflashing a sonoff, as you will need to do some soldering to tiny pads, but it is doable. Xose ‘tinkerman’ Perez describes how. Have a look here as well. Beware though that older replacement software, may not always be compatible as somewhere along the development apparently pin assignments were changed.
Also beware that not all replacement software out there will implement e.g. your IR or RF functions if you happen to have a combined model.
The IR programming follows the NEC protocol with the following codes:
| UP | 0xFF906F |
| DOWN | 0xFFB847 |
| OFF | 0xFFF807 |
| ON | 0xFFB04F |
| R | 0xFF9867 |
| G | 0xFFD827 |
| B | 0xFF8877 |
| W | 0xFFA857 |
| 1 | 0xFFE817 |
| 2 | 0xFF48B7 |
| 3 | 0xFF6897 |
| FLASH | 0xFFB24D |
| 4 | 0xFF02FD |
| 5 | 0xFF32CD |
| 6 | 0xFF20DF |
| STROBE | 0xFF00FF |
| 7 | 0xFF50AF |
| 8 | 0xFF7887 |
| 9 | 0xFF708F |
| FADE | 0xFF58A7 |
| 10 | 0xFF38C7 |
| 11 | 0xFF28D7 |
| 12 | 0xFFF00F |
| SMOOTH | 0xFF30CF |
If your flashing goes wrong, supposedly the original firmware can be found here, but given the fact that there are various models, I presume the bin file somehow is configurable.
Arduino, ESP8266, ESP32 & Raspberry Pi stuff 