Italian electronics agency AAElectronics has developed an all-in-one WLED- and ESPHome-compatible LED controller — designed to be powered over a USB Kind-C connection able to negotiating as much as 100W over USB Energy Supply (PD).
“YULC is the proper dual-channel mate for powering lighting at 5, 12 or 24V,” AAElectronics explains of the open-hardware board. “Because of the built-in buck regulator, from a most of 24V ensures protected 5V or 12V to your output, benefiting from the Energy Supply (PD) 3.0 protocol as much as 100W. On the again of the board there’s a highly effective [Espressif] ESP32-S3, straight programmable from the USB-C that means that you can handle much more complicated results and to run heavy duties.”
When you’re planning a wise lighting set up, the YULC board goals to make it straightforward to energy and management as much as 100W of LED strips. (📷: AAElectronics)
The YULC board, dropped at our consideration by CNX Software program, is at its coronary heart one thing very conventional: a lighting controller based mostly on the WLED firmware, boasting ESPHome compatibility for integration into Dwelling Assistant and different appropriate residence automation methods. The place most rival controllers require a separate energy provide for the LEDs themselves, although, YULC — “Sure, a USB-C LED Controller” — contains USB Energy Ship negotiation for as much as 100W, fed into an on-board buck converter.
For many who desire a conventional fixed-voltage energy provide, the YULC features a barrel-jack enter supporting provides as much as 24V. In both case, the facility is fed to 2 impartial LED channels — each of which have a devoted degree shifter. “You will not want any exterior degree shifter,” AAElectronics guarantees, “neither sacrificing a pixel to spice up the information voltage.”
An non-obligatory improve module provides a microphone for on-device sound-reactive lighting management. (📷: AAElectronics)
With as much as 100W of energy flowing by the board, although, issues can get toasty — which is why AAElectronics’ design contains heatsink and an a fan, a regulator with built-in over-temperature safety, and a blade fuse one every output to guard towards overload. That is could be rated to 20A, to permit for the complete 100W, or lower-value fuses could be put in to guard smaller or much less power-hungry strips — and the Espressif ESP32-S3 contains the power to observe the fuse and report if it has blown.
The YULC board is accessible to order on AAElectronics’ Tindie retailer at $35, together with 15A fuse, a set of heatsinks, 5V fan, and M2 screws for a 3D-printable enclosure and fan mount. Schematics, invoice of fabric, and KiCad challenge information for the YULC are offered on AAElectronics’ web site below the Strongly Reciprocal model of the CERN Open {Hardware} License.