Description
The device is the 3rd generation of the E1-WiFi Pixel Controller, built on an ESP32-C3 and designed to deliver reliable and efficient control of your pixels. It includes a 6A eFuse, which makes it possible to cut power to the connected pixels when they are not turned on, thereby saving energy.
Number of pixels:
The number of pixels the controller can control depends on the desired performance:
- Good Performance – @30 FPS can control approx. 1200Pixels (RGB)
- Perfect Performance – @40 FPS can control approx. 800Pixels (RGB)
eFuse:
The device is equipped with an eFuse, which is better at interrupting short circuits on long cables where the short circuit level is low. The eFuse acts as an electronic fuse that protects the device from overcurrents and short circuits.
The output on the fuse is controlled by GPIO5 and is set up as pull-down:
- GPIO5: LOW = output is switched off
- GPIO5: HIGH = output is on
There is an LED indicator at ‘OUTPUT’ that shows if the eFuse is on.
Benefits of an eFuse:
- Thermal protection: The eFuse has built-in thermal protection that cuts power if the temperature exceeds safe limits, preventing overheating.
- Low standby power: The design ensures minimal power consumption when the device is in standby mode, contributing to energy efficiency.
- Fast response time: the eFuse responds quickly to short circuits and overcurrents, minimizing the risk of damage to connected components.
How to reset eFuse after a trip:
In the event of a trip, the eFuse will disconnect and remain in this state until a manual action is taken to reset it. To reset the eFuse after a trip, you can either remove power completely and reconnect, which will make the eFuse active, or you can set GPIO5 low and then high. This can be done directly in the WLED by turning the output completely off and then on again.
GPIO Pins:
The device has extra GPIO pins exposed to connect external sensors
Control QT pinout from the top:
- GPIO7
- GPIO6
- 3V3 (max 200mA)
- GND
GPIO Header:
- GPIO10
- 3V3 (max 200mA)
- 5V (max 300mA)
- GND
Total max consumption for external devices is 2W.
Software:
WLED:
The controller comes with WLED pre-installed so you can quickly and easily start flashing lights.
However, should you need to reinstall WLED or use Audio Reactive WLED, you can use our installation portal where you can easily connect the device and install the desired version of WLED.
Keep your device updated with the latest software version via our easy-to-use installation portal: software.lightish.dk
Audioreactive:
In WLED version 0.15.0 Audioreactive is included as standard
WLED has a user mod called Audioreactive, in which a microphone or line-in can be connected to the controller and the light can flash in time with the music for different effects. This is great for garden parties or interactive installations and is not suitable to replace programmed shows, such as those made in Xlights.
We recommend this digital microphone that communicates via I2S: INMP441 Digital I2S microphone
If you instead want a direct line connection into the device, this decoder can be used: PCM1808 I2S Stereo Decoder
Xlights Compatibility:
This device is compatible with Xlights from version 2023.14. However, it is not recommended to use the device with xLigths as the CPU has one core and can result in lag.
Setup guide:
Follow the steps below to configure the device in Xlights:
-
- Navigate to Controllers
-
- Go to the
Controllersmenu.
- Go to the
-
- Add Ethernet Controller
- Click on
Add Ethernet.
- Click on
- Select Vendor and Model
- Select
Vendor>WLED>E1-WiFi
- Select
- Configure the controller
- Give the controller a unique name.
- Enter the IP address of the device.
- Set the protocol to
DDP.
- Navigate to Controllers
Programming:
The device is equipped with a USB-C port, which can be used to update or change the software on the ESP.
When programming, the device may repeatedly connect and disconnect. This is due to the built-in USB to serial setup in the ESP. To fix this, you can hold down the ‘BOOT’ button while connecting USB-C to force the ESP into bootloader mode.
NOTE: Do not connect USB when the device is powered by another power source.
What’s included?
- 1x E1-WiFi V3.01
- 1x WIFI-FAE-5DBI-IPEX3
WLED pre-installed:
Copyright (c) 2016 Christian Schwinne
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
