H801 : RGB controller based on ESP8266 avalaible from China

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lunarok · #1 Post by **lunarok** » 10 Jan 2016, 00:24

Hi,

Some must have read about this product avalaible from Aliexpress and can find hack here for exemple :
https://eryk.io/2015/10/esp8266-based-w ... ller-h801/

It's an ESP based product for controlling 5 LED channels. The original sketch is really bad, you must connect to the thing AP and here you can remote control it by an Android app only (sending some UDP packets inside)

But great there is TX, RX and power connectors avalaible and the guy on the link put a simple HTTP remote interface for RGB
My question is : can we put ESPeasy on it ? I didn't find something about LED dimmer in ESPeasy. If it's already avalaible, so I can try to create 5 and see if it's taking action ?

costo · #2 Post by **costo** » 10 Jan 2016, 01:56

on http://domoticz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=51&t=7957 you find an interesting discussion about the protocol that is used on H801

edit:
The article lunarok refers to says:

I did not quite liked this setup, as I do not own an Android device, neither do I want to connect to the wifi network of this controller everytime I want to change the color.

That is not like it is, I own android devices and use this app, when connected to the H801 AP you can enter your own WiFi ssid and password and then link it to your own network. Then the app works without having to connect to the H801 AP.

Also when I tried to change my password for the AP I lost control over the device. I could not connect anymore as no password worked. I connected the RX to the TX line and reconnected power, it made a reset to the old password and I could use the H801 again with the android app.

lunarok asks:

My question is : can we put ESPeasy on it ? I didn't find something about LED dimmer in ESPeasy. If it's already avalaible, so I can try to create 5 and see if it's taking action ?

Ofcourse you can flash ESPEasy in it. Mine has a 4Mbit flash memory, 512 kbyte, so a generic ESP device should be chosen in the arduino IDE to flash it. But ESPEasy is not really good in controlling RGB strips. You have to use three separate commands to set the 3 colors separately.
That is the reason I have not flashed this H801 with ESPEasy. For the moment I use the android app.
But my ultimate goal is to control this device from within Domoticz

lunarok · #3 Post by **lunarok** » 10 Jan 2016, 10:57

Yes I have read also the thread on Domoticz about this product.
But from the 3 sources (Domoticz, the link I give and the article from hackaday he refers) I understand that to have the H801 seen on your network you must have the Android app connected to the RGB module AP with router option activated in the app.
So for us in home automation it means if you don't have an Android connected 100% of the time ... well no command to the module. I'm right ?

If yes, that's why I ask for ESPeasy. And I have understand that for dimmer a LED it's a PWM in ESPeasy, so well 3 different ones and you have your RGB. But this will means glitches and not very WAF as for you set the 3 colors one-by-one and not a color at a one time.
Well, this knowed, you have a choice with a weird setting needing a full time gateway based on an Android phone or ESPeasy with the hope it can evolve in time so you get only better in the future.
Or the sketch the man give in the article, using only RGB and not the WW (I think it's easy for this, just adding the same code for /w1 and /w2 that have /rgb)

Ger · #4 Post by **Ger** » 10 Jan 2016, 14:26

I think you configure the device with the android app just like we configure espeasy with the web interface.
I have ordered one and what I understand you can flash espeasy on it

Ger · #5 Post by **Ger** » 13 Jan 2016, 21:26

I have received it, it is easy to connect to our own wlan with the android app.
I can control it from my laptop by sending UDP packets with Packet Sender.
In the domoticz forum you can find the protocol https://www.domoticz.com/forum/viewtopi ... =51&t=7957
At the moment I have no need to flash it with espeasy.
I am going to try if I can control it with domoticz.

M4RiO32s · #6 Post by **M4RiO32s** » 18 Jan 2016, 05:26

Guys check this post

http://www.esp8266.nu/forum/viewtopic.p ... 3108#p3108

Deennoo · #7 Post by **Deennoo** » 18 Jan 2016, 14:45

I'm starting this kind of project to :

Real Problem is : which kind of RGB strip use :

Color power one like this one with 4 wire (R G B Ground), who need triac and other electronic pcs

Or Adressable one ? : like WS2801 with SPI and Clock fonction or more easy one like ws2812 who use i2s

Found some good exemple :

Philips Hue emulator base on esp8266 + Neopixel animator branch for ws2812b : https://github.com/sticilface/Esp8266-Hue = run perfectely on a wemos mini d1 and reconize as true one on IOS/android/chrome app and Domoticz.

Nodemcu firmware got a WS2801 module : https://github.com/nodemcu/nodemcu-firm ... s/ws2801.c

I get some WS2801 left from my hyperion, i prefer this one ! but Philips Hue "copy" is so easy to get with domoticz...

Ger · #8 Post by **Ger** » 18 Jan 2016, 15:59

Can I use the HUE version without having a HUE bridge???
The only thing I know of HUE is that it is from philips an it is more expansive as milight,etc.

Deennoo · #9 Post by **Deennoo** » 18 Jan 2016, 19:47

@Ger : no, in fact each esp act as a hue bridge, once you set a ws2812b to gpio2, each pixel can be set as individual lamp or set on a group part.

As this, this create 10 hue on domoticz.

As i don't have any ws2812b can't test it more, looking for a way to converte it to ws2801 who need clk connection + data.

Ger · #10 Post by **Ger** » 20 Jan 2016, 20:10

Bericht door Deennoo » 18 Jan 2016, 14:45

I'm starting this kind of project to :

Real Problem is : which kind of RGB strip use :

Color power one like this one with 4 wire (R G B Ground), who need triac and other electronic pcs

Or Adressable one ? : like WS2801 with SPI and Clock fonction or more easy one like ws2812 who use i2s

Found some good exemple :

Philips Hue emulator base on esp8266 + Neopixel animator branch for ws2812b : https://github.com/sticilface/Esp8266-Hue = run perfectely on a wemos mini d1 and reconize as true one on IOS/android/chrome app and Domoticz.

Nodemcu firmware got a WS2801 module : https://github.com/nodemcu/nodemcu-firm ... s/ws2801.c

I get some WS2801 left from my hyperion, i prefer this one ! but Philips Hue "copy" is so easy to get with domoticz...

I get an error
Failed to open lights.conf
Failed to open groups.conf

I can't connect to the huebridge

Deennoo · #11 Post by **Deennoo** » 22 Jan 2016, 14:18

@Ger :

Before connecting via domoticz, connect to the bridge with IOS App, this will creat .conf files

Ger · #12 Post by **Ger** » 22 Jan 2016, 23:35

@Deennoo

I have tried to connect to the huebridge with several app on the Ipad, Android, Chrome but none of them can successful connect to the bridge
If I fill in the IP number I see messages in the serial console like:
CREATE_USER - toDO

GET_GROUP- todo
GET_ALL_LIGHTS- todo

can you advise me which app I should use?

Deennoo · #13 Post by **Deennoo** » 25 Jan 2016, 16:59

Have you try with domoticz ?

First i set with official iOS philips HUE app (v1.10.2)

Bridge is reconize as v 0.1 & modele BSB001
i set only 1 Hue bulb and 1 groupe : reconize as Model LT001

can play with scene :

Capture.JPG

and after with domoticz.

Juste retry with Android and chrome app : fail

Ger · #14 Post by **Ger** » 25 Jan 2016, 22:35

My hue bridge is working now

I have to investigate if there is a maximum of 255 lights.
I would like to use it for strips with 300 lights.
I have to think about the possibilities and how to use them.
I also don't know if this is something to integrate in espeasy.
Anyway I am very happy.

Ger · #15 Post by **Ger** » 25 Jan 2016, 23:50

What I find is that the Philips HUE bridge has a maximum of 63 lights

Deennoo · #16 Post by **Deennoo** » 27 Jan 2016, 14:07

Ger wrote:My hue bridge is working now
I have to investigate if there is a maximum of 255 lights.
I would like to use it for strips with 300 lights.
I have to think about the possibilities and how to use them.
I also don't know if this is something to integrate in espeasy.
Anyway I am very happy.

This code works ?? great !! can't test it anymore my ws2812b come from germany like a sneak.... great great great !!

I found something else really intersting :

A DIY Milight Bridge base on Nodemcu + 2.4 ghz module :

http://fablab.ruc.dk/controlling-the-mi ... m-arduino/

I got a problem with nodemcu code who ask for avr/io.h but esp doesn't use it...

Deennoo · #17 Post by **Deennoo** » 04 Feb 2016, 10:25

on my side i found a great nodemcu app :

This create a milight wifi rgb led strip controler.

https://github.com/frizzby/esp8266-rgb-led

i run it on a wemos mini d1 and just a led plug on gpio0 + gnd this made for a "classic" led strip.

Maybe some one can test it on this hardware H801 Hardware

how to :

get ESP8266 lualoader : http://benlo.com/esp8266/
get Nodemcu Flasher : https://github.com/nodemcu/nodemcu-flasher
get last nodemcu float firmware : https://github.com/nodemcu/nodemcu-firmware/releases

Using Nodemcu flasher, put last firmware on your esp
edit init.lua : set your SSID + Password
load the 3 LUA files on the ESP with LuaLoader

Connect your favorite homeautomation on this using milight hardware/plugin (for jeedom player) and run !

cherowley · #18 Post by **cherowley** » 14 Feb 2016, 18:44

Deennoo wrote:on my side i found a great nodemcu app :

This create a milight wifi rgb led strip controler.

https://github.com/frizzby/esp8266-rgb-led

i run it on a wemos mini d1 and just a led plug on gpio0 + gnd this made for a "classic" led strip.

Maybe some one can test it on this hardware H801 Hardware

how to :

get ESP8266 lualoader : http://benlo.com/esp8266/
get Nodemcu Flasher : https://github.com/nodemcu/nodemcu-flasher
get last nodemcu float firmware : https://github.com/nodemcu/nodemcu-firmware/releases

Using Nodemcu flasher, put last firmware on your esp
edit init.lua : set your SSID + Password
load the 3 LUA files on the ESP with LuaLoader

Connect your favorite homeautomation on this using milight hardware/plugin (for jeedom player) and run !

Bit late to the party on this one but managed to hack espeasy 078 with ideas from friizby and other places over the web and have basic milight support for rgb on the H801 so it is doable...

Deennoo · #19 Post by **Deennoo** » 14 Feb 2016, 20:14

Of course...need to be upgrade to h801 material spec :

- switch command from milight RGB to rgbw, to allow white channel control.

Ordre mine today...waiting for it on march now

cherowley · #20 Post by **cherowley** » 15 Feb 2016, 14:18

Deennoo wrote:Of course...need to be upgrade to h801 material spec :

- switch command from milight RGB to rgbw, to allow white channel control.

Ordre mine today...waiting for it on march now

Ah it seems domoticz milight doesn't support the white channel - or I dont' know how to use it lol

Deennoo · #21 Post by **Deennoo** » 15 Feb 2016, 15:02

With Domoticz, on device mode (under hardware section) select rgbw.

But :

Have you made the change on milight.lua file to make it run for rgbw order ? (http://www.limitlessled.com/dev/) ?
They are not the same as the one on the initial file.

Have you made the change to add a pwm channel for white ?

If yes please share them on a github.

cherowley · #22 Post by **cherowley** » 15 Feb 2016, 15:39

Hi Deenooo!

I've used the milight hardware device in domoticz set to rgbw.

Looking at the udp packets generated by domoitcz it sends cmd 78 (decimal) which is the brightness command if you adjust the lower slider or move the pointer in the square colour block.

I can't therefore tell the difference between adjusting the colour brightness or the white brightness.

Hmm, I haven't altered any lua files. I didn't know i had to if using the hardware device?

cherowley · #23 Post by **cherowley** » 18 Feb 2016, 13:37

I've created a basic plugin (29) for Milight emulation. Only responds to group 1.
New item in devices - Milight RGBW. Set pins used and udp port for milight emulation.
Only does basic colour/brightness plus a couple new other http commands.
To use drop the plugin into the source directory and compile/flash as usual...

PWMFADE, pinno,target,time in seconds.
E.G http://192.168.2.165/control?cmd=PWMFADE,0,1000,5 (fade red channel to level 1000 over 5 seconds)
Where pinno = 0-3 (0=r,1=g,2=b,3=w). Target 0-1023, Time 1-30 seconds.
Not sure if it's useful as update speed is only 10hz as I'm using the PLUGIN_TEN_PER_SECOND plugin functionality. Very jumpy fades!
This command is primarily so I can use the white channel via lua scripting from domoticz.

RGBFLASH, red level, green level, blue level, times to flash.
E.G http://192.168.2.165/control?cmd=RGBFLASH,0,1000,0,15 (flash green at level 1000 for 15 times)
Levels 0-23, times 1-20 max.
This command is primarily so I can use it for alerts from domoticz.

(Can we use interrupts (timers) in espeasy without it messing everything else up?)
I don't know C so code needs to be redone by someone who does! (It adds 5k to compiled sketch size and an extra 480bytes mem usage)
I only did this code as the virtual RGBW devices in domoticz don't work ha.

r080 no plugin 29:
Binary sketch size: 376,663 bytes (used 39% of a 958,448 byte maximum) (44.06 secs)
Minimum Memory Usage: 50152 bytes (61% of a 81920 byte maximum)

r080 with plugin 29:
Binary sketch size: 381,119 bytes (used 40% of a 958,448 byte maximum) (31.73 secs)
Minimum Memory Usage: 50632 bytes (62% of a 81920 byte maximum)

Download from : http://www.filedropper.com/p029rgbw

cherowley · #24 Post by **cherowley** » 19 Feb 2016, 16:42

cherowley wrote:I've created a basic plugin (29) for Milight emulation. Only responds to group 1.

I don't know C so code needs to be redone by someone who does! (It adds 5k to compiled sketch size and an extra 480bytes mem usage)
[/url]

Hmm after stress testing it by automating fade/flash/colour/brightness commands every second or 2 it reboots often, not lasting more than an hour..

Even without stress testing and only sending the odd command it still reboots after a few hours (max with 10 hours up time).

Any ideas on how to debug? Boot cause just shows manual reboot...

Tried syslog but that doesn't help..

cherowley · #25 Post by **cherowley** » 24 Feb 2016, 10:27

I've now got the plugin seemingly stable - I disabled the system info plugin.
I've also used a timer set to 50hz to control the fading and it gives (mostly!) smooth fading. Still the odd flicker but can't really do much about that as its software fighting for resources like wifi etc.

Also wrote another plugin to do IR transmit and hooked up an IR led (with suitable series resistor) to the w2 output and am successfully controlling a Samsung tv over about 10 feet using the on/off action in a virtual switch:

On action:
http://192.168.2.165/control?cmd=IRSEND ... 0e09966,32

Off action:
http://192.168.2.165/control?cmd=IRSEND ... 0e019e6,32

So one box controlling a rgbw strip with the w2 used to control the tv in the kitchen and another box in the ceiling controlling the main light with a PIR hooked up to the gpio turning lights on and the tv on at set times via domoticz.

Quite a useful little box these H801's at 8quid a pop!

josh38 · #26 Post by **josh38** » 09 Mar 2016, 16:19

I found on github an ESP firmware who turn it on a Milight bridge + ledstrip controller for pwm led strip.

I test everything looks OK

https://github.com/frizzby/esp8266-rgb-led

I'm starting a conversion for Ws2812b led strip, any thoughts?

cherowley · #27 Post by **cherowley** » 09 Mar 2016, 16:38

josh38 wrote:I found on github an ESP firmware who turn it on a Milight bridge + ledstrip controller for pwm led strip.

I test everything looks OK

https://github.com/frizzby/esp8266-rgb-led

I'm starting a conversion for Ws2812b led strip, any thoughts?

HI!

Yeah I referenced that when I wrote my plugin

Deennoo · #28 Post by **Deennoo** » 11 Mar 2016, 10:15

josh38 wrote:I found on github an ESP firmware who turn it on a Milight bridge + ledstrip controller for pwm led strip.

I test everything looks OK

https://github.com/frizzby/esp8266-rgb-led

I'm starting a conversion for Ws2812b led strip, any thoughts?

i got it starting :

https://github.com/deennoo/esp8266-rgb-led

need some improvement, if you want to help.

msev · #29 Post by **msev** » 15 Mar 2016, 10:56

I don't like this very much because its only for Iphone

cherowley · #30 Post by **cherowley** » 15 Mar 2016, 11:35

Deennoo wrote:
josh38 wrote:I found on github an ESP firmware who turn it on a Milight bridge + ledstrip controller for pwm led strip.

I test everything looks OK

https://github.com/frizzby/esp8266-rgb-led

I'm starting a conversion for Ws2812b led strip, any thoughts?
i got it starting :

https://github.com/deennoo/esp8266-rgb-led

need some improvement, if you want to help.

Hi!

I prefer to use the plugin I wrote because:

a) It uses the espeasy code so nice webpage setup
b) It emulates the milight protocol so it works with domoticz standard device (also works with android apps that control milight)
c) I use rgbw led strip, not using ws2812 led strips

Deennoo · #31 Post by **Deennoo** » 15 Mar 2016, 16:03

Still waiting my h801 grrrr

Deennoo · #32 Post by **Deennoo** » 26 Mar 2016, 23:07

Got mine today...can only try it on 8 april...

Deennoo · #33 Post by **Deennoo** » 27 Mar 2016, 19:29

cherowley wrote:
Download from : http://www.filedropper.com/p029rgbw

Hi cherowley !

finaly got some time to try it, but filedropper look bad to me, is this possible to share it on a github place please ?

edit : found it on github playground.

Ger · #34 Post by **Ger** » 05 Apr 2016, 22:09

i found what looks like the original firmware, it is only a .bin
http://www.esp8266.com/download/file.php?id=1961
found here;
http://www.esp8266.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 9&start=12

Deennoo · #35 Post by **Deennoo** » 07 Apr 2016, 11:54

@cherowley

I get a small problem, maybe you can help me :

i didn't manage to get blue color, with your plug in

i set gpio like this :
redPIN 15
greenPIN 13
bluePIN 12

any idea ?

cherowley · #36 Post by **cherowley** » 07 Apr 2016, 12:32

Hi Deenoo,

Hmm, that looks correct to me:

Name:
Milight UDP Port: 8899
Red Pin: 15
Green Pin: 13
Blue Pin: 12
White Pin: 14

If you swap say the blue & green wires and set to full green do you get blue?

grz3 · #37 Post by **grz3** » 07 Apr 2016, 16:16

for me this pluging working OK. try connections if they are OK.
what I'm missing here, H801 with espeasy and your plugin, connected to DOMOTICZ, in domoticz i setup MIIlight hardware with RGBW, but i'm not able to utilize WHITE LEDS, always it is just RGB mixture of collors. If I switch to RGB in domoticz hw, i'll lose ability to dim leds, and when I switch to WHITE - it will do nothings..

thank you
grz

Deennoo · #38 Post by **Deennoo** » 07 Apr 2016, 16:35

The better thing will be to create 2 plug in :

- One for RGB answering to rgb Milight protocole
- One for white answering to White Milight protocole

And get ability to use 1 rgb plugin and 2 white plugin or 5 white plug in to only drive white led strip (or every 12v light we want)

Please Can you share you ide esp configuration ? which memory seize have to be choose ?

grz3 · #39 Post by **grz3** » 07 Apr 2016, 19:47

this would be great functionality....

btw: i'm on espeasy V94, with these settings:
ESP Chip ID: 137877
Flash Chip ID: 1327328
Flash Size: 1024 kB
Free Mem: 25664

and compiled with ide 1.6.5 with these:

Deennoo · #40 Post by **Deennoo** » 07 Apr 2016, 19:49

Thanks for sharing.

Blue channel probleme solve : soldering wiring probleme

zycker · #41 Post by **zycker** » 08 May 2016, 15:45

Hi,
I'm trying to flash my H801 as you have but I'm stuck with upload of the sketch.
I use a usb to TTL, I've plug TX & RX and on a normal boot, in the console of the Arduino software I see

Code: Select all

HUACANXING WIFI Control LED System H801WiFi V1.2

I power the board off, put a wire to close J3 and boot up again (do I keep it there or it's just for the boot ?)
In the Arduino software I've followed what 2 posts above for the settings but when it tries to upload I've got this :

Code: Select all

warning: espcomm_sync failed
error: espcomm_open failed
error: espcomm_upload_mem failed

I'm uploading ESPeasy R105 with the RGBW plugin. Do I have to flash a nodemcu firmware before ?
I've already flashed one esp01 and two ESP12 without this problem, all with ESPeasy.
Any ideas ?

KKSU · #42 Post by **KKSU** » 29 May 2016, 19:40

Hi
I am using ver. R107 with the RGBW plugin and I cant get the PWMFADE to work I did change the pin's in the RGBW plugin like below. Have I understand something wrong ?? Can some one help me on this.

http://192.168.1.101/control?cmd=PWM,15,1000 (is working OK)
http://192.168.1.101/control?cmd=PWMFADE,0,1000,3 ( won't change anything on the led strip but web page response is "PWM fading over 3 seconds.")

unsigned int Red = 15;
unsigned int Green = 13;
unsigned int Blue = 12;

sozkara · #43 Post by **sozkara** » 02 Jun 2016, 09:21

hello,

I bought one of these, and tear apart it and found out that it uses esp12:
http://aliexpress.com/store/product/AC8 ... 06339.html
It has the rx tx gnd and 3v3 headers under it. Can it be the same unit? I will post pics of the board once i get to home.

tozett · #44 Post by **tozett** » 02 Jun 2016, 09:28

can i be teared apart easyly? or do some things broke?
waiting for your pics ...

Ger · #45 Post by **Ger** » 04 Jun 2016, 00:03

I am also very interested

sozkara · #46 Post by **sozkara** » 04 Jun 2016, 13:09

Sorry, been a busy week. I could desolder the board today. Here are the attached shots. I haven't seen an esp8266 board version like this. It has pigtail connection!
The translucent part pops out quite easily:

The LED pcb is glued with white silicone and not easy to pry. As you can see some plastic has been chipped. Body is metal:

Front side of the LED pcb, you can see 3 wires for rgb control and 2 seperate are for 12v power:

backside of LED pcb. rgb control signals are labeled q1 q2 q3. I guess q4 is for white LED dimming:

ESP board detail. I dont know which version of the ESP is:

NietGiftig · #47 Post by **NietGiftig** » 04 Jun 2016, 15:26

sozkara wrote: I dont know which version of the ESP is:

ESP chip is for all boards the same afaik
The difference comes from the memory chip / antenne etc.

Nice photo's by the way

lucaberta · #48 Post by **lucaberta** » 04 Jun 2016, 23:06

sozkara wrote: ESP board detail. I dont know which version of the ESP is:

those four pads seem very much like a serial port to me, with GND and 3.3V to power up the ESP8266 and write software to it when unplugged from mains...

L

sozkara · #49 Post by **sozkara** » 05 Jun 2016, 13:59

lucaberta wrote:
sozkara wrote: ESP board detail. I dont know which version of the ESP is:

those four pads seem very much like a serial port to me, with GND and 3.3V to power up the ESP8266 and write software to it when unplugged from mains...

L

Yes, its connected to rx/tx pins, i checked with continuity

msev · #50 Post by **msev** » 06 Jun 2016, 10:57

Very interesting! Btw would it be possible to somehow be able to control this bulb either via physical switch or via wifi? Like that it still turns on with flick of physical switch?

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