Compact LED Controller– µC + 18650 ESP case

Run your portable LED projects with this compact battery + microcontroller case!

I use this to power my S22 LED Handle project and LED helmet, for example. 

Parts Needed

1. Battery Sprigs:
   • Keystone 209 Leaf Spring Battery Tabs [amazon] [digikey] etc
2. Microcontroller
   • D1 Mini [amazon]
   • ESP32 D1 [amazon]
3. LED strips! 
   (or motor or whatever you're running)
   • 144 LEDs/meter strips are the best. Now super cheap, only 11USD shipped for 1m! Here's my favorite on [amazon]
   • My FAVORITE new stuff is this: ‘COB LED Pixel’ strips [aliexpress]. 332leds/m WAT. This is what's on my helmet in that gif.

Software Recommended

The WLED Project is the bee's knees. Here's the github. 

All you need is an ESP32 or ESP8266 and go to install.wled.me in your browser (chrome required) to install and configure wifi! 

There's even an WLED app for Android and iOS (good autodiscovery, then exposes the web view).

Assembly and Wiring

Printing should be pretty easy. Nothing special.

Wire:

1. battery + → 5V pin on your µC AND → 5V pin on your LED strip (I use servo connectors along the way)
2. battery - → gnd pin on your micro AND → gnd on LED strip
3. D1 Mini D4 pin → DIN on led strip (this D4 pin is right next to gnd)

The ESP8266 and ESP32 run great directly from a lithium cell using their built in 3.3V regulator! Guess what? So does the LED strip! No 5V boost conversion needed.

But what about battery management? 5V??

The low voltage of an 18650 cell is 2.5V. This is below where the ESP will work and where the LED strip will function. Just watch out for your LEDs stopping working then replace the battery. 

Happy to provide STEP files and/or CAD

Just message me discord/telegram/printables DM!

Designed in OnShape. Super powerful web browser CAD tool made by the guys who made SolidWorks.. And there's a free account option!