# WLED Driver Board (ESP32-C3 / D1 Mini Compatible)

A compact LED controller board designed to simplify running WLED using either an ESP32-C3 module or a Wemos D1 Mini.

This board integrates power regulation and signal routing to reduce wiring and external components.

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## Features

- Supports ESP32-C3 (recommended)
- Compatible with Wemos D1 Mini (ESP8266)
- Designed for WLED firmware
- Input voltage up to 28V DC
- On-board 3.3V step-down regulator
- Works with addressable LED strips (WS281x, etc.)
- Compact and easy to integrate

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## Power

- Input Voltage: up to 28V DC
- On-board regulator provides ~4.8V for the controller

NOTE:
- LED strips are powered directly from the input voltage
- The board does NOT regulate LED voltage

Make sure your LED strip matches your supply voltage (5V, 12V, 24V, etc.)

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## Supported Controllers

### ESP32-C3 (Recommended)
- Lower power consumption
- Better performance than ESP8266
- Often includes native USB

### Wemos D1 Mini (ESP8266)
- Drop-in compatible
- Fully supported by WLED
- Good for simple or low-cost builds

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## WLED Setup

1. Solder your controller (ESP32-C3 or D1 Mini)
2. Connect power supply (max 28V)
3. Connect LED strip:
   - V+
   - GND
   - DATA
4. Flash WLED firmware
5. Configure GPIO in WLED web interface

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## Typical GPIO

ESP32-C3:
- LED Data: configurable (example GPIO2)

D1 Mini:
- LED Data: D4 (GPIO2)

GPIO can be changed in WLED settings.

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## Connections

### Power Input
- VIN
- GND

### LED Output
- V+ (same as input)
- GND
- DATA

### Controller Headers
- ESP32-C3 or Wemos D1 Mini

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## Design Notes

- 3.3V regulator only powers the controller
- LED power is passed directly from input
- Keep data wire short for stability
- Level shifting may be needed for long runs

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## Safety

- Do NOT exceed 28V input
- Check polarity before powering
- Use proper wiring for high current loads
- Ensure adequate cooling if running large LED setups

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## Use Cases

- LED strips (WS2812B, WS2815, SK6812)
- Ambient lighting
- Home automation
- 12V / 24V LED installations

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## License

MIT / Open Hardware (modify as needed)
