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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.

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

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.)

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

WLED Setup

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

Typical GPIO

ESP32-C3:

LED Data: configurable (example GPIO2)

D1 Mini:

LED Data: D4 (GPIO2)

GPIO can be changed in WLED settings.

Connections

Power Input

VIN
GND

LED Output

V+ (same as input)
GND
DATA

Controller Headers

ESP32-C3 or Wemos D1 Mini

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

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

Use Cases

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

License

MIT / Open Hardware (modify as needed)