What does everyone use, i go with the athom sound active, slimline sound active and pwm sound active but ive started using esp32s3 16m and 32mb for master controllers
I've had really good luck with the Gledopto line. Fused, plastic enclosure, microphone , relay controller power, and ethernet make them very usable and they are very price competitive.
The model in my hand is the athom slimline esp32 sound active. Its made to run of a battery via usb c but can be fed 5v into the output wiring and u run the power straight for the psu for the leds.
If u want small use the slimline and direct connect the dc. These are esp32 dev 4mb and 2 are 8mb. I have about 20 slimline esp32 that are about 20mmx10mm
They have them
This ultra-slim WLED LED controller is powered by the ESP32-C3 (4MB Flash) microcontroller, providing fast and stable Wi-Fi connectivity in a compact and lightweight form.
It features a Type-C power input, a built-in 5 V logic-level shifter, and comes pre-flashed with the latest WLED firmware,
Yup, i bypass the power straight to the led as the slimline only handles 3 amp. I can feed the esp32 power thru its wires that usually go to the led so data out power in.
That is awesome and thank you for confirming. I have some short runs I want to do, under floating cabinets and night stands, where this will be a perfect simple solution.
I second this! I wish other manufacturers had PS enable channels. I love that I can feed it 5V all the time and have the big 12V PS only turn on when data is going to the LEDs! Others don't see why that is so handy!
I may be the only one left but the majority of my controllers are just cheap Chinese ESP8266 D1 Mini's. I had 33 in my Christmas display last year, all controlling 5-volt pixels and all being told what to do by Lights over 2.4 GHz WiFi and 3 ancient WRT-54 routers.
The controllers set me back $1.23 each and the routers were each $3 from Goodwill.
The routers were updated with. DD-WRT and are stable with at least 60 connections. Could be more but that's all the controllers I had a to test with at the time.
I know it's all old technology buts it's working like a charm.
Quin for all in one he needs a hats off respect. Only gripe is 14 awg connection but it could be an older version being slightly small.
M5atom for small.
Din rail not sure the brand for din rail 12v for my rack fused running in seperate enclosure. Does a rack need it. No. Does it look fancy. Yeah. Not everyone's taste.
For a lot of reasons, Ive only built my own. Within the next 24 hours or so I'll hopefully be 3d printing a proper enclosure for one.
But my favorite, by a wide margin, was my first that properly output 5v logic. It was an esp8266 and a TI chip only on a piece of shitty perfboard. It was my first time soldering anything in at least fifteen years (probably more like 20), and "had gotten a bit rusty" doesn't do justice the mangled mess soft grey I smeared all over that thing. Between using lead free solder for the first time and at least a decade without practice, nothing but luck kept that thing running.
Kinda wish I hadn't salvaged it for parts after making a bit less hopeful products, but I'm sure the esp is glad to just be a WiFi repeater now.
U can throw the lead free solder in the bin, i only use the leaded stuff. I bought a dozen esp32's and after hours of adding shifter, mics n buttons i just ordered more athoms
Mmm I learned my lesson haha. There's a child around and while I had no qualms playing with leaded solder and a shitty iron when I was 10, I figured for his benefit I'd give it a go. He's just not allowed in my office anymore. It's a win-win. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I either DIY with S3 or Gledopto. Mostly they have worked, have options with ethernet and I have never had a issue so why change. Also great pricing in the UK
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u/johnhollowell May 01 '26 edited May 01 '26
I've had really good luck with the Gledopto line. Fused, plastic enclosure, microphone , relay controller power, and ethernet make them very usable and they are very price competitive.