Install a connected LED strip DIY with WLED

In order to light up the coffee niche in my kitchen, I decided to make my own LED strip using WLED. WLED connects to your Wifi and is natively recognized by Home Assistant, it allows you to use an addressable LED strip and offers many programming possibilities, I explain in this article how to do it.

Gledopto GL-C-310WL

By Gledopto

GLEDOPTO ESP32 Mini WLED LED Controller With Mic DIY Music Dynamic Modes Digital WS2811 WS2812 SK6812 TM1814 WS2813 WS2815 Strip

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Prerequisites

• Home assistant
• A WLED module from the GLEDOPTO brand (here GL-C-310WL)
• A LED strip (WS2811, WS2812, SK6812, TM1814, WS2813 or WS2815)
• An aluminum profile for the LED strip
• 1.5mm² electric wire
• A 12V power supply

Discovery of the Gledopto GL-C-310WL

The Gledopto GL-C-310WL is discreet, it can be embedded in a junction box, on the connector side we find a 5-24v compatible input as well as 6 RGB outputs and two free GPIO12 and GPIO33 connectors that will allow you to do DIY, such as adding a push button with multiple settings. The strength of Gledopto Products lies in the firmware that directly integrates WLED, making these modules plug’n play and compatible with open source home automation assistants on the market compatible with WLED as Home assistant.

The Gledpto GL-C-310WL

• Can control two light strips
• controls color segmentation
• switch available directly on the module
• has a built-in microphone type 12S
• possibility to configure scenes
• Access to all WLED functions
• Fully compatible with Home Assistant via WLED integration

Physical buttons of the GL-C-310WL

1# Restart button: By pressing this button you turn off or turn on the module completely making the WLED controller unusable. Can be used after a microphone configuration

2# Function button

• short press: on/off function (turns the LEDs on or off)
• press > 1 second: changes the color of the LEDs
• press > 10 seconds: sets the module as an access point and activates the WLED-AP access point

Push button functions available on GPIO33

Find the product sheet for GL-C-310WL directly on the Gledopto Manufacturer website

Technical Characteristics

LED strip installation

To make installation easier and have something clean to hide behind my kitchen cabinet, I opted for a “plug & play” module, but it is possible to assemble your own module using an ESP32 the method can be found on the WLED website:.

WS2811 and + LED strip

By Led

Led strips compatible with Gledopto WS2811 WS2812 SK6812 TM1814 WS2813 WS2815 Strip

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I chose the GLEDOPTO module because it can be installed in a flush-mounting box, it supports 2 LED strips as well as 2 push buttons or switches, it accepts a supply voltage from 5 to 24V and comes with pre-installed WLED.

Wiring diagram of the GL-C-310WL

Alimentation Meanwell

By Meanwell

MeanWell HDR-15-12 DIN Rail Power Supply, Black

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Depending on the length of your LED strip and the supply voltage, you will absolutely have to calculate the power of your downstream power supply, to do this you can use the calculator on the WLED website it is important to correctly size your installation in order to avoid a risk of overheating or even fire, even with 12V, you must also protect the 12V power supply with a circuit breaker. After having carefully chosen your power supply and your strip, all you have to do is slide the strip into an aluminum profile Here from the Paulmann brand found in DIY stores, connect the WLED module, fix your profile and connect everything to the 12V power supply.

Profilé Paulmann bande led

By Paulmann

INNOVATE 2m Aluminum profile - LED Rail channel - for LED strips - Aluminum profile for LED strips

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Wifi connection

Once your module is powered on, connect to the module via Wifi, in your Wifi settings you should see a new network WLED-AP appear, the password is wled1234, a page will open automatically to ask you to enter the identifiers of your Wifi network.

WLed settings

Once your module is connected to your Wifi, go to the configuration page by typing the IP address in your browser, you will have to go to Config > LED Preferences to declare the characteristics of your strip.

• In the first part you have the possibility to limit the maximum power of the strip at the software level
• 1.: The type of strip
• Ma/LED: the consumption of an LED
• Color Order: the order of colors
• Lenght: the length of the strip (NB of physical LEDs)

Integration under HA

Home Assistant will automatically discover your WLED module and offer to add it. You are then free to create automations or add a card to your Dashboard. Just look at the screenshot below to realize that the integration is very complete a home automation dream!

For more information about WLed: https://kno.wled.ge

The Price

Regarding the price of GL-C-310WL it varies from simple to double, it goes from around twenty euros on Aliexpress at forty euros on Amazon. It’s up to you to make the choice!

Gledopto GL-C-310WL

By Gledopto

GLEDOPTO ESP32 Mini WLED LED Controller With Mic DIY Music Dynamic Modes Digital WS2811 WS2812 SK6812 TM1814 WS2813 WS2815 Strip

Buy Now out of Aliexpress Buy Now out of Amazon

Conclusion

Here is an interesting product Gledopta GL-C-310WL integrates by default the famous LED management software which is none other than WLED. In a few minutes you will be able to control the LED strips in any way and integrate it in one click in Home Assistant, Magnificent.