ESP32-based YULC USB-C LED Controller features dual power inputs, supports WLED and ESPHome firmware

The YULC (Yes, a USB-C LED Controller) board is a compact, ESP32-S3-powered LED controller with USB-C and DC jack power inputs. It is a fully featured board that can easily replace a rat’s nest of wires and save space and time.

YULC base board

This ESP32 LED controller features a built-in buck regulator that converts input power from the USB-C port or barrel jack to the voltage needed for the LED strips. The YULC provides two separate LED channels with a level shifter each to ensure clean and powerful data output, removing the need for a sacrificial pixel or external level shifter. Each channel also has a power MOSFET that can turn off the channels individually and dim simple LED strips via PWM.

YULC power path
Power Path for the LED Controller

AAElectronics, the maker, has previously released an IR remote—the Home Assistant-compatible ESP 360 Remote—which we covered at the time. Similar products include the SMLIGHT A1-SLWF-03, DFRobot’s EDGE102-DMX512, and the PixelBlaze v3.

YULC specifications:

  • SoC – ESP32-S3 dual-core Xtensa LX7 MCU @ 240MHz with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi  and BLE 5
  • LED Control
    • 2x LED channels, each with a level shifter
    • 1x high-side power N-channel MOSFET per channel
    • 10x output terminals, 5 for each channel (2x Positive terminal, 2x GND terminal, 1x Data terminal)
  • USB – USB Type-C for power and programming
  • Expansion – 12-pin header with 8x GPIO, 3V power pins, and GND
  • Misc – Transient and ESD protection, automotive blade fuse holders, 1x Boot button, 3x jumpers
  • Power Input
    • USB Type-C with PD 3.0 protocol up to 100W
    • 24V @ 20A via 2.5 x 5.5mm DC barrel jack
    • Built-in high-efficiency regulator, up to 100W@5V (USB-C) or up to 240W @ 12V (Barrel jack)

The YULC board supports open-source firmware such as WLED and ESPHome allowing Home Assistant integration. The WLED firmware for YULC is a manually compiled build with four user mods including one that turns the connected strip into a visual timer. The hardware is also open-source, with schematics, bill of materials, Gerber files, and 3D models available for developers who want to build and improve upon the hardware. The AAElectronics documentation page also includes a complete setup guide for users.

YULC complete assembly
YULC complete assembly

An earlier version of the USB-C LED controller was previewed on Crowd Supply but the maker has opted for a different approach. The YULC development kit is priced at $35 on Tindie and is sold at the maker’s shop for €29.90. The kit includes a YULC board, a 15A blade fuse, heatsinks, M2 screws, and a 5V fan. Buyers will need to print the enclosure themselves. More information can be found on the documentation page.

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