xwLedControl

xwLedControl is a flexible, highly configurable RC Lightning System. It was formerly know as SkyLED, sold as a commercial product by InnoSKY which was decommissioned a few years ago. Since then, a lot of request to start offering it again have been made. Therefore the hardware was recreated from scratch, including some improvements, and was made available for everybody to produce / order himself. The PC configurator is re-developped as a .Net-Core 3.1 WPF application and is published here as well.

xwLedConfigurator Software

The configurator software is what makes the xwLedControl system as unique as it is. There are enless options to tune your model lights from 100% legit in a 1:4 full scale jet, to just plain fun in a styrofoam night flyer.

Features (more to come)

• Create multiple light sequences that can be switched (or disabled) from the received
• Create up to 24 output channels (or 8 RGB channels or any combination of both) per sequence
• Create LED objects for your channels on the timeline, with freely definable positions and timings:
  • Contstant brightnes, constant color (for RGB)
  • Blinking between 2 brightnesses (or colors) at definable blink periods and duty cycle
  • Linear fading with time between 2 brightnesses (colors)
  • Linear fading with time between 2 brightnesses (colors) controlled from receiver signal
• Per channel settings for maximum PWM dutycycle, to connect high power LED's with smaller inline resitors generating less heat
• Per channel settings for enabling/disabling an individual channel from the receiver signal (eg for landing lights or blinkers / stop lights in cars)
• Per seuqence definition of global sequence brightness and sequence speed (and, can be changed from receiver)
• Device firmware upgrade directly from software
• Configurable voltage supervisor
• Runs on Windows

xwLedControl hardware

xwLedControl Version 2!

xwLedControl just became better, lighter, smaller and cheaper! By eliminiating some unused features (like the sensor input), streamlining and simplifying the schematics and the use of smaller components, the new controller has all the great features the software offers, but at only 50% of the original size! - EasyEDA Project

Features

• 37 x 17mm 4 layer PCB
• Builtin mini USB for configuration of light sequences from PC Software
• Auto-shutdown, disconnects the battery when receiver or USB is not connected (can be disabled with solder jumper, the module can light your model without receiver connected)
• Per module up to 6 single color channels, 2 RGB channels or 3 LED + 1 RGB channel (for common anode RGB strips)
• Up to 24 channels with one master module conecting up to 3 slave modules through Master/Slave connection
• On/Off control and light sequences switching from RC receiver
• Battery monitoring
• 1s - 3s LiPo input voltage
• Up to 5A per output channel (10A Mosfets per channel)

V2 Versions and know issues

Version 2.0

• Changes
  • Inital version currently tested
• Known Issues
  • No known issues

Get your Led Controller

• You can download gerber files from Github and produce the PCB on your own.
• I alwas try to have some assembled boards on stock. Get in touch with me to check inventory. It will be sold for CHF 30 - 50 per piece (excl. shipping, depending on version and parts availability / prices at JTLPCB), with no warranty as this is a non-profit open-source / open-hardware projct.
• The new controller is designed in EasyEDA and shared (Link below in the versions). You can clone the EasyEDA project, make changes as you like and order the PCB on your own. Find more information on DIY hardware here

Old modules not maintained anymore

xwLedControl Basic

The original xwLedControl, formerly SkyLED by InnoSKY, including USB port and auto-shutdown. The Basic version is simply connting the LED's with the attached batteries, so it requires inline resistors wit the LED's not to damage the lights, based on LED current and attached battery. Do the math! (todo: Wiki entry for resistor calculation) - EasyEDA Project

Features

• 47 x 25mm 4 layer PCB
• Builtin mini USB for configuration of light sequences from PC Software
• Auto-shutdown, disconnects the battery when receiver not connected (can be disabled with solder jumper)
• Per module up to 6 LED channels, 2 RGB channels or 3 LED + 1 RGB channel (for common anode RGB strips)
• Up to 24 channels with one master module conecting up to 3 slave modules through Master/Slave connection
• On/Off control and light sequences switching from RC receiver
• 5-14V input voltage, suitable for 2S - 3S LiPo batteries
• Up to 2A per output channel

Versions and know issues

Version 1.1

• Changes
  • Fixed power supply
  • Fixed ground connections
  • Added switched voltage pad, to power slave devices with auto shutdown from master device
  • Boot1 pin connected to ground
  • Additional capacity on CP2102N according datasheet
  • Added SWD, UART, Reset and Boot0 testpoints on back copper layer for easier development
• Known Issues
  • DC/DC converter just creates around 2.5V when connected to USB only. This is mostly fine, but some devices require a battery to be conncted during firmware download

Version 1.0

• Changes
  • Inital version currently tested
• Known Issues
  • Power supply error is burning USB chip on battery power
  • Ground pin not connected on STM32
  • Boot1 pin is floating, which is preventing STM32 to enter bootloader mode