July 4, 2026
Description
ESP CC Dimmer
A Wi-Fi constant-current LED dimmer running ESPHome.
Check https://github.com/flaviut/hardware/tree/main/esp_cc_dimmer for source code & the latest version.
Intended use
Designed to clamp onto wire shelving to dim a plant grow-light string. The 3D-printed enclosure bolts to two shelf nuts that slot behind the wire grid; two M3×20 bolts and nylock nuts pinch the shelf wire between box and nuts. The knob allows offline dimming.
Power supply
Requirements:
10–56 V DC, set by the NLDD-H input range (the board silk marks the 48 V design point).
At least ~2 V above the LED string's forward voltage. Read your LED strip's datasheet.
Current capacity ≥ your LED string + 50mA for the electronics.
How it works
Power in (J2): 10–56 V feeds both the NLDD driver and an LX8015 buck that derives 3V3 for the MCU.
Dimming: the ESP32-C3 drives the NLDD's PWM dim input at 50 kHz (LEDC) — high-frequency PWM keeps the driver silent.
LED out (J1): constant-current string from the NLDD-H.
Controls: EC11 rotary encoder (turn = ±5 % brightness, press = toggle).
Sensing: VEML7700 ambient-light sensor on I²C (GPIO6/7).
Renders
PCB top | PCB bottom |
|---|---|
Enclosure base | Lid |
|---|---|
Knob | Shelf nut (×2) |
|---|---|
Bill of Materials
Board: 68.25 × 52.0 mm, 2-layer.
Refs | Qty | Value / Part | Package | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
U3 | 1 | Seeed XIAO ESP32-C3 | ||
PS1 | 1 | Mean Well NLDD-1050H | Any NLDD-350/500/700/1050H fits | |
U4 | 1 | LX8015 | 3V3 for the MCU | |
U2 | 1 | Vishay VEML7700 | 6-pin OPLGA | I²C ambient-light sensor |
SW1 | 1 | Alps EC11E15244G1 | EC11 vertical | Rotary encoder with push switch |
J1, J2 | 2 | WJ15EDGRC-3.81-02P (clone) / Phoenix Contact MCV 1,5/2-G-3,81 — 1803426 (original) | Board-side pluggable headers (power in / LED out) | |
(mates J1, J2) | 2 | WJ15EDGK-3.81-02P-14-00A (clone) / Phoenix Contact MC 1,5/2-ST-3,81 — 1803578 (original) | Wire-side screw plug for each header | |
C2 | 1 | 100 µF 63 V | Radial Ø8 mm | |
C11 | 1 | 4.7 µF 100 V | 1210 | |
C8 | 1 | 10 µF | 1210 | |
C1, C3 | 2 | 1 µF | 0603 | |
R1, R2 | 2 | 4.7 kΩ | 0603 |
Qty | Part | Notes |
|---|---|---|
1 | Enclosure base + lid | Print |
1 | Dimmer knob | Print |
2 | Shelf nut | Print |
2 | M3 × 20 mm bolt | Clamps box to shelf nuts |
2 | M3 nylock nut | — |
Printing
Knob (dimmer_knob_textured.stl): 0.12 mm layers, ironed top surface. The leaf texture was applied to the base model with bumpmesh.com (dimmer_knob.bumpmesh + leaves.png).
Enclosure / shelf nuts: standard 0.2 mm, no supports.
Firmware
ESPHome config: esphome/esp-cc-dimmer.yaml. Provide wifi_ssid / wifi_password via secrets.yaml, then:
pastrami4033esphome run esphome/esp-cc-dimmer.yamlLicense:
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