Hi all, i'm new here but have been fiddling with my ESP8266 Node MCU for a few weeks and loving it (though i must admit to using other peoples code)
I have a slight dilemma that i can't find a safe and compact solution for.
My lounge has 13 x 12v LED downlighter bulbs (MR10) which operate in sections with 4 light switches. I wish to have independent control over each bulb however the only access to the connection is the small 2inch or so hole that the housing is in. The bulb is powered by a 240v - 12vdc step down transformer designed for led's.
It was my thought that if i could purchase 13 esp8266 microcontrollers i could use their individual wifi id's to address each bulb in turn and therefore control them individually via either Alexa or a grouping app.
However i'm struggling as i'd need both a 12v feed for the LED Driver/transformer as well as a 5v supply for the Esp8266.
This would all be in the ceiling so i'd need something very small and cost effective which could supply both of the voltage as safely as possible.
I believe those LED bulbs run from 12VAC, can you confirm they are AC? You can use a regular relay or an AC solid state relay. If you choose a solid state relay, make sure it's rated for AC and make sure it's rated down to 12V. (Regular electro-mechanical relays will work at low voltages but some 120 / 240VAC relays will not.)
If you use a regular electro-mechanical relay you'll need a driver circuit, or you can get a relay board with a built-in driver.
However i'm struggling as i'd need both a 12v feed for the LED Driver/transformer as well as a 5v supply for the Esp8266.
You could buy a 5V power supply, or you could get a bridge rectifier, a capacitor, and a 5V regulator to power from the 12VAC. (But if you don't know how to do that, just buy a 5V power supply that runs from 240VAC.)
however the only access to the connection is the small 2inch or so hole that the housing is in.
Of course, you'll have to access the wires and you'll need space for all of the electronics. The power supply and relays can be bulky.
Paul_KD7HB:
What ever you do, remember the electrical must all be in an approved metal electrical box with cover. And fuse the power going into your project box.
Paul
Well unless the approved box is about an inch square there's no way it'd fit in the plug hole gap.
DVDdoug:
I believe those LED bulbs run from 12VAC, can you confirm they are AC? You can use a regular relay or an AC solid state relay. If you choose a solid state relay, make sure it's rated for AC and make sure it's rated down to 12V. (Regular electro-mechanical relays will work at low voltages but some 120 / 240VAC relays will not.)
If you use a regular electro-mechanical relay you'll need a driver circuit, or you can get a relay board with a built-in driver.
You could buy a 5V power supply, or you could get a bridge rectifier, a capacitor, and a 5V regulator to power from the 12VAC. (But if you don't know how to do that, just buy a 5V power supply that runs from 240VAC.)
Of course, you'll have to access the wires and you'll need space for all of the electronics. The power supply and relays can be bulky.
Hmm... it seems that this may be shot down before i start. I'm pretty sure (?) that they are DC? From what i've seen LED's seem to work via DC. I do have an Arduino Relay which will switch 240v supplies via the ESP8266.. i'd just rather use a step down solution for safety however as i said i don't have much space, around an inch an a half round per bulb housing
I've had another idea... i've had good results from the compact (and rather cheap) Wifi LED controllers which are commonly used for LED strips. They need a 12v Supply and are designed for multicolour control but do you think that i could adapt one to work with the MR16 LED bulb?
I'd then need a really compact inline 240v AC -> 12V DC transformer.. one must exist?
240v AC --> 240v AC/12v DC --> 12v LED Controller --> MR16 LED?
Forget the idea with using an individual ESP8266 per bulb. That solution might work, but it won't be reliable as ESPs are prone to lose wifi connectivity.
Add to that the rather tight space constraints and it becomes much more hassle than it is worth.
Replacing the switches with something that can be controlled via Alexa or some other app should not be a big problem, there are lots of ready made solutions for stuff like that.
Controlling each bulb individually will most likely require opening up the ceiling or at least pulling in new cables so you can use relais. You'd still need to install a box somewhere that contains the electronics for controlling everything.
You should probably take some pictures of the bulbs themselves and also the power supplies so we can be clear on what we're dealing with: AC or DC, 12V, 240V, ...
Also, where are the power supplies located? In the ceiling, too?
