alt Hacker NewsThe most plug-and-play WLED-compatible controller I've found is made by athom.tech and available on AliExpress <https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1101393719>. There are two versions based on the ESP32C3. One is powered by USB-C @ 5V, and the other has a barrel jack and passes through 5-24V to the lights, which is useful if you're using a higher-voltage strip like WS2813.
I used to build my own controllers from ESP development boards, but it's just not worth it when an enclosed controller with convenient connectors is priced between $10-20.
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As other siblings said, they didn't upstream anything (having to install firmware from a random unmarked zip on a site is annoying), and also their controllers are badly made.
I used one for a panel I made, and it would bootloop constantly, until I added a big capacitor to the 5V rail. Pretty shoddy.
The athom stuff is a bit annoying because they never bothered to upstream anything to support their fairly minor changes - they just forked instead. You can still install upstream WLED, but the remote control support is faffy.
The mottramlabs or QuinLED boards don't have this problem.
another plug-and-play pre-flashed with wled: https://magwled.com/
you can find the controller on amazon comes with usb-c for 12v and 5v and currrently using it with some BTF-LIGHTING WS2812B fairy lights
I’m a fan of these guys:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHHZTGJR
Power is passed through from either connector, so it’ll work on 5v or 12v strings. And it’s got two output channels. It’s only an ESP8266 inside, but that works fine for my needs.
For a slightly more DIY approach, try this one:
https://wiki.vdbx.io/product/flip_c3
Has everything you need to give it some sort of power and get the requisite data signal out.