ESP8266 HomeKit NeoPixel Light Strip EX with Effects

The extended version of the NeoPixel light strip. It gives the strip two lights in the Home app: NeoPixel Strip EX, and NeoPixel Strip FX, which comes with more effects. Both have the usual brightness slider and colour choices.

The plain version is ESP8266 HomeKit NeoPixel Light Strip.

Pick the firmware for your strip

The strip comes in two lengths, and each has its own firmware build:

Every file comes with a signature file, for example main72.bin.sig.

Hardware

The repository has no wiring diagram and no source code. For a WS2812 strip on an ESP8266, with the power supply, buttons and capacitors, see the wiring diagram in ESP8266 HomeKit NeoPixel Light Strip. The NeoPixels WS2812B guide explains how the addressable LEDs work, and the ESP8266 pinout describes the module. A long strip draws a lot of current, so size the power supply for the strip length you choose.

Flash and install

The installation is the same as for the other ESP8266 HomeKit accessories on this site. The firmware runs on ESP-Open-RTOS with Life Cycle Manager 2, which sets up the WiFi and installs updates over the air. The full steps, from installing esptool to flashing, joining the LCM- WiFi network and pairing, are in ESP8266 HomeKit Blinds.

In the portal, use these values:

When the installation is done, scan the QR code the device generates in the Home app to add it.

Firmware releases

Both releases contain main72.bin and main144.bin, each with a signature file.

Good to know

• The HomeKit Accessory Protocol specification the firmware follows is the non-commercial version, for accessories you build yourself and do not distribute or sell.
• The screenshots show the Home app with a Dutch interface.
• The repository is under the MIT licence.

Everything is in the ESP8266-HomeKit-NeoPixel-Light-Strip-EX repository on GitHub.