⚡ 3 Minute Setup (video)

🚦 Which LEDs to Get (article)

🔮 Example Use (blog)

What is it?

If your project, product, decoration or installation needs individually addressable LEDs (also known as Neopixels) and you want to get going without worrying about the hardware, this might be for you.

My Baby's Got LED makes it easy to control connected LED lights using WLED software, while keeping the door open for more advanced projects leveraging MQTT or Node-RED, either on your local network or platform APIs, including home automation systems & business data.

With status lights for WiFi, LED Power and network connection - and a reset button - it's easy to see what's going on. And the power lines have 8 amp fuses so it's safe to use even with a 1000W power supply and a few hundred LEDs connected.

How do I use it?

You will need:

• a My Baby's Got LED (that's this page!)
• a compatible 5V LED strip (guidance here)
• and an ATX PC power supply (kits available soon!)

And then:

1. Plug in the LEDs with the 3-pin connector
2. Clip in the wide connector from the PC power supply
3. Connect to the board via WiFi
4. Control your lights with WLED via any browser, or Android and iOS apps.

Our record from separated parts to WLED control is 27 seconds!

Click on the picture below for a 3-minute set up guide to see it in action:

What can I do with it?

Here are some examples of how mcqn, our friends and our customers have used the board.

#DoesTheLiverbirdPlay | Remote Control via Twitter & Livestreaming

Aeternum's Logo Display | Ambient Display of Air Quality & Server Data

@mcknut Exploring Segments with Little Ones

What are the specifications?

• 12cm by 9cm by 4cm max dimensions
• In: Molex connector from an ATX PC power supply
• Out: Three 5V injection lines with 8A fuses, via one 3-pin JST connector (common on LED strips) and an 8-pin screw-clamp terminal
• Compatible with: WS2812B; WS2813; SK6812; APA102; WS2801; LPD8806
• Chip: ESP8266
• Status indicators for WiFi, Power and WiFi connectivity
• Reset button for factory reset
• Software: WLED by lead developer Aircookie
• Integrates with MQTT, Home Assistant, Node-RED, Xlights
• Designed and assembled by mcqn ltd in Liverpool (UK) from circuit boards made by JLC PCB

WLED, the LED control software, is versatile and has a JSON API which can receive information directly from a local network from Node-RED and link up with MQTT brokers.

There is a programming header on the board with the standard FTDI pinout to let you update the software on the ESP8266 with whatever you like.

If you need to wire in additional hardware, all the connections to the ESP8266 module itself are broken out on 0.1" headers.

The board is certified Open Hardware and mcqn is a passionate advocate for open source technology.

Who made this board and why?

The My Baby's Got LED board was designed by Adrian McEwen, who has been connecting devices to the internet since 1995 and is the co-author of Designing the Internet of Things. You may know of him from Bubblino, the little character who blew bubbles when people tweeted about them, back in 2008. In 2002 Adrian founded MCQN ltd to develop gentle internet connected devices and provide consultancy for people doing unusual things in this area.

In 2017, Adrian needed a way to split up a big Neopixel light display for a holiday light installation, to run parts of it separately. After the end of that project, it seemed like something other people could use with a spare/scavenged PC power supply to get some interesting displays set up without worrying about the hardware. This second version of the controller board has three injection points with 8A fuses to ensure safe use even with high-power PC power supplies.

Shipping: What's the Deal?

We ship your order within 2 working days via 1st class Royal Mail, and we provide a tracking number.

The board is sent in a compact cardboard box with shredded cardboard packaging for protection, along with a print out of the getting started instructions.

What if I need support?

If you have any questions about the board or your use-case, get in touch with us at mcqn. We're not very good salespeople so are often happy to chat even if we don't think you'll buy a board.

Hmmm, it's cool but not quite what I need

No problem! There are quite a lot of options for driving LEDs. There's a full list of WLED compatible hardware here.

Here's a short video of how to get it set up (easy!):