A simple yet flexible Wi-Fi-based lamp controller for ESP8266 microcontrollers (tested on ESP-01). Control an LED strip or lamp via your browser, using a PWM pin and an onboard toggle button.
This project is ideal for minimal ESP boards, like the ESP-01, where IO is limited but smart functionality is still desired.
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🧠 Smart Web Interface
Access a user-friendly HTML UI to control lamp brightness and set an auto-off timer. -
🌐 Captive Portal Fallback
If no Wi-Fi credentials are stored or connection fails, the ESP launches its own AP and captive portal.
- 📡 Fully Offline Mode Works entirely without internet access – you can control the lamp locally through the built-in Wi-Fi access point and web interface. Wi-Fi setup is optional.
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⏲️ Auto-Off Timer
Set an optional timer to automatically turn off the lamp after a specified number of minutes. -
🔘 Physical Button Support
Press the GPIO1 (TX pin) button to toggle between ON (100%) and OFF. -
💡 PWM Dimming
Controls LED brightness through PWM on GPIO2. -
🛠️ Minimalist, Responsive UI
Clean design and intuitive controls. -
💾 EEPROM Wi-Fi Credentials
Credentials are stored in EEPROM, so the ESP reconnects automatically on reboot.
| Main Control Page | Setup Page |
|---|---|
 |
 |
- ESP8266 board (tested on ESP-01)
- GPIO2 connected to PNP transistor or LED
- GPIO1 wired to a button (active LOW)
- 3.3V power supply (with enough current for Wi-Fi and LEDs)
Upload the sketch using the Arduino IDE or PlatformIO. Make sure you've selected the correct board (e.g., Generic ESP8266 Module for ESP-01) and flashed the firmware.
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The ESP will start in Access Point (AP) mode as
WiFi Lampwith passwordpassword123 -
Connect to it from your phone or laptop
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It should redirect automatically to the configuration page
If not, navigate to http://192.168.4.1/
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Enter your Wi-Fi SSID and password, then click Save & Restart
⚠️ Note for ESP-01 users: The ESP-01 cannot restart itself cleanly via software. After saving Wi-Fi credentials, manually unplug and replug the device to reboot into Station (STA) mode.
- Once connected to your Wi-Fi, check your router for the ESP IP address, or use a tool like Fing
- Navigate to the IP in your browser
- Use the slider to adjust brightness
- Set a timer (in minutes) to automatically turn the lamp off after a period of time
- Use the button connected to GPIO1 to toggle ON/OFF quickly
Below is the wiring diagram for the lamp, created in Fritzing. It shows how to connect the ESP8266 (tested on ESP-01), a PNP transistor for PWM control, and a button to toggle the lamp.
📁 You can find the editable
.fzzproject inassets/.
- Slider: Controls lamp brightness (0–100%)
- Auto-Off Timer: Specify minutes after which the lamp will turn off automatically. Set to
0to disable. - Wi-Fi Configuration: Accessible from the main page via link or
/wifi
| Address | Purpose | Max Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wi-Fi SSID | 32 bytes |
| 33 | Wi-Fi Password | 64 bytes |
To reset the stored Wi-Fi credentials, you can use the clear_eeprom sketch included in the repository. This will wipe the saved SSID and password, forcing the lamp to boot into Access Point mode on next startup.
- ESP-01 (ESP8266)
- 3.3V breadboard power supply
- PNP transistor circuit (BC557 or similar) to drive LED strip
- Basic button circuit with pull-up
- ESP-01 can't reset itself — manual power cycle needed after saving new Wi-Fi settings.
- Only two GPIOs are used (TX as button, GPIO2 as output).
- No HTTPS support in web UI.
MIT License – feel free to use, adapt, and share this code with proper attribution.
Pull requests, suggestions, or improvements are welcome!