ESP32-S3 RS485 Development Board, LX7 240 MHz Dual-Core Processor Smart Lighting

ESP32-S3-RS485-WLED: Smart Lighting, Connectivity and Audio in One Development Board

The ESP32-S3-RS485-WLED brings several useful interfaces together for connected lighting projects. Its dual-core ESP32-S3 processor runs at up to 240 MHz and is paired with 16 MB of flash and 8 MB of PSRAM. Two level-shifted LED data outputs make it suitable for addressable light strips and WLED-based effects.

The board also offers 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy and an isolated RS485 interface for communication with compatible sensors and equipment. Built-in microphones, audio processing hardware, a speaker connector and a 3.5 mm audio jack provide a starting point for sound and voice projects.

Students and developers can use the board to explore room lighting, sensor-driven effects, wireless control and interactive installations. USB-C supports programming and debugging, while the 5–24 V power input allows the supply voltage to be matched to the chosen LED strip.

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ESP32-S3-RS485-WLED

Based on ESP32-S3, Supports Wi-Fi / Bluetooth / Isolated RS485 / Audio

Ideal for learning and developing WLED smart lighting, AI voice interaction, and IoT applications

Features

• Based on ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 module with Xtensa 32-bit LX7 dual-core processor, capable of running at 240 MHz
• Integrated 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 (LE) wireless communication for wireless control, device networking, and IoT application development
• Equipped with 16MB Flash and 8MB PSRAM, providing ample storage and runtime resources for lighting effects, audio processing, and complex application development
• Onboard LED strip data output interfaces with 5V level shifting, supporting various digital LED strips for WLED, ambient lighting, and customized lighting effect applications
• Integrates an isolated RS485 communication interface for connecting sensors, PLCs, Modbus devices, and other equipment
• Onboard RS485 TX/RX status indicators for easy monitoring of data transmission and reception during debugging
• Onboard unibody power supply isolation, providing stable isolated voltage, no extra power supply is required for the isolated terminal
• Integrates the ES7210 audio ADC and ES8389 audio codec, supporting multi-channel microphone input and stereo audio output for AI voice, voice interaction, and other applications
• Onboard 3.5mm audio jack and PH2.0 4pin speaker connector for audio input and output applications
• Supports a wide input voltage range of 5 ~ 24V
• Onboard USB Type-C port for programming and debugging
• Provides multiple GPIO expansion interfaces and user buttons for connecting sensors, actuators, and other peripherals
• Supports development with ESP-IDF, Arduino, and other development environments, with example programs and development resources provided for quick setup and secondary development
• Rail-mounted protective case, easy to install, safe to use

Specifications

Compatible with WLED firmware for easy smart lighting control

* for reference only, please refer to the package content for detailed part list.

Supports a variety of LED strips

Compatible with mainstream programmable LED strips to meet the needs of various lighting applications

4000K-20-12V-480D-5M

RGB-27-5V-160D-1M

RGBWC-150-24V-IP65-1428D-1M

Supported LED Strip

Light Strip Wiring Diagram

Supports External Speakers

Features a reserved 4pin speaker connector for connecting an 8Ω 5W speaker, or a speaker system via the 3.5mm audio jack.

Connecting to external speaker

Connecting to external speaker system

* for reference only, the speakers are NOT included, please refer to the package content for detailed part list.

Wi-Fi and BLE 5 support

ESP32-S3 integrates 2.4GHz Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n) with 40MHz of bandwidth support,
Its Bluetooth Low Energy subsystem supports Bluetooth 5 (LE) and Bluetooth Mesh

Supports AI Speech Interaction

Allows access to online large model platforms such as DeepSeek, Doubao, etc.

Supports ESP-IDF, Arduino IDE

Comprehensive ESP-IDF and Arduino tutorials for easy learning. Facilitates secondary development and function expansion, accelerating application deployment

Interface Description

What's On Board

1. ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 module
   Integrates 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5, with a dual-core processor running at up to 240MHz, 16MB Flash, and 8MB PSRAM
2. ES8389 Audio Codec
   Used for audio signal capture, processing, and output
3. ES7210 Audio ADC
   Used for microphone audio capture and audio signal analog-to-digital conversion
4. RS485 transceiver chip
5. NS4150B
   Audio power amplifier
6. Blade Fuse
7. Power supply screw terminal
   supports 5 ~ 24V wide voltage input
8. RS485 communication terminal
   for connecting external RS485 devices
9. GPIO terminal
10. Power output terminal

11. Dual-Microphone array
    Designed for voice capture and speech recognition applications
12. LED indicators
    PWR: Power indicator
    TXD: lights up green when the RS485 port sends data;
    RXD: lights up blue when the RS485 port receives data
13. PH2.0 4pin speaker connector
14. Headphone jack
15. USB Type-C port
    for module firmware downloading and USB communication
16. RS485 matching resistor
    Onboard reserved 120R matching resistor, enabled via jumper
17. BOOT button
    Programmable for other functions
18. RESET button
19. Digital Isolation
    for reduced interference from external signals to the control chip
20. Power isolation module

Application Scenarios

With a wide range of interfaces, the board can be used in various applications, including smart lighting control, industrial communication, environmental monitoring, and interactive audio. Reserved GPIO pin headers for further development and DIY customization

Outline dimensions

Resources & Services

Wiki: docs.waveshare.com/ESP32-S3-RS485-WLED