Adding a ramp timer

[oreo54]

The phone isnt finding a wifi for the light. What would it likely be named?

Hard to say ... That light goes under at least 3 names that I saw.
Light needs to be on .. other switch needs to be on wifi.

The one video shows you one name

 

[DanyL]

Would it need power applied to one of the other pins for the wifi to work?

The board itself will need to be powered at the very least.

Might have additional activation steps that I’m not aware of like I mentioned earlier.

 

[oreo54]

The board itself will need to be powered at the very least.

Might have additional activation steps that I’m not aware of like I mentioned earlier.

If it's a working light everything needed is " enabled" when you turn it on.
Now if you have access to its internal network, well that's another story.

 

[jsmkmavity]

I tried turning both switches on/off different combinations with the on/off of the knobs and never get a wifi signal. Thats why i was wondering if the board doesnt have power in the right place for the wifi antenna to work.

 

[jsmkmavity]

It is a working light.

 

[oreo54]

It is a working light.

In that vid the network was..

Suppose the easiest way is to do the list available networks. Turn light on set to wifi and see if it pops up. Or if on shut it off see what disappears. Honestly name can be anything..

Btw the 12v thing is probably the fan power supply.
Somethings not quite setting in on the wiring but your pieces are a bit scattered.. Maybe a full shot of the light interior will help

 

[DanyL]

I tried turning both switches on/off different combinations with the on/off of the knobs and never get a wifi signal. Thats why i was wondering if the board doesnt have power in the right place for the wifi antenna to work.

No, it is enabled internally by code.
They may have code however to enable it with a press of button or a switch, or some other method like Oreo mentioned.

 

[oreo54]

No, it is enabled internally by code.
They may have code however to enable it with a press of button or a switch, or some other method like Oreo mentioned.

The other way is in this vid...

 

[jsmkmavity]

I tried finding wifi but none appear or disappear when switches are turned on/off

 

[DanyL]

The other way is in this vid...

Is it just me or are they pressing some sort of a tiny reset button? Could be something related to the WiFi functionality.

Another thing I noticed was the way to connect to the fixture, it isn’t done through a regular network scan, but rather abstracted through the app.
While it doesn’t necessarily mean anything, it also opens the option of having a hidden SSID, meaning the access point will not be visible when you scan it, and in order to be able to connect you will have to actively look for the SSID or even the BSSID (thigh less likely).

One could try to sniff beacons with a monitoring capable card like Alfa, but I think that would be completely out of reach for him.

Another thing that concerns me is the fact that it needs an app, and the video is 8 years old. While some old apps are still available and working, there is no guarantee this one is.

 

[oreo54]

I tried finding wifi but none appear or disappear when switches are turned on/off

Yea that's too bad.
Lets face it it has to somehow talk to the software on your phone b4 actually connecting to your network.
It can't just put itself there.

 

[oreo54]

Is it just me or are they pressing some sort of a tiny reset button? Could be something related to the WiFi functionality.

Another thing I noticed was the way to connect to the fixture, it isn’t done through a regular network scan, but rather abstracted through the app.
While it doesn’t necessarily mean anything, it also opens the option of having a hidden SSID, meaning the access point will not be visible when you scan it, and in order to be able to connect you will have to actively look for the SSID or even the BSSID (thigh less likely).

One could try to sniff beacons with a monitoring capable card like Alfa, but I think that would be completely out of reach for him.

Another thing that concerns me is the fact that it needs an app, and the video is 8 years old. While some old apps are still available and working, there is no guarantee this one is.

tc-420 is looking better.
Doesn't help that that light was sold under multiple names with multiple apps.

 

[jsmkmavity]

There is no reset button anywhere on the light. It may be a combo or switch/knobs or type in name or app sourced like dannyl said.

 

[DanyL]

tc-420 is looking better.
Doesn't help that that light was sold under multiple names with multiple apps.

The solution I proposed doesn’t need WiFi functionality, but rather only the manual control.

However, given that he doesn’t have any access to a development environment to be able to program a microcontroller, this option seems to be out of reach for him regardless.

 

[jsmkmavity]

The wifi board says vender is ai-thinker if that helps.

 

[jsmkmavity]

Top side says open source iot platform
1. Install cp2102 driver
2. Use 9600 baud rate
3. Connect wifi and enjoy

 

[DanyL]

Ai-thinker is the manufacturer of esp, the microcontroller itself.
The manufacturer of the development board is NodeMCU, and the model is amica.

So there really isn’t any uncertainty about the board itself, but rather what the code that it runs does with the peripherals.

Top side says open source iot platform
1. Install cp2102 driver
2. Use 9600 baud rate
3. Connect wifi and enjoy

These are generic instructions for the development board. It’s supposed to be tailored to tinkerers and DIYers.
Not as a part of an actual product.

 

[jsmkmavity]

This is the whole setup

 

[jsmkmavity]

So the microcontroller needs reprogrammed or replaced so i can access/control it?

 

[jsmkmavity]

I would send the controller or other parts to someone if they wanted to play with it. If there is one already setup to program i can access i would buy it. I dont mind sending this out but i would rather learn how to do it myself with help from people who know how and what i need. I have let technology pass me by so long i think its about to put me a(nother) lap down!!!