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Advanced Usage

Non-standard ways to connect and control DimmerLink.



USB-UART Adapters

Control DimmerLink from a computer via USB-UART adapter.


Popular Adapters

Chip Driver Notes
CH340/CH341 Often built into OS Cheap, common
CP2102/CP2104 Silicon Labs Stable
FT232RL FTDI Professional
PL2303 Prolific Outdated, driver issues


Wiring

USB-UART DimmerLink
VCC (3.3V or 5V) VCC
GND GND
TXD RX
RXD TX

ℹ️ Note: DimmerLink supports 1.8V, 3.3V and 5V logic levels — use whichever voltage your adapter provides.


Drivers

Windows:
- CH340: usually installs automatically, or download from manufacturer's website
- CP2102: Silicon Labs VCP Driver
- FTDI: FTDI VCP Driver

Linux:
- Drivers are usually already in the kernel
- Device will appear as /dev/ttyUSB0 or /dev/ttyACM0

macOS:
- CH340: may require driver from manufacturer
- CP2102/FTDI: built into the system


Control from PC (Python)

python
import serial
import time

# Windows: 'COM3', Linux: '/dev/ttyUSB0', macOS: '/dev/tty.usbserial-*'
ser = serial.Serial('COM3', 115200, timeout=0.1)

def set_level(level):
    ser.write(bytes([0x02, 0x53, 0x00, level]))
    resp = ser.read(1)
    return len(resp) > 0 and resp[0] == 0x00

def get_frequency():
    ser.write(bytes([0x02, 0x52]))
    resp = ser.read(2)
    if len(resp) == 2 and resp[0] == 0x00:
        return resp[1]
    return None

# Usage
print(f"Mains frequency: {get_frequency()} Hz")
set_level(50)
print("Brightness: 50%")

ser.close()


Terminal Programs

For debugging and testing:

Program Platform HEX Mode
RealTerm Windows Yes
SSCOM Windows Yes
CoolTerm Windows/Mac/Linux Yes
PuTTY Windows/Linux No (text only)
picocom Linux No

Example in RealTerm:
1. Port → select your COM port
2. Baud: 115200
3. Send → "Send Numbers" tab
4. Enter: 02 53 00 32 (HEX)
5. Click "Send Numbers"



WiFi-UART (ESP-01)

Wireless control via ESP-01 or ESP8266.


Diagram

python
[Computer/Phone] ←WiFi→ [ESP-01] ←UART→ [DimmerLink] → [Dimmer]


ESP-01 Wiring

ESP-01 DimmerLink
VCC VCC (3.3V)
GND GND
TX RX
RX TX


ESP-01 Firmware (Arduino IDE)

cpp
#include 
#include 

const char* ssid = "YOUR_WIFI";
const char* password = "YOUR_PASSWORD";

ESP8266WebServer server(80);

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(115200);

    WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
    while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) {
        delay(500);
    }

    server.on("/set", handleSet);
    server.on("/get", handleGet);
    server.begin();
}

void handleSet() {
    if (server.hasArg("level")) {
        int level = server.arg("level").toInt();
        if (level >= 0 && level <= 100) {
            uint8_t cmd[] = {0x02, 0x53, 0x00, (uint8_t)level};
            Serial.write(cmd, 4);

            delay(10);
            if (Serial.available()) {
                uint8_t resp = Serial.read();
                server.send(200, "text/plain", resp == 0x00 ? "OK" : "ERROR");
            } else {
                server.send(500, "text/plain", "NO_RESPONSE");
            }
        } else {
            server.send(400, "text/plain", "INVALID_LEVEL");
        }
    } else {
        server.send(400, "text/plain", "MISSING_LEVEL");
    }
}

void handleGet() {
    uint8_t cmd[] = {0x02, 0x47, 0x00};
    Serial.write(cmd, 3);

    delay(10);
    if (Serial.available() >= 2) {
        uint8_t status = Serial.read();
        uint8_t level = Serial.read();  // Already in percent 0-100!
        if (status == 0x00) {
            server.send(200, "text/plain", String(level));
        } else {
            server.send(500, "text/plain", "ERROR");
        }
    } else {
        server.send(500, "text/plain", "NO_RESPONSE");
    }
}

void loop() {
    server.handleClient();
}


Usage

bash
# Set brightness to 50%
curl "http://192.168.1.100/set?level=50"

# Get current brightness
curl "http://192.168.1.100/get"



Bluetooth (HC-05/HC-06)

Control from smartphone or computer via Bluetooth.


Wiring

HC-05/HC-06 DimmerLink
VCC VCC (3.3V or 5V)
GND GND
TXD RX
RXD TX

📝 Note: HC-05 defaults to 9600 baud. Reconfigure to 115200 via AT commands.


Configuring HC-05 (AT Commands)

  1. Connect HC-05 in AT mode (hold button while powering on)
  2. Open terminal at 38400 baud
  3. Enter:
    AT+UART=115200,0,0 AT+NAME=Dimmer AT+PSWD=1234


Android App

Use any Bluetooth Serial app:
- Serial Bluetooth Terminal
- Bluetooth Electronics

Send HEX commands directly.



LoRa Modules

Long-range control via LoRa (up to several kilometers).


Diagram

python
[Controller + LoRa TX] ~~~radio~~~ [LoRa RX + DimmerLink]

⚠️ E32 Setup: E32 modules require pre-configuration via RF Setting — speed, channel, address. Default: 9600 baud — needs to be changed to 115200 for DimmerLink, or use an MCU as a bridge for speed conversion.


Popular Modules

  • E32 (SX1278) — simple UART interface
  • Ra-02 — requires SPI library
  • RFM95 — for LoRaWAN


E32-TTL-100 Wiring

E32 DimmerLink
VCC VCC (3.3V or 5V)
GND GND
TXD RX
RXD TX


Considerations

  • Latency: 50-200 ms depending on settings
  • Bandwidth: limited (1-50 kbps)
  • Reliability: use acknowledgment and retries


Example (Transmitter)

cpp
// Arduino + E32 (transmitter)
void sendCommand(uint8_t* cmd, int len) {
    Serial1.write(cmd, len);  // Send via LoRa
}

void loop() {
    // Set brightness to 50%
    uint8_t cmd[] = {0x02, 0x53, 0x00, 0x32};
    sendCommand(cmd, 4);
    delay(1000);
}



GSM/GPRS Modules

Remote control via SMS or internet.


Popular Modules

  • SIM800L — compact, 2G
  • SIM900 — classic
  • SIM7600 — 4G LTE


Diagram

python
[Server/Phone] ←GSM→ [SIM800L + MCU] ←UART→ [DimmerLink]


SIM800L Wiring

SIM800L Arduino/ESP
VCC 4V (separate power!)
GND GND
TXD RX
RXD TX

📝 Note: SIM800L requires stable 3.7-4.2V power with up to 2A current during transmission.


Control via SMS

cpp
#include 

SoftwareSerial gsm(7, 8);  // RX, TX for SIM800L
SoftwareSerial dimmer(10, 11);  // RX, TX for DimmerLink

void setup() {
    gsm.begin(9600);
    dimmer.begin(115200);

    // Configure SIM800L for SMS
    gsm.println("AT+CMGF=1");  // Text mode
    delay(100);
    gsm.println("AT+CNMI=2,2,0,0,0");  // SMS notifications
    delay(100);
}

void loop() {
    if (gsm.available()) {
        String message = gsm.readString();

        // Parse SMS "SET 50"
        if (message.indexOf("SET ") >= 0) {
            int idx = message.indexOf("SET ") + 4;
            int level = message.substring(idx).toInt();

            if (level >= 0 && level <= 100) {
                uint8_t cmd[] = {0x02, 0x53, 0x00, (uint8_t)level};
                dimmer.write(cmd, 4);
            }
        }
    }
}



Wireless Communication Considerations


Latency

Connection Type Typical Latency
USB-UART < 1 ms
WiFi (local network) 5-50 ms
Bluetooth 10-50 ms
LoRa 50-500 ms
GSM (SMS) 1-10 sec
GSM (GPRS) 100-500 ms


Buffering

With wireless communication, data may be buffered. Recommendations:

  1. Send commands as a whole — don't split into individual bytes
  2. Add delay between commands (50-100 ms)
  3. Wait for acknowledgment before the next command


Reliability

For critical applications:

  1. Check the response — command succeeded only when receiving 0x00
  2. Retry on error — 2-3 attempts with delay
  3. Timeout — if no response within 1-2 seconds, retry
python
def reliable_set_level(ser, level, retries=3):
    for attempt in range(retries):
        ser.write(bytes([0x02, 0x53, 0x00, level]))
        ser.flush()

        resp = ser.read(1)
        if resp and resp[0] == 0x00:
            return True

        time.sleep(0.1)

    return False



I2C Limitations Through Bridges

I2C is not suitable for wireless communication due to:
- Strict timing requirements (clock stretching)
- Lack of buffering in the protocol
- Need for bidirectional synchronous communication

Solution: For wireless control, use UART.

If you have I2C connection and need wireless access — add an MCU (Arduino/ESP) as a bridge:

python
[WiFi/BT] → [ESP32 (UART)] → [DimmerLink (I2C)]


USB-UART Adapters WiFi-UART (ESP-01) Bluetooth (HC-05/HC-06) LoRa Modules GSM/GPRS Modules Wireless Communication Considerations I2C Limitations Through Bridges What's Next?