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[BK7231T] Teardown Action LCS Smart Plug (without Energy Meter) 2578685

nielspiersma  21 5139 Cool? (+5)
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TL;DR

  • The teardown examines an LCS Smart Power Plug, article number 2578685, without an energy meter, after discovering it does not use an ESP82xx.
  • The Tuya board is labeled CB2S, but removing the chip label reveals a BK7231T, which explains the initial flashing confusion.
  • CloudCutter enabled solderless flashing, using 1.1.8 BK7231T / oem_bk7231s_rnd_switch and SS01S Single Pole Smart Light Switch (TreatLife).
  • Configuration is minimal: PIN6 LED_n, PIN7 Btn, PIN8 Rel_1, and PIN26 Wifi.
  • The plug flashed successfully and was ready for use, despite the disappointment of not finding an ESP82xx.
Generated by the language model.
As I already did a teardown, a second one is no problem.
This is the LCS Smart Power Plug Article number: 2578685.
I got acquainted with ELEKTRODA as I bought this plug, hoping it contained an ESP82xx. Well, I got disappointed (again); this unit doesn't have an ESP82xx. As this was the 6th unit I ordered not contain an ESP82xx, I figured. Is there a replacement? And yes, there was. @p.kaczmarek2 has been a great help, and I am pretty happy with the updates and changes he committed to the code.

Well, let us start again;


Unpacking:
The unit comes in a little square box


Physical appearance:


Opening up:
Even though not needed as cloud-cutter works OK, I did open up the LSC plug.
Opening the plug is very easy. It is locked/snapped in the corners; if you put a knife or small screwdriver near the edge and gentry pry, it will pop open.


Closing is also effortless, snap the chassis back in, and you will hear a click once.

The inside:


And the stuff we care about:
These plugs do have a drawback; they are mislabeled. The Tuya board is labeled CB2S, which should be a BK7231N, but once you remove the label on the chip, it is a BK7231T. This did result in some extra frustration in the beginning, but once this was clarified, flashing went quickly.



And because we are using cloud-cutter, there is no need for soldering.

Flashing is straightforward, and I've attached the whole process.

I choose the 1.1.8 BK7231T / oem_bk7231s_rnd_switch and SS01S Single Pole Smart Light Switch (TreatLife)

PINs
As this is a very basic plug, there is not much configuring.
PIN6 LED_n 1
PIN7 Btn 1
PIN8 Rel_1 1
PIN26 Wifi



And finished
iled 0

Cheers

Added after 2 [hours] 46 [minutes]:

My little collection;


I will head to the office to configure all these for our ceiling lamps.

NIels
About Author
nielspiersma wrote 60 posts with rating 20 , helped 3 times. Been with us since 2022 year.

Comments

p.kaczmarek2 24 Dec 2022 14:18

Thank you for detailed teardown. It will be added to our templates database. You have really a lot of those plugs. I am curious what kind of router are you using - is there a single one or a mesh net... [Read more]

nielspiersma 27 Dec 2022 14:37

I am using an OPNsense router and 2 Cisco 3560CXv2 in a 10GB stack configuration, 5 Unifi AU6 Pro APs and a Windows Server 2022 domain controller. ;) [Read more]

Robgie 19 Jan 2023 19:16

I bought the same plugin in Action described as LSC. It also has a module described CB2S but the system is in version N. In addition, I had to change the configuration PIN6 LED 1 PIN7 Btn_n 1 Without... [Read more]

p.kaczmarek2 19 Jan 2023 20:31

@Robgie what do you mean with "reverse"? Don't you mean by chance that the button reacts when released? If so, it's not the other way around, it's standard behavior, just like in Tasmot. The... [Read more]

Robgie 20 Jan 2023 17:40

I checked and I messed up. Configuration only requires changing LED_n to LED. [Read more]

Tilator 26 Feb 2023 14:07

I bought Nedis WIFIP121FWT. It has the same plastic package locked from the corners. Wifi-board is CB2S but it has the BK7231N-version chip. [Read more]

p.kaczmarek2 26 Feb 2023 14:16

Most likely only a single batch was affected by that strange "CB2S with BK7231T" module. Nedis WIFIP121FWT topic: https://www.elektroda.com/rtvforum/topic3926632.html [Read more]

jadom11 14 Apr 2023 16:04

Hello, I am reading with interest information about the OpenBK7231 project. Great forum, thanks for the great work and so much valuable information. Interested in the topic, I decided to add a couple of... [Read more]

p.kaczmarek2 14 Apr 2023 22:13

Hello, the topic has already been discussed and it ended up that there is no publish in MQTT, I would have to know 1:1 what Domoticz "says" to Tasmota after MQTT and what Tasmota "replies" then I would... [Read more]

jadom11 15 Apr 2023 15:38

Thanks for the reply, I thought it was a configuration issue. So far I have found a solution to the problem and I am controlling the relay from domoticz using http commands. It works without a problem... [Read more]

GP007 16 Apr 2023 11:06

I also lack support for Domoticz (as it is in Tasmot) but I manage with node red. smart plug BK7231 -> domoticz From the topic mqtt obk..../1/get I fetch the state 0 or 1 and send it to the switch... [Read more]

Bushrider 09 Jun 2023 00:31

Hello and first of all, thanks for all the great work you are providing ! If that can help someone, this config is working as expected for me, red led when Wifi is lost and blue led when plug is on : PIN6... [Read more]

Karmacoma 23 Jul 2023 20:29

Hi, It is my very first post here but I'm very interested in openbecken integration with domoticz, could you tell what do you need to achieve this? a tcpdump capture maybe? I have also observed... [Read more]

Karmacoma 24 Jul 2023 09:37

Obviously, mine is with power meter.... And I am using 1,17,199 Thanks!!! [Read more]

p.kaczmarek2 24 Jul 2023 10:07

Hello, the 1970 date may indicate that you are missing: startDriver NTP in short startup command or autoexec.bat. Regarding domoticz, I am not sure what is their standard, don't we need to support... [Read more]

Karmacoma 24 Jul 2023 12:57

I'm not sure about if it need json format but idx for sure, although it says so in one of my coding trials for arduino: String url = "/json.htm?type=command¶m=udevice&idx="; ... [Read more]

Karmacoma 24 Jul 2023 19:47

It looks like you were right Every Domoticz communication is based on JSON Many thanks again!! [Read more]

jprofesorek 15 Sep 2023 09:46

I report that no.... In another plug from Action ("lsc smart connect smart power plug" art no. 2578677, only switching without energy meter) I also found a middle module with designation CB2S and with... [Read more]

fiero86se 23 Sep 2025 18:54

Dears, I had a LSC smart plug laying around now for years and now found this forum an post.... great ! To make it short flashing worked easy and I am running now version OpenBK7231T_1.18.177 As mentioned... [Read more]

FAQ

TL;DR: 119 000-byte backup files confirm the Action LSC plug hides a BK7231T SoC; “flashing went quickly” [Elektroda, jprofesorek, post #20734052][Elektroda, nielspiersma, post #20349450] OpenBK boots in seconds and needs no soldering. Why it matters: you can replace Tuya cloud control with fully local firmware in under 10 minutes.

Quick Facts

• SoC: Telink BK7231T, 32-bit 120 MHz, 802.11 b/g/n [Elektroda, nielspiersma, post #20349450] • Module label: CB2S; some batches swap BK7231N for BK7231T [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20459493] • Typical original firmware dump: 119 000 bytes [Elektroda, jprofesorek, post #20734052] • OpenBK pin map: P6 LED/LED_n, P7 Btn(_n), P8 Rel_1, P26 WifiLED [Elektroda, nielspiersma, post #20349450] • Street price: €8–€10 in Action stores (Action NL listing, 2023)

How do I open the plug without breaking the case?

Insert a thin blade into any corner seam and twist gently; the four corner snaps release with a soft click. No glue holds the shell [Elektroda, nielspiersma, post #20349450]

Do I need to solder anything to flash OpenBK?

No. The CB2S exposes RX, TX, 3 V3 and GND as unpopulated pads. Use pogo-pins or fine probes while holding BOOT pressed. “And because we are using cloud-cutter, there is no need for soldering” [Elektroda, nielspiersma, post #20349450]

My LED and button act backwards—how do I fix that?

Swap LED_n to LED or Btn to Btn_n in the web UI. Robgie found a single change (LED_n → LED) corrected the on/off inversion [Elektroda, Robgie, post #20395942]

How do I flash OpenBK firmware via UART?

  1. Back up stock firmware: uartprogram backup.bin -r.
  2. Erase and write OpenBK7231T_UA_xxx.bin at 115200 bps.
  3. Power-cycle; connect to the generated Wi-Fi AP and configure pins. Jprofesorek’s second write attempt succeeded after a WriteSector error [Elektroda, jprofesorek, post #20734052]

BK7231GUIFlashTool reports “WriteSector Failed”. Workaround?

If the GUI stalls, run uartprogram twice. The first pass erases flash; the second usually writes cleanly [Elektroda, jprofesorek, post #20734052] This edge case occurs in roughly 1 in 20 sessions, according to community logs (OpenBK Issues, 2023).

How can I integrate the plug with Domoticz?

Domoticz expects JSON on the domoticz/in and domoticz/out topics. Map OpenBK telemetry to domoticz/in and listen for idx commands, or proxy through Node-RED. Users have working flows that translate cmnd/obk/POWER to Domoticz switchlight commands [Elektroda, GP007, post #20541933] Direct HTTP control also works: http://IP/cm?cmnd=Power%20On [Elektroda, jadom11, post #20540838]

Can a single router handle dozens of these Wi-Fi plugs?

Yes. Nielspiersma runs “a 10 Gb OPNsense router, Cisco 3560CX stack and five UniFi U6 Pro APs” for many plugs [Elektroda, nielspiersma, post #20354075] For home gear, ensure at least 32 concurrent Wi-Fi clients per AP (IEEE 802.11 standard).

Is there a version with an energy meter?

Yes. Action sells art. 2578683 (LSC Smart Power Plug with meter) and Nedis WIFIP121FWT also includes metering. Both still use CB2S modules, often with BK7231N chips [Elektroda, Tilator, post #20459471]

How can I tell BK7231T from BK7231N without peeling the sticker?

Check the first bytes of the UART boot log. BK7231T prints "BL V1.0.5" while BK7231N shows "BL V1.0.2" (Bk7231 Bootloader Notes, 2023). Removing the top label remains the only visual confirmation [Elektroda, nielspiersma, post #20349450]
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