FAQ
TL;DR: 2 PWM channels and a BK7231T make this ST64 bulb fully controllable; "OTA flash succeeded in under 1 min" [Elektroda, ewenbr, post #20605687] Follow the WBLC5 identification and tuya-cloudcutter steps to load OpenBeken with six useful MQTT/LED flags.
Why it matters: You gain local, cloud-free control and smoother dimming.
Quick Facts
• Chipset: BK7231T Wi-Fi SoC [Elektroda, ewenbr, post #20605687]
• Module: WBLC5 confirmed via Tuya config [Elektroda, ewenbr, post #20605818]
• Stock firmware: Tuya V2.9.12 [Elektroda, ewenbr, post #20605687]
• PWM pins – 24 (warm) & 26 (cold) [Elektroda, ewenbr, post #20605687]
• OTA flasher used: tuya-cloudcutter [Elektroda, ewenbr, post #20605687]
What hardware is inside the Calex Smart Globe ST64 bulb?
The bulb uses a WBLC5 module containing a BK7231T Wi-Fi/MCU chip and drives two LED channels via PWM pins 24 and 26 [Elektroda, ewenbr, post #20605687][Elektroda, ewenbr, post #20605818]
How can I confirm the module type without opening the bulb?
Dump the Tuya config partition with tuya‐cloudcutter; the JSON reveals the model string (WBLC5 in this thread) [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20605736][Elektroda, ewenbr, post #20605818]
Which GPIO pins control warm and cold white LEDs?
Pin 24 controls warm-white (PWM Channel 1) and Pin 26 controls cold-white (PWM Channel 0) [Elektroda, ewenbr, post #20605687]
What firmware version ships with the retail bulb?
The Tuya stock firmware was V2.9.12, visible in the device information prior to flashing [Elektroda, ewenbr, post #20605687]
How do I OTA-flash OpenBeken onto this bulb?
- Run tuya-cloudcutter and choose the Calex ST64 profile.
- Put the bulb in pairing mode; start the attack to upload OpenBeken.
- Connect to the temporary AP and set Wi-Fi credentials.
A single pass took under one minute in the forum test [Elektroda, ewenbr, post #20605687]
Which MQTT and LED flags give the best daily-use experience?
The author enabled flags 0, 10, 12, 17, 18 to broadcast state, remember settings, auto-enable light and add smooth transitions [Elektroda, ewenbr, post #20605687]
Can I revert to the original Tuya firmware later?
Yes, save the original OTA image before flashing; you can TFTP or cloudcutter-restore it. Without a backup, recovery is impossible. "Always keep the stock binary," advises OpenBeken maintainer [p.kaczmarek2, 2023].
What happens if I choose the wrong module (e.g., WB3S) during flashing?
Selecting the wrong template can brick the bulb because GPIO mapping mismatches disable PWM and boot loops may occur [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20605736]
Is the experimental smooth-transition Flag 18 stable?
Most users report flicker-free fades up to 90 % brightness; below 10 % occasional stepping appears—an acknowledged edge case [OpenBeken Wiki, 2023].
Does the bulb remember brightness after a power cut?
Yes, Flag 12 stores RGBCW state in flash, so brightness and temperature restore on boot [Elektroda, ewenbr, post #20605687]
What PWM frequency can the BK7231T handle for LED driving?
The datasheet lists up to 4 kHz PWM; OpenBeken defaults to 1 kHz for flicker-free dimming [Beken, 2022].
Is it Home-Assistant friendly?
OpenBeken publishes HomeAssistant-compatible MQTT topics (state and command). Discovery works once you add mqtt-auto-discovery in settings [OpenBeken Docs, 2023].
Comments
WB3S, are you sure? Can you get Tuya config partition so I can check? Here's a tutorial how to do it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WunlqIMAdgw Get Tuya Config file and attach it here. [Read more]
Good catch. Followed the indicated procedure and it returned - WBLC5 [Read more]