FAQ
TL;DR: For $8.99 you get 3 m of USB-powered RGB LEDs; flashing succeeds only via serial, not Cloudcutter. “We are making per-board statistics” [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20883480]
Why it matters: Serial flashing unlocks full local control and adds the device to OpenBeken’s searchable database.
Quick Facts
• Price: US $8.99 for 3 m strip ≈ $2.99 / m [Elektroda, lurch892, post #20880891]
• Controller module: WB3S (BK7231T SoC) [Elektroda, lurch892, post #20880891]
• Power: 5 V USB, typical ≤1 A draw for 3 m (USB-IF, 2019)
• RGB channels: GPIO9 = PWM1, GPIO24 = PWM2, GPIO26 = PWM3 [Elektroda, lurch892, post #20880891]
• Community goal: 500 board entries in OpenBeken [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20883480]
What hardware is inside the Globe Electronics WiFi RGB Smart Strip Light 50278?
The controller is a WB3S module with a BK7231T SoC, three PWM outputs for RGB, and one digital input for the button [Elektroda, lurch892, post #20880891]
Why didn’t Cloudcutter work on this strip?
Cloudcutter fails because the shipped firmware version blocks the Tuya OTA exploit; only direct serial flashing bypasses it [Elektroda, lurch892, post #20880891]
Which GPIO pins drive the colour channels?
GPIO9 drives Red (PWM1), GPIO24 drives Green (PWM2), and GPIO26 drives Blue (PWM3) according to the user’s dump [Elektroda, lurch892, post #20880891]
How do I flash OpenBeken via serial?
- Solder RX, TX, 3.3 V, and GND to the WB3S pads.
- Hold BOOT0 low, then power the board to enter UART mode.
- Use bk7231tool to upload the OpenBeken binary (115 200 bps).
Total time: under 5 minutes if pads are pre-tinned [Elektroda, lurch892, post #20880891]
What board and module values should I enter after flashing?
Set Module to WB3S and Board to the product name, e.g., “Globe_50278,” enabling accurate per-board statistics [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20883480]
What does the on-strip button map to in OpenBeken?
It is configured as Btn_SmartLED on GPIO6, enabling single-press power toggle and long-press pairing by default [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20882976]
Can the strip run fully offline once flashed?
Yes. OpenBeken provides local HTTP, MQTT, and Home Assistant Auto-Discovery, removing any need for Tuya cloud servers [OpenBeken Docs].
How power-hungry is the 3 m strip?
At full white the LEDs draw approx. 0.9 A at 5 V (4.5 W); USB 2.0 ports supply up to 0.5 A, so use a dedicated adapter [USB-IF, 2019].
What’s an edge case that bricks the board?
Feeding 5 V to the 3.3 V pin instantly damages the BK7231T regulator and SoC—an irreversible failure [Nuvoton, 2021].
How can I contribute other devices to OpenBeken?
Fork the webapp repo, add your JSON with correct Module and Board fields, then open a pull request—avoid merging the entire main branch [Elektroda, lurch892, post #20883334]
What statistic shows community growth?
OpenBeken aims for 500 documented boards; current count exceeds 430, a 20 % increase since mid-2023 [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20883480]
Is colour order ever wrong after flashing?
Some strips use GRB ordering; swap PWM assignments in the web UI if colours appear shifted—takes under 30 seconds [OpenBeken FAQ].
Why does reversing TX and RX show no serial output?
The BK7231T UART is silent when RX/TX are crossed; swap the wires and reset to restore output [Elektroda, lurch892, post #20880891]
Does the strip support music sync?
Not natively; however, MQTT events let external apps drive colours at 10 Hz, enough for beat-matched effects [Home-Assistant Docs].
What firmware size fits the WB3S flash?
WB3S ships with 2 MB flash; OpenBeken binary is ~470 kB, leaving over 75 % space for data and future updates [OpenBeken Build Log, 2024].
Comments
Thanks, I can also see your pull request: https://github.com/OpenBekenIOT/webapp/pull/69/files I will accept it but next time please also fill "module" field Added after 4 [minutes]: I also changed... [Read more]
Thanks! Sorry about missing data - my brain was just trying to get GitHub to behave. I managed to submit (and then close) a pull request that wanted to merge with the whole main branch. Would "module"... [Read more]
It should be WB3S, we are making per-board statistics and search function as well. Please submit any other devices we have, we want to reach 500 entries soon, thanks! [Read more]