How to flash LN882H with open source Tasmota/Esphome style firmware - backup procedure included

Here I will show you how you can easily flash the new LN882 modules via UART, just like you would flash ESP8266. Flashing those modules will soon allow you to free them from the cloud and connect them to Home Assistant. I've already covered some of the more technical details in the LN882H datasheet topic, so here I will only present the firmware change guide.


2025.01.04 UPDATE:
Please see this topic for latest discussion and YOUTUBE LN882H tutorial.

Hardware preparation
You will need an USB to UART converter and a reliable 3.3V power supply. Powering directly from 3.3V pin on USB to UART converter may not work.
The procedure is very similiar to ESP8266 and BK7231, so watch our flashing tutorials here:
https://www.youtube.com/@elektrodacom
But basically, in case of LN882, you need to connect:
- Module TX -> UART RX
- Module RX -> UART TX
- Module GND -> UART GND
- Module 3V3 -> UART 3V3 (make sure your USB UART supports and is in 3V3 mode if it is selectable)
- Module BOOT/GPIOA9 -> GND
GPIOA9 must remain LOW during whole flashing process (do not disconnect it!.
Then, once all connections are done, connect USB to UART converter to your PC.

NOTE: if you try to flash and it fails, or you want to flash again, make sure to disconnect and reconnect USB to UART converter from your PC, while keeping BOOT signal low.

Soldering tips
If you are new to soldering, you can watch some of our BK7231 flashing guides, BK7231 is a different module but soldering method is the same. For example:

Module can be easily desoldered with some flux, some extra Pb solder, and solder wick.
Here is desoldered module:

In order to solder wires easily, first add some flux:

Then add some Pb solder to the pads (also tin the wires):

Then, solder wires:

And, finally, here is my circuit - it's an USB to UART converter in 3.3V mode with an extra AMS1117-3.3V / TC1264-3.3V LDO on proto board so I can get reliable 3.3V current source:


Making original firmware backup
Extract both archives to single directory, like:

Navigate to it in CMD, install Python if you're missing it, change COMx to your COM port name, like COM15, run the command:

NOTE: You must have in the same directory as Python script! Otherwise, you will get this error:

If you have connected something incorrectly, or swapped RX and TX, you will get:

Otherwise, the slow and long flash dump procedure will begin:

Flash read will continue until it hits the end of the flash, it will end with following message:

This is not an error! Dump files will be created here:


Flashing new firmware

First, get new firmware for NL882H platform, it should be available here, either check link or Releases tab:
https://github.com/openshwprojects/OpenBK7231T_App/blob/main/docs/LN882H.md
https://github.com/openshwprojects/OpenBK7231T_App
Navigate to the dir, just like when doing flash backup, then use:

It should flash in few moments:

To run firmware, disconnect everything from power, disconnect BOOT from ground, and reconnect power:

Connect to the access point, open page at 192.168.4.1 and configure your device like you'd configure any other OpenBeken/OpenBL602/OpenW600/OpenW800/OpenXR809/Tasmota device.

For mode OBK tips, please see our channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@elektrodacom
For a generic IoT devices teardowns list and guides list, see:
https://openbekeniot.github.io/webapp/devicesList.html

Download
Here are tools used for flashing, as described in this topic:



Summary
LN882H is very easily flashable via UART, just like ESP. You need to solder 5 wires: 3.3V, ground, RX, TX and boot signal, boot must be pulled low for bootloader to work. Remember to power off/on whole module after each flashing cycle, this is mandatory. The flashing procedure will allow you to flash our multiplatform firmware so your devices can work with Home Assistant and be free from the cloud.
PS: At the time of the posting this topic, LN882H port is still WIP, so please wait patiently for Release to be posted on Github.