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User Experience: Tuya WiFi Smart IR Remote Controller IRC03 [BK7231N] from Aliexpress

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TL;DR

  • The Tuya WiFi Smart IR Remote Controller IRC03 from Aliexpress is a compact universal IR blaster with USB-C and seven IR LEDs.
  • Inside, it uses a single PCB with the BK7231N SoC soldered directly on board, unlike versions that use a breakout board.
  • Well-labelled test pins on the back expose flashing access, and the pin map lists IRSend on 7, IRRecv on 8, Btn24, and WifiLED.
  • Open Beken flashing worked without problems, and the device connected to Home Assistant and operated like other IR devices.
  • The housing opens easily, but the four latches can break off during disassembly.
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  • #31 21606841
    divadiow
    Level 38  
    Posts: 4859
    Help: 424
    Rate: 860
    hmm. maybe whole thing is dead now. Safer to use USB-C and just GND/RX/TX to USB-TTL
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  • #32 21610293
    ghost320000
    Level 4  
    Posts: 6
    >>21606836 Everything is fine - I replaced the CH340 with the CH341 and flashed the device.
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  • #33 21733392
    mhawk
    Level 1  
    Posts: 1
    Hi, I've bought an IR blaster which was supposed to be the "IRC03" one, from here https://aliexpress.com/item/1005006989554373.html

    but it has a totally different chip, which I can't find any information about on the internet, in place of the BK7231N. It reads T1-AHL AU5068XA or AUS068XA. Is it possible to flash esphome to it? When connected to tuya app, it shows firmware v1.0.0(1.0.2)

    Tuya app message: no updates available, module version 1.0.0 (1.0.2)
    Close-up of PCB with T1-AHL AUS068XA chip and electronic components
    Close-up of PCB with T1-AHL AU5068XA chip and surface-mount components
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  • #36 21783931
    AleqCZ
    Level 1  
    Posts: 1
    I have also received 2025.08.13

    Close-up of blue PCB with LEDs and various small electronic components
    Round blue PCB with LEDs, ICs, SMD components, and visible circuit traces.
    Round blue PCB with LEDs, ICs, and a serpentine wireless antenna on green surface
    Close-up of a blue PCB with surface-mounted LEDs and electronic components

    the old versions were tuya cloudcutter compatible, not sure about this one...?
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Topic summary

✨ The discussion centers on the Tuya WiFi Smart IR Remote Controller IRC03 featuring the BK7231N chip, purchased from Aliexpress. The device is compact, well-designed, and equipped with seven IR LEDs and a USB-C cable. Users shared detailed teardowns and PCB inspections, noting the absence of large electrolytic capacitors and reversed screen printing on some units. Challenges in flashing the firmware were reported, including difficulties with Easy UART Flasher on Ubuntu and CRC check failures when using the hid_download_py tool. Successful flashing required correct flag settings and understanding of the BK7231N-specific firmware. The conversation also explored hardware pinouts, particularly the identification and access to SPI pins (P16, P20-P23) for flashing and potential use as a WS2812B LED driver. Attempts to drive WS2812 LED rings via pin 12 (P16) were made, with advice to initialize the SM16703P driver properly. Soldering to tiny chip pins for GPIO access was discussed as challenging but feasible. Users requested original Tuya firmware backups for restoration. Overall, the thread provides insights into hardware hacking, firmware flashing, and extending functionality of the IRC03 device beyond IR control.
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FAQ

TL;DR: 3 / 3 forum users eventually achieved a successful flash after switching tools—“works without any problems” [Elektroda, 20802538; 20950671]. The BK7231N-based Tuya IRC03 packs 7 IR LEDs and costs ≈ US $7 [AliExpress listing].

Why it matters: Fast, reliable flashing turns this $7 gadget into a fully local, Home-Assistant-ready IR blaster.

Quick Facts

• MCU: BK7231N, 32-bit @ 120 MHz [Datasheet]. • IR emitters: 7 × 940 nm LEDs, ≈ 270° coverage [Elektroda, 20802538]. • Supply: USB-C 5 V / 0.5 A (typical 110 mA idle) [AliExpress listing]. • Flash size: 2 MB; OpenBeken image ≈ 460 kB [OpenBeken release]. • Street price: US $5–9, shipped [AliExpress listing].

1. What hardware is inside the Tuya IRC03 smart IR remote?

A single-board design hosts a BK7231N Wi-Fi SoC, 2 MB flash, seven 940 nm IR LEDs, a USB-C 5 V regulator and four labelled test pads for UART (TX, RX, 3.3 V, GND) [Elektroda, 20802538].

2. Which test pads do I use for flashing?

Back-side pads: TP5 = 3.3 V, TP6 = GND, TP3 = RXD, TP4 = TXD, TP2 = RST (connect to GND to reboot). No dedicated CEN pin is routed [Elektroda, 20948893; 21595371].

3. How do I flash OpenBeken when Easy UART fails?

Use the hid_download_py script.
  1. Connect 3.3 V, GND, TX, RX and keep RST low for 1 s.
  2. Run python uartprogram firmware.bin -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -s 0x0 -u -w.
  3. Cycle power; web UI appears at 192.168.4.1 [Elektroda, 20950671].

4. Why doesn’t powering through USB-C work during flashing?

The on-board regulator back-feeds your USB supply, collapsing the serial adapter’s 3.3 V rail and dropping UART. Power only from the adapter or cut the USB-C 5 V line [Elektroda, 20948893].

5. Can I restore the original Tuya firmware without a backup?

Only if someone shares an identical dump. No public stock image exists; request a 2 MB BIN from another owner or Tuya support [Elektroda, 21183559].

6. Does OpenBeken send raw IR codes?

Yes. Issue IR_SendRAW <timing_list> where timing values are microseconds. Capture unknown remotes with IR_RecvRAW first [OpenBeken Wiki].

7. How do I add the IRC03 to Home Assistant?

After flashing, enable MQTT in OpenBeken, set topic, then add the MQTT integration in Home Assistant; commands appear under the device entity [OpenBeken Docs].

8. Can the board drive WS2812 or SM16703P LEDs?

Yes, but you must solder to P16 (pin 12). After wiring, run: startDriver SM16703P, SM16703P_Init 16, startDriver PixelAnim [Elektroda, 21201631]. Soldering directly to the 0.4 mm pin is delicate and may lift the pad—edge-case failure reported [Elektroda, 21202312].

9. What causes the voltage regulator to overheat?

A momentary short or reverse current from the USB-C line into the 3.3 V rail can drive the SOT-223 regulator above 120 °C within seconds [Elektroda, 20948893]. Use a current-limited bench supply during first flash.

10. Is SPI flashing possible via the silkscreened SI/SO pads?

Those pads expose the bootloader SPI (P20–P23). You can clip a CH341-based SPI programmer, hold CS low and flash 2 MB in under 20 s, but you must remove power from the SoC first to avoid bus contention [Elektroda, 20974503].

11. How strong is the IR output?

With seven LEDs at ≈ 100 mW/sr each, measured range exceeds 8 m line-of-sight and bounces reliably off walls for full-room coverage [Lab Test, 2024].

12. What’s the quickest way to reset after a bad flash?

Hold RST to GND on power-up, then run uartprogram -e to erase flash. The bootloader stays intact, letting you re-write firmware in ≈ 35 s [Elektroda, 20950671].
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