Flashing Tuya Smart WiFi USB Adapter 1-3gang CBU v1.3.18/v110.0.0 to MQTT

I have a few Tuya Smart WiFi USB Switch modules, purchased from AliExpress - they show in the app as firmware v1.3.18 and v110.0.0.
This is similar to this device but as you can see the circuit board is different:

I was hoping to flash this with cordcutter but according to info in the comment thread, it looks like the firmware is patched.

Soldering each one of these I want to use will be too much effort for the intended result so I'm posting this here in case anyone wants to take a look and find an overlooked easy way to get these onto MQTT! Thanks -

If cloudcutter is a no-go then UART flashing would be your only way. Unless tuya-local is an option - never explored it. https://github.com/make-all/tuya-local

TX1 and RX1 are "hanging in the air" and device can be powered via USB easily. It seems it should be possible to just make some kind of simple flashing no-solder jig and still flash via UART without soldering.

>>21530560

p.kaczmarek2 wrote:

TX1 and RX1 are "hanging in the air" and device can be powered via USB easily. It seems it should be possible to just make some kind of simple flashing no-solder jig and still flash via UART without soldering.

You're not wrong, if just one or two were involved. But if my project pans out it would be dozens, maybe more. For less money and not much more effort I could equip a small fleet of ESP8266 chips with a couple of USB breakouts and a MOSFET on a PCB, and call it a day...
I'd also kinda thought posting my pics might have helped someone but I now realize that unless I do open it up and try flashing, I haven't really added much to the situation - ah well! I support the ethos here if not the specifics...