In this blog I will tell you how to flash LSC power plug with ESPhome! I will guide you how to open the plugs, how to solder the esp to USB to UART converter, what content of yaml file you need and what software to use.
Lees de Nederlandse versie hier – coming soon
Action LSC power plug 2024
I bought some power plugs from Action again. Years ago I also flashed these, but Action replaced the ESP8266 chips. So flashing ESPhome or Tastmota was not possible anymore.
Now in 2024 the LSC smart power plugs with articlenumber: 3202087 are flashable again. Cloudcutter does not work. You have to pry them open.
How to open LSC plug?
You need some spudgers to carefully open the plugs. In each corner is a clip. I slide a plastic Ifixit spudger in between the plastic parts. Then there is room to slide in the metal spugder. I slide the spudger to one of the corner and carefully pry the corner up. Repeat for every corner.
How to flash ESPhome?
First we need to create a yaml file for the plug and download a UF2 package we can flash.
Devices\LSC_3202087.yaml
esphome:
name: ${device_name}
friendly_name: ${friendly_name}
bk72xx:
board: generic-bk7231n-qfn32-tuya
logger:
baud_rate: 0
web_server:
captive_portal:
mdns:
api:
encryption:
key: !secret api_key
ota:
password: !secret ota_password
wifi:
networks:
- ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
password: !secret wifi_password
ap:
button:
- platform: restart
name: Restart
debug:
update_interval: 30s
text_sensor:
- platform: debug
reset_reason:
name: Reset Reason
- platform: libretiny
version:
name: LibreTiny Version
sensor:
- platform: uptime
name: Uptime
- platform: hlw8012
model: BL0937
update_interval: 500ms
change_mode_every: 2
cf_pin:
number: P26
inverted: true
cf1_pin:
number: P24
inverted: true
sel_pin:
number: P11
inverted: true
current:
name: Current
id: current
accuracy_decimals: 3
on_value:
component.update: apparent_power
filters:
- multiply: ${current_multiply}
- sliding_window_moving_average:
window_size: 4
send_every: 2
voltage:
name: Voltage
id: voltage
on_value:
component.update: apparent_power
filters:
- sliding_window_moving_average:
window_size: 4
send_every: 2
power:
name: Power
id: power
on_value:
component.update: power_factor
filters:
- sliding_window_moving_average:
window_size: 4
send_every: 2
energy:
name: Energy
voltage_divider: ${voltage_divider}
current_resistor: ${current_resistor}
- platform: template
name: "Apparent power"
id: apparent_power
unit_of_measurement: VA
device_class: apparent_power
lambda: |-
return id(voltage).state * id(current).state;
update_interval: never
on_value:
component.update: power_factor
- platform: template
name: "Power factor"
id: power_factor
unit_of_measurement: ''
device_class: power_factor
lambda: |-
return id(power).state / id(apparent_power).state;
filters:
- clamp:
min_value: 0
max_value: 1
update_interval: never
binary_sensor:
- platform: gpio
id: binary_switch_1
pin:
number: P7
inverted: true
mode: INPUT_PULLUP
filters:
- delayed_on: 10ms
on_press:
then:
- switch.toggle: switch_1
switch:
- platform: gpio
id: switch_1
name: none
pin: P8
restore_mode: RESTORE_DEFAULT_OFF
on_turn_on:
script.execute: set_status_led
on_turn_off:
script.execute: set_status_led
light:
- platform: status_led
id: light_red
name: "Red led"
pin: P6
restore_mode: RESTORE_DEFAULT_OFF
- platform: binary
name: "Status led"
id: blue_led
output: output_blue_led
restore_mode: RESTORE_DEFAULT_OFF
internal: true
output:
- platform: gpio
id: output_blue_led
pin: P10
select:
- platform: template
name: "Status led mode"
id: status_led_mode
optimistic: true
restore_value: True
entity_category: CONFIG
update_interval: never
options:
- "Normal"
- "Invert"
- "Off"
initial_option: "Normal"
on_value:
script.execute: set_status_led
script:
- id: set_status_led
then:
- if:
condition:
lambda: |-
return strcmp(id(status_led_mode).state.c_str(), "Normal") == 0;
then:
if:
condition:
switch.is_on: switch_1
then:
light.turn_on: blue_led
else:
light.turn_off: blue_led
- if:
condition:
lambda: |-
return strcmp(id(status_led_mode).state.c_str(), "Invert") == 0;
then:
if:
condition:
switch.is_on: switch_1
then:
light.turn_off: blue_led
else:
light.turn_on: blue_led
- if:
condition:
lambda: |-
return strcmp(id(status_led_mode).state.c_str(), "Off") == 0;
then:
light.turn_off: blue_ledThen in device:
substitutions:
device_name: lsc-powerplug1
friendly_name: LSC Powerplug 1
voltage_divider: '795'
current_resistor: '0.001'
current_multiply: '0.450'
<<: !include lsc-3202087.yaml
Now in the ESPhome Webui click install and Manual Download. Now you get a popup and download the UF2 package.
Soldering BK7231N to UART converter
Do not connect your device to mains electricity while following this guide. If your device is open and plugged directly into the wall, you’ll be a single touch away from being electrocuted.
You are solely responsible for your own safety. If you feel something is wrong or are uncomfortable with continuing, stop immediately.
U need a USB to UART converter 5V/3.3V for this to work. I connected a external 3,3 power supply for more stable power. I soldered the following:
Flashing ESPhome with ITchiptool
Now open ITchiptool on your computer. Select the right COM port. Set Baud rate to 115200 and select Write flash. As input file select the UF2 file we made with the ESPhome webui and click Start.
Now the black wire we soldered to CEN need to connect with GND for 0.25 seconds. So tap the end of the black wire to GND to reset the chip and set it to flash mode.
If all right ITchiptool will start flashing.
Import in Home Assistant
If you import the plug in Home Assistant and you get all these options.
Assemble the power plug again
Now disconnect from the computer and desolder the wires.
Make sure that all solderpads make good connecting to the BK7231. I always touch them up a little with the soldering iron.
When assembling the plug again, make sure the button works before pushing in the last part of the shell.
This is how you flash the LSC power plug with ESPhome. Good luck!
