LightFox Dual - esp8266+RF dual channel switch

Hi all!

After researching thru ESP modules firmware options I found a better option of the firmware for the switch. It's ESPurna firmware. The main advantages I see in ESPurna are: compile-time module definition and async MQTT.

Currently ESPurna firmware for LightFox dual is tested on my instances. It works OK. The firmware is available for download on github: https://github.com/foxel/esp-dual-rf-switch/blob/v3/esp01-firmware/espurna-1.13.4-dev-foxel-lightfox-dual.bin

Long time no see guys.

The best news for the project is that it got to stable version tested and deployed :) Bad news later.

Version 3

After working with V2 items for some time I've made some updates to both layout and components.

First of all the layout is now easier to install: one does not need to have any wire connections outside of the box. There are now 3 neutral terminals (one for input wire, two for loads), one live/hot input (instead of two) and two live outputs. 

Another change in layout is programming interface moved to place where one can solder pins for easier connection.

Regarding components: 

• TRIACs changed to shubber-less BTA08-600BW working with LED bulbs more reliably with no need for a shnubber circuit
• optical triacs changed to MOC3043 with lower switch current
• values for resistors changed to optimize current thru MOC3043

The V3 branch is not the main branch in repo. Everything you need to build a switch is there: https://github.com/foxel/esp-dual-rf-switch

Pushing to Tasmota

Now let's talk about firmware. For ESP8266 I decided to use Sonoff-Tasmota from Theo Arends. This is a well known custom OS firmware for ESP8266/ESP8285 based devices. It's a great firmware with OTA capability, MQTT connectivity and many other cool things you can use in your setup. 

As my hardware has improvements in layout comparing to Sonoff Dual (which was my inspiration) it gives me ability to introduce new features:

• assigning loads to RF remote buttons
• remotely initiating RF bind procedure
• remotely cleaning RF module memory

Those features with support for my Hardware module is now a PR for Tasmota. Bad news is fact it's not merged. So if you did read this far you can help me pushing this PR forward ;)

Some photos :)

Stay tuned guys

First fimware is ready to be used. 

Was trying to use attiny44 instead of 441 for a week but failed with software UART timings.

Then received 441 which was initially planned and UART worked like a charm.

The firmware is split in two parts: ESP8266 firmware and Attiny441 firware.

For ESP8266 part i've decided to fork Sonoff-Tasmota and use Sonoff DUAL UART protocol for controllers communication. For attiny i've designed firmware by myself. 

Currently the main use-case is covered and I can control channels from RF and MQTT. Still need to address RF binding/cleaning by triggering button from attiny.

Also the project is now available on GitHub: https://github.com/foxel/esp-dual-rf-switch

And finally demo:

So I recently received PCBs from jlcpcb.com. It cost me about $8 including delivery. Pretty cheap I think.

PCBs looked good so I started assembling one right away.

Once assembled I've checked mains part - works fine. First firmware for attiny is to blink the load. Works fine!

Next step: preparing firmware for tiny and esp. I'm planning to use communication protocol compatible with one from Sonoff dual.