ESP32

RC Sound & Light Controller

Table of Contents
SAFETY REGULATIONS 2

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 3

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION 4

SYSTEM OVERVIEW 5

MINIMUM WIRING (SBUS MODE) 7

LED WIRING 8

CHANNEL ASSIGNMENT (“MICRO RC” CAR STYLE VERSION) 9

SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION 10

LINKS 11

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 ESP32 RC Sound & Light Controller
Quick Start Manual

Safety regulations

• This product must not be used until this manual has been fully read and
understood. Likewise, you must agree with all the restrictions mentioned in this
chapter.

• This open source product is left to the user's own responsibility for use, free
development and customization. TheDIYGuy999 assumes no liability whatsoever for
any damage or consequential damage resulting from the use of this system.

• This product is not suitable for large and dangerous models, because there is no
redundancy.

• Never use this product on public roads.

• This product has not been tested for FCC or CE compliance.

• Never connect or disconnect wires while the product is connected to a battery.

• Always disconnect the battery, if this product is not in use. It always draws a couple of
Milliamps, even if the ESC is switched off and will drain the battery otherwise.

• This product is not protected against wrong polarity! Always double check your wiring
before connecting the battery. Wrong polarity will immediately destroy the product.

• Always insulate the vehicle wiring properly, using heat shrinks in order to prevent
short circuits. Never mount the bare PCB directly on top of a metal plate. This will
cause short circuits.

• This product may only be used in dry locations.

• This product is not suitable for children below 14 years.

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 ESP32 RC Sound & Light Controller
Quick Start Manual

Technical specifications
General:
Open Source: Yes (Software & Hardware):
https://github.com/TheDIYGuy999/Rc_Engine_Sound_ESP32
Size (SMD version): 74x50x25mm (including connectors and bottom shell)
Voltage ranges:
Battery supply voltage: The input supply voltage range is 7 – 12.6VDC (2S or 3S LiPo)
Maximum “Sig” 3.3VDC (most modern receivers are working with this logic
voltage: voltage, but you have to be careful with very old receivers)
Maximum “+V” voltage 6.5VDC, also depending on the limitations of the other devices,
coming from ESC which are connected to the “+V” rail
Output voltage: 5VDC for LED, shaker and amplifier, max. 1A in total
Input signal types:
PWM: 6 channels, connectors CH1 – CH6
PPM: 8 channels, connector RX
SBUS: 13 channels, connector RX
IBUS: 13 channels, connector RX
Outputs:
Speaker outputs: 1 or 2 speakers with 4 – 8 Ohms can be connected
5VDC outputs for LED: 11 channels, all with PWM brightness control, common positive,
always use a series resistor, max. 100mA per channel
5VDC engine vibration 1 output, max. 300mA
simulation shaker out:
ESC: The ESC (crawler style with direct brake) needs to be connected to
the “ESC” output. This allows to use the “virtual vehicle inertia”
Compatible remotes: (predefined profiles in the “2_adjustmentsRemote” tab)
Arduino “Micro RC”: Car style type required for full functionality
Flysky FS-I6x: SBUS mode recommended, dual rate switching required 100% /
75%
Others: Define your own profile in the “2_adjustmentsRemote” tab
Sounds:
Sound file type: .h files, 8bit, 22050Hz (variable sampling rate for engine,
generated out of wav files using the included tool
“Audio2Header.html”)
Sound categories: Start, idle, revving, ignition knock, air brake, parking brake, engine
brake, horn, turbo, blow-off valve, horn, siren, sound 1
Transmissions:
Manual transmissions: TAMIYA 3 speed, virtual 3 speed (shifted by 3 pos. switch)
Automatic Virtual automatic with torque converter, virtual double clutch,
transmissions: each with 3, 4 or 6 gears
Predefined vehicles: (select them in the “1_adjustmentsVehicle” tab)
A lot of vehicles are EU, Russian & US trucks, tanks, EU & US cars, EU & US SUV,
already configured: tractors, motorcycles, planes, locomotives…
Of course, you can also make your own vehicle configurations

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 ESP32 RC Sound & Light Controller
Quick Start Manual

Configuration:
Required USB lead: Micro USB
Upload and config: Adjustments are done in Arduino IDE, min. version 1.7.4
Input channel auto Yes, after power-on, if enabled in “2_adjustmentsRemote” tab
zero calibration:
Channel reversing Yes, if enabled in “2_adjustmentsRemote” tab
Flexible channel Yes, according to settings in “2_adjustmentsRemote” tab
mapping:

Product description

This open source RC sound and light controller is mainly intended for 1/14 scale RC trucks
like the TAMIYA King Hauler. Of course, it can also be used for all kinds of other vehicles, as
long as it fits inside. It is a good replacement for the TAMIYA MFC-01 or MFC-03 and offers
way more realism.

A lot of vehicles are pre-configured and can easily be selected. Of course, you can also make
your own configurations without changing the Arduino main code.

It can be used to control the vehicle sounds like engine sounds, horns, sirens, brake sounds
etc. Multiple sounds can be played at the same time. The engine sound is mixed together on
the fly, using multiple sounds like idle, revving, turbo, Diesel knock etc. The engine sound
volume is load- and RPM-dependent. This makes the engine sound very realistic.

It also offers unique features like virtual vehicle inertia, synchronized TAMIYA 3 speed
transmission (in software), virtual manual and automatic transmissions. All these features
make the vehicle drive behavior very smooth and realistic.

Of course, it also is able to control the entire vehicle and trailer lighting. All the LED can be
varied in brightness, using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation). This allows to simulate the huge
current draw while cranking the engine, smooth switching incandescent bulb indicators,
high & low beam, Xenon ignition flash etc.

A TAMIYA trailer light set 56502 in stock condition can be connected.

A shaker output is included as well. It is used to drive a shaker motor with an eccentric
weight to simulate engine vibrations.

The module is compatible with most remote systems, which use PWM, PPM, SBUS or IBUS
communication. A flexible channel mapping is implemented. For details refer to the included
“adjustmentsRemote.xlsx”

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 ESP32 RC Sound & Light Controller
Quick Start Manual

System overview

Micro USB ESP32

Volume
potentiometer

LED output
channels
Battery
connector

Shaker 2x speaker
connector connectors

TAMIYA
Trailer LED 6 PWM input
connector channels

ESC output
Taillight
LED RX input (SBUS, Universal
connector IBUS, PPM) output

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 ESP32 RC Sound & Light Controller
Quick Start Manual

This view shows an unfinished board as it is delivered by PCBWay.com. How to order it:
https://github.com/TheDIYGuy999/Rc_Engine_Sound_ESP32/tree/master/Eagle_PCB/SM
D

Only the SMD components are populated, the remaining through hole components need to
be soldered by yourself. See instructions video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csQgTfxRd8Y&t=1s

It also shows the connector layout in detail. CH1 – 4 are connector pairs, which eliminate
the need for y-cables.

5V
regulator

ULN2003
LED driver

PAM8403
amplifier
goes here

Note, that the LED need to be wired “common positive”. This means, that the long LED legs
(the + side) can be wired together, using a shared 5V potential. The negative side of each
LED (the short wire) needs to be wired to an appropriate current limiting resistor and
then to the LED output pin.

If a "TAMIYA 56502 trailer light set is connected to the corresponding connector, no
additional current limiting resistors are required. They are already included on the PCB.

For more details, refer to the chapter “LED wiring”

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 ESP32 RC Sound & Light Controller
Quick Start Manual

Minimum wiring (SBUS mode)

3 wire
Jumper wire from “+V” DuPont
to “5V” (remove it, if “Micro RC” cable
an ESC is used) receiver connecting
SBUS
GND, +V
in (RX)
and signal
ESC
connector

SBUS
out (TX)

Supply adapter (wired in 4 - 8 Ohms

ESC
power
2S LiPo
connecto
r
Double check the entire wiring

for correct polarity before you
connect the battery! Wrong It is strongly recommended to
polarity will immediately add a fuse between the battery
destroy the controller. and the rest of the wiring!

NOTE: in this example, no ESC is connected to the “ESC” connector and to the ESC power
connector. So, we have to supply the ESP32 and the receiver (+V rail) with 5V from the
internal 5V regulator, via the shown jumper wire. This jumper wire needs to be
removed, if an ESC is connected. In this case, the ESP32 is supplied by the battery
eliminator circuit (BEC), which is integrated in most ESC these days. You don’t need to
disconnect the battery, if you connect the USB cable, there is an anti backfeed diode (D1).

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 ESP32 RC Sound & Light Controller
Quick Start Manual

LED wiring
As already mentioned, the LED supply voltage is 5V, coming from the internal regulator.
A common LED maximum current is 15mA.

The following chart provides the required minimum series resistor values:
LED color Forward voltage [Volts] Minimum resistor [Ohms]
red 1.8 220
orange 1.9 220
green 2 200
white 3 150
blue 3 150
You can also use a calculator in order to determine the correct value:
https://www.digikey.de/en/resources/conversion-calculators/conversion-calculator-led-
series-resistor

Long leg 5V pin

Flat spot

Series resistor

• The LED will not light up, if connected the wrong way around.
• Never connect LED or other devices without a suitable series resistor to the LED
output pins (except the TAMIYA trailer connector). This will permanently damage
the integrated ULN2003 LED drivers.
• If more than one LED is wired in parallel to an LED output pin, each one needs its
own series resistor.
• Two red or orange LED can be wired in series. This makes the circuit more efficient.
In this case you need to add both series voltages together for the series resistor
calculation.
• The maximum average LED output current per channel is 100mA. However, it is
not recommended to load each channel with this current. Otherwise, the ULN2003
LED driver may overheat. Always check it for excessive temperature raise for at
least 10 minutes after you wired a new vehicle. If the temperature is too high to the
touch, you should use an external driver transistor for the LED.
• Also note, that the maximum sum current for the entire 5V rail, which is supplied
by the on-board regulator is 1A.

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 ESP32 RC Sound & Light Controller
Quick Start Manual

Channel assignment (“Micro RC” car style version)

CH8: engine
on / off

CH5: horn,
siren, bluelight

CH1: steering
& indicators

Mode 1:
transmission
neutral

Mode 2:
sound1
CH4: 3 buttons

CH3: throttle
Lights & brake
Headlight Engine CH2:
flasher, high state + brake / transmission
/ low beam
volume gears 1 - 3

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 ESP32 RC Sound & Light Controller
Quick Start Manual

Software configuration

For details refer to:
https://github.com/TheDIYGuy999/Rc_Engine_Sound_ESP32/blob/master/README.md

Do the adjustments in the “adjustments” tabs. Don’t change the code in the main tab.


Main tab Vehicle Remote ESC
Transmission Shaker

Software version

The adjustments
tabs above

Install board
definition
Required
board settings

Install these
libraries

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 ESP32 RC Sound & Light Controller
Quick Start Manual

Links
Software and hardware downloads:
https://github.com/TheDIYGuy999/Rc_Engine_Sound_ESP32

Readme:
https://github.com/TheDIYGuy999/Rc_Engine_Sound_ESP32/blob/master/README.md

Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqWO3PNCSjHmYiACDMLr23w

Forum:
https://www.rc-modellbau-portal.de/index.php?threads/esp32-arduino-rc-sound-und-licht-
controller.7183/

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Designed in Switzerland by TheDIYGuy999

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