You can power it directly from a 3S LiPo, or from any regulated 12V DC source — a 12V BEC off your flight battery, or a bench 12V supply. The 9–12.6V input range is the controller's electrical operating range, not a recommended LiPo discharge range: follow normal flight-voltage practice and never intentionally discharge a 3S pack to 9.0V. Never use a 5V receiver/ESC output, and never 4S or higher.

Can I use it on other RC vehicles?

Yes. It drives the LEDs, not the vehicle, so it works on any 12V WS2815 build — it was tested on a 5-foot RC airplane and a glowing RC hovercraft, and the same wiring works on any custom project such as RC cars, boats, and props. Note it is not waterproof — if you run it around snow, water, or wet grass, you need to protect the electronics yourself.

RC LED Controller — Phone-Controlled Lights

Product Overview

A simple, controllable way to light up your builds

The Wi-Fi RC LED Controller lets you connect compatible 12V WS2815 addressable RGB LED strips, power the controller from your RC project, connect over Wi-Fi, and control lighting modes right from your phone.

No re-wiring the whole project every time you want a different effect. Plug in your strips, pick a template, and set brightness and speed from your phone before you head out. Because it drives the LEDs rather than the vehicle, it runs on any 12V WS2815 build — airplanes, hovercrafts, and custom projects alike.

Honest note: this is a small-batch hobby product. Some basic RC and electronics comfort helps — you'll mount it, route your LEDs, and secure wiring for your own build.

Close-up of the Wi-Fi RC LED Controller PCB showing the ESP32 Wi-Fi module, XT60 power connector and LED outputs

What It Does

Control your lighting from your phone

Connect over Wi-Fi and run effects without extra transmitter channels. The controller hosts its own control page — no app download, no account, no internet. Built-in lighting templates you can adjust, plus fully customizable effects. A few examples of what's built in:

Wi-Fi phone control
Brightness control
Speed control
Lighting templates, fully customizable
Navigation lights
Strobes
Rainbow effects
Underglow
Show mode
Two LED outputs (where supported)
Works on any 12V WS2815 build — airplanes, hovercrafts, and custom projects

These effects improve appearance and visibility, but they don't make an RC aircraft compliant with full-scale aircraft lighting requirements, and they are not a substitute for maintaining visual line of sight.

See the lighting effects animated live →

What's Included

Everything in the box

✓
Wi-Fi RC LED ControllerThe assembled and tested board.
✓
3D printed caseProtects the board in your build.
✓
ConnectorsPre-soldered power and LED output connectors.
✓
Setup instructionsPlus the full online setup guide.
✓
Phone/browser-based control interfaceHosted on the controller — no app download.
✓
Compatibility notesSo you buy the right LED strips and power source.

Not included: LED strips, battery/power source, and mounting hardware — these depend on your specific build.

Wi-Fi RC LED Controller in its 3D printed case with soldered connectors

Wi-Fi RC LED Controller showing its LED output ports

Wi-Fi RC LED Controller 3D printed case with the lid on

Compatibility

Compatible LED Strips

This controller is designed for 12V WS2815 addressable RGB LED strips. Please check before you buy.

⚠

Important — read before you order

This controller is designed for 12V WS2815 addressable RGB LED strips. The wrong strip or power source can damage your LEDs or the controller.

Not for standard non-addressable RGB strips
Not for 5V WS2812B strips (unless supported later)

Use a proper 12V power source
Match LED strip wiring before powering on

✓ Recommended

WS2815 chipset
12V power
Addressable RGB
30–60 LEDs per meter
Flexible LED strip
Backup data wire (WS2815-style strips supported)

✗ Not compatible with

Basic single-color LED strips
Standard non-addressable RGB strips
5V WS2812B strips
24V LED strips
Analog RGB strips with separate R/G/B channels
Random strips that are not WS2815 / addressable-compatible

Not sure if your LED strip will work? Run the quick compatibility checker — five questions, instant answer — or send me the product link before ordering via the contact page. Recommended 12V WS2815 strips are in the WS2815 buying guide. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How It Works

Four steps from box to glowing build

1

Plug in your LEDs

Connect a compatible 12V WS2815 addressable RGB LED strip to the controller.

2

Power it

Power the controller from your RC project's battery setup.

3

Connect over Wi-Fi

Join the controller's Wi-Fi from your phone to open the control page.

4

Run your effects

Pick a lighting mode, adjust brightness and speed, and go.

Read the full setup guide →

Or print the 4×6 in quick-start card →

Planning the wiring for a whole plane? The free Wiring Designer has an "Add-on lighting" option — pick the Wi-Fi LED controller and see exactly where it fits in your build's wiring diagram.

See It In Action

Tested on real RC projects

5-Foot RC Airplane

Used for navigation lights, strobes, wing lighting, and night visibility.

RC Hovercraft

Used for RGB underglow that lights up the snow and shows off the effects clearly.

Wing Lighting

WS2815 strips running along the wing — the same lights you see in the night-flight footage.

Phone Control

Adjust brightness, speed, and effects from the Wi-Fi control page.

Watch the Video

Watch it tested on real RC projects

See the controller tested on a 5-foot RC airplane and an RGB-lit RC hovercraft.

Why I Built It

It started as a controller for my own plane

I built this because I wanted my RC projects to look insane without rewiring everything from scratch every single time. I build a lot of weird stuff — planes, hovercrafts, boats — and swapping lighting setups between them was always a pain.

So I made one controller I could move between builds and run from my phone. After testing it on a 5-foot airplane and a glowing hovercraft, I figured other builders would want the same thing.

The first batch was a small run to see if there was enough interest to keep improving it — there was. Units are still built, soldered, and tested by hand in small runs.

Availability & price

Wi-Fi RC LED Controller — Built in Small Runs

Wi-Fi RC LED Controller

Built to order, in small runs

The first batch closed on 17 August 2026. Controllers are not held in stock — each one is built when a run is scheduled, so a new order starts with a conversation rather than a checkout.

Lead time: Boards take about two weeks to manufacture. Each unit is then assembled, soldered, tested, cased and packed by hand. The total for the current run is confirmed by email before you pay anything.
Price: The first batch was $59.99 per unit. Pricing for the current run is confirmed at the same time as the lead time.
Shipping: Tracked, with the cost quoted for your address. Shipping policy · Refunds

Check availability

Tell me what you're putting it in and I'll reply personally — usually within a day — with the lead time and price for the current run. Nothing is charged until you've agreed to both.

Email me when the next run opens

Questions either way: eric@ericrobbrc.com

What's included

✓ 1 Wi-Fi RC LED Controller
✓ 3D printed case
✓ Soldered connectors
✓ Basic setup instructions
✓ Access to the Wi-Fi control page/app
✓ Firmware updates as they ship

Not included (unless selected)

– LED strips
– Battery
– Mounting hardware
– Extra wiring or extensions

Important Notes

Honest details before you order

This is a small-batch hobby electronics product.
Some RC/electronics knowledge may be helpful.
Designed for 12V WS2815 addressable RGB LED strips.
Not waterproof unless protected by the builder.
Final board or case appearance may vary slightly from prototype photos.
Designed for hobby RC projects only.
Not for full-size aircraft or safety-critical systems.
First-batch units may receive small improvements based on testing and feedback.

Who This Is For

Is this controller right for you?

✓ Good fit

RC airplane builders
RC hovercraft builders
Any custom 12V WS2815 build (cars, boats, props, and more)
DIY electronics builders
People comfortable mounting and wiring electronics
Builders who want controllable lighting effects

✗ Not ideal for

People expecting a toy-style, no-setup plug-and-play product
People using non-addressable LED strips
People using 5V WS2812B strips
Wet use without waterproofing
Safety-critical applications

Technical Specifications

The details, on one page

LED support	12V WS2815 addressable RGB strips (individually-addressable, with backup data line)
LED outputs	Up to two independent outputs (where supported)
Control	Self-hosted Wi-Fi control page — any modern phone browser, no app, no account, no internet needed
Adjustments	Lighting templates, brightness, and speed — set from your phone's browser
Power input	12V DC — a 3S LiPo direct (input range 9–12.6V — that's the controller's electrical operating range, not a recommended LiPo discharge range; follow normal flight-voltage practice and never intentionally run a 3S pack down to 9.0V), a 12V BEC off your flight battery, or a bench supply; not a 5V receiver/ESC output, and not 4S or higher. See the setup guide.
Connectors	Pre-soldered power and LED output connectors
Enclosure	3D-printed case (not waterproof — protect it yourself for wet/snow use)
Use	Hobby RC only — not for full-size aircraft or safety-critical systems

First-batch hardware; small improvements may land based on testing and feedback. Confirm your strip in the compatibility checker before ordering.

FAQ

Questions, answered honestly

It's close, with one honest caveat. With compatible 12V WS2815 addressable RGB LED strips, you plug in the strip, power the controller, connect over Wi-Fi, and control the lights from your phone. But you'll still mount the controller, route your LEDs, and secure the wiring for your specific build — so some basic RC and electronics comfort helps. It is not a no-setup toy.

It's designed for 12V WS2815 addressable RGB LED strips — flexible strips where each LED is individually controllable. It is not for basic single-color strips, standard non-addressable RGB strips, 5V WS2812B strips, or 24V strips. If you're unsure, run the compatibility checker or send me the product link before ordering.

No. The controller hosts its own control page over Wi-Fi. You connect your phone to the controller's Wi-Fi network and open the page in any normal browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox). There's no app-store download, no account, and no internet connection required.

You can power it directly from a 3S LiPo, or from any regulated 12V DC source — a 12V BEC off your flight battery, or a bench 12V supply. The controller's input range is 9–12.6V, which covers a 3S pack across its whole usable range — but 9V is the controller's floor, not a flying target: land the pack around 3.5V per cell under load. Do not use a 4S or larger pack (the over-voltage will damage it), and never power it from a 5V receiver or ESC output. Your LED strips draw their power through the controller, so make sure your source can supply enough current for the length of strip you're running. See the setup guide for wiring details.

Yes — that's what it was built for. It was originally tested on a 5-foot RC airplane for navigation lights, strobes, and wing lighting. It's for hobby RC use only, not full-size aircraft or safety-critical systems.

Yes. It drives the LEDs, not the vehicle, so it works on any 12V WS2815 build. It's been tested on a 5-foot airplane and a glowing RC hovercraft, and the same wiring works on any custom project — RC cars, boats, props, and more. Note it is not waterproof — if you run it around snow, water, or wet grass, you need to protect the electronics yourself.

No. The base product includes the controller, 3D printed case, soldered connectors, and setup instructions. You supply your own 12V WS2815 LED strips, power source, and mounting hardware to suit your build.

Units are built in small runs. Boards take about 2 weeks to manufacture, then each unit is assembled, soldered, tested, cased, packed, and shipped by hand — so lead time depends on where the current run stands. Contact Eric for current availability before ordering.

The first-batch preorder has closed. Controllers are now built in small runs by request — email me what you're putting it in and I'll reply personally with availability and timing.

Incorrect wiring — reversed polarity, wrong voltage, or a data/power mix-up — can damage the controller or your LED strips — and I can't replace boards damaged by incorrect wiring. Always double-check that red goes to 12V positive and black to ground, match your LED strip's wiring before powering on, and use a proper 12V source. The setup guide walks through the wiring step by step. If you're unsure, ask me first.

Part of the bigger picture

The controller is one piece of the build

Lighting is the finishing touch on a good RC project. Here's how it fits with the rest of what you're building.

Ready to light up your build?

First batch closed — next units are built in small runs. Availability and lead time depend on the current batch.

Check availability

From the shop

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The controller is built to order; these ship now.

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ER Sparrow Mk II PlansTrue-1:1 cutting templates and the 8-page build guide for the 30-inch one-hour trainer. Print at home or at a print shop.$8Get the plans →

Wi-Fi RC LED Controller.
Run The Lights From Your Phone.

A simple, controllable way to light up your builds

Control your lighting from your phone

Everything in the box