Simon is a Computer Science BSc graduate who has been writing about technology since 2014, and using Windows machines since 3.1. After working for an indie game studio and acting as the family's go-to technician for all computer issues, he found his passion for writing and decided to use his skill set to write about all things tech.
Since beginning his writing career, he has written for many different publications such as WorldStart, Listverse, and MakeTechEasier. However, after finding his home at MakeUseOf in February 2019, he would eventually move on to its sister site, XDA, to bring the latest and greatest in Windows, Linux, and DIY electronics.
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Summary
- This Motorized fader console turns on lights with tactile, switch-like clicks.
- It uses an ESP32-S3, and each slider directly controls bulb brightness.
- It also features a dial to select the room you wish to control, and four buttons for room presets.
Smart home lights are really cool, but we often pay too much attention to what the bulb looks like or what it can do. But the humble light switch is sitting there, ripe for renovation. Fortunately, someone showed off this incredible console with faders that control his home's lights, and it's a seriously impressive piece of kit.
This fader console is the coolest way to turn on your lights
It makes you feel like a DJ, but for lightbulbs
Over on the ESP32 subreddit, the owner of Sacrebleu Studio showed off their cool light switch console that runs off an ESP32-S3. You can see what appears to be an earlier build on YouTube; each slider directly affects the dimness of each smart bulb. The higher the slider, the brighter the bulb. Simple.
In his update on the ESP32 subreddit, he seemingly added a new feature. Most of his bulbs can dim, but some are attached to a smart home plug. These can only turn on or off with no in-between, so no dimming capabilities. To solve this, he tweaked the sliders so that if they correspond to a bulb attached to a smart plug, you can flick them up or down like a wall switch. Just push it far enough up or down, and it automatically 'clicks' into position.
The YouTube video also shows off some of the advanced features. The dial on the right lets you pick the room you want, while the four buttons on the left are presets you can set for each room. It's also satisfying to see the sliders automatically shift to match the state of the bulbs when you change the target room. Definitely one of the coolest ways to control your house lights.
Sacrebleu Studio hasn't published how to make your own, but there is a website where you can register your interest in a potential future product.