First IR Controler Hack

I picked up a submersible RGB LED module at the local 99 Cent Only store for $2.99

These stores sell discontinued, market failures or otherwise distressed items, funny, the only problem with this item is the package is in English but instructions and product markings are in Spanish.

You can also find them on Amazon, for less of a bargain:
   https://tinyurl.com/submersibleRGB     2 for $11.88
   https://tinyurl.com/submersibleRGB2    2 for $8.59 
   https://tinyurl.com/submersibleRGB4    4 pack $14.99

They suggest using these lights in glass flower pots, as cloudy drink coasters or in fish tanks.


Powered by 3 AAA batteries, the lights behave like a typical RGB string, with Fade giving a 30 second, smooth rainbow cycle.

For a more permanent waterproof installation one could replace the batteries with an inductive charger coil circuit.  (some fish are very sensitive to magnetic fields, salmon may navigate using cells with ferritin proteins)


Although a bit 'old school', I wanted to see about controlling these with an Arduino.

Found the definitive library that knows 18 brand name control protocols, by Ken Shirreff.
https://github.com/z3t0/Arduino-IRremote/

( He's an interesting guy, a Google employee who's into reverse engineering, He contributed to the TV-B-Gone gadget that can turn off every TV in sight, he also makes schematic diagrams of integrated circuits from microscopic images, and restores ancient electronics, like a moon mission onboard computer using a couple early IC gates and core memory. )

His Blog

Here's a sketch that identifies the codes am IR remote transmits:

It apparently captures the codes in some universal Ken Shirreff format I haqven't looked into.
(I would recommend changing the sketch to output HEX values to make the patterns more readable.)

Not having a proper IR receiver and no time to craft something with a PIN diode, I just tapped into the receiver in the LED module, soldered onto far left pin protruding out of through hole and clipped onto battery socket negative.

I discovered the receiver also worked with other TV/DVD controllers I had around, most be tuned the most common 38Khz.

The RGB IR controller turned out to also work with an RGB spotlight I had on hand, typical Chinese design "sharing".  RGB remotes appear to come in 24 and 48 button standard models.


Here are the brand names' IR frequencies identified in the IR library:


35 Khz
ir_Panasonic

36 Khz
ir_RC5_RC6

38 Khz
ir_Aiwa.cpp
ir_Denon.cpp
ir_JVC.cpp
ir_Lego_PF.cpp
ir_LG.cpp
ir_NEC.cpp
ir_Samsung.cpp
ir_Sharp.cpp
 ir_Template.cpp (not a brand)
ir_Whynter.cpp

40 Khz
ir_Sony


56 Khz
ir_Dish.cpp


no enableIROut() freq codes
ir_Mitsubishi
ir_Sanyo



I have not gotten to any real hacking, someone else tried 256 different IR codes on similar device, without finding any hidden features.

---------------------

Here are the codes the capture utility output for the RBG IR Remote.


 -- Key Layout --

 d  b OFF ON
 R  G  B  W
 R2 G2 B2 Flash
 R3 G3 B3 Strobe
 R4 G4 B4 Fade
 R5 G5 B5 Smooth
 


--- In Button order sequence -- 
 
 
Code: 16187647 brighter

*****************

Code: 16220287 dimmmer

*****************

Code: 16203967 OFF

*****************

Code: 16236607 ON

*****************

Code: 16195807 R

*****************

Code: 16228447 G

*****************

Code: 16212127 B

*****************

Code: 16244767 W

*****************

Code: 16191727 R2

*****************

Code: 16224367 G2

*****************

Code: 16208047 B2

*****************

Code: 16240687 Flash

*****************

Code: 16199887 R3

*****************

Code: 16232527 G3

*****************

Code: 16216207 B3

*****************

Code: 16248847 Strobe

*****************

Code: 16189687 R4

*****************

Code: 16222327 G4

*****************

Code: 16206007 B4

*****************

Code: 16238647 Fade

*****************

Code: 16197847 R5

*****************

Code: 16230487 G5

*****************

Code: 16214167 B5

*****************

Code: 16246807 Smooth

*****************

Code: 4294967295  Repeat (Any button held)

*****************






 --------------------- Numeric Sorting (manually added HEX codes)  -------------------

 code         key       hex      
16187647 brighter  F700FF
16189687 R4  F708F7  
16191727 R2  F710EF   
16195807 R   F720DF
16197847 R5  F728D7
16199887 R3  F730CF
16203967 OFF F740BF
16206007 B4  F748B7
16208047 B2  F750AF
16212127 B   F7609F
16214167 B5  F76897
16216207 B3  F7708F
16220287 dimmmer F7807F
16222327 G4  F78877
16224367 G2  F7906F
16228447 G   F7A05F
16230487 G5  F7A857
16232527 G3  F7B04F
16236607 ON  F7C03F
16238647 Fade  F7C837
16240687 Flash F7D02F
16244767 W   F7E01F
16246807 Smooth F7E817
16248847 Strobe F7F00F
4294967295  Repeat (Any button held)   FFFFFFFF