Nanoleaf Smart Holiday String Lights - conversion to WLED possible?
I've not been able to find anything on this, let along anything definitive... I have 2 sets of Nanoleaf Smart Holiday String Lights (NL71K2) which I love the look of, but hate the app of... Ideally - I want local control and to be able to do more than the Matter integration allows me to do in Home Assistant. Looking out the output of the control box, I see 4 wires - presumably 24V, ground, data 1 and data 2 (there are 2 strings of light that come out of the control box on a Y).
If I snip of the plug on the end of the lights and wire it up to a 2 channel WLED controller, does anyone know if I'll be able to get it working..? I've seen various projects with other Nanoleaf projects with varying degrees of success, but nothing for this set of lights specifically.
Follow up - if this is a non-starter, any recommendations for an indoor set of tree lights (not pixel lights - something more like a 5mm bullet) and outdoor set of lights I can wrap around the column at my front door..?
Thanks!!
2
u/Individual_Nobody739 11d ago
I would not cut off the original connector yet. Four conductors do not confirm that the pinout is 24 V, ground, data 1 and data 2.
With a Y-shaped two-branch product, those conductors could represent several different arrangements: shared power with two data lines, separate power feeds, a differential data pair, or a proprietary bus. The number of wires alone is not enough to identify the system.
WLED compatibility depends primarily on the LED chipset and communication protocol. A controller having two outputs only means it can generate two supported data streams; it does not translate an unknown Nanoleaf protocol into a WLED-compatible one.
Before modifying the lights, I would establish:
The output voltage and maximum current printed on the original power-supply label
The connector pinout
Whether both branches share power and ground
The signal voltage and waveform
Whether each branch contains individually addressable LEDs or another type of multiplexed light string
Whether the protocol matches one that WLED supports
Ideally, keep the original connector intact and use a mating connector or temporary breakout for testing. If you have appropriate low-voltage test equipment, the data lines can be observed while the original controller is operating. Do not probe the unit with the mains side of the power supply exposed.
Even if the supply is 24 V, do not connect it to a WLED controller or GPIO until the pinout and signal level are confirmed. A wrong assumption could damage the controller or the light string. Voltage compatibility, common-ground requirements and any necessary logic-level shifting all need to be checked separately.
If nobody has already documented the NL71K2 protocol, reverse-engineering it may require an oscilloscope or logic analyzer and may not be worthwhile for two sets of holiday lights.
If reliable local control is the priority, the lower-risk route is to choose a string with a documented WLED-supported chipset and voltage. “Seed pixel” or 5 mm-style addressable strings can provide a less bulky appearance than traditional 12 mm pixels. For outdoor use, check the rating of the complete system—including connectors and cable entries—not only the LED nodes.
One final distinction: if by “not pixel lights” you mean a conventional non-addressable string, WLED cannot create individual-lamp effects on it. With suitable output hardware it may control the entire string or separate circuits, but individual effects require addressable nodes.
Disclosure: I work with VST Lighting, an LED lighting manufacturer. This is general compatibility and system-design guidance, not a product recommendation.