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Sinilink PCIe Computer Remote (XY-WPCE)

Sinilink PCIe Computer Remote (XY-WPCE)

Device Type: misc
Electrical Standard: global
Board: esp8266

A simple remote control/monitor device for use with standard PCs.

Essentially a proxy between the power switch and motherboard. Depending on the version, the module may also be wired between the power LED(s) to discern the power status (running/off/sleep) of the PC.

The WPCE version (this device) determines the power status via the normal/aux 3v3 rails on the PCI-Express slot so it does not feature the power led connections.

Product Image

Flashing

The module uses 1mm pitch headers which are considerably smaller and fussier to deal with relative to the 2.54mm pitch headers that are more common. You don't have to solder wires to program, though. I was able to strip some solid core cat5 cables; the bare copper wire was precisely the right size to fit inside of the hole.

Product pinout

ESP32 PinUSB Serial PinComments
3V33V3Connect to dedicated 3V3 1A power supply if encountering brown out
RST3V3ESP needs the RST/EN pin pulled UP to activate the chip
IO0GroundIO0 must be pulled down to enable bootloader mode
RXTX
TXRX
GNDGroundIf using a dedicated power supply with the USB programmer, make sure that the GND for the programmer and power supply are linked!

Connect all 6 pins as indicated and then power up the device and then plug in the USB programmer. The module should immediately enter boot loader mode and should be "discoverable" with esptool.py.

While not strictly necessary, you may wish to backup the flash content before overwriting with ESPHome.

# Confirm that you can "see" the module
❯ esptool.py --port /dev/ttyUSB0 chip_id


# Double check the type/size of the flash chip
❯ esptool.py --port /dev/ttyUSB0 flash_id


# Read out the flash; in this case, the `flash_id` command indicated that the ESP had 2MB of built in flash memory
❯ esptool.py --port /dev/ttyUSB0 read_flash 0x000000 0x200000 flash_backup.bin

GPIO Pinout

PinFunctionNotes
GPIO2OUTPUTStatus LED (inverted)
GPIO4INPUTButton on module PCB, used by OEM firmware for WiFi config (inverted)
GPIO5OUTPUTWired to PC motherboard, simulates pressing the power button
GPIO10INPUTWired to the PC power button (inverted)
GPIO12INPUTWired to the 3v3 power rail on PCI-Express slot to detect if PC is powered up. (inverted)

Basic Configuration

The configuration below covers just the basics for getting the various GPIO pins configured / usable in ESPHome. Depending on your specific needs, more configuration will likely be needed. E.G.: most motherboards will interpret the power button being pressed for 5+ seconds to mean "shutdown now". Exposing GPIO5 to Home Assistant directly as a gpio switch may result in the PC powering off a few seconds after it's powered on.

substitutions:
  friendly_name: "My PC Power Control"
  friendly_name_short: "My PC"


  hostname: "my-pc-power-remote-control"


esphome:
  name: ${hostname}


  # Shows up in UI
  comment: "Remote power button for ${friendly_name_short}."


esp8266:
  # Specifically a 'ESP8285H16' with 2MB built in flash
  # See: https://docs.platformio.org/en/stable/boards/espressif8266/esp8285.html
  board: esp8285


logger:
  level: INFO


script:
  - id: regular_press
    mode: single
    then:
      - output.turn_on: out_relay
      - delay: .5s
      - output.turn_off: out_relay


status_led:
  pin:
    number: GPIO02
    inverted: True


binary_sensor:
  - name: "${friendly_name_short} WiFi Config Button"
    platform: gpio
    pin:
      number: GPIO04
      mode: INPUT_PULLUP
      inverted: True


  - name: "${friendly_name_short} Power Status"
    platform: gpio
    id: inp_power_status
    pin:
      number: GPIO12
      mode: INPUT_PULLUP
      inverted: True


  - name: "${friendly_name_short} Case Button"
    platform: gpio
    pin:
      number: GPIO10
      mode: INPUT_PULLUP
      inverted: True


    # To accurately mimic the "button wired directly to motherboard" function, use on_press/on_release
    on_press:
      - output.turn_on: out_relay
    on_release:
      - output.turn_off: out_relay


    # To implement more sophisticated functionality like the "lock out" mode in the OEM firmware
    #   use on_click.
    ##
    on_click:
      then:
        - lambda: |-
            // Implement sophisticated logic here
            id(sw_pc_power).toggle();


switch:
  - name: "${friendly_name_short} Power"
    id: sw_pc_power
    platform: template
    lambda: |-
      if (id(inp_power_status).state) {
        return true;
      } else {
        return false;
      }


    # Mimic the user pressing the button
    turn_on_action:
      - script.execute: regular_press
    turn_off_action:
      - script.execute: regular_press


output:
  - platform: gpio
    id: out_relay
    pin: GPIO5
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