Introduction
How the System Works
Step 1 — Connect the Hardware
Step 2 — Create the Web Dashboard
Step 3 — Prepare Arduino IDE
Step 4 — Upload the Program
Step 5 — Test with Serial Monitor
Step 6 — Final Result
Troubleshooting
What I Learned
Future Improvements

Published September 1, 2026 © Apache-2.0

Control an LED from a Web Dashboard

Control a physical LED wirelessly from a KiwisIoT web dashboard using a NodeMCU ESP8266.

BeginnerShowcase (no instructions)1 hour27

Things used in this project

Hardware components

NodeMCU ESP8266 Breakout Board

LED (generic)

Resistor 221 ohm

Jumper wires (generic)

USB-A to Mini-USB Cable

Software apps and online services

KiwisIoT

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Arduino IDE

Serial Monitor

Story

Introduction

I wanted to build a beginner-friendly IoT project where a simple action on a web page could control a real electronic component. I chose an external LED because the result is immediate and easy to verify. The project uses a NodeMCU ESP8266 as the Wi-Fi controller and KiwisIoT as the web-based communication platform.

How the System Works

The KiwisIoT dashboard contains a Toggle widget. When the Toggle is ON, Channel 1 sends value 1. When it is OFF, Channel 1 sends value 0. The NodeMCU receives this command and changes D2 accordingly.

Complete project workflow.

Step 1 — Connect the Hardware

Connect the external LED to D2 through a resistor. Connect the other side of the LED to GND.

Wiring: D2 → Resistor → LED anode (+); LED cathode (-) → GND.

My actual NodeMCU and LED hardware setup.

Step 2 — Create the Web Dashboard

Create the KiwisIoT dashboard and add a Toggle widget. Configure it to use Channel 1. The ON state sends value 1 and the OFF state sends value 0.

KiwisIoT dashboard with the Toggle control.

Step 3 — Prepare Arduino IDE

Connect the NodeMCU ESP8266 using USB.

Open Arduino IDE.

Select the ESP8266 board and correct COM port.

Make sure the KiwisIoT Arduino library is available.

Enter your Wi-Fi SSID, password, and KiwisIoT topic.

Step 4 — Upload the Program

Using The programing code to connects the KiwisIoT web dashboard to the physical LED. A Toggle action in the browser changes the LED state through the NodeMCU ESP8266.( The code is in the Attachement File)

Step 5 — Test with Serial Monitor

Upload the sketch.

Open Serial Monitor at 9600 baud.

Open the KiwisIoT dashboard.

Switch the Toggle ON and verify Channel 1 / Value 1.

Confirm that the LED turns ON.

Switch the Toggle OFF and verify Channel 1 / Value 0.

Confirm that the LED turns OFF.

Serial Monitor showing the received commands.

Step 6 — Final Result

The final system successfully connects the KiwisIoT web dashboard to the physical LED. A Toggle action in the browser changes the LED state through the NodeMCU ESP8266.

Final working demonstration.

Troubleshooting

LED does not turn ON: check LED polarity, resistor, D2, GND, and the dashboard value.

No command received: check Wi-Fi, topic, Channel 1, and Serial Monitor.

Unexpected result: verify that the Toggle sends 1 for ON and 0 for OFF.

What I Learned

ESP8266 Wi-Fi connectivity.

Web-to-hardware IoT communication.

KiwisIoT dashboard control.

Callback-based command handling.

GPIO HIGH/LOW control.

Serial Monitor debugging.

Future Improvements

Control multiple LEDs using multiple channels.

Add sensors and live dashboard readings.

Add relay control.

Add notifications and event history.

Build a permanent enclosure.

Schematics

File missing, please reupload.

Code

KiwisIoT_LED_Control.ino

/*
 * Project: Control an LED From a Web Dashboard
 * Board: NodeMCU ESP8266
 * Platform: KiwisIoT
 */

#include <KiwisIoT.h>

// Wi-Fi and KiwisIoT configuration
const char* ssid  = "MY_WIFI_SSID";
const char* pass  = "MY_WIFI_PASSWORD";
const char* topic = "MY_KIWISIOT_TOPIC";

// Create KiwisIoT object
KiwisIoT kiwisiot(ssid, pass, topic);

// External LED connected to NodeMCU D2
#define LED_PIN D2


// --------------------------------------------------
// Receive commands from KiwisIoT
// --------------------------------------------------
void receiveCommand(String channel, String value)
{
  Serial.print("Channel: ");
  Serial.print(channel);

  Serial.print("  Value: ");
  Serial.println(value);

  // Use Channel 1 to control the LED
  if (channel == "1")
  {
    // Turn LED ON
    if (value == "1")
    {
      digitalWrite(LED_PIN, HIGH);
      Serial.println("LED -> ON");
    }

    // Turn LED OFF
    else if (value == "0")
    {
      digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW);
      Serial.println("LED -> OFF");
    }
  }
}


// --------------------------------------------------
// Setup
// --------------------------------------------------
void setup()
{
  Serial.begin(9600);

  // Configure LED pin
  pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT);

  // Start with LED OFF
  digitalWrite(LED_PIN, LOW);

  // Start KiwisIoT
  kiwisiot.begin();

  // Register command receiver
  kiwisiot.onReceive(receiveCommand);
}


// --------------------------------------------------
// Main Loop
// --------------------------------------------------
void loop()
{
  // Keep KiwisIoT communication running
  kiwisiot.run();
}

Credits

Hari

14 projects • 1 follower

Control an LED from a Web Dashboard