VAL3101: WiFi/Thread/Zigbee Stepper Controller + AS5600 Encoder

The VAL3101 is the VAL3100 (ESP32-C6 — WiFi / Thread / Zigbee / Matter / BLE) with an AS5600 magnetic encoder soldered on the back and a dipole magnet included, giving you true closed-loop position control. Why the encoder matters Absolute position that survives power loss — no re-homing after an outage. True closed-loop — instant stall / jam detection. No finicky StallGuard homing — the encoder always knows exactly where the motor is. Everything else matches the VAL3100: same ESPHome firmware, same silent TMC2209 stepper driver, and the same WiFi / Thread / Zigbee / Matter / BLE radio. ESPHome for Everyone The VAL3101 ships as a bare board, ready to flash with the open-source firmware of your choice. The firmware is free and open on GitHub, and flashing takes about a minute over the USB-C port — no programmer, no soldering, and no Home Assistant required. The easiest way to get started: grab the prebuilt firmware from our GitHub releases and flash it right from your browser at web.esphome.io with a USB-C cable. Once flashed and powered on, the device creates its own Wi-Fi hotspot — connect with your phone or laptop, join it to your network, and control it from any browser. It's discoverable in Home Assistant for automation, and thanks to the ESP32-C6 it can also run over Thread or Zigbee for low-power, battery-friendly setups. Want to build something custom? The full source and configuration live in our GitHub repository — fork it, tweak it, and make it your own. Specifications MCU Espressif ESP32-C6 (Wi-Fi, Thread, Zigbee, Matter, BLE) Encoder AS5600 12-bit absolute magnetic encoder (dipole magnet included) Driver Trinamic TMC2209 (StallGuard, StealthChop) Input voltage 5–28V DC (12–24V recommended), 2.1mm × 5.5mm barrel connector Recommended supply 2A or greater Max motor current 2A Motor type Any 4-wire bipolar stepper Regulator AP63203 2A synchronous buck, 3.3V Programming USB-C Board dimensions 52.5 × 40 mm Which board is right for you? Don't need closed-loop control? The VAL3100 is the same board without the encoder. Only need Wi-Fi? The VAL3000 gives you the same driver and layout for less.