Last Updated or created 2025-10-27

Remember those expensive touch lights you can buy?

This is a less than 5 euro version.

Warning : Some tricks I used

• Using D5 as GND (I didn’t want to splice GND Wire.)
• Using PWM for dimming
• Using 5V led, use resistor if using a generic LED (220ohm)

TTP223 sensors are only a few cents!
And react even without touching (< 5mm)
So, you can build this in a case or behind fabric!

NOTE: If you are using an ESP32 you can configure a pin as touch!!!
No TTP223 needed.
But ESP32 are more expensive as Wemos mini.

Code:

#define TOUCH_PIN D2 // My video has D7
#define LED_PIN   D6
#define FAKE_GND D5

// Brightness steps (0 = off, 255 = full bright)
int brightnessLevels[] = {0, 150, 200, 255};
int currentLevel = 0;
bool lastTouchState = LOW;

void setup() {
  
  pinMode(TOUCH_PIN, INPUT);
  pinMode(LED_PIN, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(FAKE_GND, OUTPUT);

  digitalWrite(FAKE_GND, LOW);  
  analogWrite(LED_PIN, brightnessLevels[currentLevel]);  // start OFF
}

void loop() {
  bool touchState = digitalRead(TOUCH_PIN);

    if (touchState == HIGH && lastTouchState == LOW) {
      // Advance brightness step
      currentLevel = (currentLevel + 1) % 4;  // 0-3 steps
      int pwmValue = brightnessLevels[currentLevel];
      analogWrite(LED_PIN, pwmValue);
    }

  lastTouchState = touchState;
}

Dim levels less obvious on recording, but you can change the levels in the code!