Flashing Arilux LED controller with alternative firmware using Arduino UNO

Hello, first post here so i hope i am posting this in the correct section.

I recently bought one of these: https://www.banggood.com/ARILUX-AL-LC03-Super-Mini-LED-WIFI-APP-Controller-Remote-Control-For-RGB-LED-Strip-DC-9-12V-p-1060223.html

I am trying to flash it with this alternative firmware: https://github.com/mertenats/Open-Home-Automation/tree/master/ha_mqtt_light_arilux

I have an Arduino Uno. I am just not getting the flashing to work. I am using Arduino IDE and installed all the drivers and it recognizes the UNO which is selected. It compiles the sketch fine after installing the libraries and the board manager is set as Generic 8285, and when it tries to upload i get these errors:
warning: espcomm_sync failed
error: espcomm_open failed

I’ve soldered wires to the pads on the back of the controller and wired it like this:
Arduino -> Arilux
RX -> TX
TX -> RX
GND -> GND(theres two so i connected them both)+IO0
3.3v -> 3.3v

Just wont work. I’m new to this but ive tried everything i can think of, short of connecting myself with 400v. I’ve resoldered the connections to the pads on the back of the controller once, and the controller is working normally when i disconnect everything, connect it to power and turn it on with the original remote. I have tried reversing RX and TX several times. There are a few steps i am a bit unsure of.

  1. Do i still connect the ac adapter after i have connected the 3.3v? Or do i maybe not connect the 3.3v and connect only the ac adapter instead?
  2. Do i disconnect IO0 from GND after i have connected 3.3v/power or let it stay that way until everything is done?
  3. Which of the GND connections on the Arduino am i supposed to use? The one next to 3.3v or on the other side of the board, on the rame row as RX and TX?
  4. A youtube video i found said i was supposed to connect Reset on the Arduino to GND, so i did that. Am i supposed to do that?

Here’s a picture of my controller connected the the breadboard: https://imgur.com/Mcp3yz7 . I was frustrated so the picture is bad i can always take a better one.

Does anyone have any good tips or anything? I haven’t been able to find any good newbie friendly guide on how to do this and i have really tried for several days to find more information, but i really can’t.

EDIT: I also haven’t shorted anything while soldering.

Welcome.

I haven’t seen anyone successfully using an arduino to flash anything. It seems very unreliable. Use an cp2102 or similar. See also https://github.com/arendst/Sonoff-Tasmota/wiki/MagicHome-LED-strip-controller

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