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Installation and First‐Time Setup

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Robert McKenzie edited this page Mar 17, 2026 · 1 revision

Installation and First-Time Setup

This page walks through the first usable setup for a new Unleashed Creativity Lights node.

Requirements

Before you begin, confirm the following:

  • You are using VESC Express hardware
  • The device firmware is 6.05 or newer
  • The node is connected to your CAN network if you plan to use multiple lighting nodes
  • Refloat is present in the system you want to follow

Step 1: Install the package

Install Unleashed Creativity Lights on the target VESC Express device from VESC Tool.

After installation, open the package UI.

Step 2: Decide whether this node is Master or Slave

Every node runs in one of two roles:

  • Master
  • Slave

Fresh/default behavior is Slave.

Use the Settings tab to inspect:

  • Node Role
  • Master CAN-ID (slave only)

If this will be your main controller for the lighting system, make it the Master. Otherwise leave it as Slave.

Step 3: If this node should be the Master

If the node is currently in slave UI mode:

  1. Open the Node Slave tab
  2. Press Become Master

This action writes:

  • node-role = Master
  • the internal role marker for master persistence
  • master-can-id = -1

After that, the node acts as the configuration source.

Step 4: If this node should stay a Slave

  1. Leave Node Role as Slave

The slave page in the UI will show:

  • that the node is configured as a slave
  • which Master CAN-ID it is following

Step 5: Verify connection status (Master only)

Check the Status panel.

You should see live connection feedback for:

  • package status
  • Refloat connection state

Typical states shown by the UI include:

  • Status: Connected
  • Status: Connecting
  • Status: Disconnected
  • Refloat: Disconnected
  • Refloat: Connected

Do not continue full commissioning until the master is stable and slaves are seeing forwarded state.

Step 6: Restore defaults if the node is in a bad state

Use the options menu if the config looks corrupted or inherited from an older layout:

  1. Open ⋮
  2. Press Restore Default Config

On a slave screen there is also a Restore Settings button for recovery.

Step 7: Save only after reviewing all tabs

Once the role and hardware config look correct:

  1. Review Config
  2. Review Settings
  3. Press Save Config

The master will then become the authoritative source for config, and eligible settings can be pushed to slaves.

First-time setup checklist

Use this checklist before ride testing:

  • Correct node role selected
  • Master CAN-ID correct on all slaves
  • Front/rear/status strips configured
  • Correct LED counts and pixel order selected
  • Target CAN IDs assigned correctly
  • Brightness values set conservatively
  • Save Config completed successfully
  • Refloat status shows connected on Master

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