ESP8266 Community Forum

Got my first ESP8266 today and I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get it to work. This is what my board looks like:

I am trying to upload a sketch using the arduino IDE. I am using a PL2302 FTDI. I tried the minimal configuration to get it to boot up first and I don't even see an led light or anything to tell me its on.

My wiring is as follows:

3.3v external supply (regulated down from 5v with 3.3v voltage regulator)

ESP
ESP VCC - 3.3v
GND - GND
GPIO15 - GND
TX - RX of FTDI
RX - TX of FTDI
EN - 3.3v
GPIO0 - GND

FTDI GND to GND.

I also tried adding GPIO2 - 3.3v

NO led, nothing. I don't know if it is faulty. Serial monitor shows nothing. Please help.

Hi,
Vcc -> 3.3V and you are correct to use an external supply.
CH_PD -> 3.3V
REST -> 3.3V
GPIO 0 -> 3.3V via 10k
GPIO 2 -> 3.3V via 10k
GPIO 15 -> GND
GND -> GND
Tx -> Rx (if Arduino as serial device Tx -> Tx).
Rx -> Tx (if Arduino as serial device Rx -> Rx).

I got some action! I can read some gibberish on the serial monitor now! What would I need to do now to upload arduino sketches to it? (connections) Thank you so much!

GPIO 15 -> GND via 10k