ESP8266 Community Forum

Hello everybody,
I'm currently developing a unit foy my home automation project using the ESP8266.
I got a tiny little step-down converter, which outputs 3.3v with 600mA from the mains 230v.
I can power the ESP8266 ( -01 ) without any problems, and I can talk to it via tcp (I got a custom firmware which starts the tcp server on bootup and lets me control the gpios)

Now the problem is, when I try to connect the relay:
Because the relay itself would draw way too much current from the gpio, I used a transistor.
Once the relay with the transistor is connected to any of the gpios, it doesn't boot up properly..

When I connect the relay to GPIO 0, the blue led blinks once, but it doesn't start.
Whereas when I connect it to GPIO 2, the blue light stays on all the time!

I can fix it by connecting the GPIO to VCC, and then power the ESP8266 on. Once it is bootet up, I can disconnect the gpio from vcc and everything works as expected.
So I thought, maybe my circuit is pulling the GPIO to ground, which causes this mibehaviour. Therefore I tried to add a diode, but actually it didn't help.

So does any one have an idea ?

Kind Reagrds,
Jannik Jung

Did you tried pull up gpio to vcc?

Maybe you should show us how did you hooked up your transistor and relay, and tell us which kind of transistor ...
Maybe a MOTFET would be better ...
Of course, you need pullups too.

I'm thinking of doing something similar.
What 230v to 3.3v converter did you find? I'm looking for something that fits in a small case and can be driven from central heating circuit.