ESP8266 Community Forum

- Tue Mar 03, 2020 7:16 am #85928 Hello.
I've just discovered esp8266 (I have some 01 versions). I guess like many - trying to networking with arduino.
But as far as I can see I don't need arduino at all .

Just starting with ESP modules. Even programming is not so trivial as in arduino case if you are not prepared (I've needed to "hack" my usb2serial converter adding button for programming), but there are many possibilities.

And here are questions. I want to make some devices, part of them will use laser diode. I want them wireless, so I need batteries.
- may I use typical Li-Po battreies (3.7v) with esp8266-01 module (3.3v)? Is it too much for them or not? How to handle it?
- may I connect laser diode (3/3.3v, 5mW) directly to esp GPIO pin? I don't know the currencies.
- if both answers are "yes" - what will be the signal level on GPIO in this case? 3.3 or 3.7 (more or less)?

- Wed Mar 04, 2020 8:40 am #85941 Li-Po batteries ar nominally 3.7 volts, but they are 4.2 volts when fully charged. That much higher than the rated voltage for the ESP8266 modules.

The I/O pins are low power and have a max rating of 12mA. At this current the voltage will not be as high as Vcc. I forget what I measured the drop to be. Look at the data sheet for the ESP8266 for the details.