ESP8266 Community Forum

- Thu Jun 25, 2015 2:06 pm #21661 Darn Jra,
I'm not sure that all of us on this forum aren't actually the same person or live in the same house. This weekend while frying ESP8266s, I too found that when I checked a 9V 500ma wall wart with my meter it was kicking out 16V ... I couldn't believe that and had to test with a second meter to be sure this is what was happening. I then checked a second wall wart and found it was kicking out 14V (should have been 9) but the polarity was reversed from "normal".

I'm learning to assume nothing and check everything!!

Neil

Free ESP8266 book available for download here.

- Thu Jun 25, 2015 11:20 pm #21709

Actually, I have never kept it on long enough (since the flashing lights feels like something is definitely wrong) to see if it is heating up.

I check the connections and polarity again. They seem correct, unless my assumption about the jumpers on the power supply is wrong. But I do not have a multimeter to check the voltage being supplied.

I think this was a good catch (thanks!). I'll see how I can verify the voltage (may be, Arduino's ADC?)

I also wanted to add that the power supply LED goes off (see attached video) when I connect the CH_PD pin to Vcc, which I assume is because it is unable to supply or is getting short-circuited

Thanks for your attention guys!!

I have a couple of that same supply board and have been using them for weeks with ESP modules with no hassles. i am powering the supply with a 12v 2A plugpack supplied with external hard drives.
The only thing I find is that the 5v regulator gets a little warm if I setup the esp in AP mode, but nothing concerning.
The input voltage goes to the 5v reg and the output of that feeds the 3.3v reg so the 5v one will always be the warmer of the two if you are supplying more than 7v or so to the supply.
The jumpers are quite simply .. the 2 centre pins are both connected to the breadboard rails, so shorting to the outer on either then supplys either 5v or 3.3v.

The regs on mine are true AMS1117 .. these are rated for 15V max and output current of 1A.
specs at http://www.advanced-monolithic.com/pdf/ds1117.pdf
You are better off using a switch mode supply for the plug pack than one with a transformer. the transformer ones are generally unregulated and also less current.
The green led on the supply is on the 5V regulator. It should not flicker at all unless you input supply cannot cope with the current demands or if you have a dodgy solder connection, dodgy switch (left side of switch is input, right side switches the 5v to the USB socket)

oh duh, supply schematic is easier than text .. heres one.
http://we.easyelectronics.ru/part/modul-pitaniya-ywrobot-breadboard-power-supply-mb-v2-mb102.html

hint for finding circuits .. this one I googled 'ywrobot supply' and then look at google images..

- Fri Jul 03, 2015 10:33 pm #22409

I think that now is the ideal time to go out and buy a multimeter ... I don't think any off us can get far in our electronics hobby without having one.

I took your advice

That's why the delay in my replies (had to wait for the weekend). And, I also bought a new ESP-01, assuming that the old one might been bad to start with.

The supply seems to be fine at 3.33V. But the chip behaves the same

It's not clear from your picture what all you have connected to what.
But I would try this. ONLY connect to ESP8266:
3.3v
Gnd
CH_PD (3.3v)
Disconnect all others.

Does it still "cycle" the ESP8266 and the power supply?

Same problem still. Please see the attached diagram with the actual connections I have made.
1. When I connect only the Vcc and GND pins, the red LED is continuously on...so I believe everything is fine up to this.
2. When I additionally connect the CH_PD pin, the blue LED comes on and goes off (as in the earlier video) and it seems to go into a "power cycle" forever.

oh duh, supply schematic is easier than text .. heres one.

I am supplying it (the breadboard supply regulator) using a Cisco router wall adapter that gives 12V, 500mA output.

That's my guess too about the power supply LED going off - that it's not able to hold up. But the power cycles so quickly (it comes back up within second, goes off again and so on) that I am unable to get a stable reading of the current drain.

Thanks for your patience!!

Attachments

- Sat Jul 04, 2015 2:42 am #22412 12v 500mA .. sounds suspiciously like a transformer supply, what do you get for input voltage .. I still think your supply is not cutting it, seriously these little ESP chips draw a hell of a peak when connecting.
Do you have a higher current one ? external hard drive supply for eg..

I use capacitors on the 3.3v rail supply to the esp as well as the breadboard supply, found it was unreliable till I did.