ESP8266 Community Forum

Tried to update the firmware with the CIUPDATE command, and got stuck with a non-functional blue light blinking ESP8266.

Downloaded esptool, connected GPIO2 to 3.3V and GPIO0 to ground, booted up and executed the esptool as follows (with resulting output).

$ sudo esptool.py --port /dev/tty.usbmodem1451 write_flash 0x000000 Firmware.bin
Connecting...
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/local/bin/esptool.py", line 5, in <module>
pkg_resources.run_script('esptool==0.1.0', 'esptool.py')
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/Extras/lib/python/pkg_resources.py", line 492, in run_script
self.require(requires)[0].run_script(script_name, ns)
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/Extras/lib/python/pkg_resources.py", line 1357, in run_script
exec_(script_code, namespace, namespace)
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/Extras/lib/python/pkg_resources.py", line 47, in exec_
exec("""exec code in globs, locs""")
File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/esptool-0.1.0-py2.7.egg/EGG-INFO/scripts/esptool.py", line 471, in <module>

File "/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/esptool-0.1.0-py2.7.egg/EGG-INFO/scripts/esptool.py", line 149, in connect

Exception: Failed to connect

Have this on two Macs ... What am I overlooking?

I had the same issue with the cloud firmware update, after 2 days of trying different solutions I luckily found my own and I recover the ESP-01 that had the problem, so here my solution:

1- use an external 3.3 Volt Source, I am using a DC wall adapter and a 3.3V regulator with 1Amp max current.
2- I have an USB,FTDI Xbee adaptor, TX to TXD on the ESP, RX to RXD on the ESP and Ground with the Ground of the external supply.
3- An electrolytic capacitor of 470uF between VCC and GND of the ESP
4- I used the ESPTOOL python script and here the command I used:

joe@Y480:~$ ./esptool.py --baud 4800 -p /dev/ttyUSB0 write_flash 0x000000 Firmware.bin

I had to send the command two times to make it go beyond 0% and resetting power after it failed at 87%, if this solution does not work, try changing the baud rate and look with which one the blue led blinks after you press enter, that is how I found 4800bps.

hope this will help with yours

Joe,

got an external power supply in the meantime as well, and an FTDI, but still no luck.

Regarding your point 3, where does the ESP get power from when you connect VCC to the ground?

Greetings,