ESP8266 Community Forum

Hi all,
I'm trying to use "while loops" on esp8266 relay switch to turn on for a set period of time then off.
with this code:
gpio.write(led1, gpio.HIGH);
loop=1
while loop<=6000000 do
print(loop)
loop=loop+1
end

--elseif(_GET.pin == "OFF1")then
gpio.write(led1, gpio.LOW);

it doesn't work, no mater what the value is led turns off at about 4 seconds, even if the value is 60000000000 or more.
Right now I'm using tmr.delay which has two problems.
One, I can't interrupt it, and two, shuts down after a long delay.
Anyone have a solution? I'm not a wiz at programing, so be kind.

Thanks,
Bill

From what I have read use tmr.delay only for 8ms or less
use tmr.alarm for larger delays

turn led on
tmr.alarm(0,time ms,1,function() -- in this case set the 1 to 0 1=interval[keeps repeating] 0=timout [run 1 time]
turn led off
tmr.stop(0) -- stop tmr alarm if needed
end)
next inst

This is not verified to work led will turn on,, time delay starts in background, next inst executed ~~~~~~after time ms led turns off ,, if it works properly
keep in mind that you code has been running not pausing anywhere ,, if it works properly

appreciate your response Xtal, but doesn't seem to do the trick.
Here's the code I'm working with. It's a esp8266 web server written by Rui Santos.
local _on,_off = "",""
if(_GET.pin == "ON1")then
gpio.write(led1, gpio.HIGH);
elseif(_GET.pin == "OFF1")then
gpio.write(led1, gpio.LOW);
elseif(_GET.pin == "ON2")then
gpio.write(led2, gpio.HIGH);
--loop between HIGH and LOW a set amount of time
gpio.write(led2, gpio.LOW);

gpio.write(led3, gpio.HIGH);

gpio.write(led3, gpio.LOW);

gpio.write(led4, gpio.HIGH);

gpio.write(led4, gpio.LOW);
end

I'm trying to cycle the leds a set amount of time, when Led1 goes LOW then LED2 goes HIGH and so on......
the tmr.alarm(0,duration,1,function()

You can use tmr.wdclr() in you loop at some interval, this would stop any restarts, BUT
Interrupting would still be a chore. Tight loops for some reason are not interrupted easily, Must be a nodeMCU issue. Maybe the following could be interrupted . I would think that any tmr function will do some interrupt blocking, tmr.delay most likely the worst. You could make this or similiar code a function, then

led hi, do function, led low do function


x = tmr.now() + millisec
led on
for y = tmr.now(), x do
if y >= x/2 ? then tmr.wdclr()
next y
led off