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By polishdude20
#43092 I've got my ESP8266-07 running the V0.9.5 AI Thinker firmware (seems to be the only one that works for me) and it is connected to a switching power supply that can provide 5v at about 800mA. The ESP board that I have already has a regulator and logic level shifters so it is definitely running at 3.3 V as needed. I've got a 1000uF cap at between the power supply rails and a 0.1uF cap bridging the VCC and GND pins right next to the ESP.

I'm using my Arduino to send AT commands to the ESP using the software serial library so I can upload temperature data to thingspeak. The code works flawlessly when I have the Arduino connected through USB.

The problem arises when I want to use my 5 volt rail to connect to the Arduino 5V pin so I don't have to be connected to a computer. When I do this, I get no results on thingspeak which tells me something failed. Also, when I hook it back up the the computer and send the AT commands manually using a terminal, the ESP just sends gibberish. At 9600 baud and at 15200 baud this happens. It's as if switching the Arduino to the 5volt rail bricks the ESP. I then have to reflash it with the firmware and it's good.

What could the problem be? I have caps in there to smooth out any fluctuations, the supply can supply adequate current too so what could be the issue?