This is a quick posting in case any one else gets tripped-up by the issue.
Although I have a number of Wemos D1 Mini devices working with Node-RED, this is the first time I've tried using the smaller ESP01s variety.
I recently flashed a set of ESP01s devices (with ESP Easy) and they all worked whilst they were in the USB Programmer, but when I mounted them on a breadboard - some of them wouldn't connect to my home WiFi. (i.e. the on-board small blue LED (that indicates WiFi connection) never came on.)
After a few hours pulling my hair out, I eventually tracked the problem down.
The ones that DO NOT have white silk screening on them need a pull-up resistor (10K ohms) from the CHPD pin (might be labelled as EN) to +3V3 (to enable the device otherwise it's disabled).
I have to say that I gave up on ESP8266 devices when I first tried them as getting the power supply requirements right was so flippin' hard.
Once I discovered the Wemos D1 Mini's though, problems over, not had any problems since (except with their temp/humidity sensor board which isn't worth the money at all. I have a 1/2 dozen or so in use now and not had one fail yet.
Hi Julian,
I found these Breadboard Power Adapters on AliExpress a couple of months ago for GBP0.30
Initially I wanted them to power a couple of Wemos D1 Minis where the micro-USB socket had come off the board, but later found them so useful to power other breadboard-based circuits.
Note:
I did find some replacement USB-sockets at CPC-Farnell, but at GBP0.70 a go it didn't seem worth replacing the damaged socket (so I didn't bother)!!
I am amazed how many components are on the sub-module for the ultra-low price !!!
Thanks Dave, they look better than the ones I was originally trying to use and I do have something similar to power hacks that don't use something like the D1-mini for power but to be honest, those are so cheap that I now use them for everything. Well except for the M5 Stack (ESP32) that I brought on a whim - that is a great piece of kit.
I have several ESP8266-01's in various locations- some control relays, some have sensors. I just wire 3v3, RST and CH_PD together. For power, I use these little AMS1117 modules:
ESPs are great, aside from one annoyance, the power consumption (of the wifi module). But if you correctly size a solar panel you can get away with using a single 18650 cell (along with some power management routines) to keep them running.
And best of all, NR keeps a close eye on them. Without NR, monitoring would be rather hit and miss.
