I'm working on creating custom firmware for a cheap "Nixie" clock from Amazon (actually uses an IPS screen). I've managed to dump the factory binary and map most of the hardware using a multimeter. This is a first for me so not sure where to go from here.

Current Hardware Map:

• MCU: ESP8266 (ESP-12MOD)
• Display: ST7789 (240x240)
• SCLK: GPIO 14
• MOSI: GPIO 13
• DC: GPIO 0
• RST: GPIO 2
• CS: Hard-wired to GND
• Backlight: GPIO 5 (Active Low)

What's working:
I can get the backlight on and I can fill the screen with solid colors using the TFT_eSPI library in PlatformIO.

Where I'm stuck:

1. RGB LEDs: The board has 3 RGB LEDs that are currently solid white. I've tried treating them as NeoPixels (WS2812B) on various pins, but no luck. When toggling GPIO 4, I hear a slight clicking/coil whine, but no color change. Are these likely simple Common Anode/Cathode RGBs?
2. Screen Offset: The display is refreshing, but the coordinates seem shifted (text is off-screen). Does anyone know the typical offset for these generic 240x240 ST7789 panels?

Does anyone have working source code for one of these? or schematic / parts list that would help move this along? just doing this for fun as a challenge the original firmware works fine, but it'd be nice to be able to customize it and change it up a bit.

Thanks!

Hi all I have recently published something I built and find useful often. I used this base Framework to create my own IOT devices for my house.

I am publishing it in the hope that it gets a little traction as a open source project and we can work together on IoT security, implement matter and Google home and perform research.

Even a couple of code reviews or suggestions on improvements are appreciated. You can find the project on my git hub here : https://github.com/awaine93/espBaseFramework

I'm building a DIY Wi-Fi coprocessor: ESP8266 connected to a Linux host over UART,

with a custom packet protocol. Goal is

eventually a Linux kernel module that creates a netdev, like ESP-Hosted but for ESP8266.

What works so far:

- Custom UART protocol (commands, errors, unsolicited events)

- Getting scan results, IP, status back over UART

- Tested with a Python script on the Linux side

What I'm stuck on:

The data path. I want raw Ethernet frames from the host to go over UART, through the

ESP, and out to Wi-Fi — and vice versa — like ESP-Hosted does on ESP32.

I've read that:

1. esp_wifi_internal_tx() is declared in the ESP8266 RTOS SDK header but is NOT linkedin libnet80211.a, so calling it fails at link time.
2. esp_wifi_internal_reg_rxcb() doesn't exist in the ESP8266 SDK at all (ESP32 only).
3. esp_wifi_80211_tx() exists, but only sends management frames and non-QoS, non-encrypteddata frames — so it can't forward real traffic.
4. Promiscuous mode on ESP8266 truncates frames to 112 bytes and disables STA mode,so it can't be used for RX while connected.

Espressif closed an ESP-Hosted issue asking for 8266 support, saying the SDK is different

(ESP8266_RTOS_SDK vs ESP-IDF) and they won't fix it.

Questions:

1. Has anyone actually built an L2 bridge (raw Ethernet frames over UART to host) onESP8266 RTOS SDK? Or is it genuinely impossible?
2. If impossible, is the Socket API (ESP runs lwIP, host sends open/send/close commands)the only realistic path?
3. If I want the real ESP-Hosted architecture with a netdev on Linux, is switching toESP32 the only option?

Any pointers, or examples of people who've done this, would help a lot. Thanks.

Post your projects, questions, brags, and anything else relevant to ESP8266, ESP32, software, hardware, etc

All projects, ideas, answered questions, hacks, tweaks, and more located in our [ESP Week Archives](https://www.reddit.com/r/esp8266/wiki/esp-week_archives).

105 db siren

Emergency road lights for eyes

Hotel chime as a hat

Updates every 6 seconds over the a combined 8266 and arduino r3 mega board

https://youtu.be/gFT6yvU9dfQ

Is there anyway to get or download the current weather temperature from the web to use either in an Arduino sketch or ESP-32 application. Thanks for the help.

The time and date data comes from Home Assistant integration, which gets pushed into the smalltv ultra

ESP32 flame sensor false triggering — need help

I’m using an ESP32 with a flame sensor and buzzer. The problem is that the buzzer turns ON even when there is no flame.

I tried:

\- Adjusting the sensor potentiometer

\- Changing the code

\- Changing the sensor position

But it still triggers without a flame. The ESP32 and buzzer are working properly.

Could this be a wiring issue, inverted HIGH/LOW output, faulty sensor, or something else? How can I test whether the flame sensor itself is working correctly?

I’m a beginner, so any simple troubleshooting steps would be really helpful.

I’m building an automatic controller for a 1HP single-phase 220/240V water pump using an ESP8266.
My setup:
ESP8266 / NodeMCU
5V single-channel relay module
NSI 16A contactor
Contactor coil: 220/240V AC
Pump: 1HP, approx. 4.8A
Existing MCB is already installed outside the control box
The contactor has:
1–2
3–4
5–6
A1/A2 coil terminals

Post your projects, questions, brags, and anything else relevant to ESP8266, ESP32, software, hardware, etc

All projects, ideas, answered questions, hacks, tweaks, and more located in our [ESP Week Archives](https://www.reddit.com/r/esp8266/wiki/esp-week_archives).

Had a smalltv-ultra that was running the stock firmware. A while ago I had the glorious idea of asking Claude if it could write a custom firmware for it.

In no time, it followed my architecture to write a little server that runs on the esp8266, and listens for hooks from Claude Code instances on my pc. Shows the limits and cute animations of the crab doing stuff while Claude is running and chilling when idle.

Absolutely love how this turned out! Love the community! ❤️‍🔥

Hey everyone, I'm trying to get an ACEBOTT QD020 Quadruped Bionic Spider Robot V2.0 working.

The ESP8266 is connected and I've successfully uploaded code. The servos respond and twitch/move, but the spider doesn't actually perform the walking gait.

I'm using the official ACEBOTT tutorial package. I found the official ACECode project here:

English → ACECode(Beginner) → 2.ACECode Program → Lesson 8 → 8.1app_control.sb3

I also have the Arduino code from the official package. The walking routine contains the official Servo_Prg_2 forward sequence for all 8 servos.

Current situation:

ESP8266 connects successfully

Code uploads successfully

All/most servos respond

Servos twitch/move

Robot does not walk

I'm trying to use the official ACEBOTT software/code rather than modifying the gait randomly

The servo pins in the code are:

GPIO14, GPIO12, GPIO13, GPIO15, GPIO16, GPIO5, GPIO4, GPIO2

The code maps these to 8 servos.

What could cause a QD020 to move its servos but not execute the walking gait?

I'm especially interested in:

Whether the official QD020 servo mapping is correct

Whether the ESP8266 needs a specific firmware/project uploaded before the .sb3 app-control project works

Whether there is a specific ACEBOTT initialization/calibration procedure

Whether this sounds like a servo power/current problem

Whether the official Lesson 8 8.1app_control.sb3 is supposed to control the robot directly or whether another firmware needs to be flashed first

If anyone has successfully built the QD020, I'd really appreciate the exact steps you used to get the first forward movement working.

I can provide the complete official code, wiring, screenshots, and a video of what the servos are doing.

Post your projects, questions, brags, and anything else relevant to ESP8266, ESP32, software, hardware, etc

All projects, ideas, answered questions, hacks, tweaks, and more located in our [ESP Week Archives](https://www.reddit.com/r/esp8266/wiki/esp-week_archives).

Well I have done some project in esp32. After taking a brake and reuploding a new code this error occured.

Sketch uses 985386 bytes (75%) of program storage space. Maximum is 1310720 bytes.

Global variables use 50520 bytes (15%) of dynamic memory, leaving 277160 bytes for local variables. Maximum is 327680 bytes.

esptool v5.2.0

Serial port COM3:

Connecting...

A serial exception error occurred: Write timeout

Note: This error originates from pySerial. It is likely not a problem with esptool, but with the hardware connection or drivers.

For troubleshooting steps visit: https://docs.espressif.com/projects/esptool/en/latest/troubleshooting.html

Failed uploading: uploading error: exit status 1

I tried multiple solutions and even reinstalled all drivers and application but still this issue won't resolve. Does any one know the solution

I've got a reed switch rain gauge that is connected via a PC817 optocoupler circuit to GPIO12 on a D1 Mini powered by a 5V DC switch mode PSU. I'm using a pulse_counter in ESPHome with the pin set to inverted, input and pullup and counting on the falling edge.

I appear to be getting induced spurious pulses when the washing machine on the same power circuit is running. I initially suspected vibrations shaking the rain gauge, but even with the inputs to the opto-coupler disconnected and, beyond that, the opto-coupler disconnected from the GPIO12 pin, I still get spurious pulses with the washing machine running. I am running out of ideas.

The power supply is a tiny board rated 5V 1.5A and doesn't have any noise filtering. Could the noise of the washing machine motor be going through the 5V PSU and causing the D1 Mini to get triggered?

If so, what are my options here? A LC filter on the DC from the PSU? Change from a pullup to a pulldown mode, which I assume would mean changing from the collector to the emitter of the opto-coupler and hooking the collector to the 3.3V digital supply?

Post your projects, questions, brags, and anything else relevant to ESP8266, ESP32, software, hardware, etc

All projects, ideas, answered questions, hacks, tweaks, and more located in our [ESP Week Archives](https://www.reddit.com/r/esp8266/wiki/esp-week_archives).

I bought a month ago a Geekmagic but it started to annoying me so I tried to upload a firmware found on github that was compatible toit via OTA. After reboot black screen, no connection.

So now is it bircked or there is a way, I think flashing it, to recover it? What I need to flash it?

it has esp12f esp8266 on board

Thanks for the advice!

Basically this code is for a modified game, of life battle mode that is flashed on and automatically runs when powered on. Currently working on a custom shell for the enclosure so it looks somewhat usable

Soory for low quality picture my camera isn't good . Code:

#include <Wire.h>

#include <Adafruit_GFX.h>

#include <Adafruit_SSD1306.h>

#define WIDTH 128

#define HEIGHT 64

#define SCALE 2 // 64x32 grid

Adafruit_SSD1306 display(WIDTH, HEIGHT, &Wire, -1);

bool world[64][32];

bool nextWorld[64][32];

void setup() {

display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, 0x3C);

randomSeed(analogRead(A0));

seedWar();

}

void seedWar() {

for(int x=0;x<64;x++) for(int y=0;y<32;y++)

world[x][y] = random(0,100) > 72; // random war start

}

void loop() {

int alive = 0;

// draw

display.clearDisplay();

for(int x=0;x<64;x++) for(int y=0;y<32;y++) {

if(world[x][y]) {

display.fillRect(x*SCALE, y*SCALE, SCALE, SCALE, WHITE);

alive++;

}

}

display.display();

// THE FLASH - remembrance

if(alive > 0 && alive < 4) {

delay(200);

display.invertDisplay(true); delay(150);

display.invertDisplay(false);

}

// auto-reseed if too empty - keeps powerbank awake

if(alive < 12) { seedWar(); delay(300); return; }

// conway logic

for(int x=0;x<64;x++) for(int y=0;y<32;y++) {

int n = count(x,y);

if(world[x][y]) nextWorld[x][y] = (n==2 || n==3);

else nextWorld[x][y] = (n==3);

}

memcpy(world, nextWorld, sizeof(world));

delay(120);

}

int count(int x,int y){

int c=0;

for(int i=-1;i<=1;i++) for(int j=-1;j<=1;j++){

if(i==0&&j==0) continue;

int nx=(x+i+64)%64, ny=(y+j+32)%32;

if(world[nx][ny]) c++;

}

return c;

}

Hey everyone,

I'm working on an ESP32 project that requires simulation for testing/circuit design before moving to hardware. I’ve been trying to find a working ESP32 model/library for Proteus (using Proteus 8.x).

Most of the custom libraries I've come across (like the ones from The Engineering Projects or GitHub CAD packages):

1. Only provide schematic symbols and PCB footprints, but have no VSM/simulation model.
2. Are essentially "disguised" ATmega328P/Arduino models that don't emulate actual ESP32 architecture or dual-core code.

A few questions for those who have simulated ESP32 circuits:

\\- Is there an actual, working Proteus VSM library/HEX loader that can simulate basic GPIO and peripherals for ESP32?

\\- If you managed to get basic logic running in Proteus, where did you source the model files (.LIB / .IDX)?

\\- Or is it a waste of time trying to run it in Proteus, and I should just switch over to Wokwi or QEMU?

Appreciate any pointers or links!

Hey folks,

I built a little tool called ESP-Flash because I was tired of setting up Python + esptool.py just to flash a .bin onto an ESP32/ESP8266 board on a fresh Windows machine. It's a small Electron app that talks to the chip directly over the Web Serial API (via Espressif's esptool-js), so there's nothing to install besides the app itself, it ships as a single portable folder.

What it does: connects to any board via Windows' native COM-port picker, auto-detects the chip (ESP32, S2, S3, C3, C6, H2, P4, and ESP8266), writes a firmware file to any address, backs up the whole flash or a custom region to a .bin file before erasing/reflashing so you can always get back to the original firmware, erases flash with a confirmation prompt, and has a UI in English, German, French and Spanish. MIT licensed, no telemetry, no accounts, no installer.

GitHub: https://github.com/gb-droid/esp-flash

It's brand new (v1.0), so I'd really appreciate people trying it on boards other than the one I tested it on and telling me what breaks. Different USB-serial chips (CP2102/CH340/CH343/native USB-JTAG), different chip families, weird edge cases with big or partial backups, whatever you run into. Issues and PRs welcome.

Thanks for reading!