Sonoff and Arduino IDE

[Marco Sillano]

My first experience with Sonoff and Tasmota (condensed 3 days story).

Using as guide https://github.com/arendst/Sonoff-Tasmota/wiki/Arduino-IDE, I start with a fresh install of Arduino IDE (1.8.4), updated using esp8266 by ESP8266 Community (2.4.0).

Some little problems becouse the instructions are about ESP8266 2.3.0, but all ok (I hope).

The original Tasmota release Source code  compliles well (only some warning)  but the bin size is 515140 butes !

No problem, I turn off some features in user_config.h (I have a 'Sonoff basic' no sensors). Compiling ok.

Now the problems: I  flash the  ESP8266 without error messages (strange, no verify after flash....) but the Sonoff don't works. No led, no console: dead.

In my Arduino IDE is an option not covered by istructions: the 'programmer' option, with many values: e.g. "AVR  ISP","AVRISP mkII".... I chosed the first (??).

I use a 5/3.3V FDI module and the HW connection is same as you can see here: https://randomnerdtutorials.com/how-to-flash-a-custom-firmware-to-sonoff.

Any idea?  I renonced to use a custom build (for now).

So I tried  esptool ( https://github.com/arendst/Sonoff-Tasmota/wiki/Esptool ) with pre-compilated bins: https://github.com/arendst/Sonoff-Tasmota/releases.

The erase step worked very well, but the flash step gives me erratics errors at start and after 20% - 80%.

After 10+ tentatives, I got the my first (and unique, for now) 'verify ok'...

All ok? not really, car  now i must set, using console, the real AP data:  SSId and password, not so easy for me....

But when done, the web server works wery well:  it is a pleasure to do the setup using it.

Happy end !

Now, I enjoy Tasmota + Sonoff, it is a very good software. Thanks Arendst.

Looking the future....

After some pratice with MQTT, using mosquitto on my PC, I will also use a broker on Sonoff (see https://github.com/martin-ger/esp_mqtt) car it looks well placed for my needs.

For custom HW and sensors, Sonoff as the limit of a dangerous power supply, so I choose Wemos D1 boards. 

When boards comes, I hope to have less problems...

Best regards.

m.s.

[Cysix]

Marco, some (many) USB FDI controllers do not supply sufficient power for the ESP8266.  This is very frustrating to figure out.  Virtually every time I have problems flashing, that is the cause.  Try using a separate external 3.3v power source - e.g. an 18650 battery.  Be sure and use a common ground between the USB FDI controller and the external power source and the Sonoff - i.e. connect all the GND together.

[Mike Roberts]

I made up a programmer with an on board 3v3 requlator.  See:  https://www.instructables.com/id/Sonoff-Programmer-USB-Serial-With-33v-Regulator/

Mike

[Marco Sillano]

On Sunday, January 14, 2018 at 2:50:21 PM UTC+1, Cysix wrote:

Marco, some (many) USB FDI controllers do not supply sufficient power for the ESP8266. 

I agreee with you.

I will try it asap: I am waiting for this: https://it.aliexpress.com/item/5pcs-mini-1-8V-3V-3-7V-5V-to-3-3V-Boost-Buck-Low-Noise-Regulated.

Thanks.

m.s.