Esp8266 - Futzing with Fritzing

UPDATE:
Updated Image with Chip Bypass Caps


My friend Larry - KB7KMO mentioned Fritzing (CAE) in one of his email the other day.

Several years ago, I looked at Fritzing when is was very beta, it was interesting then, but lacked a lot of what I needed for Experimental Circuits and PCB Hobby Productions.

I updated to the latest Revision (0.9.2b), to take another look.

For what I am doing now with PlugBoards (protoboards) it may help with documentation and project sharing.

Esp8266 Esp-11 Programming Fixture

This is my first real Fritzing Project, it is my Esp8266 Programming Board. Note: the ERB-EspWebServer Farm (see previous posts) will similarly be documented in another Post.

I still need to create some custom parts. For the above Image, I have used "place-holders" images for the Power Source, Esp's and Prop Plug.

So far, Fritzing has been a little frustrating, but that maybe just my leaning curve. You will likely see Fritzing used in some of my future Posts.

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UPDATE:
To increase brightness of LED, Reduce the value of the LED Resistors (e.g., down to 2.2K).


-- Home Page: https://WA0UWH.blogspot.com

Esp8266-Esp11 Adaptors

UPDATE:
See below

I prefer the Esp8266; Esp11's and Esp12's for my projects, but interfacing to tightly spaced pins can be challenging. In past (see previous blogs) I have used several methods to make the connection to the edge "Castellated" pin-outs.

What is needed is an adaptor for the Esp11's 1.27mm (50mil) pin spacing and the standard 100mil protoboard spacing.

The following is my solution for the Esp11, a small board produced by OSHPark.com. I have made this board available for your use via a shared project, at:

https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/jPGyhNsp

Let me know if you find these useful, Thanks.

The Adaptors are so inexpensive, 3 for $1.00, that I suggest ordering them in groups of 12 or 24, the larger count makes the postage and PayPal charges more tolerable for OshPark.

A group of Adaptors

Ready for Solder

Castellated Connector

The Castellated Connector is created by the manufacture by routing (cutting) though the centre of a plated hole.

Note: the hole conductor is slightly "curled" (distorted) by the cutting process, but that is not a problem as the curl will be encased in solder when used.

Pin Alignment with Esp8266-Esp11

The Pin Pitch is 1.27mm (50mils)

Solder Is Used as Jumpers

The Solder Jumpers are very strong and durable, and perhaps making the joint stronger than the fiberglass PCB itself.

Solder Jumpers were Installed in Groups

Pin Headers (100mil) are Added

Ready for Use

These four Esp's are now ready to be used on my protoboard.

Some of my Esp projects are available online, see previous posts.


-- Home Page: https://WA0UWH.blogspot.com

Esp8266 Esp-12

There are several configurations of the Esp8266 modules which is denoted with a Exp-XX suffix. Currently I know of Esp-01 through Esp-12, each have their advantages and dis-advantages.

Although I have be experimenting with the Esp8266 Esp-11 (see previous post), my goal is to use the Esp-12 configuration for more complex applications. The Esp-11 configuration has only 8 pins, while the Esp-12 has 16 pins, and therefore more I/O options.

Breakout boards are available for each, but there are trade-offs; the Esp-12 Breakout Board is much wider than the Esp-12 itself. Even though the breakout Esp-12 Breakout Board is protoboard friendly (i.e., 0.1in spacing), it is so wide that there is little space to attach jumpers (I think only one hole row on each side is usable).

I decided to try the technique of bending header pins as necessary to match the 2mm spacing, I originally used this method on the Esp-11 (see previous post).

The pin spacing of the Exp-11 is smaller at 1.27mm, while the Esp-12 is 2.0mm. A good microscope is needed to solder headers directly onto either.

Esp8266 Esp-12 with two 0.1in Headers Attached

Now all that is needed is wiring-it-up and some software (Yeah, . . . famous last words).

-- Home Page: https://WA0UWH.blogspot.com

Esp8266 With 0.1 Inch Header

In preparation for programming my Esp8266 and the Internet of Things (IoT), I have installed a 0.1 inch header. The connector pad on the Esp8266 are 2mm and therefore a lot of lead bending was necessary.

I think this was my first soldering project that required full 15X Microscope magnification. The Esp8266-Esp11 board is much smaller than implied from the ebay photos (a previous post). The on-line diagrams and documentation are correct, but in your hand it is very small.

Esp8266-Esp11 with
0.1 Inch Header Installed

I have on order the programming interface, which should be received soon. I will use the Esp8266 with the installed header for use on Protoboards, actual projects will use direct solder to matting "Castellated Pads" on custom PCB's.

Esp8266-Esp11 Pin Layout

For my later reference, I have included the pin diagram.


-- Home Page: https://WA0UWH.blogspot.com