ESP32-C3 SuperMini getting very hot

ESPHome
1

I’ve had trouble with some new ESP32-C3 SuperMini boards getting way too hot and not connecting to WiFi. I stripped the configuration down to an LED blinking light and the board temperature is much better. The boards (I’ve got 5) came from AliExpress and have V1601 on the back. They have a red ceramic antenna.

When I say hot, I mean it feels like you’d burn you fingers hot.

Working configuration that doesn’t get hot:

---
esp32:
  variant: esp32c3
  framework:
    type: esp-idf

esphome:
  name: blinker
  friendly_name: Blinker

output:
  - platform: gpio
    id: builtin_led
    pin:
      number: GPIO8
      ignore_strapping_warning: true

interval:
  - interval: 2s
    then:
      - output.turn_on: builtin_led
      - delay: 1s
      - output.turn_off: builtin_led

The below configuration is enough to get the board hot which is a bare bones configuration:

esphome:
  name: basic
  friendly_name: basic

esp32:
  board: esp32-c3-devkitm-1
  framework:
    type: esp-idf

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  encryption:
    key: "..."

ota:
  - platform: esphome
    password: "..."

wifi:
  ap:
    ssid: "Basic Fallback Hotspot"
    password: "..."
2

Sounds like a bottom dollar board with an underpowered voltage regulator.

3

I’m guessing I’d need to wire up 3.3V directly to the pins to prove or disprove that?

4

Yeah that would tell.

5

Maybe try reducing txpower for testing, e.g.:

wifi:
  output_power: 10dB
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password
[...]

Might not be your problem, but it is a recurring one with some cheap esp devices - and it’s easy to test.

6

SUCCESS!!!

That just saved me I don’t know how much in troubleshooting time.