Unreliadble esp8266 nodemcuv2 setup

Configuration
1

Hi!
I have spent lots of hours before coming to post here.
I have been playing for over a year with esp and home automation (domoticz cause I was afraid of the yaml files) and recently I setup a Hassio VM on my UnRaid server running perfectly and learning everything the proper way (3-4 videos to learn for pull-up resistors!).

I have a esp8266 nodemcuv2 powered with a samsung 2A and a good micro-usb cable. (Plans to change power supply)
I have connected 4 float-switches on D2 D3 D5 D6 and used 4.7K pull-ups from a 3.3v pin.
I have used ~5meters UTP cable to connect the float switches with the ESP.

I just created my first schematic and I included the ESPHome settings.
My problem is that it is not reliable.
When I power it up everything works exactly as it should. I test each float switch manually and it works. After some time (unknown) it hangs. Now all my switches are off and it is stuck on the boot states. As I am currently away, I re-uploaded esphome to reboot and it still says D2 D3 D5 ON but my water tank is empty! D6 stuck to off as it was off when I powered the ESP.

My biggest problem is that I don’t know how to debug.
Any help is welcome!

circuit

esphome:
  name: watertank
  platform: ESP8266
  board: nodemcuv2

wifi:
  networks:
  - ssid: "SpitiA"
    password: "xxxxxx"
  - ssid: "SpitiB"
    password: "xxxxxx"
  - ssid: "SpitiD"
    password: "xxxxxxx"
  manual_ip:
    static_ip: 192.168.1.200
    gateway: 192.168.1.1
    subnet: 255.255.255.0
    dns1: 192.168.1.20
    dns2: 192.168.1.1

# Enable logging
logger:

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:
  password: "xxxxxxx"

ota:
  password: "xxxxxxx"

binary_sensor:
- platform: gpio
  pin: D2
  name: level20
- platform: gpio
  pin: D3
  name: level40
- platform: gpio
  pin: D5
  name: level60
- platform: gpio
  pin: D6
  name: level90
2

If D3 is low while the NodeMCU boots it will fail. See the reference table lower down on this page:

Might be your problem. Try swapping D3 for D7.

1 Like
3

That’s my bad! I had read which pins to use and I must have started with D1 D2 D5 D6 but while solving other problems I must have used the wrong pins!

I will try to change power supply and the pin tonight.
Thank you

I upped the log level to very verbose in case I get any message in order to help me debug.

4

5M of cable is an antenna as well, connected directly to the processor pins. So you could be picking up all sorts of interference which locks up the processor. Put a 0.1uF capacitor in parallel to each switch connected data pin on the processor and ground.

5

So…
I corrected the wrong pin D3 and used a variable power supply set at 4.5v directly to Vin/Ground pings and after 24hours it is still working.

My next project again involves 5-7M of UTP cat5e cable and I can not find capacitors to buy (I have placed an order but it will take time to arrive).
I own a multimeter Mastech MS8268. Can I use it to detect interference?
Is there a guide to read for proper eletrical circuit designing for newbies?

Thank your for your help :slight_smile:

6

Unfortunately you won’t be able to use that meter to detect interference. For that you would need an oscilloscope. Or a sensitive headphone connected to the wire via a current limiting resistor, a keen ear and a quiet room. Or run it through an amp.

The value of the capacitor isn’t too critical. Anything from a few hundred pF to about 1uF would likely work.

1 Like
7

Until this morning that I had a power cut it was working properly.
My new problem is that despite the water tank level didn’t change it reports all values inverted.

Before power cut I had all sensor on so Full Tank
Now all sensors are off so <20%
And I didn’t change anything!!!
(My value template is so complicated as I wanted to know if one sensor is not working properly and result ERROR)

- platform: template
    sensors:
      water_level:
        friendly_name: "Water Tank Level"
        value_template: >-
          {% if is_state('binary_sensor.level90', 'on') and is_state('binary_sensor.level60', 'on') and is_state('binary_sensor.level40', 'on') and is_state('binary_sensor.level20', 'on') %}
          Full
          {% elif is_state('binary_sensor.level60', 'on') and is_state('binary_sensor.level90', 'off') and is_state('binary_sensor.level40', 'on') and is_state('binary_sensor.level20', 'on') %}
          >60%
          {% elif is_state('binary_sensor.level40', 'on') and is_state('binary_sensor.level60', 'off') and is_state('binary_sensor.level90', 'off') and is_state('binary_sensor.level20', 'on') %}
          >40%
          {% elif is_state('binary_sensor.level20', 'on') and is_state('binary_sensor.level40', 'off') and is_state('binary_sensor.level60', 'off') and is_state('binary_sensor.level90', 'off') %}
          >20%
          {% elif is_state('binary_sensor.level20', 'off') and is_state('binary_sensor.level40', 'off') and is_state('binary_sensor.level60', 'off') and is_state('binary_sensor.level90', 'off') %} 
          <20%
          {% else %}
          ERROR 
          {% endif %}
8

Check your 3.3V connection to the switches. This is the only common point of failure for all switches.

9

It happened again today.
3.3V is working properly and all connections look good.
After a power loss (HA and ESP) it’s showing inverted state for all pins.
It was working properly for at least 7 days as I tested.
Tried to reboot (switch below) and it’s not helping.
Also tried to power restart and it didn’t help.

I don’t remember how I “fixed” it a week ago.
I think I only rebooted from power supply (off/on) and it worked.

I manually turned off/on gpios D5 D6 and D1 D2 fixed! D5 D6 still showing wrong state.

Also I need help which capacitor to buy from banggood as I am going to place an order.

My last hope is that the problem is the capacitor!

switch:
  - platform: restart
    name: "Restart"