What's your favourite ESP32 board? (# Best, good, cheap, quality, reliable)

ESPHome
77

As @Mahko_Mahko already flagged, the Lolin C3 Mini (v1.0.0 in my case) does not work out of the box.
It did took some trial&error to get it working, but while esp32_ble_tracker is working stable bluetooth_proxy on the other hand will still result in a non reactive state.
In addition, to prevent a bootloop the wifi output_power needs to be set as low as 8.5.
Enjoy the yaml:

esphome:
  name: lolin-c3-1_0_0
  platformio_options:
    board_build.flash_mode: dio  

esp32:
  board: esp32-c3-devkitm-1
  variant: ESP32C3
  framework:
    type: esp-idf
    sdkconfig_options:
      CONFIG_ESP_TASK_WDT_TIMEOUT_S: "10"
      CONFIG_BT_BLE_50_FEATURES_SUPPORTED: y
      CONFIG_BT_BLE_42_FEATURES_SUPPORTED: y

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password
  output_power: 8.5  # will result in a bootloop otherwise

esp32_ble_tracker:
# bluetooth_proxy:  will result in a non reactive state

The Lolin S2 Mini (v1.0.0) took quite some effort as well. No bluetooth support for this ESP32, but it does provide more GPIO and a higher clocked CPU.
Some yaml here as well as the out-of-the-box experience here was also not ok.

esphome:
  name: lolin-s2-1_0_0
  platformio_options:   
    board_build.mcu: esp32s2

esp32:
  board: lolin_s2_mini
  variant: ESP32S2
  framework:
    type: esp-idf
    platform_version: https://github.com/jhamhader/platform-espressif32#8bc085573e4f6986ffcda7050b9607739f3c6976
4 Likes
78

bluetooth_proxy: will result in a non reactive state

Do you mean that the C3 Mini will not connect to wifi? Because I had this problem. But it works with this config:

note that I have v2.1.0

esphome:
  name: salle-a-manger
  platformio_options:
    board_build.flash_mode: dio

esp32:
  board: esp32-c3-devkitm-1
  framework:
    type: esp-idf
    version: recommended
    sdkconfig_options:
      CONFIG_COMPILER_OPTIMIZATION_SIZE: y
      CONFIG_BT_BLE_42_FEATURES_SUPPORTED: y
    advanced:
      ignore_efuse_mac_crc: false
  variant: esp32c3

logger:

api:
  password: "some_password"
  port: 6053

ota:
  password: "some_password"

wifi:
  output_power: "8.5"
  ssid: "my_ssid"
  password: "another_password"

  ap:
    ssid: "Salle A Manger Fallback Hotspot"
    password: "another_password2"

esp32_ble_tracker:
text_sensor:
  - platform: ble_scanner
    name: "BLE Scanner"

bluetooth_proxy:
  active: true
79

@tom_l
good afternoon… currently, which Esp32 recommends? especially on AliExpress or somewhere in europe

80

Good morning, sorry to reply for @tom_l , but I imagine his answer is still What's your favourite ESP32 board? (# Best, good, cheap, quality, reliable) - #3 by tom_l

2 Likes
81

Ditto for me

1 Like
82

Does anyone know how Quinled stack-up for low power projects?

Like maybe these kind of metrics?

image
image1143×707 145 KB

I didn’t spot anything on the extra board details.

I’m also wondering if disconnecting the led is a viable and worthwhile option.

I’m using it for a battery/solar powered/deep sleep project.

83

I just received one and cannot install it in ESPhome
Have you received yours ? where have you ordered from ?
(me PiHut … a uk based shot and I received some customs fees cause I’m EU based :cry: )

I’ve posted here :

84

I’ve used a couple of the Picos them. The C3U is on the shelf, I hope there are no bigger issues setting them up with ESPHome. I wanted to try these days.

M5Stamp Pico (no big surprise here):

esphome:
  name: test
  platform: esp32
  board: pico32
85

That’s the C3U I’m struggeling with
Even it’s the first time I’m ‘playing’ with those kind of boards
I’m not sure I’ll buy C3U any more

Thx for that quick reponce.

86

Any one buying from amazon ?
I’ve seen a lot of Ebays, Ali Express
What do you think about this one for eg :
https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B08BTRQNB3/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1X7QLRQH87QA3&psc=1

I just ordered from https://thepihut.com/ and had some big customms fees (uk shop and I’m EU based)
fees were 25€ out of a 50€ order :’(

I grouped a few names seen on this post.

Lolin seems to have succes but not all supported and long delivery time from what i see.
LILYGO® TTGO T7 V1.5 Mini32 also on aliexpress seemed to have more then one good review here !

  • QuinLED-ESP32
  • Olimex POE
  • MH-ET LIVE D1 mini’s
  • LILYGO® TTGO T7 V1.5 Mini32 > more than one good comment
  • LOLIN D1 mini
  • Waveshare ESP32 One A Mini
  • TinyPICO
  • MicroDev microS2
  • Seeed Studio Xaio ESP32-C3
  • nodemcu V4
  • wesp32
  • Lolin S2 Mini > attention
  • Lolin C3 Mini > attention

I have a M5stack STAMP-C3U > first time playing with those but I’m struggeling

87

Really, we can’t see your cart on amazon.

88

I’ll try later this week. Based on these resources:

I would expect a config like this (untested! probably not working):

esphome:
  name: test
  platform: ESP32
  board: esp32dev
  platformio_options:
    platform: espressif32
    board: esp32-c3-devkitm-1
    board_build.mcu: esp32c3
    board_build.f_cpu: 160000000L
    upload_protocol: esptool
    build_flags: 
      - -D PIO_FRAMEWORK_ARDUINO_ENABLE_CDC
      - -D USBCON
1 Like
89

hahah sorry
link updated

By the way… with the help of radybb from esphome discord I got my M5stack STAMP-C3U working.
It had something to do with my newbie state more than a board problem.

He also shared this good EU site for ordering without any custom fees : https://www.distrelec.de

90

Good for you but would you please share your working solution? Thanks, appreciated!

91

sure :slight_smile:

M5stack STAMP-C3U
HAOS running on raspbery pi 4

At the moment basic board config seem working.
I’m still trying to add sensor for ‘Bt low energy bridge config’

https://xoops.hypweb.net/modules/UsersWiki/person/nao-pon/blog/2021-03-17

press central button while plugging board to HA server
this is my yaml (not sure all is needed, because build after lots of test) :

esphome:
  name: bluetooth-low-energy-bridge
  platformio_options:
    board_build.flash_mode: dio
    platform_packages:
     - toolchain-riscv32-esp @ 8.4.0+2021r1
     - toolchain-xtensa-esp32s2 @ 8.4.0+2021r1

esp32:
  board: esp32-c3-devkitm-1
  variant: esp32c3
  framework:
    type: esp-idf

logger:
  hardware_uart: USB_SERIAL_JTAG

i hope this will help

92

One of the ESPHome Devs mentioned on Discord that support for a lot more variants will come with the 21st Dec release and are now available in the dev branch.

1 Like
93

Do you happen to have the IO’s used for relay, buttons and and LED’s for this board?

94

Hello, I’ve too many boards and projects in my lab. If you can specify what board you are interested in, I will see if I have some notes that will be of use.

95

Was able to print some of my own with my label maker. Might be able to get the quality a bit better but they do the job.

LILYGO® TTGO T7 Mini32 V1.5

image
image960×1280 103 KB

96

I hope this improves general performance of Lolin S2 Mini.