I have been looking for a OTA method for pushing firmware to my devices. I found this: https://github.com/yanbe/esp-idf-ota-template I was wondering if anyone has used it, and could offer any help. The code compiles and runs fine, but my problem in on the PC side. When he says "make ota ESP32_IP=192...

a 00 in hex is a terminating character for a string. I.E. you can have a string over 1000 chars long, but if you inset a 0x00 even after the 2'nd character it will only print the 1'st 2.

I getcha. I'll keep my eyes open for one.
Worst case would be to use this.
https://www.electrodragon.com/product/e ... 32-wrover/

Maybe one of these ?
https://www.electrodragon.com/?s=i2s&post_type=product

Would you be able to use 2 of these side to side? If so, it would eliminate your timing issues. just use I2C to drive them.
https://www.adafruit.com/product/3107

Ya, if your looking for a led project you should check out the IS31FL3731. you can control 144 leds with just I2C.
http://www.issi.com/WW/pdf/31FL3731.pdf

However I wonder how many pins are needed for expander. 4 pins. Power, Gnd, SCL, SDA. Those 4 pins gives you 16 I/O. It is true that the code is simple for the other IC. However, once you have the code its just as simple to call it and change I/O. Not to mention that if you need more I/O, say anoth...

If you want to reduce the I/O even more try using the MCP23017 (I2C interface) or the MCP23S17 (SPI interface)
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/ ... ND/5226680

We have been using this place for over 6 years now.
https://www.buydisplay.com/default/

Not sure how you define the word "safe". The bottom line is when something smokes it means something was pushed beyond its limits. Do things survive that smoke a little? Sure. But IMHO, for what these cost just get a new one. Lets say because of this accident you weakened the 3.3v regulator, a filte...