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Development boards not recognized by Arduino IDE
Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2024 5:46 am
by Bromium
Hi - I have many ESP32 development boards from different suppliers that when connected by USB to Arduino IDE for Windows 11 (C programming) are not recognized by the IDE. When I connect, W11 does a beep but the IDE does not show the COM port that I have to select to upload the code. Some of these boards are S series and some C series and older boards. I don't even know what the brands are. I am unable to upload and boot.
How do I make the IDE recognize the port when I plug in a ESP32 board?
Thanks,
Brom
Re: Development boards not recognized by Arduino IDE
Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2024 11:56 pm
by ESPBoards
Since it is on Windows, I suspect the drivers missing for usb-to-UART chip. Do you know what USB bus chip your ESPs are using?
Probably it is CH340 or CP2102. You can check on the board itself a small chip with model. And then search the model + driver on google and install the appropriate drivers.
Re: Development boards not recognized by Arduino IDE
Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2024 2:32 am
by Sprite
Additionally, 'some of the boards I have (but don't provide details of) do not work' is not much to go on. What specific boards do not work? Do you have pictures, links, whatever?
Re: Development boards not recognized by Arduino IDE
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2024 4:48 am
by Bromium
Hello ESP_Sprite and ESPBoards,
Thank you for your helpful comments. I'll post some images, and check for drivers.
I don't have an issue with the CH340. Some of my boards may be the CP2102. There is no scripture on the chip. I don't seem to have a problem with them either. But I am getting the very depressing Windows message that "the last time you connected, something went wrong so we refuse to connect on this device anymore". Then if you change the device with another of the same kind, you get this message again. It appears W11 remembers that there was a bad device and rejects all devices of the same kind.
I'll post links to my boards, and the issues that I have with them.
Re: Development boards not recognized by Arduino IDE
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2024 5:59 am
by Bromium
I have several S3 boards. The connect chip is tiny and no markings can be read from it.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/405020742821
This board (unlike others) does show up as a COM. I can even upload a sketch. But I am not sure which ESP32 board to choose for the compiler. So I have chosen "ESP32S3 Dev Module". I think this is by Espressif. I have tried many other boards as well.
When the sketch is uploaded, the monitor shows the message "ESP-ROM:esp32s3-20210327", but that is all.
Code: Select all
void setup() {
Serial.begin(115200);
}
void loop() {
static byte Iter;
Serial.println(Iter++);
delay(500);
}
There is a LED that is blinking in synchrony with the println, but the IDE Monitor shows no println at any baud rate.
How can I monitor this board?
Thanks
Re: Development boards not recognized by Arduino IDE
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2024 6:05 am
by Bromium
The following board when connected to the Arduno IDE does not show up in the COM list, and there is no way to upload to this board.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/404916892279
There appears to be no USB to UART chip on the board.
Thanks
Re: Development boards not recognized by Arduino IDE
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2024 6:22 am
by Bromium
The following board appears to be a CP2102. When connected, W11 beeps and shows "CP2102 USB to UART Bridge Controller", with an exclamation warning. So I suppose the driver is not installed.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/404536226926
When "update driver" is clicked W11 says Windows cannot find drivers for your device.
Windows update does not find the driver either.
Where on Espressif can I find recommended drivers for this very common bridge?
Thanks
Re: Development boards not recognized by Arduino IDE
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2024 9:47 am
by Bromium
Update to my last post (item 404536226926):
I obtained the driver from the CP1202 manufacturer and installed it. So now Window recognizes the COM port, and IDE can connect to it. But it cannot upload after many dots: "uploading error exit status 2". I tried pressing all combination of boot and RST buttons to no avail. So I guess I have to ground the EN pin with a capacitor or resistor. I hope that works.
Update: I tried many combination of capacitor and resistor values and nothing works. Could it be because the $4 eBay ESP32 are seconds and defective?
Re: Development boards not recognized by Arduino IDE
Posted: Sun Dec 15, 2024 8:07 pm
by Bromium
Hi ESP_Sprite,
I managed to get the board
https://www.ebay.com/itm/404536226926 to boot!!!
You had suggested a 10 uF capacitor between EN pin and ground. The only way to get this to boot was in addition putting a 10K resistor in parallel to the capacitor. And only 10K works. 9K or 12K do not work. The capacitor must not be smaller than 10 uF, but can be any size larger.
It is a pity that Espressif requires a timing circuit for the strapping pin EN. Especially that it is not a GPIO. Why would they do this?
So in short,
connect 10K resistor and 10 uF (or larger) capacitor in parallel between EN and GND.
Brom
Re: Development boards not recognized by Arduino IDE
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2024 11:33 pm
by Bromium
OK, I managed to get the following ESP32-S3 Devkit board to upload.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/405020742821 The trick is that on the Arduino IDE, one must set tools/USB CDC On Boot to enabled. Default is disabled. This is because the S3 will disconnect the USB connection after upload, and hence serial.print stops working.
However, I am still unable to get the following S2 board
https://www.ebay.com/itm/404916892279 to connect to W11 as a COM device. It does not show up in W11. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks