HC-SR04+ and wemos d1 mini pro

[toffel969]

If it is not the "+" version, no surprise. The gpio being 5v tolerant or not, the US needs 5v logic level to drive the speaker to send out a ping

[karadn]

It is not + version.
Now I power it from USB port, so what is yours suggestions, how I must power it?

[toffel969]

It is not + version.
Now I power it from USB port, so what is yours suggestions, how I must power it?

you need to connect it to the gpio by using a 3,3/5v logiv level converter, all the info is there

check the wiki
https://www.letscontrolit.com/wiki/index.php/HC-SR04
https://www.letscontrolit.com/wiki/inde ... _Converter

My suggestion is to use a 5V power supply and a bidirectional level shifter. They are dead cheap and it works

[Shardan]

For some clarification:
The HC-SR04 (old version without "+") definitely needs 5V to work nicely.
Some of them work, some not. Maybe depending on manufacturing tolerances.
Anyways if it works at all the ultrasonic "ping" is very weak so it detects about 30cm max, that's all.

The input ("Trigger") works quite nice with the 3.3V from the ESP.
This can be connected directly to the ESP without problem.

The output signal gives 5V, I'd be carefull with that. Many people tell the ESP is 5V friendly on the inputs...
If it really is or if it just can stand 5V on input for a (short?) while and might die later stays vague.
Whatever people say: The ESP8622 datasheet says inputs are not 5V tolerant and working with 5V at input can't be guaranteed.
Thats an instance I trust far more then an "it works for me" result from a few tests.

Anyways in this case a level shifter is not necessary, two resistors do the job quite well.
For example if using GPIO12, connect a resistor of 2.2 KOhm from GPIO12 to ground.
Connect a resistor of 1 KOhm from the GPIO12 to the output of the HC-SR04.

This works because we just need to lower the level of the output signal from the HC-SR04.
Level-converter are bi-directional so you can send data from low voltage side to high voltage
side and vice versa. Here we just go from "high" to "low" so a passive divider does well.

Regards
Shardan

PS: *Note to myself: Update the HC-SR04 Wiki, it's overdue*

[karadn]

Yes I already use two resistors for GPIO12.
I power D1 via USB connector (USB powerbank), ultrasonic sensor VCC pin is connected to D1 5V pin, is this ok or not?

[Shardan]

The ultrasonic ping takes some energy, on top i don't know how your power bank behaves.
Most likely there is some electronics for loading and protecting inside the power bank and
it might react to the pulses from the HC-SR04 or not.

I've tested taking the power from the WeMos pin, it should work. Anyways there might be
a diode in serial so you get only 4.3V instead of 5V so not the "full power".

I'd prefer a separate 5V power supply to get a test runing and then going on step by step.

Regards
Shardan

[karadn]

Thank you Shardan.
If I use separate 5V power for ultrasonic, how I must connect it, then I connect trig and echo pin only to wemos? Where I must connect ground?

Thank you

[Shardan]

Ground is the "common point for all".

So Gnd from WeMos, GND from HC-SR04 and GND from external power supply should be connected.
The "Trigger" of the HC-SR04 can be directly connected to one GPIO.
Output should be connected via resistors as described above to another GPIO.

+5V from Power supply to the Vin (or Vcc) of the HC-SR04.

Then power the WeMos from your power bank as before.

Regards
Shardan

[karadn]

Capture.PNG (16.19 KiB) Viewed 26717 times

Are this settings for GPIO 12 and 13 are ok, or I must set something?

[NDR008]

I have a 3.3v version. But couldn't get it to work.

[Shardan]

Capture.PNG

Are this settings for GPIO 12 and 13 are ok, or I must set something?

Just leave them untouched - it's OK.

[Shardan]

I have a 3.3v version. But couldn't get it to work.

Please give some more info.

[NDR008]

I will take photo later.

[NDR008]

This is the one I had purchased:
https://www.ebay.de/itm/Micro-Mini-3-3- ... 2749.l2649

I cannot describe why it did not work well.
I should try again and document my steps.

I hada LoLin NodeMCU working with a contact switch input and I2C BMP-sensor.
Later I added the ultrasonic thingy and things stopped to work, but it may be a result of my non-linear trial and error.
(It was my first time working with ESP, and I was doubting if I had enough power, and all sorts of factors).

[Shardan]

THe nodeMCU's have a voltage regulator 5V -> 3.3V. Usually this is a LM1117-3.3 or an even smaller one.
These regulators can take some current, it should be enough for a HC-SR04.
With the widespread WeMOS D1 Mini it might be near to limits as they use a very small regulator.

Anyways, together with nodeMCU it should work.
Another problem: Powering via USB cable? Try a short and thick cable!
Most cheaper USB cables have wires like a hair... if the HC-SR04 starts sending pulses it might be too much.

Another possible reason:
The US breakout you use is "like HC-SR04" but it obviously uses another circuit inside.
The HC-SR04 has a crystal onboard and another layout, this one has no crystal.
So it is questionable if they are really compatible to eachother.

[NDR008]

Yeah, unfortunately the seller contacted me to recommend this one (as I bought the NodeMCU at the same time).

I agree with you on USB cables.

I had my raspberry Pi indicating power issues even though I tried 3 USB power sources including a 3A capable block.
Finally I found the cable was the limiting factor.

1st cable: always caused power problems.
2nd cable: caused occasional problems.
3rd cable: raspberry pi has not once throttled due to power shortage.

[karadn]

My sensor HC-SR04 still not working. I try with sepparate power the ultrasonic, but no luck.
Can you please check my connections and settings, now I power Wemos via USB adapter (5V).

20180116_163958.jpg (973.34 KiB) Viewed 27003 times

Capture.PNG (13.76 KiB) Viewed 27003 times

[Shardan]

Hm.. looks good to me, as far as i can see.

That was my testing setup:
.

HC-SR04_on_Breadboard.jpg (460.82 KiB) Viewed 26996 times

.
It's same and worked, powered with a thick USB cable from my computer.
So what to do?
Check all cables first, a digital ohm meter helps a lot.
I've seen alot of these cheap DuPont cables having slack joints or no connection at all.
Breadboards are somewhat susceptible for bad contacts too.

Regards
Shardan

[Shardan]

Just for the record:

I've assembled my test setup again, uploaded the actual v2.0-20180116 for testing.
It worked out of the box.

[karadn]

So in settings must be:
- 1st GPIO set to GPIO-13, where Trig is connected.
- 2nd GPIO set to GPIO-12, where Echo is connected.

Is that ok?

[Shardan]

Yep..
Just it does not hurt if you swap accidentally, the device will just show 0.00.
If you doubt about that, swap the cables for a test.

[karadn]

The voltage that come from wemos 5v pin is 4.830V, it seams that is not enough for HC-SR04, because if I separate power 5V to ultrasonic it works now.
Is 4.8V realy too low for this sensor? So I must buy HC-SR04+ or P version?

[Shardan]

I didn't have a problem using the 5V from the WeMOS D1 or nodeMCU.

Anyways, the nodeMCU has a diode separating the 5V output from the 5V input from USB.
Diodes have a forward-loss so this might be a problem.

This is difficult to decide without hands-on on your device at a well equipped test site.

It might be a problem of the HC-SR04 itself also, tolerances of parts or something.
These boards are cheapest china made stuff so this might occur.
I'd get some HC-SR-04 from a cheap source like AliExpress and check them out.
5 pieces come around 3,50€ at AliExpress.

[TD-er]

The voltage that come from wemos 5v pin is 4.830V, it seams that is not enough for HC-SR04, because if I separate power 5V to ultrasonic it works now.
Is 4.8V realy too low for this sensor? So I must buy HC-SR04+ or P version?

Like Shardan already mentioned. If the wires powering the device are too thin, then the voltage may drop when trying to use more power.
It is then simply a resistor with a voltage drop over the wire which will increase when the current increases.

[karadn]

I have 3 sensors and with all is the same. I test sensor also with Wemos D1 pro and also not working.

[Shardan]

Then it gets difficult to check what's the reason without hand-on on a test site.

I suspice there is a problem with power supply, but honestly that's applied prophecy.
How do you supply power to the circuit? USB cable and power from PC?