Prototype PCB Board ESP8266F & ESP32 modules

[whatsupskip]

Is anyone using these relatively new double sided prototype PCB boards for ESP8266F & ESP32 modules?

I am just looking for inspiration and tips on using these, particularly layout and basic components used.

[Vic20]

Well, I got a few of these larger ones (easy to cut down) off Aliexpress recently for next to nothing and, like you probably, couldn't quite work out how to get started so decided to just dive in and start wiring up the basic setup to flash an ESP8266 then use it to add a few sensors etc.

..It's grown (with addition and changing of components) into this mess

IMG_20180529_103539.jpg (216.33 KiB) Viewed 3931 times

It works as a basic environmental monitor with a DSB18B20 and a BMP280 for starters and a resistor network for monitoring the battery (18650) voltage on the ADC. My plan is to build one of these into a cheap solar garden light, replacing the charging board with a protected unit and add sensors to monitor the wellbeing of my pond.

I initially had big problems with the chip booting very intermittently and couldn't work it out until I discovered that I'd errantly used the hole that connects to the devices MOSI pin to ground. Once that track was cut, it's been rock stable.

Plenty of lessons learnt here though (which is what it's all about!) What the board could really do with is two continuous preforated strips of track down each side as +ve and -ve busbars to which pullup resistors / decoupling caps etc can be easily linked making the thing a whole lot tidier.

My next iteration i'm going to weave some thin single strand wire through the holes to make just that. I've also ordered some 10k and 4.7k SMD resistors plus capacitors of 1206 size (not too small and fiddly) to help neaten and shrink the whole thing down a scale or two. Watch this space!

[whatsupskip]

Thanks for your post. It is really helpful seeing what others have done.

If that is the DS18b20 in the top right hand corner of the board I think you might have problems with it reading high. I have found I need to isolate any thermometer sensors by about 10cm of wire from the ESP8266.

It is also worth considering the BME280 as it has temperature, humidity and pressure all in one sensor. I then add stereo 3.5mm sockets to allow plugging in of additional external DS18b20 sensors.

Can you have too many temperature sensors?

[Vic20]

If that is the DS18b20 in the top right hand corner of the board I think you might have problems with it reading high. I have found I need to isolate any thermometer sensors by about 10cm of wire from the ESP8266

Are you suggesting that the DS18B20 is upset by the WiFi Radio Frequency emissions from the close by ESP8266 or that it is affected by heat from the device?

My setup goes into deep sleep for around 11 minutes and then wakes up for 35 seconds to send the readings to Thingspeak so I'm pretty sure there isn't time for anything to warm up.

The temperature readings between the BMP280 (Yes, some BME's on order!) and the DS18B differ by no more than 0.4 degrees so well within their tolerances.

[whatsupskip]

Are you suggesting that the DS18B20 is upset by the WiFi Radio Frequency emissions from the close by ESP8266 or that it is affected by heat from the device?

I haven't yet determine the cause or causes. I determined that it isn't just thermal heating. It may be some RF induced heating. It may also be conduction through wires on circuit boards.

However if you obtaining the results you are looking for, then you don't need to do anything. Also your DS18B20 is away from the antenna. i have seen some boards where the temperature is right next to the antenna.

Obtaining accurate temperature readings are difficult under normal circumstances even for a perfect sensor. Outside and to a lesser extent inside you need to worry about radiation (IR mainly) from the sun. Then you have issues like thermal mass of walls if the sensor is mounted on a wall. The list goes on.