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ArnieX / swifitch

Swifitch is ESP8266 based relay board that could be used to turn any light or any wall socket into smart one!
http://www.swifitch.cz
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How to desolder ESP8266 from NodeMCU #9

Closed dicastro closed 6 years ago

dicastro commented 6 years ago

My soldering/desoldering knowledge is very limited. How could I desolder ESP from NodeMCU?

Do you have any recommended tool? Do you have some tips? I have already tried with a normal soldering tool, and it seems impossible to me.

ArnieX commented 6 years ago

You need hot air for that ;) and do it very carefully.

LubergAlexander commented 6 years ago

@dicastro I have tried to desolder it with a regular soldering iron and killed the chip and still wasn't able to desolder it, so a heatgun is a must :) If you have an arduino around - you can try flashing with it: https://github.com/ArnieX/swifitch-software#how-to-flash-with-arduino-uno

dicastro commented 6 years ago

I've found this video (https://youtu.be/zwp9E37ioVw) where it is explained how to make the connection without desoldering esp from NodeMCU. I'll try this option. I do not want to buy a heatgun just to desolder one thing.

dicastro commented 6 years ago

Finally I would like to desolder ESP from NodeMCU. I bought a heatgun, but after 10 minutes of use it is broken.

Which brand of heatgun do you recommend me? I would like one that lasts more than 10 minutes!

I do not know if the ones that I've seen in Amazon are good quality ones (the one that I bought was from Amazon).

I have looked in TME site and I've found these ones (there are more but I do not want to spend a lot of money):

Do you know any of these ones? Do you have another recommendation?

Do you sell already desoldered NodeMCU? :-D

dicastro commented 6 years ago

I've already bought one, so I close the issue.

Cross fingers!

ArnieX commented 6 years ago

:D sorry I didn't reply, I was so busy today. But I wouldn't help you anyway as I do not have any heatgun except gas one, which is not really good for this job.

dicastro commented 6 years ago

Hi again,

I still have a problem with the power of swificth.

What I've done:

However, if I power the swifitch plugging nodemcu to a mobile phone charger, it works.

So I supose that the USB of my laptop has no current enough. I am really interested in powering nodemcu from my laptop to be able to see serial traces to debug the code (I am doing some changes in code).

I am desperated!!

ArnieX commented 6 years ago

Hi @dicastro

it is hard to tell. I do not know what laptop you have. But with my MacBook it works well. You could thought use separate power and connect grounds together, but the power has to be 3,3V. I suggest if you suspect your laptop doesn’t give enough power that you purchase USB doctor from AliExpress.

dicastro commented 6 years ago

Thank you for your help!

I've tried with 2 laptops (both with windows) and with one raspberry pi (activating max_usb_current configuration option). And always with the same result. I am not able to connect to swifitch AP.

I've tried to create a "hello world" firmware (without any wifi connection) and everything works perfectly. I can power swificht plugging nodemcu to my laptop, and I am able to see serial traces. When I modify "hello world" firmware to connect to my home wifi, it doesn't work.

Tomorrow I am going to test swifitch at work, there I've got an iMac, and I have some collegues with MacBooks.

LubergAlexander commented 6 years ago

I had exactly the same problem after trying to desolder the esp from nodemcu with a soldering iron:) I have overheated and damaged the chip, it did boot up initially, and I was able to run non wifi code, but if I tried to connect to my AP - it crashed.

On Sun, Mar 25, 2018, 8:38 AM dicastro notifications@github.com wrote:

Thank you for your help!

I've tried with 2 laptops (both with windows) and with one raspberry pi (activating max_usb_current configuration option). And always with the same result. I am not able to connect to swifitch AP.

I've tried to create a "hello world" firmware (without any wifi connection) and everything works perfectly. I can power swificht plugging nodemcu to my laptop, and I am able to see serial traces. When I modify "hello world" firmware to connect to my home wifi, it doesn't work.

Tomorrow I am going to test swifitch at work, there I've got an iMac, and I have some collegues with MacBooks.

— You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub https://github.com/ArnieX/swifitch/issues/9#issuecomment-375979653, or mute the thread https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AA7HejNSDyCLACmTIBizFRdutbLaCslvks5th7nygaJpZM4SVQ7q .

dicastro commented 6 years ago

The ESP that I've used in the swifitch is not the one that I've desoldered from NodeMCU. So I think I do not have the same problem.

I will try to explain myself better.

Case A (firmware without Wifi connection)

// Case A.1
Swifitch <-> NodeMCU <-> Laptop USB

// It works but It is not stable, sometimes it reboots

---

// Case A.2
Swifitch <-> NodeMCU <-> Mobile USB Chager

// It works and it is stable. The issue is that I can't see serial traces in this way

Case B (firmware with Wifi connection)

// Case B.1
Swifitch <-> NodeMCU <-> Laptop USB

// It does NOT work, it reboots all the time

---

// Case B.2
Swifitch <-> NodeMCU <-> Mobile USB Chager

// It works and it is stable. The issue is that I can't see serial traces in this way

The only explanation that I've found is that the current supplied by my laptop USB is not enough.

Do you see another reason? Do you see another thing that I could try?

ArnieX commented 6 years ago

"The only explanation that I've found is that the current supplied by my laptop USB is not enough."

That could very well be the issue, my recommendation is to get USB doctor: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Digital-Dispay-3V-30V-Mini-Current-Voltage-Charger-Capacity-Tester-USB-Doctor-qc2-0-3-0/32686482158.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.37.3cba7553yODxyV&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_5_10152_10151_10065_10068_10344_10342_10343_10340_10341_10696_10084_10083_10618_10304_10307_10302_5711215_10313_10059_10534_100031_10103_10624_10623_10622_10621_10620,searchweb201603_1,ppcSwitch_4&algo_expid=4fe0352c-214c-4ea8-aa4e-f8a4120dfb21-8&algo_pvid=4fe0352c-214c-4ea8-aa4e-f8a4120dfb21&priceBeautifyAB=0

dicastro commented 6 years ago

This morning I've done a test with an iMac at work. It works better, I am able to connect to the swificth AP. But it is not stable enough, when I toggle the relay it restarts. So I think there is not current enough yet.

What I've tried is to have swificht powered to the main current and to the usb at same time.

           +--> NodeMCU <-> Laptop USB
Swifitch <-|
           +--> Main current (220 V AC)

Can this option damage the swifitch?

ArnieX commented 6 years ago

OUCH!!! Have your read documentation properly? NEVER EVER connect mains and computer simultaneously. It may not hurt anything, but it is at least very bad idea. It could more likely destroy your computer than swifitch but still, please, don't do this. For your safety.

dicastro commented 6 years ago

I did not remember that detail :-P

Nothing has exploded! But I am not going to do it again.

I am considering to buy this dual usb cable to have extra power (current).

I've also bought the usb doctor that you recommended me to see the differences between the current of mac's usb and the current of windows/linux's usb

ArnieX commented 6 years ago

That cable looks like really good idea ;)

dicastro commented 6 years ago

With the dual usb cable, and connecting the serial wire to my laptop and the power wire to a mobile phone charger, it works like a charm!

I have had some issue using a charger of an android device (2A charger of a samsung tablet), it wasn't stable. Finally I've used a 1A Iphone mobile charger. I do not understand why.

Thank you very much for your help!