ESP8266 ESP-12(Standalone)+ Blynk 101

Hello everyone.. This is my first instructable! I am new to Arduino. I want to share some of my experiences as a newbie.
I got an ESP8266 board. more info here :http://benlo.com/esp8266/esp8266QuickStart.html
I want to use the board as standalone and use the Arduino IDE to program it.

Hardware:

1. ESP8266 board
2. USB-TTL/FDTI adapter 3.3V
2. Smartphone (IOS/Android)
3. Dupont wires
4. LED
5. Breadboard
6. Power Source 3.3V.. Note: separate power source required for ESP board

Step 1: The Software: Arduino IDE

1.Download the latest IDE which comes with ESP8266 compatibiliy.
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software

2.After installing, add ESP support to the IDE
Go to File - Preferences - in Preferences window go to "additional boards manager URL's" where you need to paste the following link: https://adafruit.github.io/arduino-board-index/pa... adafruit link down(thx FrankHerrmann)

use this instead http://arduino.esp8266.com/package_esp8266com_inde...

- Click OK button.- Go to Tools - Boards - > Boards manager, in the Boards manager window select "contributed" from the TYPE drop - Select ESP8266 by ESP8266 community forum.
Press Install.
Before programming always remember to change board as ESP8266.

3. Also, I recommend adding the following libraries:

ESP8266 Arduino add-on by Sandeep mistry; follow instructions here https://github.com/sandeepmistry/esp8266-Arduino/b...
Add the blynk library https://github.com/blynkkk/blynk-library
If you do not know how to add library, go here https://www.arduino.cc/en/guide/libraries

Step 2: The Blynk App

1.Download the app corresponding to your samartphone platform
Apple IOS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/blynk-control-ardu...
Google Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cc.b...

2. Instructions on how to setup the App
-Open Blynk app. Add widgets. You can hold and drag them to reposition. Tap once to get to Widget Settings. The main thing you need to set is PIN you want to control
-Paste Auth Token to your sketch and upload it to hardware. Press PLAY in the app.

3. Remember to select ESP8266 as board in Blynk app

Step 3: Flash/Power an LED With Blynk

Setup hardware as shown in pic...

Connect the USB-TTL to pc and upload sketch to ESP-12
Note: GPIO0 should be LOW and CH_PD and RST should be HIGH for first time flashing the board

GPIO0 should be LOW when uploading sketches
Remember use a 3.3V USB-TTL
connect RX of board to TX of usb and TX of board to RX
SKETCH:
edit auth code, ssid and pass

Step 4: Results

Enjoy...
Credits to
Tracker J https://www.instructables.com/member/TrackerJ/

Blynk.cc
Sandeep Mistry

Comments

[FrankHerrmann]

Please check the Adafruit link, no esp8266 in this Boards json file. I used: http://arduino.esp8266.com/package_esp8266com_index.json

[Rahul27]

yeah thank you for the input.. cheers!

[GeeksTipsDotCom]

Very nice article, indeed Blynk is the only development framework that can offer a friendly environment for non-programmers. It still remains a problem with finding a decent 3.3v stable power solution. A similar example can be found in the link below. Thanks!

ESP8266 Blynk IoT project

[chyy0906diy]

Good

[dubnikov]

"Setup hardware as shown in pic..."

Unclear... can you please send us a picture more in focus?

[spetyo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A8iyLPsGAw

[MariuszK10]

what is ssid and pass? Is it my router settings?

[Rahul27]

Yeah . Your router settings. just replace values

[vikkey321]

This thing comes with preloaded library. I am having trouble reflashing it. I Searched the whole internet for this and didn't find solution. Can you tell me the procedure, tools, connections and step to flash it.?

[Rahul27]

if it comes with preloaded chinese firmware first install nodemcu firmware. trying to program directly with arduino won't work. http://www.whatimade.today/loading-the-nodemcu-firmware-on-the-esp8266-windows-guide/

if you already have node mcu on it just follow step one in the tutorial i made. adding esp library and selecting proper board. arduino ide will flash it

[nbibin001]

Thanks for the detailed steps, could follow just fine and it worked. Had a quick question is there any way I can avoid the internet connection and connect directly to ESP ? So i guess something like the ESP will be configured as an access point, phone will be connected to the ESP access point and the Blynk app controls the ESP's i/o like a remote. Appreciate help.

[Rahul27]

i want to do this myself but its currently not possible. From what i understand, this requires major changes on app end dur to the fact that esp uses tcp while app uses ssl. check my other instructables for a workaround. its a rather crude method and no blynk used. but gets the job done

[PeterB126]

Thanks for your tutorial.

How to read the photoresistor? It seems its connected via the ACC-Pin

[Rahul27]

hey. thanks fot the review. you can read ldr value using analog pin ao in blink directly without any other code.

[Toshi Bass]

Thanks for this great instructable easy to follow and worked out of the box and as its the first thing I tried its given me some insight into how blynk works, however I noticed one surprising thing, when I toggle gp5 & gp13 on the esp it also toggles gpio5 & gpio13 on my raspberry pi, didn't expect that ?

I guess I can try to get over it by toggling a couple of virtual pins and modifying the esp script to switch onboard gpio pins but I am confused why its happening ?

Toshi

[bobarry]

Finally - progress. I found a espflasher that WORKS. It has a program XTCOM_UTIL.EXE and FOUR .bin files!!!

Please download these bins to the specified address.

Bin Address
boot_v1.1.bin---------------->0x00000
user1.bin-------------------->0x01000
esp_init_data_default.bin---->0x7C000
blank.bin-------------------->0x7E000

Reconnect com port and reset the board between uploading the files.

With a terminal program, I get 'ready', but still no luck with the AT commands

Hookup is normal, but with GPIO2 being left unconnected.

With Arduino I have 7 of the 9 LEDs on the 12-e board blinking! (2,4,5,12,13,14,)

Onward with Arduino..I'm too lazy to tinker with the LUA stuff. :)

[chelgus]

[tomatoskins]

This is so cool! I always enjoy learning the basics of everything.

[Rahul27]

Thanks!! Happy learning...