Only works when powered though computer USB

[KevinBalkoski]

Describe the bug

I have setup 2 ESP32's with ESPresense. When first getting everything set up, I was connected to my PC and everything appeared to work. I was able to connect via MQTT and had everything looking good on my Home Assistant.

I then moved them to the rooms they need to belong to using USB power supplies. Then, I could not find them on my network. To troubleshoot, I brought them back to the office and plugged them into the outlet (but they were physically in the same location where I set them up).... and they didn't show up. I then plugged it back into my computer, and suddenly they were back up. I've tried multiple cables and USB power supplies. If I have them plugged into my computer, they work 75% of the time but 0% of the time from any power supply.

Are my ESP32's just duds or is there something else going on?

ESP32's: AITRIP ESP32S ESP32 ESP-WROOM-32 Development Board 2.4GHz Dual-Core WiFi +Bluetooth 2 Function Microcontroller for Arduino
Power supplies: 5V, 2.4A Amazon Basics 12W One-Port USB-A Wall Charger (2.4A)
USB Cables: Amazon Basics
My PC: desktop PC running Pop OS

I have tried different supplies and cables. The cable that seems to work most consistently is a very short ~6in cable.

The logs attached are from just one that was working (although it did seem to randomly restart).

Version

3.3.1

Active scan enabled

No response

Include filter

No response

Exclude filter

No response

Query filter

No response

Firmware flavor

Standard

Device (be specific)

AITRIP ESP32S ESP32 ESP-WROOM-32 Development Board

Logs

1 New    | c74189dc60fb | c74189dc60fb                                              -97dBm 
1 New    | 647980142a0f | 647980142a0f                                              -93dBm 
1 New    | 5f49b6240178 | apple:1005:9-12                                           -94dBm 131852fc7f
ets Jul 29 2019 12:21:46

rst:0x1 (POWERON_RESET),boot:0x13 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
configsip: 0, SPIWP:0xee
clk_drv:0x00,q_drv:0x00,d_drv:0x00,cs0_drv:0x00,hd_drv:0x00,wp_drv:0x00
mode:DIO, clock div:2
load:0x3fff0018,len:4
load:0x3fff001c,len:1044
load:0x40078000,len:8896
load:0x40080400,len:5828
entry 0x400806ac
Pre-Setup Free Mem: 215796
Setup network
Connecting to WiFi SSID 'SSID-6.0'............................................................................................................................................................................................192.168.1.30
Firmware:     esp32
Version:      v3.3.1
WiFi BSSID:   3C:7C:3F:CF:9F:30 (channel=1 rssi=-30)
IP address:   192.168.1.30
DNS address:  192.168.1.4
Hostname:     espresense-bedroom
Room:         Bedroom
Mqtt server:  192.168.1.44:1883
Max Distance: 16.00
PIR Sensor:   disabled
Radar Sensor: disabled
Switch One:   disabled
Switch Two:   disabled
Button One:   disabled
Button Two:   disabled
I2C Bus 1:    sda=21 scl=22
Query:        
Include:      
Exclude:      
Known Macs:   980d6f58c04b f4fefb7cc3eb
Count Ids:    
Post-Setup Free Mem: 147060

1 Motion | Pir: no Radar: no
1 Advert | iBeacon
1 Switch | Switch One: no Switch Two: no
1 New    | abc213 | apple:1111:1-11                                          -89dBm 06243a1458
...

heap_caps_malloc was called but failed to allocate 1696 bytes with 0x1800 capabilities. 
heap_caps_realloc was called but failed to allocate 96 bytes with 0x1800 capabilities. 
Guru Meditation Error: Core  1 panic'ed (LoadProhibited). Exception was unhandled.

Core  1 register dump:
PC      : 0x40093d24  PS      : 0x00060f30  A0      : 0x800e47ef  A1      : 0x3ffe94d0  
A2      : 0xd4f540e7  A3      : 0xd4f540e3  A4      : 0x000000ff  A5      : 0x0000ff00  
A6      : 0x00ff0000  A7      : 0xff000000  A8      : 0x800e3731  A9      : 0x3ffe94a0  
A10     : 0x3ffe95d0  A11     : 0x00000000  A12     : 0x3ffe9440  A13     : 0x401cbb18  
A14     : 0x00000004  A15     : 0x3ffe93d1  SAR     : 0x00000019  EXCCAUSE: 0x0000001c  
EXCVADDR: 0xd4f540e7  LBEG    : 0x400923d1  LEND    : 0x400923f3  LCOUNT  : 0xffffffff  


Backtrace: 0x40093d21:0x3ffe94d0 0x400e47ec:0x3ffe94e0 0x4010e61e:0x3ffe9500 0x400fe931:0x3ffe9660 0x400fb165:0x3ffe96d0 0x400f43e1:0x3ffe9740 0x400f403d:0x3ffe9780 0x400f4435:0x3ffe97a0 0x400fa4e6:0x3ffe97c0




ELF file SHA256: 0000000000000000

Rebooting...
ets Jul 29 2019 12:21:46

rst:0xc (SW_CPU_RESET),boot:0x13 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
configsip: 0, SPIWP:0xee
clk_drv:0x00,q_drv:0x00,d_drv:0x00,cs0_drv:0x00,hd_drv:0x00,wp_drv:0x00
mode:DIO, clock div:2
load:0x3fff0018,len:4
load:0x3fff001c,len:1044
load:0x40078000,len:8896
load:0x40080400,len:5828
entry 0x400806ac
Pre-Setup Free Mem: 215796
Setup network
Connecting to WiFi SSID 'SSID-6.0'...............................................................................................................................................................................................................192.168.1.30
Firmware:     esp32
Version:      v3.3.1
WiFi BSSID:   3C:7C:3F:CF:9F:30 (channel=1 rssi=-29)
IP address:   192.168.1.30
DNS address:  192.168.1.4
Hostname:     espresense-bedroom
Room:         Bedroom
Mqtt server:  192.168.1.44:1883
Max Distance: 16.00
PIR Sensor:   disabled
Radar Sensor: disabled
Switch One:   disabled
Switch Two:   disabled
Button One:   disabled
Button Two:   disabled
I2C Bus 1:    sda=21 scl=22
Query:        
Include:      
Exclude:      
Known Macs:   980d6f58c04b f4fefb7cc3eb
Count Ids:    
Post-Setup Free Mem: 147196

1 Motion | Pir: no Radar: no
1 Advert | iBeacon
1 Switch | Switch One: no Switch Two: no
1 New    | abc213 | apple:1111:1-11                                          -89dBm 06243a1458
1 Alias  | iBeacon:e5ca1ade-f007-ba11-0000-000000000000-208-13516 to node:bedroom
...
1 Config | iBeacon:e5ca1ade-f007-ba11-0000-000000000000-232-7902 to {"id":"node:office","name":"Office"}
1 Config | iBeacon:e5ca1ade-f007-ba11-0000-000000000000-208-13516 to {"id":"node:bedroom","name":"Bedroom"}

Screenshots

No response

[wongkaiyang11]

yup having the exact issue.

[boredomwontgetus]

yeah exactly the same for me. I have 10 (!) ESP32 flashed and working as long as they are connected to a serial port. I tried 8 different cables and 5 different power supplies. Also powering the devices on the 5v and GND pin does not help. The only way to get it connecting to WiFi is powering it from any (multiple PCs tried) USB port.

When powering from external power supplies the device just opens its AP after a minute. Connecting to this AP and reentering the WiFi credentials does not change the behavior.

[Zitus]

...same issue discovered! What is going on? My esp32 code won't run on 3.3v, 5v, or powerbank USB! only works when powered from the computer USB

[boredomwontgetus]

I did a bit of trial and error and it turned out that i can make it power on from any 5V source when either holding down "BOOT" while plugging it in or by pulling down GPIO0 to ground with a 10k resistor. I have never seen this kind of issue on any nodemcu but for the ones i have (azdelivery) its the only way to get them going.

[angristan]

I also had this issue on my azdelivery one. I bought three from diymore that work fine on any power supply. Might be anecdotal evidence though 🤔

[Zitus]

On SeedXiaoC3 and LilyGo TQT-Pro , it happens, when the code is one that tries to scan for BLe devices. Doesn't happen when I upload other code so this might be code related. No pressing of any button helps with 5V.

[borodaaaaa]

The same issue here. It does not work with USB wall chargers(tried a few) . I see ping drops a lot or no ping at all when is on wall usb plug. Web gui does not load at all... pressing boot button before plugging it it - does not do the trick.

You have to connect it to a PC usb port. Once in a pc USB it Runs fine! the same cable used to connect to pc and wall chargers....