Supply 3v for Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3

[sharlyaragon]

I recently acquired an Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3, intending to utilize it as an IoT device for uploading data to Azure IoT Hub via Arduino. The plan is to connect this chip to both a battery and a solar panel.

After successfully uploading data to Azure IoT Hub as expected, my next objective was to integrate it with the solar manager (https://www.dfrobot.com/product-1781.html). This solar manager provides a regulated 3.3V output, which I connected to the BAT pin of the Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3.

However, I'm encountering an issue where the Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3 does not function as intended. Although I have confirmed that the BAT pin receives a 3.3V voltage and the 3V pin also has voltage, the device fails to transmit data to Azure IoT Hub. Additionally, I have set the NeoPixel LED to remain off to conserve battery power, but it unexpectedly blinks (you can view a video demonstration here: https://home.mycloud.com/action/share/2 ... dab83b9eaf). This leads me to believe that the chip is trying to tell me something but I do not know what it is?

I read the documentation and it mentioned that the input voltage can be 3v to 6v. However, I am now starting to suspect that it might not be designed to handle a 3.3V input.

Could you assist me in understanding why the NeoPixel LED of the Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3 blinks after applying a 3.3V power supply to the BAT pin? Furthermore, I would appreciate any suggestions or workarounds to power the Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3 NeoPixel using a 3.3V source.

Thanks in advance.

[dastels]

What battery are you using?

Dave

[sharlyaragon]

Amityke 1865O 3.7 Volt Rechargeable Battery 3500mAh Lithium Ion

[dastels]

Have you double checked the polarity of all the battery connections?

Dave

[sharlyaragon]

Yes, they are ok.

[dastels]

Good. My next thought is that it might be a current issue. Can you run some code to just flash the NeoPixel occasionally but do nothing with Wifi?

Dave

[sharlyaragon]

I made this:https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-qt- ... ixel-blink and it blinks red, so it is working, I believe you are right regarding the current. Wat is the minimum current required for WIFI Adafruit QT Py ESP32-S3 to work?

[dastels]

I'm looking on the datasheet (https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/product-f ... eet_en.pdf) and see this:
Current delivered by external power supply as a minimum of 0.5A (i.e. 500mA) (pg 42).
Also I see that current consumption while transmitting on Wifi ranges between 283 and 340 mA (pg 44).

Dave

[sharlyaragon]

thanks for your help, I change my connections following this diagram: https://wiki.dfrobot.com/Solar_Power_Ma ... ar%20Panel and it works now.