#7 Flash ESP-01 easily with your NodeMCU

Flash your ESP-01 modules as easily as you do with a NodeMCU. No more button pressing. For this tutorial you need only few jumper wires and a NodeMCU.

I think this is the easiest way to flash programs to an ESP-01

You can also flash to other modules with your NodeMCU. We use here as an example the new Sonoff TH16 WiFi socket.

Actually we're not using the the ESP8266 microcontroller of the NodeMCU at all. We are ignoring it. We just make use of the build-in USB-to-serial converter of the nodeMCU and its splendid auto-uploading features.

I googled a little and as I didn't find anyone that would have done this before. Probably someone has as the idea is so simple. Anyhow I decided to make a short video of it.

As an example project we make a wireless thermostat that uses an I2C bus through the Sonoff's 2.5mm data socket, a PCF8574 I/O pin expander and a RFM95 radio module (that has an SX1276 radio chip on it).

Plenty of additional information on our system can be found here:

[mradler]

Thank you so much Miika - this finally worked. Note that in your video you show the connection settings in Arduino IDE to connect to a NodeMCU (12E). To get blink to actually work I had to set this in the IDE to a "Generic ESP8266 Module", set LED_BuiltIn to 1 and select the flash size 512kb FS: 64kb.

[sjkba]

Thanks for this! I spent all day yesterday trying to figure this out and your sketch got me up and running immediately!

[kdpba]

Thank you! This video FINALLY helped me get my devices set up and working. I had tried using an Arduino Uno, a CH340 USB programmer and several other setups using a voltage divider and I honestly thought my devices were bad. I had no even considered I could use NodeMCU for this task. I have been working every night for weeks on this. Finally I this solution. I did have to set up a separate power supply using a 3 volt regulator. I moved on to flashing and actually wiped out everything by mistake but it was a good mistake because I then learned how to flash the latest firmware using the official tool. The documentation for this device is outstanding. Thank you again.

[liveen]

this voice is weirdly calming, I like it!

[TitanGamesTV]

OMG! Thank you so much! I was trying this with my Arduino nano for eternity and your video really saved me a lot of trouble.

[spacefolder]

Thanks Miika for such wonderfull, informative, easy to follow, and "cozy" videos. Cheers!

[moridin]

Great video! Like your description says, I havent seen other tutorials like this either out on the web or here on YouTube. So thanks for recording this and sharing!

[tusharpc]

Thank you SO MUCH, because of your perfect tutorial I have my Esp-12S board running!

[albertoroura]

Thank you so much!!! my module is now working :)

[ChannelXY]

With esp01 connected to nodemcu as shown, serial monitor shows garbage. How to fix that?

[RilosRanteS]

could we do this with esp32 nodemcu to esp 32 breakboard?

[adruino]

Thanks a lot! The nodemcu works perfect, but the esp01 do not blink after the sketch was flashed.


But the following solution works fine: Chance the "Buildin LED" option in the Arduino IDE from 2 to 1. Now everything works well!


Thanks

[vis]

Great it works with Lua firmware upload also!! Best option!

[pacsmile]

I tried everything shown here, and it works perfectly, just had to change some values on the arduino IDE to match the flash memory on my esp-01.
Now i have a weird problem, any program i upload using this method stays with a 74880 bps serial speed, i found out that speed by trial and error, any suggestions on what i could look into to solve that?.

[MrJirschiDD]

Hi Miika, I like your videos on Youtube. Great stuff!But the blink example of video #7 doesn't work with on my ESP-1 flashing via my ESP-12F. There exist the issue "Blink Example won't blink #2192"

[zsoltkallos]

"Sorry man i hate your tone of voice and how you are speaking."

[lescarneiro]

Thank you so freaking much! I lost my Friday night and most of this Saturday trying to finally tasmotize my first ESP-01 with that hacked pushbutton on a ESP-01 USB module with CH340 and with an FTDI using that voltage divider crap with no luck... Was almost giving up and sticking to just use NodeMCUs and you now took them to a new level! THANK YOU! Fisrt ESP-01 finally tasmotized!

[luigidalessio]

Thank you so much! I was going crazy while trying to program ESP-01 using una usb adapter and you save my time and my head! :) Cheers!

[rickybobbyracing]

You kinda of sounds like Dracula :). But joking aside, great video, this helped me a bunch!

[saikatd]

Make video on nodemcu connect to esp12f module.. please