Esp32 Tutorial 1 :How to Blink an LED with ESP32 on GPIO5 (Fast Mode) #esp32tutorial

ESP32 LED Blink on GPIO5 - Fast Flashing Test

This project explains how to make an LED connected to GPIO5 of an ESP32 board blink rapidly using the Arduino IDE. The blinking interval is set to 100 milliseconds, which creates a fast on-off visual effect. This test is simple but very helpful for verifying GPIO functionality and confirming the board is operating as expected.

Parts required:

ESP32 DevKit V1 board (30-pin or 38-pin version)

One LED

One resistor between 220 ohms and 1 kilo-ohm

Breadboard and jumper wires

A USB data cable (not a charge-only cable)

Arduino IDE with ESP32 board support installed

Wiring instructions:

Connect the long leg of the LED (anode) to GPIO5 through the resistor. Connect the short leg (cathode) of the LED to one of the GND pins on the ESP32. Make sure the LED is not connected in reverse, as this will prevent it from lighting up.

Setting up Arduino IDE:

Open the Arduino IDE and add the ESP32 board support by inserting the correct URL into the Additional Board Manager URLs section under Preferences. Then, install the ESP32 board definitions through the Board Manager. Select the correct board type (ESP32 Dev Module) and the correct COM port. After setting up, upload your sketch to the board.

If you see a message saying the board failed to connect, you can press and hold the BOOT button on the ESP32 while uploading. Release it once the upload starts.

Expected behavior:

After uploading the sketch, the LED connected to GPIO5 should begin blinking quickly, turning on and off every 100 milliseconds. If the LED does not blink, check the wiring and polarity. Make sure the resistor value is not too high. If the LED still does not respond, try using a different GPIO such as GPIO2 or GPIO4.

Why GPIO5:

GPIO5 is a safe and commonly used general-purpose pin on the ESP32. It is not reserved for internal functions and does not interfere with boot modes. It is suitable for digital output applications like controlling LEDs, relays, or other logic-level devices.

Further improvements:

You can adjust the blinking speed by changing the delay value. You can also try using multiple LEDs or add a button to control the LED. Later, you can create a Wi-Fi-based LED controller using the ESP32’s built-in network capabilities. This is a great starting point for learning both hardware and embedded programming.

Keywords:

ESP32, LED, GPIO5, Arduino IDE, digital output, fast blink, breadboard project, beginner electronics, microcontroller