ESP-12F(ESP8266MOD) module programming

ESP 8266 based IoT modules can be purchased from aliexpress for as low as 1.3Euros. These cheap wifi modules can be handy for many home automation DIY projects(especially when used with opensource firmware like tasmota).

In this post, you will find an easy way of programming ESP modules by converting wemos-D1-mini development board as a pogo-pin based docking station.

Items needed:
1)Wemos-D1-Mini board
2)8 pogo pins
3)ESP-12F module
4)USB-to-micro-USB cable
5)clip for holding the ESP module on pogo-pin dock.




Preperation:
1)de-solder existing ESP module from the wemos-D1-mini board(this is the most difficult part, you need good soldering skills).

2)carefully solder 8 pogo pins on the exposed ESP pads on the wemos-D1-Mini(TXD0,RXD0,IO0,IO15,GND,VCC,EN,RST)

3)place a fresh ESP module on the newly prepared wemos-D1-dock

4) On your Linux-Host-PC, run following commands to prepare the programming setup.

• cd ~
• git clone https://github.com/espressif/esptool
• cd esptool
• wget http://thehackbox.org/tasmota/release/sonoff.bin

5) Connect  USB-to-MicroUSB cable between Linux-Host-PC and wemod-D1-dock and run to the following command on Linux-Host-PC for erasing ESP-12F flash

• ./esptool.py --port /dev/ttyUSB0 erase_flash 

6) After erase operation, remove and connect the USB cable between host pc and wemos-d1-dock, and run the following command to program tasmota firmware

• ./esptool.py --port /dev/ttyUSB0 write_flash -fs 1MB -fm dout 0x0 sonoff.bin

7) Congratulations! your ESP-12F module is ready for use, check my next blog about using ESP-12F as a standalone board for home automation projects.