ESP8266 setup

This tutorial will show you how to load ESP Easy firmware onto your ESP8266-12E.  The NodeMCU Dev Board uses the ESP8266-12E; it is the board we sell and support, though there are many different legacy boards available.  You can find a wealth of information at ESP8266 Main Page.

There are two ways to upload ESP Easy firmware onto your ESP8266: Arduino IDE and Flash tool.

Arduino IDE

  1. Download the appropriate software.  This is the executive summary; a more detailed version of this can be found here
    • Install the version 1.6.5 Arduino IDE
    • Run Arduino.exe, select Preferences, and add http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json to the Additional Boards Manager
    • Go to Tools|Boards Manager and find ESP8266.  Install this board.
    • Download ESP Easy
  2. Connect your ESP8266 to your computer with a micro USB cable
  3. Go to Device Manager|Ports and take note of what COM port the ESP8266 uses
  4. Run Arduino IDE, naviage to the ESP Easy folder, and open ESPEasy.ino
  5. Go to Tools|Boards and select NodeMCU that corresponds to your ESP8266 board (likely ESP-12E)
  6. Go to Tools|Port and select the COM port noted in step 3
  7. While depressing the Flash button, depress the Reset button and then release the Flash button
  8. Click Sketch|Upload (or Ctrl+u) to flash the ESP8266

Flash tool

  1. Download ESPEasy Version 78, which comes with three different size .bin files, the flashing tool, and a .cmd file
  2. Connect your ESP8266 to your computer with a micro USB cable
  3. Go to Device Manager|Ports and take note of what COM port the ESP8266 uses
  4. Run flash.cmd.  You will be prompted for:
  5. Flash Tool Prompt You should enter
    Comport (example 3, 4, ..) : Enter the COM port noted in step 3
    Flash Size (example 512, 1024, 4096) : Enter 4096
    Build (example 71, 72, ..) : Enter the version you’ve downloaded
    Press any key to continue . . . Press any key
  6. Hit the reset button on your ESP8266

Your board should now have the latest version of ESP Easy installed. I love these ESP8266.nu guys!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *