ESP8266 crash reading from serial

Projects Programming
1

Hello, I have this portion of code from this library GitHub - MHassanNadeem/WatchPower: Arduino compatible driver for WatchPower (OptiSolar, VoltronicPower etc) Solar Intervers

		HardwareSerial* refSer;
		refSer->begin(2400);
		uint16_t bytesRead;
		char inputBuffer[256];
		bytesRead =  refSer->readBytesUntil('\r', inputBuffer, sizeof(inputBuffer)-1);

but when executed the ESP8266 keep crashing, can somebody help me?

thank you
Alberto

2

Did you ask the library author?

Also please read

3

yes, he didn't answer yet

4

think you need to create the HardwareSerial object before calling member functions

    HardwareSerial* refSer;
    refSer = new HardwareSerial(2);
    refSer->begin(2400);
5

tried, no luck

6

What is the error? Does it crash with a watchdog timer timeout? If so you may need a shorter timeout on the serial read. The readBytesUntil() will wait until there is data or the serial timeout.

7

Any error message?
Does it work on other controllers (i.e. UNO)?

Increase your baudrate on the serial to avoid esp8266 watchdog timer issues might be something to try.

9

this works on a ESP32 NodeMCU

// ESP32 example using HardwareSerial library to access Serial port 2 (pins 16 and 17)

#define SERIAL_BAUD 115200

HardwareSerial* refSer;

void setup() {
  //Initialize serial port 0
  Serial.begin(SERIAL_BAUD);
  delay(2000);
  Serial.println("ESP32 HardwareSerial test port 2 pins 16 and 17");
  //Initialize serial port 2
  refSer = new HardwareSerial(2);
  refSer->begin(SERIAL_BAUD, SERIAL_8N1);
}

void loop() {
  while (refSer->available() > 0) {
    uint8_t byteFromSerial = refSer->read();
    Serial.write(byteFromSerial);
  }
  while (Serial.available() > 0) {
    uint8_t byteFromSerial1 = Serial.read();
    refSer->write(byteFromSerial1);
  }
}

serial monitor displays

08:46:35.119 -> ESP32 HardwareSerial test port 2 pins 16 and 17
08:46:43.696 -> test1
08:46:48.940 -> rest 2
08:46:53.331 -> 1234567890
08:46:58.033 -> abcdefgh
10

test using ESP8266 ESP12E transmit using serial 1 pin 17 (D4) TXD1
note: no RXD1 pin available

// ESP8266 example using HardwareSerial library to transmit using Serial port 1 pins TXD1 17 (no RXD1)

#define SERIAL_BAUD 115200

HardwareSerial* refSer;

void setup() {
  //Initialize serial port 0
  Serial.begin(SERIAL_BAUD);
  delay(2000);
  Serial.println("\nESP8266 HardwareSerial transmit test port 1 pin TXD1 17");
  //Initialize serial port 1
  refSer = new HardwareSerial(1);
  refSer->begin(SERIAL_BAUD, SERIAL_8N1);
}

void loop() {
  while (refSer->available() > 0) {
    uint8_t byteFromSerial = refSer->read();
    Serial.write(byteFromSerial);
  }
  while (Serial.available() > 0) {
    uint8_t byteFromSerial1 = Serial.read();
    Serial.write(byteFromSerial1);
    refSer->write(byteFromSerial1);
  }
}

ESP8266 serial monitor

09:16:19.888 -> ESP8266 HardwareSerial transmit test port 1 pin TXD1 17
09:19:20.191 -> esp8266 test 1
09:19:26.044 -> test2
09:19:30.640 -> 1234567890
09:19:35.582 -> abcdefghijk

connected to ESP32 for test output

ESP32 HardwareSerial test port 2 pins 16 and 17
esp8266 test 1
test2
1234567890
abcdefghijk
11

I think I have solved it, had to change a function:

before:

uint16_t WatchPower::readLine(char *buffer, uint16_t length){
    if(length < 1) return 0;

    uint16_t bytesRead = refSer->readBytesUntil('\r', buffer, length - 1);
    buffer[bytesRead] = 0;

    return bytesRead;
}

after:

uint16_t WatchPower::readLine(char *buffer, uint16_t length){
    if(length < 1) return 0;
    uint16_t bytesRead;
    buffer[bytesRead] = 0;
    while (refSer->available() > 0) {
        bytesRead = refSer->readBytesUntil('\x0D', buffer, length - 1);
  	}
    return bytesRead;
}

thank you for the suggestions..