How to power ESP 32 Dev Module

Other Hardware 3rd Party Boards
1

I am using ESP32 Development Module. It is going to be connected to the laptop, but I want it powered up even when its not connected to the laptop.

I have few question.

  1. For my Arduino Nano, I was advised to power it via the 5V pin instead of the Vin pin. Is it the same for ESP32 boards also? Can I feed the regulated power source into the 3.3V pin or does it need to go to Vin only?

  2. When laptop is connected and the power source is also connected, as the two voltages can never be exactly the same, would there be a problem?

2

Sort of, but since the ESP32 controller itself runs at 3.3V, the equivalent would be to power the 3.3V pin from an external 3.3V source.

Yes

No, that would in fact be wrong. The Vin pin needs to be fed with something higher than 3.3V to give the onboard regulator some headroom to do its work. How much higher depends on the specific board you're using.

No, as long as your externally-supplied 3.3V or 5V is stable, there will be no problem.

3

I don't recall why it was advised not to use the Vin on the Nano. Maybe it was because the author of the suggestion did not want to burden the onboard regulator.

I am using a buck convertor which I guess isnt as stable as a linear regulator, so perhaps I should stick with 5V into Vin of ESP32 dev Module?

4

That's the usual argument, yes.

More than stable enough to power your ESP32 board.

That's fine too as long as you don't draw too much current with external modules/devices from the 3.3V net on the ESP32 board.

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