Which pins do I use to connect 28BYJ-48 Step motor to ESP32-C3 SuperMini?

Projects General Guidance
1

I'm trying to connect a joystick and a motor wirelessly using 2 ESP32-C3 SuperMinis using ESP-NOW

The LEDs on my 28BYJ-48's ULN board do not light up when I plug in IN ports into pins 1, 2, 3, 4 respectively. I get an LED red solid light from pin 2, but no light from the others. If I re-wire to pins 2, 8, 9, 21 in any order, all the LEDs light up, although changing the code to those numbers doesn't change anything either. I plugged into the opposite ESP board to see if it was a hardware issue, however the same pin problem occurs. This may be same for the joystick on pin 0 however I'm not sure.

I am using ESP-NOW on 2 boards to connect the joystick and motor together and am getting a response from both ends with the code having no issues uploading. I had a look at a generic ESP32-C3 SuperMini pinout but I didn't see what any problem was or why the LED's motor wouldn't turn on. Someone told me that I need to have a look at a different mapping sheet which included PWM, however I couldn't find what I'm looking for

Note, I tested all the components wired together on an Arduino R4 and it worked fine (Pins 8, 9, 10, 11 & A0 for joystick). Many thanks in advance!

// === CONFIGURATION ===
#define IS_SENDER true  // Set to false on motor board
#define joystick 0

// === STEPPER MOTOR CONFIG ===
#define STEPS 32
#define IN1 1
#define IN2 2
#define IN3 3
#define IN4 4

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2

I'm not familiar with the ESP32-C3 SuperMinis but would recommend you double check the pin naming convention. (can you use 1, 2, 3, 4 or should it be D1, D2, ... OR GPIO1... ?)

pert 3

I moved your topic to a more appropriate forum category @ZoroXion.

The Nano Family > Nano ESP32 category you chose is only used for discussions directly related to the Arduino Nano ESP32 board.

In the future, when creating a topic please take the time to pick the forum category that best suits the subject of your question. There is an "About the _____ category" topic at the top of each category that explains its purpose.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

4

Until you solder headers to those boards you are just wasting your time. And potentially damaging the boards in the process. You will never get reliable connections by just sticking dupont connectors through the holes.

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5

Welcome!

Soldering Advice:

It appears from your photo you have many bad or missing solder connections as per @van_der_decken. I recommend getting some materials to practice your soldering skills. Practicing on old boards will allow you to experiment without risking damage to valuable components.

Soldering Tips:

  1. Use the Right Solder: I prefer 60/40 solder with a Rosin core flux because it’s easier to work with. For more information on different types of solder, you can check out this guide: Types of Solder.
  2. Temperature Control Matters: Soldering is a basic skill in electronics, and mastering it is crucial if you plan to continue in this field. While inexpensive irons can melt solder, they often lack the precision needed for good results. Investing in a soldering workstation with temperature control is ideal.
  3. Practice Makes Perfect: Practice on old circuit boards to build your skills without risking damage to your current projects.
  4. Lead-Free Solder Considerations: Note that lead-free solders require higher temperatures, and some older soldering irons may not reach the necessary heat. Ensure your equipment is up to the task.

For additional soldering resources, you can explore this guide: Learning Soldering for Arduino Projects.

7

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I have soldered, still no difference to wiring

8

In response to van_der_decken, I have soldered all headers now but there's no difference to the function of it

9

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If the blue wire is connected to the very first pin of the ESP, that would be pin 0 not pin 1. Thus this:

// === STEPPER MOTOR CONFIG ===
#define STEPS 32
#define IN1 1
#define IN2 2
#define IN3 3
#define IN4 4

Has to be:


// === STEPPER MOTOR CONFIG ===
#define STEPS 32
#define IN1 0
#define IN2 1
#define IN3 2
#define IN4 3
10

have you checked pin naming conventions ?

if you wire a 220Ω resistor and a LED in series on pin 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4

Then check with a simple code

void setup() {
  for (byte i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    pinMode(i, OUTPUT);
    digitalWrite(i, HIGH);
    delay(2000);
  }
}

void loop() {}

do you see the pins turning on one by one from pin 0 to pin 4?

11

Looking at the pictures in post 6 you still have soldering problems. You need to leave the heat there long enough for the solder to flow like water and wet the surrounding metal.

12

That soldering attempt is not fit for purpose and needs to be redone properly.