ESP32 P4 dev kit quick start

[Chris Savage]

I'm at work, but wanted to mention that I was up until 1:45AM messing around with this thing. I do have follow-up information, but I am going to post it later with photos and videos, which I will be sorting today and then editing later. I will say this for Jeff. When put back in the original position, the unit failed after ~30 minutes. More to come after much photo / video editing. 

[Jeff_T]

It sounds like you have made an important discovery I am intrigued to know whether it is something that can be fixed permanently.

I am also interested to know whether it is a display, dev board or wiring problem.

Whatever it turns out to be you must be feeling confident that if you need to go to Waveshare you will be able to point to an issue that they have an obligation to put right.

[Chris Savage]

It sounds like you have made an important discovery I am intrigued to know whether it is something that can be fixed permanently.

I'm sorry...I don't think this is going to be as exciting as you'd hoped.

I am also interested to know whether it is a display, dev board or wiring problem.

I did not yet test the board alone. I am going to do that tomorrow evening, since I ran out of time. It took a long time to get what I got. Clearly there is an issue though.

[Jeff_T]

Well I would definitely remove everything connected to the display and try running a serial print or a blink led sketch and do the same with the scope.

I hooked up a scope with the same demo sketch and got

for the 5v : min 5.09 max 5.25 avg 5.17
for the 3.3v : min 3.68 max 5.76 avg 3.68

I used dupont wires brought out to the front to hook up the leads so I was getting a little ripple.

I didn't see where the loss of voltage triggered on your scope either time.

[Chris Savage]

Yeah, it's very strange. Moreso that it ran for  1-1/2 hours standing on end, and perhaps more, but I had to get to bed, so was unable to let it run any more. In my haste last night, I forgot to reply to the last support message from Waveshare, so I will do that when I get home and see what they say. Sometimes these things happen.

[Chris Savage]

So, I got a reply from Waveshare on April 3 (5 days ago). It said:

I've received your first email. We'll arrange a test to see if we can produce your problem.

That's the reply I got the first time I contacted them. They're acting like I am contacting them for the first time! We're going in circles! So far I am very disappointed with their technical support. It seems like each time I do what they ask and reply, they don't read the previous messages to see what has already been done! 

[granz]

So, I got a reply from Waveshare on April 3 (5 days ago). It said:

I've received your first email. We'll arrange a test to see if we can produce your problem.

That's the reply I got the first time I contacted them. They're acting like I am contacting them for the first time! We're going in circles! So far I am very disappointed with their technical support. It seems like each time I do what they ask and reply, they don't read the previous messages to see what has already been done! 

Try including the entire chain of your e-mails, and their responses (as the quote above.) See if that helps any - unless that is what you have already been doing.

[Chris Savage]

Try including the entire chain of your e-mails, and their responses (as the quote above.) See if that helps any - unless that is what you have already been doing.

That's what I have been doing. I don't think they scroll down in the e-mail. It reminds me of when I was in Tech Support. I would ask several questions to save back and forth, and people would reply to the last thing I asked, and I would have to ask all the other questions over several e-mails anyway. In this case, we're back to the beginning...

[granz]

Try including the entire chain of your e-mails, and their responses (as the quote above.) See if that helps any - unless that is what you have already been doing.

That's what I have been doing. I don't think they scroll down in the e-mail. It reminds me of when I was in Tech Support. I would ask several questions to save back and forth, and people would reply to the last thing I asked, and I would have to ask all the other questions over several e-mails anyway. In this case, we're back to the beginning...

I kind of figured that you might have been doing that (thus the "Rolls Eyes" icon ( ) - like you have mentioned, some more emoticons could make it easier to communicate. But I do understand that that would make extra work for you.)

[Chris Savage]

I kind of figured that you might have been doing that (thus the "Rolls Eyes" icon ( ) - like you have mentioned, some more emoticons could make it easier to communicate. But I do understand that that would make extra work for you.)

Extra work and extra time. We're going in circles. I have had this happen with tech support for other companies as well, and for the same reasons. The tech answering the e-mail changes every time and so they start at the top of their script, instead of checking to see what has already been covered. I got a response last night, but haven't had the chance to check it out yet. I will follow up after I read it.

[Chris Savage]

Okay, so here's the update. A sales person has opted to just send me a replacement. Knowing that I planned on placing a second order, and to save on shipping, they're going to send the replacement with my order. So perhaps this issue is solved. We shall see after I get the details.

[Jeff_T]

That's good to hear, fingers crossed.

[granz]

Hopefully this new one works properly.

Since it seems to be heat-related, can you use an IR viewer/camera to try to localize the trouble. Maybe a good heat sink could help. Or, maybe try running it at a lower clock speed (if that is an option.)

[Chris Savage]

Hopefully this new one works properly. Since it seems to be heat-related, can you use an IR viewer/camera to try to localize the trouble. Maybe a good heat sink could help. Or, maybe try running it at a lower clock speed (if that is an option.)

We have a Flir at work. I will take the unit to work once I receive the replacement and see if I can see anything obvious. I know I don't trust this unit at this point.

[Chris Savage]

Earlier today I placed my order as the sales person suggested. However, I was not offered an opportunity to put in the note he requested. When it got to payment information, after I confirmed it, the order was just placed!

So, now I don't know if he will get my email before the unit ships. Hard to say what will happen now. I guess we'll wait and see. As usual, I will post an update as soon as I know.