Getting started with a Node MCU

A Node MCU is a small prototyping board based around the ESP8266 microcontroller. It has built-in WiFi and several digital general purpose input/output (GPIO) pins, as well as one analog input. In addition it supports serial communication via UART, SPI, and I2C.

Examples

You can use this to talk to other devices, or the Internet/the cloud. You can make "Useless-boxes", robots, plant irrigation systems, beer counter, netflix alert, refrigator monitoring systems, or whatever you put your mind to.

Prerequisites / in the "kit"

• 1x Node MCU prototyping board with ESP8266 microcontroller
• 1x Breadboard (prototyping board)
• 1x LED
• 1x 840 Ohm resistor

Mac

If you are on a mac, you might need to install a USB driver from https://www.silabs.com/products/mcu/Pages/USBtoUARTBridgeVCPDrivers.aspx (direct link)

Setup

• Install and launch the Arduino software from https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software
• Open Preferences and enter http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json into the "Additional Board Manager URLs" field.
• Press OK
• Open Boards Manager from Tools > Board menu. Find and install the esp8266 platform
• Press Close when done
• Physical assemble the circuit
  • Long leg on LED the connects to D4
  • Short leg on the LED connects to a free slot on the end
  • Resistor connects the short LED leg to GND
  • D4 > LED (long leg) > UNUSED/FREE hole in the breadboard > Resistor > GND
  • Make sure that one leg of the resistor and the LED sits on the same column and is not connected to pins on the Node MCU
  • Make sure everything is correct!
  • If the LED does not glow when you run the complete example you can test it by using the 3V3 pin instead of D4. Try turning it around
• Connect your ESP8266 using a suitable USB cable
• Select Tools > Board > NodeMCU 1.0 (…)
• Select Tools > Port > <Your ESP8266 Port> (/dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART on a Mac)
• Type in or copy the program in the ardu.ino file.
• Press Upload
• Connect a device to the WLAN with the SSID ESP826
• Open a browser and enter http://192.168.4.1/. The LED state should change every time you press reload
• Have fun!