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Prerequisites~
- But then, one of them got crippled: when plugged to USB, RX TX & PWR leds are ON, not blinking and the computer doesn't detect it (checked via About this Mac System Report USB: no serial). On the other hand, the remained safe one is still recognised and works properly (so it shouldn't be anything dealing with drivers).
- Inside the big USB plug is a USBSerial conversion chip and at the end of the 36' cable are four wire - red power, black ground, white RX into USB port, and green TX out of the USB port. The power pin provides the 5V @ 500mA direct from the USB port and the RX/TX pins are 3.3V level for interfacing with the most common 3.3V logic level chipsets.
- Serial driver: Zywyn ZT213LEEA: Unique chipID no. Yes, each converter has it own unique ID number which can be accessed by the user with the D2XX driver programmers guide. RS232 Interface: RS232 DB9 Male: RS232 output power 5.7VDC: Cable length: 3 feet: USB interface: Standard Type A Male: Indication LEDs: TX, RX and Power: Ports: 1-port: Signals.
Needed Hardware~
ESP8266 or ESP8285 Device
Flash ESP-01 using USB to TTL CH340G Converter Module Adapter. Using TTL CH340G adapter to program ESP is the same as the process we had discussed above. RX should be connected to TX and TX to RX. Just dont forget to always use 3.3v to power up the ESP. Again we need to select the right Board. Sparkfun USB to Serial Breakout FT232RL: This is the most versatile FTDI board on this list as it provides added features such as RX/TX LEDs to show bus activity, 3.3V, and 5V access, along with more advanced pin functionality of the FT232 chip (which aren't needed for this tutorial but can be useful for other serial applications).
Any variation of the ESP8266 chip can be flashed with Tasmota.
Serial-to-USB Adapter
The power supplied to the device is one of the most important elements for both flashing the device and for stable operation. You must ensure that the device receives sufficient power (current AND appropriate voltage level) to properly flash the firmware on the device.
- CH340G is a reliable and very cheap adapter (example 1, 2).
- FTDI FT232 - these adapters have a lot of fakes in the market so buy only from reliable sources (example). Buy only the variant with a separate 3.3V regulator on PCB!
- CP2102 or PL2303 - works with certain devices, but using an external 3.3V supply might be necessary. Not recommended for beginners!
- RaspberryPi - only for advanced users. External 3.3V supply necessary.
- NodeMCU and D1 mini (Pro/Lite) boards have a micro USB upload port and don't require an adapter.
Note
Don't forget to install drivers for your serial-to-USB adapter.
Danger
Some adapters can be switched between 3.3V and 5V for the data pins, but still provide 5V on the power pin which will fry your device. You MUST make sure both the data and VCC pins are set for 3.3V.
Soldering Tools
To solder you'll of course need a soldering iron, soldering tin and some flux. If you're new to soldering check out some soldering tutorial videos while you're at it.
If you're intimidated by soldering you could get away with holding the headers with jumper wires in the pin holes during flashing but it is not a fool proof process and flashing might fail.
Jumper wires
You could use any kind of wire but jumper wires (also called DuPont wires) are more practical than soldering and desoldering.
Pin Headers
Pin headers come in male or female version. Choose according to your jumper wire connectors.
Computer with Linux, Windows or MacOS
You need a computer with a USB port to upload the firmware to your device and configure it.
Smartphone
Tasmota installed from a precompiled binary needs to be configured to work with your Wi-Fi network before you can access the Tasmota web UI. This is usually done by connecting to a Tasmota Wi-Fi Access Point with your smartphone (or tablet or computer with Wi-Fi).
Needed Software~
Tasmota Firmware Binary
Download a Tasmota firmware binary file (.bin). If you're not sure which binary is the right one for you just start with
tasmota.bin
or consult the builds table to see which features you need. Official release binaries can be downloaded from GitHub releases or from our OTA server.
Latest development branch binaries are available only from our OTA server. The latest merged development code is compiled hourly.
Flashing Tool
- Tasmotizer - NEW flashing and firmware download tool just for Tasmota. (Windows, Linux or Mac)
- Tasmota PyFlasher - flashing tool intended for Tasmota. (Windows or Mac)
- NodeMCU PyFlasher - easy to use GUI flasher based on esptool.py. (Windows or Mac)
- Esptool.py - the official flashing tool from Espressif. (Requires Python)
- Esptool executable - Esptool in executable form, no Python required. (Windows, Linux or Mac)
Serial Terminal
Tx Power Rx Usb To Serial Driver Windows 10
A program that connects to your Tasmota device directly over the serial connection you used to flash it.
This is an optional way to configure your device using Commands and Backlog.
- Termite - simple terminal for windows
- Termie - open source clone of Termite
- Putty - popular client available on every platform
- Minicom - one of many Linux terminals
Tip
Enable local echo so that you can see what is typed and transmitted to the device. Enable Append CR+LF since every request needs to end with
<CR><LF>
. MQTT Knowledge~
Tasmota is designed to be controlled and communicate via MQTT. To use it to its fullest potential you need an MQTT broker.
Read our article on MQTT to learn why it is essential in Tasmota.
Compiling Tools (Optional)~
If you want to modify the code or default settings and compile your own Tasmota firmware.
Hardware Preparation~
We need to connect to the serial programming interface of the ESP8266 chip. This is done by connecting our serial-to-USB converter TX and RX pins to the ESP8266 RX and TX pins and powering the chip with the 3.3V and GND pins.
In most cases those pins are available on the PCB in the form of pin holes or solder pads but pin headers or jumper wires need to be soldered or otherwise applied. In some cases you will need to solder wires directly on the chip's pins which requires some experience and good soldering equipment.
BEWARE!
DO NOT CONNECT DEVICES TO MAINS POWER WHILE THE COVER IS OPEN AND CIRCUIT BOARD IS EXPOSED!!!
NEVER TRY TO FLASH WHILE YOUR DEVICE IS CONNECTED TO MAINS POWER!!!
YOU CAN BE ELECTROCUTED IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!
If you are not careful, your own health will be in danger. Shorting your serial interface with mains AC power will fry your device and serial adapter and will also harm or destroy your computer. It is important to always have all mains power cables disconnected from the device while being connected via serial or even while the case of the device is opened.
Serial Connection~
Each device has its pins labelled differently. If the labelling isn't visible on the PCB please refer to the devices flashing guide or search the Internet for correct pin locations. Device specific instructions and restrictions are documented in the Tasmota Device Templates Repository
When you have identified pins on your device, connect wires according to the table:
Serial adapter | ESP8266 device |
---|---|
3V3 | 3V3 or VCC |
TX | RX |
RX | TX |
GND | GND |
Note that TX from your adapter goes to RX on the ESP8266 device and RX from adapter goes to TX on the device!
Serial Connection using NODEMCU ESP8266
You can use the USB-to-serial adaptor of a NODEMCU (and probably other ESP8266 boards with a serial chip). You do not need to overwrite the existing firmware of your NODEMCU so it can be done using one already pre-installed with Tasmota - when you unplug and reset the NODEMCU it will revert to its previous state.
Simply connect the EN pin to ground to prevent the ESP8266 chip on your NODEMCU from starting. Then connect as a normal USB-to-serial except connect TX to TX and RX to RX, ie no crossover required.
NODEMCU | ESP8266 device |
---|---|
3V3 | 3V3 or VCC |
RX | RX |
TX | TX |
GND | GND |
Programming Mode~
ESP8266 needs to be put into programming mode or flash mode before the firmware can be uploaded. This is done by pulling the GPIO0 pin to GND while the chip is booting.
On most devices the installed control button is connected to GPIO0 and GND, making entering Programming Mode very easy. On others you will need to bridge the pins on the PCB or directly on the chip with a jumper wire. Device specific instructions are documented in Tasmota Device Templates Repository.
To put the ESP8266 into Programming Mode:
- Disconnect serial-to-USB adapter and power
- Bridge GPIO0 and GND (by pressing the on-board button or connection with a wire)
- Connect the serial-to-USB adapter to your computer
- After a few seconds disconnect GPIO0 from GND (release button or remove the wire connection). On devices that do not provide the GPIO0 connected button, it may be easier to leave the wired bridge in place throughout the entire flashing process (erase & upload). Doing so will not create any problems. After the firmware is uploaded successfully, remove the bridge. This allows the device to boot normally.
You can test whether your device is in Programming Mode by attempting to read information from the ESP82xx chip. This requires
esptool.py
. Instructions on installing and using esptool
are provided below. For example (COM5
will be your COM port): esptool.py -p COM5 read_mac
(It should read the MAC address. It may fail afterwards during Uploading and running a 'stub'. This is normal.)esptool.py -p COM5 flash_id
If everything went well, you are now in Programming Mode and ready to continue with flashing. If the flashing process is unable to start, disconnect the device and retry the steps.
Common Mistakes~
- Wire connections and solder joints - Double check all connections and also check for solder overflow.
- Use a USB data cable - Some USB cables are for charging only and do not connect the data lines needed to load the firmware onto the device.
- Insufficient power delivered over the serial-to-USB adapter. This leads to flashing failures or corrupted flash altogether. Supply more power with a separate 3.3V power supply or get an adapter with a better power supply. Be sure all DC voltages use the same GND reference.
- Recheck your serial-to-USB adapter so to ensure that it supplies 3.3V voltage and NOT 5V. 5V will damage the ESP chip!
- Releasing GPIO0 button/wire before booting is finished - It is safe to leave GPIO0 connected to GND during the entire programming process (erase & upload). Just be sure to remove the GPIO0 to GND bridge before booting the device for regular operation.
- Make sure that the RX pin is connected to the TX pin between the serial adapter and your ESP device, and vice versa.
- Erase the flash memory first and cycle power afterwards before uploading the Tasmota firmware binary. Not erasing can leave behind remnants of the previous flash contents which can interfere with the new firmware operation.
Flashing~
If you have followed Hardware preparation, your device should be in Flash Mode and ready for a Tasmota firmware binary file to be flashed. For that you need a flashing tool.
Tip
You may want to back up the device manufacturer's firmware on the one in a million chance you don't like Tasmota.
Tasmotizer!~
Tasmotizer! is specifically designed for use with Tasmota with an easy to use GUI and esptool.py under the hood.
Download the latest release for your platform. In Windows just double click the downloaded file and it'll start, no installation required. For python follow the installation instructions.
Note
If you get an anti-virus infection warning don't fret, it is a known false positive. If you're still apprehensive you can always run the Python version.
It is time to Tasmotize!
- Connect your device to the serial-to-USB adapter or plug in NodeMCU/D1 mini.
- Check whether the correct serial port (COM or tty port) is selected. Tasmotizer! will try its best to select the right one for you.
- Choose Tasmota firmware binary:
- BIN file - browse to the Tasmota firmware binary you downloaded or compiled.
- Release - select from a list of available release binaries
- Development - select from a list of latest development binaries
- optional Backup the original device firmware
- Erase flash
Danger
Leave Erase before flashing checked if it is the first time flashing Tasmota on the device or you're experiencing issues with the existing flash and need to do a full erase. If you're upgrading an already flashed Tasmota and wish to keep your settings, uncheck Erase before flashing.
- Click Tasmotize and wait until done.
If the flash was successful it will display:
Unplug your serial programming adapter or device and plug it back in or connect to another power source.
You can use Send Config Tasmotizer! button for the initial configuration of your device instead of webUI.
esptool.py~
Esptool is the official Espressif tool for flashing ESP8266 chips. It requires Python, if you do not have an installed copy of Python 2.x or 3.x download and install it from https://www.python.org.
Download the esptool Source code to a folder of your choice. Go to the folder and install Esptool with command
Upload Tasmota
Make sure you followed the steps to put your device in flash mode. Place your chosen firmware binary file in the same folder as esptool.py.
Esptool uses the serial interface to communicate with your device. On Windows these interfaces are named COM1, COM2, etc. and on Linux they are named /dev/ttyUSB0, /dev/ttyUSB1, etc. Before using esptool, make sure you know which serial port your programming adapter is connected to.
![Driver Driver](https://assets.tripplite.com/large-image/usa19hs-other03-l.jpg)
The following use
COM5
as an example. Change COM5
with your serial port designation.Ensure the device is in flash mode before each step.
Backup Firmware (optional step)
Backup the current firmware with the following command:
When the command completes the device is not in flash mode anymore. Repeat the process of putting your device in programming mode.
Erase Flash Memory
Erase the complete flash memory holding the firmware with the following command:
It only takes a few seconds to erase 1M of flash.
When the command completes the device is not in flash mode anymore. Repeat the process of putting your device in programming mode.
Upload Firmware
3com homeconnect usb camera xp driver. Load the chosen Tasmota firmware file with the following command (e.g.,
tasmota.bin
in this example):Unplug your serial programming adapter or your device and plug it back in or connect to another power source. Your device is now ready for Initial configuration.
For proper device initialization after the firmware upload completes, power down and power up the device.
Esptool Executable~
The executable version of esptool is maintained by Ivan Grokhotkov and releases are kept at https://github.com/igrr/esptool-ck/releases. Supports Linux, Linux ARM, Windows 32-bit and Mac
First Step
For the purpose of simplicity only the Windows version will be explained here, but the commands and parameters are the same for Windows, Linux and Mac.
Download the latest release of Esptool-CK and extract the compressed file to a folder of your choice.
Place your chosen firmware binary file (e.g.,
tasmota.bin
in the example below) in the same folder as Esptool-CK to simplify the process.The following commands use
COM5
as an example. Change COM5
with your port designation.Ensure the device is in flash mode before each step.
Erase Flash Memory
Upload firmware
Once the erase is complete, put device back into programming mode and upload the firmware
Unplug your serial programming adapter or your device and plug it back in or connect to another power source. Your device is now ready for Initial configuration.
For proper device initialization after the firmware upload completes, power down and power up the device.
OTA Conversion
Tasmota is NOT a developer of these tools. For help and troubleshooting you will need to get support from those projects.
- Tuya-Convert - easy OTA flash for devices with Tuya chips, no disassembly required
- Sonoff DIY - OTA flash for select Sonoff devices (some disassembly required)
You've successfully flashed your device with a downloaded binary of Tasmota but now you need to connect the tasmotised device to your Wi-Fi network.
Initial Configuration~
Using Web UI~
Configure Wi-Fi
Tasmota provides a wireless access point for easy Wi-Fi configuration.
If you flashed using Tuya Convert this is the only option to set up your device.
Connect your device to a power source and grab your smartphone (or tablet or laptop or any other web and Wi-Fi capable device). Search for a Wi-Fi AP named tasmota_XXXXXX-#### (where XXXXXX is a string derived from the device's MAC address and #### is a number) and connect to it. In this example the Wi-Fi AP is named tasmota_3D5E26-7718.
When it connects to the network, you may get a warning that there is no Internet connection and be prompted to connect to a different network. Do not allow the mobile device to select a different network.
Warning
Wi-Fi manager server is active for only 3 minutes. If you miss the window you might have to disconnect your device from power and reconnect.
After you have connected to the Tasmota Wi-Fi AP, open http://192.168.4.1 in a web browser on the smartphone (or whatever device you used). Depending on the phone, it will take you to the Tasmota configuration page automatically, or you will get a prompt to sign in to Wi-Fi network or authorize. Tapping on the AP name should also open the configuration page.
At this page you can have Tasmota scan for available Wi-Fi networks. Select the right network from the list or enter the following:
AP1 SSid - your Wi-Fi network name
SSID's are case sensitive
SSID's are case sensitive
AP1 Password - password for your Wi-Fi AP
Wi-Fi password has to be under 32 characters and without special characters (e.g. asterisks) or white spaces
Wi-Fi password has to be under 32 characters and without special characters (e.g. asterisks) or white spaces
Recommended:
AP2 SSid - alternative Wi-Fi network SSID
AP2 Password - password for your alternative Wi-Fi AP
AP2 SSid - alternative Wi-Fi network SSID
AP2 Password - password for your alternative Wi-Fi AP
Click the checkbox to see the password you enter to ensure that it is correct and that your mobile device has not inadvertently capitalized the first letter if it is supposed to be lower case nor autocorrected what you entered. ~~Double~~ Triple check the Wi-Fi credentials and click on Save to apply the settings. The device will restart and connect to your home network. The tasmota_XXXXXX-#### network will not longer be present. Therefore your smartphone will automatically be disconnected and should connect back to its data network.
Tip
If you're not using a second Wi-Fi network you can enter an SSID without a password you can connect to as a backup in case something went wrong with your Wi-Fi credentials.
Configure MQTT
Look in your router for a newly connected device with the same name as the Wi-Fi access point. In our example it is tasmota_3D5E26-7718.
tasmota_XXXXXX
is also the firmware default MQTT topic for that deviceIf you don't have access to your router you can find your newly flashed device with an IP scanner:
- Fing - for Android or iOS
- Angry IP Scanner - open source for Linux, Windows and Mac. Requires Java.
- Super Scan - Windows only too (free)
- Tasmota Device Locator - Browser-based
Open the IP address with your web browser and you have full access to Tasmota.
Now is the time to set up MQTT and the last remaining, but equally important, step:
Configure Template or Module
Configure your device using Templates in Configuration - Configure Template or Modules in Configuration - Configure Module.
Your device running Tasmota is now ready to be controlled.
Check out all the supported devices in Tasmota Device Templates Repository
Configure Other (optional)
Configure your device name which is displayed in webUI and used for Home Assistant autodiscovery.
Configure web admin password for the webUI. Default username is
admin
. This type of security is rudimentary since Tasmota doesn't use HTTPS, do not expose your device outside of your local network.Using Serial Terminal~
If you flashed the device using serial-to-USB adapter (or it is a NodeMCU/D1 mini) you can take advantage of the existing connection and configure your device over the serial connection using Commands.
First you will need a Serial Terminal program.
In this example Termite on Windows is used.
Download Termite and extract the .exe file, no installation necessary. Connect your serial-to-USB adapter or NodeMCU/D1 mini to the computer.
Usb Serial Controller Driver Tx Power Rx Free Programs 2017
Open Termite and set it to the proper COM port (Termite selects the first available port by default). Set Baud rate to 115200 and Forward to none.
Usb Serial Controller Driver Tx Power Rx Free Programs Free
Connect your device to the serial-to-USB adapter. You should see the initial boot output in Termite. If your screen is empty type
status
in the bottom command bar and hit enter. If you get a return message from your device similar to the one displayed under purple status
you're all set.To configure Tasmota you need to issue commands, some commands will reboot your device and to avoid that we will use the
Backlog
command feature.Usb Serial Controller Driver Tx Power Rx Free Programs Download
Configure your Wi-Fi network and a secondary Wi-Fi network
Device will restart and connect to your network. It will display your devices newly assigned IP. Direct your web browser to that IP address to access the Web UI for further configuration and contol.
Configure MQTT broker address, MQTT credentials, unique device topic and OTA url to the latest official release
Tip
Keep your personal configuration in a text file and simply copy and paste the backlog commands to a newly flashed device.
After Configuration~
Your device is connected to your network and to the MQTT broker. One last thing to do is configure your device using Templates in Configuration - Configure Template or Modules in Configuration - Configure Module.
Tx Power Rx Usb To Serial Driver
Check out all the supported devices in Tasmota Device Templates Repository
Warning
If you experience power fluctuations in your power grid its best to immediately disable Power Cycle Recovery feature with command
SetOption65 1
immediately or you might end up with firmware defaults on your device.Commands and Backlog are powerful and in time you can learn to configure almost everything (NTP servers, longitude and latitude, custom device options, etc) with a few copy and paste moves.