FAQs

 I'm going to throw some things here and sort them out later.

First some basics on using the MiniESP3.

George,

I am getting started with the OnStep 4.2.4 (Beta) download to the controller. Can this be accomplished with a simple 9 pin (on the board) adapter to a USB2 plug to my PC?  I am locating one now.

I have downloaded the ASCOM Platform 6.5SP1 to my PC.   I am assuming I only need to download the mount control drivers at this point.  Correct?

Do you have a basic block diagram showing inputs/output for the controller? 

Onstep groups.io indicate that configuration for the Arduino Environment is not necessary for the MaxESP3.  I assume you have already done this.  Is this correct?

What would be the best/type power supply, voltage/amps (assuming I will not be using a battery) 12vdc, 24vdc?  I cannot locate a main power regulator on the board.

I assume the RJ45 stepper motor jacks are already paralleled on the board from the 8 pin to 4 pin for the motors.  How do I ensure the correct wires from the ethernet cable are connected to the proper motor wires?  Wiring diagram?

Are the 4 shunts on the board already in the correct configurations?

Is the 2 pin connector labeled PWR to be used for an on/off switch?

Is the 2 pin connector labeled STA1 for a remote indicator led?

What/when are the 2 mini USB connectors used for?

Is the 3rd RJ45 jack used for an optional hand controller?

I don’t know what the MC switches on the VROOM-32 MP are for.  Resets of some kind?

I am assuming the travel limits for both shafts will be accessible in the Onstep config file.  Correct?

Will the 5 pin serial port be needed or used?

Reply.

Can this be accomplished with a simple 9 pin, No, see USB below.

I have downloaded the ASCOM Platform 6.5SP1 to my PC.   I am assuming I only need to download the mount control drivers at this point.  Correct? The ASCOM drivers are needed for operating the telescope, focuser, rotator, (switch heaters, etc.) and BME280 (barometer sensor.) interfaces. Initially only the telescope interface may be of any use.

Do you have a basic block diagram showing inputs/output for the controller? 

Onstep groups.io indicates that configuration for the Arduino Environment is not necessary for the MiniESP3.  I assume you have already done this.  Is this correct? No, from the Wiki:

"Installing the Arduino IDE

Install the Arduino environment (IDE).  The recent versions seem to be consistently reliable so download the latest but not the "Windows app" version.

Within the Arduino IDE:

You will be using the ESP8266 (WeMos D1 Mini) to run the Smart Web Server (for Wifi) now is a good time to add support for that:

Select File>Preferences "Additional Boards Manager URLs" and add: http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json

Install support for this board from within the menu Tools>Board>Boards Manager.

Use ESP8266 version 2.4.2 (2.7.4 is also thought to be ok)

You are using the ESP32 to run OnStep (or to run the Smart Hand Controller or Smart Web Server):

Select File>Preferences "Additional Boards Manager URLs" and add: https://dl.espressif.com/dl/package_esp32_index.json, then:

Install support for this board from within the menu Tools>Board>Boards Manager.

Use ESP32 version 1.0.4 only."

What would be the best/type power supply, voltage/amps (assuming I will not be using a battery) 12vdc, 24vdc?  I cannot locate the main power regulator on the board. Folks tend to use old laptop 18-20V, 3-5A power supplies. See photo above. Both the D1 mini and the ESP32 have on board regulators for their 3.3V requirements.

I assume the RJ45 stepper motor jacks are already paralleled on the board from the 8 pin to 4 pin for the motors.  Yes.

How do I ensure the correct wires from the ethernet cable are connected to the proper motor wires?  Wiring diagram?

Are the 4 shunts on the board already in the correct configurations? The shunt on J1 is in place of a switch, see Power. ST-4 +5V is only needed to power the SHC, see ST4 Interface. For J9, J10 and H1, see DB9 Connector.

Is the 2 pin connector labeled PWR to be used for an on/off switch? Yes.

Is the 2 pin connector labeled STA1 for a remote indicator led? Status LED 1 provides a one second pulsed signal when the ESP32 is operating. It is mainly used for diagnosis. The AUX 8 function provides One Wire, Tone, Status LEDs 1 & 2 or reticule at the option of the user.

What/when are the 2 mini USB connectors used for? See USB, WiFi.

Is the 3rd RJ45 jack used for an optional hand controller? It's a 6P6C RJ12. See ST4 Interface.

I don’t know what the MC switches on the VROOM-32 MP are for.  Resets of some kind? Yes.

Left of USB is enable, right is boot. During the uploading of OnStep the Arduino IDE will message:

esptool.py v2.6

Serial port COM6

Connecting....

 At this point the Boot switch has to be held closed for a moment and then released to establish the connection. Once connected the flashing goes on until completed.

I am assuming the travel limits for both shafts will be accessible in the Onstep config file.  Yes, see https://onstep.groups.io/g/main/wiki/6-Configuration#MOTION

Will the 5 pin serial port be needed or used? Not for a basic system.

The following is paraphrased from the MaxESP3 Wiki entry.

Power:

The  Mini  ESP3 should be powered from the motor supply.   A switching regulator provides 5V DC to the micro-controller, etc.  This has an input voltage range of 15V to 36VDC (other components limit us to 24VDC however.) 

The power switch header: There is a 2-pin power switch header labeled "J1", this header's pins must be connected together for the PCB to power up.  A switch is not normally used for this build, so a shunt should be placed over the pins.

USB:

The MiniESP3 makes use of the ESP32's Micro-USB port for wired operation and uploading OnStep.  Since power can be brought into the MiniESP3 via. this USB port there is a motor supply protection diode for TMCxxxx drivers included in this design.  This diode (on the PCB bottom under the stepper drivers), 

WiFi:

There is one D1 Mini footprint socket that uses SerialB (at Serial2 and active by default in OnStep) and any of the following can plug in.  This design uses the main serial port at WeMos D1 Mini pins labeled RX and TX.

For the WiFi and Ethernet devices follow these instructions to upload firmware.

WiFi uses either an ESP8266 D1 mini or ESP32 D1 mini. If using an aluminum/metal case a device with provision for external antenna is recommended.

ST4 interface:

The ST4 interface is automatically setup for operation on the correct pins by the configuration file.  You simply have to turn the option on.  If the hand-control option is used additional capabilities become available, read the configuration file for more information.  The 2k resistor network RP1 is for pulling up the ST4 lines to +3.3V and offers better noise immunity than the weak built-in pull-up resistors of the micro-controller.  There is also a pin header near the ST4's RJ12 modular jack labeled "ST4 +5V" (J12) where a shunt can be installed to place 5VDC on pin 1 of the jack (required if using a Smart Hand Controller.)  It is up to you to confirm the electrical compatibility of anything you plug into this port.

Bluetooth:

There is built-in Bluetooth on the ESP32S micro-controller.  This interface can be configured using the settings for SerialC in OnStep's Config.h file.

DB9 Connector (D sub-miniature 9-pin) provides connections for:

Pin 1: Ground

Pin 2: Vsel (3.3V or 5V according to the shunt position labeled "VSEL" near the DB9 connector, J9)

Pin 3: Encoder 1B, encoder input going to the WeMos D1 Mini (pulled up or down according to the shunt position labeled "ENC PULL" between the DB9 and WeMos D1 Mini, J10)

Pin 4: Encoder 2B, encoder input going to the WeMos D1 Mini (as above, shunt position "ENC PULL")

Pin 5: PEC

Pin 6: Aux3, typically used for a Home SW on RA or Azm but can be used any purpose (dew heater for instance, on/off switch, etc.)  If I2C is used this is SDA instead.

Pin 7: Aux4, typically used for a Home SW on Dec or Alt but can be used any purpose (dew heater for instance, on/off switch, etc.)  If I2C is used this is SCL instead.

Pin 8: Encoder 1A, encoder input going to the D1 Mini (as above, shunt position "ENC PULL")

Pin 9: Encoder 2A, encoder input going to the D1 Mini (as above, shunt position "ENC PULL")

The shunt position labeled "VSEL" also controls the pull-up voltage (if shunt position "ENC PULL" is set for pull-up) for Encoder pins 3,4,8,9.

Tips:

The Vsel shunt must be set to 3.3V or 5V, not omitted!

Signals from PEC, AUX3, and AUX4 travel to the main MCU.

The ESP32 is NOT 5V tolerant.

Signals from the Encoder pins travel to the D1 Mini (ESP8266.)

The ESP8266 pins are not 5V tolerant (there was a time a year or three back when most everyone thought its pins were 5V tolerant and we have a long history of using it like it is.)