Generator Stops Providing Power

[talldrin]

Hi,

I set up the ESP32 per the guide and everything seems to be working as it should. I was able to monitor all the data and start and stop the generator from Genmon. The issue I am having is with the generator not supplying power. It will randomly stop providing power to the ESP32. I think it has something to do with the fact that it does not detect that the wifi adapter is plugged in so it just cuts the power. Have you run into this issue? My generator is on a Evolution 2.0 controller.

[JMVS]

Hello. I also have an Evo 2 controller and HAVE NOT run into this problem. Are you sure the controller is cutting power? It sound to me that might be a config thing within ESP32. Maybe try disabling sleep states and WiFi power save mode?
Anyway, you should check the voltage coming out of the controller when you run into this issue. Hope this helps.

[talldrin]

I will try to check the voltage soon, but it does seem to be the controller because once I go into the setting and go through the Wi-Fi setup process on the controller the ESP32 boots back up again. What firmware is your controller running?

[JMVS]

My bad. I think I have the 1.0 controller. Sorry about that.

[gregmac]

Mine looks like that, but according to genmon it's slightly newer:

Firmware Version : V1.16
Hardware Version : V1.06

(I can't figure out how to get to that on the display itself - how'd you do that?)

How do you get the esp32 power back? Have you checked the voltage on the power pins when it happens? If it's 5V that kind of leans toward it being an ESP32 problem.

How are you powering the ESP32 -- USB jack or direct to 5V pin? There are sometimes issues with the 5V pin -- see espressif/arduino-esp32#1494 (comment) for example.

[r00tnix]

I am having the same issue, where after a period of time, the power stops being present on the panel port. I did test it out, and there is no voltage from the Evolution controller. I am also not getting any data either it seems, as nothing but debug lines come in. Any ideas there?

[bpsmicro]

I'm just starting down this road.

I'm seeing the same thing on my Evo 2. A couple of minutes after losing contact with the built-in WiFi, it turns off the power to that connector.
And, from what I can tell, it also turns off the communications because even if I externally powered the ESP32, I'm not getting any data. Unfortunately, this is nearly impossible to troubleshoot sitting out at the generator, so I don't know for sure if the lack of data is because the generator isn't putting out any, or the pins 7/8 aren't used/correct (the built-in WiFi uses 5/6).

I'm going to regroup and make an interface cable that lets me keep the "stock" WiFi adapter working alongside my bridge, since that's an easy thing to test.

Failing that, how might one be able to see if the ESP32 is actually getting/sending data, and how GenMon might show if it's even receiving anything?

[CultClassik]

I just came here with the same issue. I'm building and debugging my serial bridge. Only once did I get power from that port and now I realize it was right after unplugging the built in wifi device. If I come back later I never get power to pin 8. Maybe @bpsmicro is right and I'll try the same. Add two pins for serial data to the existing connector and the run power from a USB adapter connected to the battery for the esp32.

Update: it works. Used a 12v to 5v converter, powered from battery and added the wires for rs232 to the existing generator connector. Now original wires are still intact but not reconnecting it to wifi so that only the genmon bridge is active.