Problems with roomba 521

[pilot1981]

Hi,
I have roomba 521; I followed your instructions using ESP01S, but I have these problems:

• I don’t get status and battery charge via HA
• on 20 tentatively start via HA:
  • only one roomba started fine
  • only one time roomba main button shutdown led light shut down and roomba go straight at maximum speed, it go in front of wall and it don’t stop, it don’t used front sensor so I had to manually take roomba to stop it
  • other times don’t started
    I see always blu led of ESP blinking....

I already check voltage after bulb converter and on ESP connector: always about 3,3V....

I tried another ESP...

What I have to do?

[pilot1981]

I think there is communication problem: it could be related to PNP transistor, Sto arrivando! You sure electric schematic is correct?

Base PNP pin to pin 4 of roomba OK
Emettitor PNP pin to RX pin of ESP: are you sure?
Collector PNP pin to GND of buck converter: are you sure?

In my opinion, I need to exchange E and C pin of PNP transistor...

[aqualx]

Schema is OK. Everything works as expected with ESP-01. Also you can use ESP8266 ESP-01 ESP01 Serial WiFi Wireless Adapter Module Compatible Serial Module 3.3V 5V Development Board For Arduino instead of PNP transistor.

Only issue with this schema is that there is no possibility to wake-up roomba from sleep while not on dock. This is solved on this schema via pin 5 wiring. Thought wake-up code do not support roomba 500 series, some code changes is needed.

[pilot1981]

@aqualx thanks for reply.

So with suggested module 5V for ESP01 I can attach ESP01 to roomba without PNP transistor and without buck converter? it support also ESP01S?

I have a very strange behaviour...ESP01S , it's ok when I attach it to PC via USB port, so I think this issue could be related to cabling or PNP transistor...I damaged transistor during soldering?

[aqualx]

Buck converter is needed. But with this module you need tune buck converter to 5v instead of 3.3v.
It support any ESP01. ESP-01S is the same as ESP-01, but with 1 MiB Flash.

[pilot1981]

Ok, double checked cabling and exchanged PNP transistor...

the situation is this with vastest TheHookup firmware released 7 months ago:

• when I attach flash ESP01S to pc it connect successful to my WIFI network
• when I attach ESP01S to roomba, ESP01S don't connect to my WIFI network and random happen:
  • nothing;
  • roomba go straight at maximum speed and don't stop in front of wall: I detach from floor and It stop itself;
  • roomba start to go in the room without a logic behaviour with all sensor disabled; to stop it I had to detach battery

any suggestion? how I can troubleshoot my problem?

I have a friend with roomba 521 with successful installation of TheHookup project (using firmware 1 year old), but now with new version of code of 7 months ago last him have problem...

[pilot1981]

I think it could be a bug...I can try old code version? where I can download it?

[pilot1981]

Could be related to WIFI library bug?