USB cable to use with 303WIFILC01

[cecs1202]

Hi ! I need to use the specific cable described in the project to connect to clock ? Can I use a normal USB ? If yes, what is the pinout between de 303WIFILC01 and a "normal USB" cable with only 4 wires ? Thanks !

[maarten-pennings]

Hi, you have to be a bit more specific. There is a usb plug on the suffer of the pcb, for power.

However, I assume you want to have access to the ESP serial port, so that you can flash and debug programs. For that you need to connect to the pinheader on the other side, where you need to supply power and UART signals. The easiest way to do that is with a USB-to-serial adapter. I used one from FTDI. You can not just hookup a USB cable there, the ESP needs UART.

See wiring instructions on the GitHub page.

[JieffeEl]

To complete Marteen's explanation, I often use this kind of adapter (that has the right voltage) to program my ESP. It can be found by searching for "ESP01 programmer" on Aliexpress or Ebay

!

[cecs1202]

First of all, sorry for my poor english, I´m from Brazil (native language = Portuguese).

thanks Marteen ! the question is just to use or not a direct usb cable, without a "converter" like the FTDI or CH340.

JieffeEl, I found this adapter in the aliexpress, but with a wifi addon board too. I never use this kind of adapter... When I will use this addicional wifi board ? Can I connect the ESP to my laptop with Wifi ?

[cecs1202]

my real problem is that the original firmware of the 303WIFILC01 get the correct time from NTP, but the timezone isn´t correct, maybe is the timezone from China. the webpage of the original firmware don´t have the option to change timezone.

I think to upgrade to Marteen firmware to add this kind of function, by a new web interface OR direct in the code....

[cecs1202]

I know how to program with the Arduino IDE with arduino boards, but never use ESP or python....

[maarten-pennings]

@JieffeEl is right, there are multiple solutions for USB-to-serial, but you do need such a "converter" if you want to program the ESP, a "direct USB cable" won't work.

Your real problem is why most people come to this page. They bought this 303WIFILC01 and find out its firmware is hardwired for some Chinese timezone. That's why I started this project.

Once you have the usb-serial running, you can use Arduino to flash my firmware. See section 5. That firmware allows configuring the timezone.

Good luck, Maarten

[JieffeEl]

The programmer I showed you is indeed often sold with an ESP01 that is a micro-controller on its own but you don't need that ESP01 to program your clock.

In summary :

1. Get the programmer-only from Aliexpress;
2. Connect it with Dupont cables to the clock after having soldered pins to the latter
3. When connected, program the clock with the Arduino IDE.

Read through Marteen's documentation, it is very well written and very understandable, even for a novice.